The 5 Best International Schools in Spain, 2022.pdf

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Vol. 10 | Issue 02 | 2022
Vol. 10 | Issue 02 | 2022
Vol. 10 | Issue 02 | 2022
5
The Best
International
Schools in
Spain,
2022
Barcelona
High School
BHS
Akida Mashaka
Founder
Amanda Slefo
Director and
Partner
Perks of Studying in
an International
School in Spain
Enhanced Opportunities International School
for the Global Village

EDITOR’S
NOTE
Education has the power to transform the
way the world moves forward by guiding
the next generation to become better
versions of their predecessors and to access
limitless future opportunities by overcoming the
various obstacles that come their way.
Today, as awareness for education spreads
throughout the world, there is an increase in the
number of pedagogical facilities accessible for
children and parents to opt from.
As a result, one educational institute outweighs the
facilities oﬀered by the other. This beneﬁts the
PLETHORA OF
PEDAGOGICAL
FACILITIES IN 2022

student in general, but it can also lead to a
brainstorming session for them on which institute to
associate with. This wide range of options to select
the best from might lead the pupil to the point of
distraction, causing them to lose sight of the main
reason for enrolling in an educational institute:
Learning.
As at the end of the day, it all boils down to which
educational institute provides a path to success as
well as exposure to opportunities, allowing students
to construct a successful career path for themselves;
the latest edition of The Knowledge Review, 'The 5
Best International Schools in Spain, 2022,'
highlights the strengths and achievements of the five
finest pedagogical institutions in Spain.
These schools facilitate exceptional resources for
students to excel in life, with the passion to ignite the
ambition of the students at the forefront. These
schools are proficient in delivering education to their
students along with cutting-edge facilities fostering
the all-around growth of their pupils.
Let the goals and objectives of these institutions
guide you into the world of hope for the next
generation.
Indulge yourself in an insightful read! T R
Anish David
฀Anish David

International School
of Madrid (ISM)
Imbibing Excellence in Upcoming Generation
22
Proﬁles
Málaga Institute of
Technology SLL – MIT School
Redeﬁning Student’s Holistic Growth
26
Importance of Communication
Are Sheep Birds? What is the Importance of
Student-teacher Interaction in Classrooms?
20
CXO
Direction to Improvement
Quick Guide- Writing your Personal Statement
34
Enhanced Opportunities
Perks of Studying in an International School in Spain
16
Articles
Inculcating Diversity
Importance of Inclusive Learning
Practices in International Schools
30

Barcelona
High School
International American
School for the Global Village
08
Cover
Story

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Assisting Editor Madhu Guleria
October, 2022
Anish David
Olivia Wood

URL
Name of the Institution Brief
Barcelona High School
thamesbritishschool.es
Founded in 2020, Barcelona High School (BHS) is
ranked as the best international school in Spain. The
school is based on an innovative,student-centred
learning pedagogy.
International School
of Madrid
maxwellschool.es
Maxwell School
colegiomit.com
With over 70 nationalities, the International School
of Madrid (ICS) has an international community and
curriculum that develops open-minded, informed
global citizens and leaders of the future.
Málaga Institute
of Technology SLL -
MIT School
Málaga Institute of Technology SLL - MIT School is
the only school in Malaga authorised as bilingual
in English in Kindergarten, Primary, Secondary and
in the three High School modes. The school
combines on its educational project ancient
wisdom with modern knowledge.
Thames British School
Thames British School prides itself on
providing pupils with the highest level of
education and a wide range of opportunities
for personal development.
barcelonahighschool.com
Maxwell School helps its students tackle the
challenges of their learning while offering them
emotional, social and cultural growth that will allow
them to evolve into responsible and successful adults.
internationalschool
ofmadrid.com
Best
SCHOOLS
in Spain,
2022
The
International

International American
School for the Global Village
Barcelona
High School
While we are
excited and humbled to
be listed as the best high
school in Spain, our goal
has become to be the
best international and
American school in the
world.
BHS

The concept of the world uniting
as a global village has become
a reality. With the emergence
of this concept, pieces fell at the right
place at the right time to provide the
required acceleration for the world's
rapid growth. The rapid development
in technology, the emergence of social
media and video games that are uniting
people across the world, have proved
to be significant factors contributing to
the overall development and evolution
of countries worldwide.
However, what truly holds all the
threads together in connecting this
global village with the betterment of
the world is education. While all
aspects of the world are changing, the
School (BHS). Along with the then
American high school teacher,
Amanda Slefo, Director and Partner
of BHS, the foundation of an
incredible international school was
laid, to provide the complete
development of students to become
responsible global citizens.
The Genesis of a Truly International
School
Originally intended to be a school
academy dedicated to student-athletes
in Barcelona aiming to obtain athletic
scholarships to top-tier universities in
the USA, BHS quickly morphed into a
micro-school with students from all
walks of life. Founded in 2020,
Barcelona High School, better known
as BHS, is an innovative, one-of-a-
kind, international American school in
Barcelona, Spain. BHS is licensed by
International American School LLC
which provides accredited US
curriculum around the world. BHS
uniquely utilizes three pedagogical
practices: (1) Flipped Learning,
(2) The Harkness Method, and
(3) STEAM Education, to educate
students combined with psychosocial
curriculum for emotional confidence.
core aspects and requirements of
education must change as well. With a
vision to bring the world together and
create a truly global village,
international education is the most
appropriate choice for innovators and
educators helping to unite the world as
a global village.
A global village involves uniting
different cultures, identities, and
education systems, but fitting
international curriculum in that context
is difficult. However, after observing
these difficulties and being determined
to solve these problems in the system,
Founder, Akida Mashaka, an
American entrepreneur and Harvard
graduate, created Barcelona High
Akida Mashaka
Founder
Amanda Slefo
Director and Partner

