Module 1: Assessing our Schools using the IB Standards and Practices

Note: Programme standards and practices 2010 was used in assessing my school.

Satisfactory progress:
1. Standard C1: Collaborative Planning
Practice 1: Collaborative planning and reflection addresses the
requirements of the programme(s)

Our teachers have already embraced the fact that collaborative meetings are
part of our culture in the school. Even before we became a candidate school,
this culture has already been in practice. We have a total of three teams in the
PYP, homeroom teachers from Reception to Year 2, homeroom teachers from
Year 3 6 and specialist teachers. We meet once a week to discuss
difficulties in class and plan for the next weeks lessons. We are also able to
talk about the progress of each student. I guess we are lucky because we have,
on average, just 15 students in each class and almost all of the teachers know
each student.



2. Standard C2: Written Curriculum
Practice 1: The written curriculum is comprehensive and aligns with the
requirements of the programme(s).

Being a part of Fairview Global Schools, we have one school in the group that
has just been authorized and two other sister schools that are candidate schools
apart from us. Every end of term, all of the teachers from all of the centres
meet and collaboratively reflect and assess our curriculum. We have done the
assessing twice and every time we do, there are constructive changes that have
happened. Locally, we also do our own assessment of our programme of
inquiry during one of our PYP meetings.



3. Standard B2: Resources and support
Practice 3: The school ensures that teachers and administrators receive IB-
recognized professional development.

I believe that this is really something that we have progressed on. Before,
only very few of our teachers were able to go to workshops and conferences.
Our school would normally send teachers from our main branch to attend.
And then during our CPD (continuous professional development) every after
term, they will give a talk to all and share their learning. Now, our school has
ensured that all of the teachers from all centres have been scheduled for
workshops be it in-school, regional or online.





Need of significant attention:
1. Standard A: Philosophy
Practice 7: The School places importance on language learning, including
mother tongue, host country language and other languages.

Currently, our school offers two other languages: Malay and Mandarin to our
students in addition to English. We have French and Spanish lessons as well
but only as a CCA (Co-curricular Activity). However, we lack a proper
curriculum plan for all these languages being offered except for English
Language. It would have been good if we create one planner for all languages
and put more importance on them like we do for English. We also need to
increase our library resources to promote mother tongue languages.



2. Standard B2: Resources and Support
Practice 8: The school provides support for its students with learning
and/or special education needs and support for their teachers.

I do not see this in our school just yet. Although we provide some support for
students having difficulties in English and Maths, the method of teaching is
not inquiry based just yet. No one in our team of teachers specialized in
special education. We need all teachers to be equipped with the skills and
ability to assist students with learning difficulties.


3. Standard C3: Teaching and Learning
Practice 10: Teaching and learning differentiates instruction to meet
students learning needs and styles.

At the moment, our higher PYP classes are doing very well on this area.
Students are found to enjoy their learning so much and they are able to
showcase their learning in various of ways. For our lower PYP classes,
however, there is not much differentiation going on. There are instances when
students are still doing the same work. We need our Continuous professional
development for teachers to be focused more on differentiated learning and
into exploring multiple intelligences. Some of us know what the MIs are but,
are not able to apply in class.