Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
OF the over 4000 international British schools in the world only 60 of them are “Outstanding in every aspect” according to official British school inspectors.
These are usually found in places like Madrid, Barcelona or Dubai and parents can expect to pay sometimes over €20,000 a year to get a place in one of these prestigious institutions.
In Tenerife, your child can have the same privileges for about a quarter of the price.
The official inspection report, after a three day long investigation by four professional school inspectors that analysed the quality of education, teaching and assessment, the standards achieved by students, the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, welfare, health and safety of the students and leadership and management of the school – and even had meetings with parents and pupils, have declared Wingate School to be “Outstanding in every category” for the second time running.
This school will be officially one of the top International British Schools in the world from at least 2022 until 2028.
With nearly all their teachers being native English speakers, and the fact that 65% of their students are international, all the children attending the school are surrounded by a high level of English at all times, ensuring that most leave school with a native level of English and even a British accent.
Even in the most prestigious British schools, this is a first.
The inspectors concluded that ‘The school succeeds in creating an inclusive community, shaped by British values, where positive relationships underpin a high quality of education and the relentless focus on the welfare, health and safety of young people ensures the optimum conditions for academic success and personal growth.’
Jonathan Green Harris, the owner of the school says, “Of the long list of items that the inspectors say we do well, the one I am most proud of is where they say: A positive school culture, with values like kindness and exemplary conduct, and the development of a strong community in which young people can feel safe. Many schools are focused solely on academic achievement, but we also want our children to be happy. Happy at school and happy in their future lives, fulfilling their ambitions wherever they lie.”
The academic aspect is still important.
Children who are happy, feel valued, and are listened to individually tend to find it easier to achieve academically as well.
Our recent international exams prove this.
Of the 700,000 students who took the international British IGCSE exams all over the world, Wingate students took 12 Best in World and Best in Spain awards.
Best in the World for English and Best in Spain for Spanish (with one student achieving both)!
The representative for the examination board, to whom the exams are shipped off to for marking, said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like that before in my life! An amazing achievement — that must have been a really special cohort.’
The ratio of students to teachers is one of the best indicators of a quality school.
The smaller the number, the more individualised attention each child can get.
This not only helps with their self-esteem, but the personal interaction with the teaching staff and targeted lesson planning ensure that the top students reach their goals and the rest thrive.
Wingate classes are limited to 24 students, and with their 3-level streaming in most subjects, most classes are much smaller.
The ratio of teachers to students in the entire school is currently 13:1.
When you include the teaching assistants this ratio drops to 11:1.
When you visit, you will hear the children chirping and laughing.
This is especially true during playtime, where they can be seen playing on the courts or on the green grass underneath the shade of the trees in their beautiful park area.
Happy children become happy, successful adults.
Read more Education News at The Olive Press by clicking here.