Through this innovative teaching and
learning experience, students are
trained to become self-motivated and
independent learners throughout their
time at BHS and develop an
astonishing amount of community
along the way.
BHS can proudly call itself a truly
international school as no country is
majority represented since students
truly are from all over the world.
Currently, the countries represented by
the school's student body include
Australia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland,
China, Russia, Ukraine, Israel,
Palestine, Syria, United Arab Emirates,
Lebanon, Portugal, Pakistan, Hungary,
Venezuela, Mexico, United States,
Canada, Brazil, Tunisia, France,
Ireland, Chile, Egypt, Iraq, Germany,
Greece, and South and North Korea.
A Promise to the Future
The mission of BHS is based on a
promise that it makes for its students.
That promise is to help teenagers excel
academically, socially and
psychologically in an engaging, caring
and international environment.
Talking about this promise and the
school, Akida Mashaka says, "While
we are excited and humbled to be listed
as the best high school in Spain, our
goal has become to be the best
international and American school in
the world."
The Dynamic Duo
Akida Mashaka: The Flame that
Drives the Growth of BHS
Barcelona High School is the
brainchild of Akida Mashaka. Before
graduating from Harvard Law School,
Akida attended undergraduate
university in the USA on a tennis
scholarship where he graduated #1 in
Psychology in his class. His
background and experiences are a
major reason why Akida places mental
health as an integral component of
BHS.
After moving to Barcelona, Akida
recognized problems with both private
and public schools in Barcelona,
including American schools, IB and
British schools, especially in the
secondary and high school years.
Akida realized that the problem was
not only in Spain, but worldwide, and
even in his home country, the United
States.
Talking about Akida's vision of
creating a holistic school, Amanda
Slefo says, "Unlike traditional schools
that are still the same as when
students' parents attended them, Akida
created a school concept that focuses
on smaller class size across multiple
grade levels, in fun, social and
The 5 Best International Schools In Spain, 2022
“
We expect each
student to achieve
their full potential
at BHS while
helping them to
discover more
about their own
identity and
learning style
through
interactions with
their peers and
their academic
work.
“

individualized learning environments
with a family-like atmosphere. With
innovative digital learning tools, along
with career, life, and university
advisement, and emotional intelligence
skills necessary to be successful in
today's world."
Amanda Slefo: The Guiding Lamp
of BHS
Talking about his partner, Amanda, and
the torchbearer of the school, Akida
Mashaka says, "Before joining BHS as
a Director, and overseeing educational
learning, academic performance, and
university placement, and then
becoming a Partner, Amanda Slefo,
was a distinguished American high
school teacher at Evanston Township
High School in Chicago."
"As a high school teacher, Amanda
received multiple outstanding teacher
awards. She has a bachelor's degree in
History, Secondary Education
Certification, and English Language
Learners Certification, and served as
Education Director of the Assyrian
Cultural Foundation. She has extensive
experience with university placement
and specializes in creating dynamic
learning experiences for students,"
Akida adds.
Prioritizing Personalized Growth
and Academic Achievement
Being an international school, BHS has
realized that the priorities and goals of
each student differ. While students
focus on achieving top grades, they
also focus on the depth needed to
expand their knowledge in areas
outside their academic curriculum as
well as in emotional intelligence,
which simultaneously diversifies both
their university applications and future
options.
Talking about the learning process and
outcome, Akida and Amanda highlight,
"We expect each student to achieve
their full potential at BHS by helping
them to discover more about their own
identity and learning style through
interactions with their peers and their
academic work."
"We also expect students to pursue
passion projects that propel them to
new levels of engagement with their
own interests in the hopes of
combining their personal and
professional lives in the future. In
short, we want them to be happy with
themselves, their schoolwork, and their
future," Akida and Amanda add.

Uniting Cultural Identities to Make
a Global Village
The concept of international schools
was developed and introduced to
bridge the gaps in the world as a global
village. With that vision in mind, BHS
encourages its students to share and
discuss their cultural identities and
experiences with one another through
guided conversations, psychosocial
curriculum planning, and school
outings.
Talking about this initiative to build a
global community in the school,
Amanda says, "We believe that through
exposure to such a diverse student
body, students learn to broaden their
mindsets about both each other and the
world. For example, at the beginning
of the year, we do an activity called
'Ancestor Investigation', which calls
for students to have discussions with
their family members to unearth the
oldest family story they can find, record
it and share it with their peers in small
groups."
Passionate about the initiative, Amanda
adds, "The stories students came back
with are astonishing and range from
having ancestors who escaped the
Bolshevik revolution to Canada, to
grandparents who had both survived
the Holocaust but did not know their
spouse had survived, to the parent who
had escaped North Korea, and many
more. These types of stories simply
would not be shared in any kind of
environment other than a truly
international one, and the students
walk away from activities like this with
a deeper understanding of both
themselves and others."
Maintaining Student Engagement
with Curricular and Extra-
curricular Activities
As a part of curricular and extra-
curricular activities, BHS has started a
student club culture to bring unity and
engagement and help students develop
important life skills. Students are
encouraged to join and start clubs that
meet during and after school which are
tailored to their specific interests.
Expounding on the club culture started
at the school, Amanda explains, "We
have the student-led Polaris Club,
which was started by new students to
ensure that incoming students feel
comfortable, happy and accepted at
BHS. Many students elect to
participate in a higher level of athletics
ranging from playing highly
competitive tennis to soccer and water
polo players who compete with
traveling clubs."
"We also meet personally with each
student to better understand where
their interests lie and see if we can find
something in the city that aligns with it.
For instance, students take guitar,
dance, Spanish and other classes after
school with each other," Amanda adds.
“
“
We have the
student-led Polaris
Club which was
started by new
students to ensure
that incoming
students felt
comfortable,
happy and
accepted at BHS.

