Learning

Learning at the International School Hilversum is ...

Learning at ISH is dynamic. We learn by being active participants in a diverse range of experiences. Reflection is a central part of our learning process. It allows us to grow as individuals and understand how we learn. When we collaborate, we learn from each other and make our thinking visible. As learners we share an awareness of our responsibilities to the wider world.

At the ISHilversum, we understand learning to be a lifelong process, encompassing the three key areas of knowledge, skills and understanding. We share the International Baccalaureate (IB)’s philosophy of learning, which recognizes student-centred inquiry as a vital starting point for learning, and collaboration as a valuable tool for facilitating the learning process. We embrace the organic and often unpredictable nature of the learning process, looking for opportunities to place learning in real-world contexts. We also embrace the many ways that technology allows students to inquire and be agents of their own learning.

At our school, the scope of learning extends far beyond the memorization of facts in traditional subject areas, and encompasses self-knowledge, social and emotional learning. We recognize the importance of instilling the skills that allow for lifelong learning as key to preparing our students for a world and a workforce which we cannot accurately predict. Therefore, we value ‘learning about learning’, the explicit teaching of Approaches to Learning skills, which empower our students to undertake their own learning journeys now and into the future.

We also recognize that learning opportunities can occur outside of scheduled class time, where the school forms a safe practice ground for our adolescent students to develop their social and emotional awareness.

In accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, all decisions are made with the best interests of the student at heart. We believe that every child has the right to receive a quality education and therefore encourage our students to continue to the highest possible level of education. We believe that every student has the right to learn, that is, to leave school with more knowledge, skills and understanding than when they arrived. For students who experience a barrier to learning, our Inclusion Policy supports teachers in accommodating each student’s individual needs. The Language Policy also supports students who experience a barrier to learning due to the fact that they are operating in a language other than their home language.

At the ISHilversum, we value every student’s right to their opinion, and teach them the skills to be able to inform and express themselves. We encourage students to be open-minded by presenting knowledge from a range of sources and viewpoints. We respect and celebrate each student’s culture and language and encourage them to develop a strong sense of individual identity and values. In line with the IB’s Mission Statement, we aim “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect”.

We offer three IB programmes: the Primary Years, Middle Years and the full Diploma Programme. We also offer a Bilingual VWO Stream within an international context.​​​​​​