Child-centred pedagogy for 21st century education

Dr Maria Theochari, Principal Consultant of the International School of Nicosia (ISN), explains how the school focuses on helping its pupils love learning and develop their self-confidence and resilience so as to reach their full potential.

Your school accepts pupils of all ages, from Early Years to Primary and Secondary. Can you tell us more about your approach to education at each level and the school’s wider philosophy on learning?

ISN leads in ideas that are making a cultural shift in the area of international education. Given current global pressures, it is necessary that we make radical changes to curricula so that they meet the challenges of the 21st century. As a starter model, ISN welcomes changes to delivering a radically new approach to our international learning environment.

As an International School, we believe in nurturing wonder and igniting passion at all levels of education. It is our belief that designing a safe and engaging environment with a new school curriculum will create future leaders: creative, problem-solving, compassionate individuals with a critical mind. Our aim is to stimulate changes in the curriculum in order to support teachers in providing every young person with the knowledge, skills and attributes that will prepare them for a lifetime of learning, meaningful adult employment and effective future citizenship.

Our design model incorporates a blend of 21st century skills – using technology, critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, working with others (and by oneself) and communicating. All these attributes are wrapped up in a flexible curriculum that responds to the individual needs of all students. Our play-based learning approach for our Early Years allows children to attempt tasks that are beyond their current capabilities. The focus on child-centred pedagogy is paramount. The key principles and features of our philosophy aim to establish a happy and safe environment where all learners feel empowered and respected. Learning must be personal and enjoyable.

For example, learning with understanding and building skills to enable the application of knowledge (and skills) across different areas. We ensure that all learners, regardless of their starting point, make excellent progress.

Going into more detail, which curriculum do you follow and how else do you contribute to your pupils’ development? When it comes to older pupils, how does the school best prepare them for university?

We follow a British international curriculum, which assists us in addressing young people’s needs and personal development by letting us decide which areas need to be core and which can be classified as optional, including 21st century learning skills, as well as the development of knowledge progression in specific areas. For example, we create a wide range of comparative optional learning paths linked to the core and other areas of learning that are aligned to the interests of learners and of the assessment strategy. We ensure that all learning achievements contribute to a demonstrable, respected and valid learning portfolio from early years to 18, celebrating learning success that not only improves motivation and a love and desire to learn more, but also acts as evidence on how effective each learner has been in advancing their depth of inter-linked knowledge and learning experiences. ISN aims to create confidence in all the end point qualifications achieved by 18, transitioning between school and lifelong learning opportunities. Our youth can thus meet the expectations of the next stage of their lives.

Can you tell us more about your school’s facilities, activities and clubs, as well as your boarding school housing?

After-school activities are mandatory because they bring the whole community together. The options vary each term, giving young people the opportunity to experience and enjoy selected activities. Students can choose from a long list that includes debate, sports, arts, film studies, environmental projects, travel, nature walks, climbing, chess and other board games, community service, etc.

Our boarding school is located on a lavishly green campus. It’s critically important to us that our international students are comfortable, cared for and safe. Our friendly and experienced team will happily speak to and guide students about their personal requirements for accommodation. Students benefit from comfortable, modern en-suite rooms and spacious common areas, such as a fully equipped gym, an IT centre, a large cinema/amphitheatre, an onsite grocery store, quiet study rooms, a laundry room, high speed Wi-Fi and sports, including swimming tennis and basketball.

Parents have the choice of placing their child in a single room (independent, with all needs met) or in a room with two other students. Additional advantages of our boarding facilities include the location and practicality of operations, which are key factors in the success of a boarding provision. Therefore, the ethos and culture of the whole campus, as it grows and matures, are based on the positive and caring attitude of our staff towards the boys and girls who live, learn, and play in this international community. House Masters are on duty 24 hours a day. They are vigilant and supportive of all our boarding students.

What are some of the qualities you seek in teaching and other staff when hiring new employees?

We believe that it is time for a paradigm shift in school education and we recruit ‘good people’ with integrity and creativity. Each teacher needs to understand the challenge of changing the delivery of the learning process, from a teacher-centred position to a learner-centred position. These great teachers know that differentiation is a long way from personalisation. We seek professionals who are able to respect the need for individual learning plans, self-assessment, peer assessment, the effective use of reflection time and understand how the workload of teachers can be reduced and be more focused on using classroom assessment to plan next lesson delivery steps. They must be able to develop resources and examples of best strategies, be leaders and have experience of working within a diverse classroom. I love working with positive and happy people who inspire others.

You have the word ‘international’ in your name and welcome pupils from around the world as well as from Cyprus. Can you tell us more about the importance of diversity and inclusivity at your school?

For us, diversity and inclusion simply mean ‘all of us together’ respecting each other in a learning environment based on the values of equality and connectiveness on our personal journey. It all comes together because how we apply new strategies and what we have learnt from one another or from other educational systems create the wealth of our harmonious campus. We all recognise the importance of our own culture and characteristics of our community and using these as a foundation to grow can provide true transformation. This process requires a collaborative approach, humility and patience, because change management is a process that can create challenges, even if the transformation itself creates the butterflies that we need. Therefore, our differences and our similarities make us the community that we are. ISN has the willingness and the experience to make such a unique environment successful.

Further to the above, how does the International School of Nicosia play an active role in local society? For example, do pupils participate in municipal or other local events and competitions?

It is crucial that we are part of a community. Every opportunity is taken to be part of the local identity. The aim is to develop a society based on living human rights, a culture of democracy, cooperation and equity, to contribute to a world which is environmentally and economically sustainable in a compassionate way. The global challenges we face require people with strong and well-developed competence for innovation and creativity, people who are able and inclined to think out of the box, who can observe and analyse critically and solve problems through collaborative learning and working, people who are able to live and work in diverse teams and social settings.

How do you view the education sector in Cyprus? What are some of its greatest challenges and how do you believe the sector can be improved? In what ways can your school contribute to these improvements?

At a policy level, the Government must be responsible for creating the conditions and pre-requisites that schools and partners need to ensure. It is time for us to shine as a nation that loves education and find an effective role in defining success on different levels, fostering innovation and investing in the future. There is a need for a fundamental change of mindset and beliefs regarding education.

We, as a small learning and teaching environment, take responsibility for empowering all learners to love learning, to aspire and develop their self-confidence and resilience, thus achieving what they are capable of. By doing so, they can give back to their community and to our nation. I personally wish to see young people thrive as global citizens with critical thinking and a passion for diversity.

(This interview first appeared in the February 2023 issue of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.)