Indulging Modern Education in Curriculum for Quality
Education
BHS has combined three modern means of
education—Flipped learning, The Harkness method, and
STEAM education—to provide innovative and relevant
education for students.
Talking about this unique learning pedagogy combination
of the school, Akida says, "Flipped learning calls for
students to engage with content before it is taught to them.
This in combination with the Harkness method, a radically
student-centered approach, which creates pragmatic
problem solvers. STEAM - which stands for Science,
Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics - is
implemented at BHS to truly create a well-rounded
emerging learner."
Preparing Students for University and the Future
One way to build a high school student's transcript is to
incorporate Advanced Placement (AP) courses which are
extremely rigorous and available at BHS. Amanda guides
students in every step of the way to consider their post-
secondary plans, from researching possible careers,
countries and universities, to the actual university
application process.
Asserting the preparation process, Akida and Amanda say,
"We really want students to understand what their strengths
are and how to use those strengths to create a future that is
meaningful to them. Various initiatives that cater to these
strengths include a partnership with a leading coding
platform so students can learn various coding languages
such as JavaScript and Python. Students who complete this
program receive an accredited certificate as well as receive
course credit on their transcripts."
Other initiatives BHS has launched include Movement
Therapy courses which help students become reflective and
engage with themselves internally, and introducing students
to concepts such as the Alexander technique to learn how to
reduce stress from their bodies. BHS is also launching an
NFT minting project alongside creative art courses, as well
as exposing students to cryptocurrencies and Blockchain.
The next frontier for BHS is to create future entrepreneurs
who will unite the world as a global village.
Creating a Home Away from Home
BHS plans on expanding while still keeping a familial
atmosphere at the school. Akida and Amanda say, "The goal
“
- Nancy Hamza,
Student
is for students to know they have a home here with us and to
see us as an added level of support outside of their homes."
Advising the Future International Educators
Advising the future educators entering the education sector,
Amanda says, "Really study the whole child. 'Everybody is
a genius, but if you judge a fish by the ability to climb a
tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid'.
Psychosocial curriculum planning matters. Soft skills
matter. These things give students agency and the
confidence to go out into the world and pursue interests that
matter to them."
“I've been attending BHS
for two years now, and I've never felt
more comfortable in my life.
Assignments are fun and challenging,
and electives are endless, so I chose
graphic design because I'm majoring
in it next year since I'm graduating
this year. Barcelona High School
changed my perspectives on schools
because I was always very anxious at
the schools, but everyone here feels
like family, and it's my home away
from home, and I never really
expected to say that about an
educational school system. I've felt
more creative ever since I started
attending BHS. I also felt very loved
and understood when I needed to be.
Thank you, Akida and Amanda, for
creating a healthy, safe space for
everyone to learn, to be safe,
comfortable and enjoy school!

“
- Anas Snobar,
Student
“ “
This school taught
me to collaborate, respect
others, not judge and most
importantly, to be there for other
people. Also, the way of learning
taught me to be more
responsible for myself and to
always look at things from
multiple perspectives. This place
feels like a second home.
“
“
Choosing the right school
for yourself plays a big role in your
development and growth. Having been
to multiple different schools in my
lifetime, ending my academic year with
BHS as a 12th grader is the best
decision I've made so far. All schools
promise a supportive environment and
a place for you to build your character
and excel academically, but not one of
the seven schools I've been to lived up
to their expectations. I have so much
support from my teachers and the
principal himself. BHS truly and
genuinely cares about you and makes
sure you live up to your potential. I am
forever grateful for the opportunities
I'm presented with. You're not just
another addition but rather a valued
member of the team. I encourage you
to take on this experience with BHS
and see how far it could take.
- Celyn Dia,
Student
“ “
Akida and Amanda and the
rest of the staff worked elbow to
elbow with my daughter, and it's been
her best school experience so far. Like a
family and high-quality education!
- Vero Parellada
Eller, Parent
- Tahlia Wenban,
Student
“
I attended BHS for my
last year of high school. From day
one, I knew I had made a good
choice. At BHS, I feel safe, heard
and supported. Students are kind
and accepting, and there is a sense
of collaboration and support in the
group. The school holds a
powerful community, adaptable to
different learning styles and needs.
I am forever grateful to the
teachers, Amanda and Ciarán, who
really listen to the students and
provide amazing guidance and
care. As well as feeling safe, I feel
challenged to grow and question
my beliefs through numerous
group activities and discussions.
Thank you, Amanda, Ciarán and
Akida; it is a pleasure to be at BHS!
Student and Parent
Testimonials

