A Reflection on the Wednesday Programme at ISW

We are so fortunate at ISW to be part of a forward-thinking organisation in SBW Haus des Lernens, and to be able to embrace their vision for education in the modern era. Thanks to their philosophy of “compacting” we are able to enrich our learning partner’s educational experience through our Wednesday program. Our learning partners in Lower Secondary have a unique opportunity to work on projects that evoke their passions and give them the freedom to “think outside the box” through their Personal Projects (which are increasing evolving into team projects in many cases), and, along with their peers in Upper Secondary, to be involved in working towards an international award as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. Our learning partners are fortunate to have such learning opportunities that promote creativity, collaboration, communication skills, service learning and physical activity as part of their planned curriculum.

At present, we are particularly proud by some of the learning experiences that are taking place across our Secondary school. Our Lower Secondary learners are in the midst of working on their latest personal projects; this time with the focal point being upon environmental issues. It is wonderful to see Year 8 learners planning and implementing an “upcycling” project with the aim to reuse and recycle materials that might otherwise be discarded as waste, and Year 7 using the means of music, poetry, video, and art and design to advocate for a cause which affects us all in the modern world.

Adrian Scarlett, Vice Principal, Head of Secondary ISW