A special event will be held this Thursday, 1 November 2012, to help parents in the region consider the various options available to them for senior school education.
Hosted by Geneva English School at their premises in Genthod, Geneva, the new “11+ Education Schools’ Exhibition” will feature representatives from local English-speaking international schools, as well as French-speaking schools offering bilingual or English programs. The event will be open to all parents in the region, regardless of whether they have children at Geneva English school or not.
Headmaster Stephen Baird told knowitall.ch, “We are hoping this event will become an annual occasion for all parents in the area who are considering an international education for their children with a strong English bias. By talking to representatives from local schools in the region, they should be able to compare the various options on offer and make a shortlist of preferred schools based on the information provided at the event.”
Whilst many parents will make their choices based on the curriculum that each school follows (e.g. International Baccalaureate versus “A” levels), many will take other factors into consideration such as the range of extra-curricular activities on offer, support for special needs, relative location, provision of a bus service, and where applicable school fees. Parents will have the opportunity to raise questions about these and many other important issues at the event.
The exhibition will open at 18h00 when parents will have the opportunity to wander around the exhibition and talk with representatives from local schools. At 19h15, Stephen will invite each school represented to make a short, 2 minute presentation, summarizing the key points about their school and the unique benefits that they offer. Following this, parents can continue their discussions with the local representatives at their stands. Drinks and nibbles will be available throughout the event, which will close at 20h30.
Asked whether Geneva English School would ever consider developing a senior section of its own, Stephen told knowitall.ch, “We are always open to new ideas and are constantly reviewing what is best, not only for children at our school, but all families in the wider community. We are looking not just at how we may help children in their senior school years – whether that be through establishing closer links with local schools or providing for additional years at our own school – but also those at the younger end of the scale in the 0-4 years age range.”
Geneva English School is in the final stages of an expansion program that will see many improved facilities at the school. Work is currently underway to build a large new establishment that will house many new classrooms as well as numerous multipurpose spaces, with movable walls, catering for activities such as dancing and drama. A new dining hall will also make it possible for the school to offer hot meals at lunchtime.
Stephen explained, “Since I joined Geneva English School in January 2010, there have been numerous opportunities to implement changes at the school. However, in making these improvements it is extremely important to make sure that we don’t change the core values inherent within the school, namely community, respect, opportunity, integrity, teamwork and courage. It is for this reason that GES will always remain a small school, but one with big values – and any developments within the school will always respect this.”
A new “outdoor classroom” is one such development. Located near the main building but on the edge of woodland in the school grounds, the classroom will provide a relaxing but inspirational environment for children to learn. Facilities for music, information technology and French have also improved significantly over the last couple of years.
With over 25 different extra-curricular activities now on offer for children, GES appears keen to develop what Stephen calls his “360 degree view” of a child. In addition to these activities, the school has also started organizing rugby and netball tours for children to experience sport on an international as well as local level.
By employing a new pastoral coordinator within the school leadership team, it is clear that the children’s welfare and happiness have an important part to play in the development of the “whole” child. With the help of the academic coordinator, the school now believes it can “track” each child at the school from every possible angle.
Stephen concluded, “Individual attention is at the root of all we do here. No matter what direction the school continues to grow in – and we have some ambitious plans for the future - it will always remain the hallmark of GES.”
11+ Education Schools’ Exhibition
1 November 2012,
18h00 – 20h30
Geneva English School
36 Route de Malagny
1294 Genthod
Switzerland
+41 22 755 18 55
www.geschool.ch
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