S
of Studying
International
School in Spain
Perks in an
pain offers numerous options to
Sstudy for students from all walks
of life. The Spanish culture and
the educational system create favorable
conditions for pursuing a good
education. Along with all the
specialities of the Spanish education
system, the availability of international
schools can be considered one of the
significant ones.
The amalgamation of rich Spanish
culture and the international school
system can collaboratively work to
create students capable of excelling on
a global level.
International schools undeniably offer
many educational advantages in Spain.
Along with the international
curriculum, the cross-cultural
environment offered by international
schools can make the students ready to
sustain themselves on the global level.
It allows students to get familiar with
students and faculties from different
backgrounds.
The Knowledge Review | | October 2022
16

Enhanced Opportunities
17

Since international schools are aimed
at a wider audience, it is likely to have
higher competition. This competitive
environment brings positive changes
by pushing students to perform better.
International schools do not just have
advanced curricula, but they also offer
chances for better involvement in
extra-curricular activities. It keeps the
students engaged and helps them to
nurture their hobbies.
International Curricula
The education system in international
schools is offered to match foreign
education. In the time of globalization,
this is an important aspect. Generally,
the education system can be based on
British, American and other systems,
but it is also likely to have an
education system which is a
combination of these all. These
combined courses are better suited to
the global market.
Learning Global Languages
International schools provide
extraordinary opportunities for the
development of language skills
because classes are held in a foreign
language, typically English.
Additionally, these schools provide a
wide variety of additional language
classes: German, French and Japanese.
Language proficiency gives a
significant advantage in a professional
career. Students from international
schools are expected to have better
employment opportunities anywhere in
the world.
Spanish education is required in all
international schools, public and
private. Foreigners can use this
opportunity to improve their
communication skills, learn more
about Spanish culture, and adjust to
society.
It also ensures that children from the
locality who attend the international
class or school will not fall behind in
learning their native language, as well
as local geography and history. It
indicates that international schools
keep on providing Spanish knowledge
along with teaching the curriculum
developed from international
standards.
Own Assessment and Grading
Systems
Assessments on a regular basis are
essential to track the progress of the
students. Not only do international
schools use foreign curricula, but they
also use assessment methods from
other countries. They are frequently
more motivating for children and
adolescents than the traditional grade
system. It allows these schools to guide
students to perform better since the
assessments give a clear idea about the
progress of students.
International Environment
The multicultural atmosphere of an
international school is one of the
greatest benefits. Students learn about
different cultures. Because of this, they
learn how to work together with people
whose characteristics, practices, and
cultural norms are different from their
own.
Additionally, they acquire tolerance,
mutual respect, empathy, and a
comprehension of the behaviors,
motivations, aspirations, and values of
others. Ideal citizens of the world are
shaped in this way, and they will easily
feel at home anywhere.
Personalized Learning
Teachers can give each child individual
attention because the student-to-
teacher ratio in international schools is
marginally better. This aids in the
process of instilling the concepts of
each subject in each student in
accordance with their own learning
capacity.
Students who spend more quality time
interacting with their teachers are more
likely to develop confidence, acquire
solid fundamentals, and go beyond
their textbook knowledge.
Better Employment Opportunities
Degrees and other certifications from
international schools are highly valued
everywhere in the world since these
students obtain high-level knowledge.
Along with the high level of
knowledge, these students also get a
chance to develop their personalities
through extracurricular activities.
Knowledge of international languages
can also be a key here. All these
specifications open global doors for
them.
When one examines the list of benefits
and drawbacks associated with
attending international schools, it is
abundantly clear that the advantages
outweigh the drawbacks. Students in
Spain have a significant advantage in
the job market thanks to high education
levels, international standards, and a
culturally diverse environment.
Curriculums that focus on a student's
overall development, not just their
knowledge and academic skills but
also their personality and soft skills,
help to educate mature, responsible
citizens. In today's world, where the
ability to work together, develop
communication skills, and gain
practical knowledge are highly valued,
graduates of these schools find success
quickly.
18

Are Sheep Birds?
What is the
Importance of Student-teacher
Interaction in Classrooms?
I
was teaching science with a class
of 5- and 6-year-olds last week.
The children had just visited the
local natural history museum and were
learning about the classification and
grouping of living things. The lesson
was about birds, and the question I
wanted the children to be able to
answer was, 'What makes a bird a
bird?'
I began by asking the children if they
knew what birds were. Some did, some
thought they did, and some didn't. One
boy said, 'A sheep is a bird,' and
another agreed. I asked why and others
joined in and told me that there were
lots of animals and birds living in the
world and named a few animals, sheep
(again), birds, cows and others. Some
of the children disagreed and named
some birds, such as eagles and parrots,
but none could tell me why a sheep
wasn't a bird.
This became the starting point of the
lesson and allowed me to explain some
of the common features of birds and
that there were many types of birds. I
gave some examples, showed some
photos, played some video clips, and
then we all looked out the window to
see birds flying past or perching on
branches.
I explained six things common to all
birds. Features, beak/bill, laying eggs,
wings (not all birds fly), two legs,
hollow bones. I asked the children to
explain these features to their partners
and to me, 'These are some of the
things which make a bird a bird.'
I then showed the children a picture of
a sheep. Explained how it gave birth to
its young ones and was covered in
fur/wool and asked the children to
explain to partners again and me, 'Why
is a sheep not a bird?' and they could
all do it. They could explain why a
sheep isn't a bird, why people aren't
birds, why cars aren't birds, and why
tables aren't birds, but why swans,
pigeons and sparrows are. Chickens
had to be clarified as several children
didn't realise the food they eat comes
from the bird, even though it has the
same name.
The entire lesson was based on
interactions between the teacher and
pupils. Questioning to establish
understanding and misconceptions.
Explanation to support learning and
understanding. Assessment to establish
if the class, and individual students in
the class, understand and can explain
and apply their knowledge. Everyone
could.
It is quick and easy to do this. A show
of hands isn't enough. 'Who knows
what a bird is? Hands up!' doesn't tell
a teacher anything. When a teacher can
Importance of Communication
establish where the students are in
terms of understanding simply by
asking, asking students to tell a partner
and giving feedback to the class, the
focus of teaching and learning can be
crystal clear.
A teacher who frequently interacts with
students can model their thinking, their
choices of words and phrases, and their
'live' explanations in real time,
adapting, expanding and deviating as
required. Students also have regular
opportunities to explain their
understanding, turning thoughts and
ideas into words for an audience which
is able to react, confirm, challenge, and
correct. When students are explaining
what they know and think, teachers can
respond immediately and guide them
towards a strong understanding of any
concept or content.
I hadn't intended to teach the lesson
about birds using sheep. It was the
students who took me to that point. It
allowed me to build on background
knowledge and misconceptions and
also to assess their understanding as we
moved forward together. Next time I
teach this lesson, I will start with
questions: 'Is a Sheep a Bird? How do
we know? Why? Why Not?'
A lot of the value and significance of
student-teacher interaction can be
explored through the work of Lev
20

Chris Williams has been teaching for 25 years in
primary and special education and now works
with school leaders, teachers and students at
schools all over the world, focusing on removing
barriers to learning, language and explanation skills
and teaching through interactions. He is the
founder of Chatta, a teaching approach
based on image and spoken language.
Chatta has been voted into the world's
most impactful education
innovations for three successive
years by Helsinki-based
education influencers and
innovation-seekers,
Hundred.
Vygotsky. Vygotsky's theoretical
framework concludes that social
interaction plays a critical part in
the development of cognition.
Vygotsky believed everything is
learned on two levels. Through
interaction with others and then
integrated into the individual's
understanding. Learning comes from
interaction with others. Explanation,
clarification, correction. Teachers who
value interaction don't simply tell
students what they need to know. They
listen, adapt and constantly invite
students to share their own
understanding. Do they have the
language they need to compose the
sentences required to convey meaning
and clarity to someone else?
Vygotsky also has written much on
'The Zone of Proximal Development,' a
space which exists between not
knowing something and understanding
it deeply. Teacher-student interactions
are vital and enable teachers to know
where to go next when to take some
steps, when to re-teach something or
when to move more quickly.
Without interaction, I could have
simply taught my lesson about birds
and told the students what they needed
to know. Would some students have
still thought a sheep was a bird?
Possibly. Would some students have
realised that chickens were birds?
Perhaps.
It's quick and easy to interact with
students throughout any lesson. Asking
questions and listening to answers can
provide constant feedback to all
teachers and mean that any lesson
becomes a unique experience and a
shared journey towards learning for
students and staff alike.
At the end of
the lesson, I asked
one of the students
who thought sheep were
birds why they weren't. 'Well,
for a start, sheep have four legs,
so they can't possibly be birds,' he
said as other students began to join in
with other reasons.
Student-teacher interaction can be the
very essence of teaching and learning
itself. Simple questions can elicit the
most powerful responses and act as a
golden thread through any successful
lesson. 'What do you think? Why? How
do you know? What else do you know
about this? What don't you know?
What aren't you sure about? What
questions do you have?'
There is nothing more powerful!
Chris
Williams
About the Author
21

International School of Madrid (ISM)
Imbibing Excellence in Upcoming Generation
The country has been providing one of
the world's best educations for
centuries that helps the pupils learn the
mixture of tradition and innovation that
makes the students culturally diverse.
Catering to the comprehensive and
innovative curriculum, the
International School of Madrid
(ISM), located in the heart of Spain's
capital, Madrid, has followed the
British curriculum from the early years
foundation stage.
The school's 80 percent syllabus
emphasizes the British curriculum as it
helps the pupils to get global platforms
all over the world. And 20 percent of
the syllabus focus on Spanish
languages, literature, and culture,
which prepare students for their future
pedagogies.
In the quest for 'The 5 Best
International Schools in Spain,
2022', we catered the International
School of Madrid (ISM). We
interviewed the Head Teacher, Mr
Richard Cook, where he shared the
school's inception journey and its
future endeavours.
To get detailed information about the
institute, dive down.
The Blooming Seed
International School of Madrid (ISM)
is a British school located in the centre
of Madrid, the capital of Spain, and
was founded in 1971. From the Early
Years Foundation Stage at age two to
the Sixth Form at age 18, where
students study for A-levels, the school
adhere to the complete British
curriculum (equivalent to a Spanish
Bachillerato, a French Baccalaureate or
st
the 1 year of university undergraduate
in the US).
Although the school's students enrol in
universities all over the world,
including the United Kingdom and the
United States, about 20 percent of the
curriculum is dedicated to the Spanish
language, literature, and culture so that
those students who wish to stay in
Spain are well prepared for the future.
This is in addition to the British
curriculum.
th
The institution celebrated its 50 -
anniversary last year. With almost 800
pupils, the school has maintained its
family atmosphere; it has expanded
from a small school to one of Madrid's
ﬁrst international institutions while
producing exceptional academic
outcomes.
Declaracion De Vision Y Mission
When we ask Mr Cook about the
vision and mission of the institute, he
says, "Our mission is to prepare our
students to be engaged citizens who
can thrive in any city or country in
which they might live in the future. We
educate children of many races, beliefs
and languages, so they may live in
peace and harmony, appreciating and
understanding each other's
backgrounds and cultures. Currently,
we have students from over 35 diﬀerent
very parent's dream is to build
Ea strong education foundation,
which will help their children
become more creative and innovative
with the transforming developments of
the world.
Having said that, to provide strong
excellence in the early ages of the
children, parents seek such schools
where their children get a structured
pedagogical curriculum which assists a
successive career in their future.
Along with a structured curriculum,
everyone wants their children to learn
fundamental values like Respect,
Loyalty, and Friendship for being
responsible citizens of the country and
the world. While saying so, the
children don't learn all these values at
their college; they learn all these
fundamental values during school.
The school shape the children into
better and successive human being.
Moreover, integrating the fundamental
values and structured curriculum helps
the children get their desired future
path. While imbibing excellence, the
schools adopt a British curriculum in
their schools.
Furthermore, when anyone apprehends
about British curricula, they begin
reminiscing the British empire with its
long list of honours, triumphs and
inventions.
Apart from it, the British empire is also
widely known for its education system.
22

academic attainment through arts-
related activities.
Until 2014, he worked as Deputy to
ISM's founder, Anne Mazón, where he
quickly learned the importance of
knowing every child individually – by
their names, skills and interests,
strengths and areas for development.
He gained the ability to be a 'hands-on
head,' to be an active participant in all
facets of school life and to understand
the immense power of forgiveness and
patience. Richard is not just the current
head teacher but also the Executive
Secretary of NABSS and a seasoned
inspector of British schools (National
Association of British Schools in
Spain). He plays a crucial role in
defending and advancing British
education in Spain because he is an
executive committee member.
Advancements in Education through
e-Learning
Technology plays an essential role in
school life. The school has three
computer suites, interactive screens,
and computers. The school has started
implementing a 1:1 device programme
in 2021, ensuring that every student in
grades 3 to 9 can access a tablet or
computer for research.
Every student has a Google Classroom
account, and the school has
nationalities within the school, which
allows us all to learn from one
another."
Sliding down further, he states, "We
believe in practical, hands-on learning
that prepares pupils for the real world.
Our theme is not 'I teach; you learn'
as much as 'We are all here to learn
from each other.' The school's motto is
'Respect, Loyalty and Friendship,'
which includes the importance of good
manners and correct social behaviour,
as well as positive discipline, in which
we teach children to ﬁgure out the
beneﬁts of this discipline for
themselves. We also encourage self-
expression, along with individual skills
and talents, as well as outstanding
academic achievement, our pupils
excel in sports and the arts."
An Eager and Enthusiast
Educationist
Richard Cook is currently in his 18th
year at the ISM; before that, he spent
several years as a primary school
teacher in London and as part of a UK
government programme to increase
subscriptions to many educational
websites, such as Pearson's Active
Learn and Oxford's Oxford Owl.
International Exposures
While mentioning the advancements,
Mr Cook mentions the global exposure
for the students, asserting that he
postulates, "Over 35 nationalities are
represented at our school, and we
regularly learn about these countries
and their cultures. Many of our
students choose to spend one term or
one year of their school life
temporarily in another country, such as
France or England. Career events
expose pupils to universities from
around the world and around 20
percent of our students each year go on
to study in universities outside of Spain
or the UK."
Envision the Future that the School
Desires!
While envisioning the future, Dr Cook
notes, "The school will always be a
family school. Our values will never
change. However, we will keep
enhancing our facilities, increasing our
use of technology and adapting our
curriculum to ensure that it meets the
st
needs of 21 -century learners and
citizens of the future."
“
We educate
children of many
races, beliefs and
languages so that
they may live in
peace and harmony,
appreciating and
understanding each
other's backgrounds
and cultures.
23

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Málaga Institute of
Technology SLL - MIT School
Redefining Student's Holistic Growth
Such a mindset has been the key aspect
of global advancement in the education
niche. These essential changes,
followed by an optimistic attitude,
have been possible with the
introduction of education around the
globe.
Education is an important part of
contemporary society that has been
playing a vital role in the
advancements of human civilisation.
Parallelly, inclusive leadership in the
space of education is uplifting society
with Málaga Institute of Technology
SLL – MIT School.
Under the light of its Principal, Javier
Díaz Cabrera, the institution has been
aiming to provide better education to
the students.
In the following story, we will walk
through the achievements of MIT and
learn about the ways it provides better
education.
Journey to Becoming a Prestigious
Institution
The world has been shifting towards
advancement, and in the process, MIT
leaves no stone unturned. Travelling
has been the prime factor in the
developmental changes that have been
introduced to the world. While
travelling, humans have learned and
adapted the traditions and methods of
various countries that have been
grabbing the global spotlight. And the
most important thing that humans have
learnt from each other is language.
Small changes can make a big
difference.
Along the developmental
progression, the evolutionary
timeline has been generating
the need for humans to adapt to change
throughout their life. These basic needs
are essential in the growth and
development of the human race and
have made various efforts and implied
essential measures for ensuring a better
future.
This ideated future-centric mindset and
the correct measures to promise better
development have proved that the
human mind is not only extremely
capable but also intelligent for the
socio-economic development of
society.
26

and safeguard a good life. Various
institutes come up with different
strategies to focus on this goal and
ensure proper learning and a better
future for the students.
Moreover, as globalization is spreading
its wings worldwide, learning about
different cultures worldwide has been
an essential part of education these
days. Aligning its vision with the
aforementioned objective, MIT has
become the exchange point of teaching
and learning methods, using the latest
technologies like wireless networks,
remote tutoring, digital interactive
whiteboards, etc.
Highlighting the institute's mission,
Javier says, "MIT is on a mission to get
the best results from each student. The
institute offers determined
programs based on
languages, emotional
intelligence, sports/
activities and new
technologies. This provides
an opportunity for the
students to obtain
maximum results in the
different disciplines."
Vision:
MIT has been a prestigious
institute for a long time. It
has always retained its
reputation by enhancing its
skills and programs with
time. The institute has
always looked up to the
betterment of its students
and their future.
Pressing extra emphasis on
MIT's vision, Javier
highlights, "We were
working with an intensive
exchange program for
students in 2019, before the
COVID entered Spain and
As known worldwide, the acquired
knowledge of the regional language of
any country is essential in the modern
era. This has given rise to the inclusion
of different languages in the school
curriculum.
To ensure that the students have proper
knowledge of different languages, MIT
has based its curriculum on
'bilingualism'. Moreover, it is the first
and only school in Europe (maybe in
the world) to include Chinese
Mandarin in its syllabus back in 2010.
MIT offers total bilingualism for 3-5
years old students, gives priority to the
proper learning of these students, and
has made it mandatory for the use of
English as the main language at school
for students between the age group of 6
to 15. All subjects except Spanish are
in the English language. Along with
English, the institution also teaches
German language from 3rd of Primary
onwards.
Sounds astonishing, right? But this is
just the start.
Javier quotes, "Apart from the
educational part, MIT also offers
Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality,
Holograms, Technology and
Programming, Robotics, Aikido, Horse
Riding, Chinese and Yoga/Taichi in its
compulsory curriculum."
"Students will also have the
opportunity to get the official
Cambridge / Hanban certificates for
English and Chinese, and the Dual
Diploma (US High School certificate),"
he further adds.
Mission, Vision and Values
The primary focus of every institution
must be the education of its children. It
provides a chance for students to be
literate, move ahead in their careers,
Happy students
will become happy
people; consequently,
happy people with
outstanding language
levels will be prepared
for any challenge that
they may find in the
future.
“
“
27

students; e-Learning provides a perfect
opportunity to learn without travelling
anywhere.
One such circumstance has been the
COVID-19 pandemic. Upon enquiring
Javier about the school's response in
dealing with the pandemic situation, he
puts, "We are offering face-to-face
classes nowadays, but in March 2020,
we were the first and only Spanish
school and high school in the province
offering a full online schedule to all the
students, respecting the same timetable
as before the lockdown, including
subjects as PE, Yoga, Aikido, Music,
etc, subjects that other schools decided
not to impart."
The institute also includes the
secondary school and dual diploma
program that allows the students to
complete two qualifications at the same
time.
Extra Care with Extra-curricular
Activities
The world has well recognised the
need for education in the modern era,
but there are other elements apart from
conventional education whose need has
been recognised recently. These
elements are extra-curricular and co-
curricular activities, and the list may
go on!
Globally, people from all over the
world know the importance of these
curricular activities. As a school, MIT
things to ensure that the students can
deal with any obstacles in their
personal and professional lives
successfully.
MIT prepares its students to face real-
life challenges to attain true success
and lead a life full of happiness.
We asked Javier about this unique
perspective of the school, to which he
said, "Happy students will become
happy people; consequently, happy
people with outstanding language
levels will be prepared for any
challenge that they may find in the
future."
Enhancement of International
Students through e-Learning
Globalization has brought the world
closer. Also, it has removed the global
barrier that was once created by
distance.
Moreover, in contemporary times,
people want their children to be
educated and civilised with respect to
st
the norms of 21 -century. Students
travel to various countries to complete
their education and gain the knowledge
required to carve their way towards a
good life.
Travelling is not always possible for
students with various circumstances
that pose to be barriers. In such times,
online education is the perfect solution
considering the context of international
Europe, sending our students to China
and programming new exchanges with
Germany and the UK. This will come
back soon to our project and plans for
the future. We will also open and
establish the first Spanish school in
China and increase the number of
places with remodelling works at the
current school."
An Outstanding Leader
Every institute requires a leader that
can devise the best strategies for the
advancement, development and growth
of the institute and its students. MIT
has one such leader, Javier Díaz
Cabrera, who is taking the institute and
its students towards a holistic arc of
development.
Intertwining the institute's objective
with his personal goals, Javier says,
"Our mission is to see beyond what is
happening right now. We must prepare
students for a reality that they will find
15 years later to say the least."
Envisioning Better Future
MIT is an institute that mainly aims to
provide students with the pleasure of
learning and make them capable
enough to reach their full potential and
forge their way towards a happy life.
With its primal focus on academic
learning, MIT is also focused on being
an institute that teaches its students
about life. The school wants to be
remembered for its way of handling

understands this and allows its students
to participate in different activities to
enhance their physical and mental
strengths.
The school offers more than 30
different options for all grades. These
options include Horse Riding, Abacus,
Ballet, Aikido, Language support,
Paddle tennis, Robotics and even Car
Driving lessons for high school
students.
"We assume this comprehensive
program that will work from October
to May and from Mondays to Fridays
will be available again for the next
academic year," mentions Javier.
Reaching Global Heights
'Everything is possible' has been the
uproar of the global community.
Following this, humans have
developed several skills that have
helped them achieve many goals, along
with a multicultural approach that has
become the need of the hour. This has
also led students to choose to learn in
other countries.
Stating about the initiatives launched
by the institute to provide global
exposure, Javier expresses, "We are the
only Spanish school in Andalusia with
more than 40 percent of the total
number of students not being Spanish
speakers and coming from more than
25 different nationalities, all of them
following a very specific successful
Spanish support program that will
allow them to get the best results at the
same time they are achieving their
respective grades successfully."
Adding further, MIT has opened its
gates to students from all over the
world. The institute provides them with
better education according to the
student's needs. And students from
many countries have been happily
studying at the institute and aspire to
enrol in the coming years.
Preparing for the Future
As the future of any student does not
depend on education alone, one needs
to learn about leading a good and
meaningful life. A healthy body and
mind are the ultimate gift for any
student in every stage of life. Also,
knowledge of new technologies and
gadgets is important to compete in the
modern technological world.
Javier notes, "The use of new
technologies for learning purposes,
extra sports activities, horse riding and
top languages levels are available for
our students that makes a big
difference with the rest of the Spanish
schools."
MIT aims to help their students not
only with their education but also with
the way of life they will live after
completing their studies.
Achievements and Awards
MIT has been active in every aspect of
society. It has the vision to provide
every opportunity to each of its
students and never fails in its
accomplishment. The students from
this institute have participated in many
competitions and have won with flying
colours.
Similarly, MIT has also won several
awards for its services and skills. Some
of these achievements are:
Ÿ Gold Work Medal 2018, One of
the 50 best Business
Companies in Spain 2019
Ÿ One of the two best Bilingual
schools in Spain 2019
Ÿ Best School in Spain 2019
Ÿ Best School in Andalusia 2020
Ÿ Certificate of Excellence in
Business Management 2021
Ÿ First Prize on Digitalization in
Spain 2021
Ÿ First European Prize
in Innovation and Technology
2022.
“
“
We must
prepare students for
a reality that they
will find 15 years
later.
29 022

30

P r a c t i c e s
Importance
of Inclusive Learning
in International
Schools
long with providing high-
Aquality education, it is equally
important to provide ethical
values to the students. In society and in
their professional lives, students will
have to interact with people from all
walks of life. The values of inclusion
learnt in the schools can be the key to
this aspect. Getting familiar with
diverse people from an early age
makes it easier in the future for
students to indulge and accommodate
people from various walks of life.
It is the right of every child to study in
a discrimination-free environment, and
international schools try to preserve
that with innovative practices and
policies.
Inculcating Diversity
31

International schools, more than
traditional schools, are expected to
have diversity. It includes students and
teachers. The aspect of inclusion is
highly prioritized at international
schools and to help specially-abled
students. It is usually done through
collaborative learning.
The belief that every child can learn
and reach their full potential if they are
given equal opportunities to participate
in school, are supported with the
resources they need, and are taught in a
way that meets their needs, becomes
the foundation of inclusion in
education.
Although inclusive learning is
applicable everywhere, it becomes
more relevant in the international
school environment.
Integrated Education
A system of education in which
students from different backgrounds
learn together is called integrated
education. It is an inclusive procedure
that emphasizes equality and inclusion.
Everyone comes together for a more
meaningful experience, including
students with special abilities and those
from economically disadvantaged
backgrounds. Children are instilled
with a sense of belonging and respect
from a young age, which will help
them become better people in the
future. This practice encourages
community education. To make it
possible, it is essential to make
education more engaging, and the use
of new technologies can be an ideal
solution to this.
Over the years, e-Learning has been
helpful in educating children,
especially in the last few years when
the pandemic prevented them from
attending school. The system is flexible
and effective. Today, several audio-
video tools are available to teachers to
keep students engaged even when they
are learning from home.
Digital education has also helped
students gain technological skills,
which have become crucial in the
current times.
Implementing an integrated school
management system is the ideal way to
construct an inclusive school system.
In order to provide the ideal learning
environment for all of its students,
regardless of their backgrounds or
other factors, every educational
establishment ought to take this step.
International schools have prioritized
this since there is usually more
diversity than in traditional schools.
Special Education
Students with mild to moderate needs
typically receive special education
services at international schools. The
majority of international schools divide
students with special needs into
categories like mild needs, moderate
needs and intensive needs. Some
students are expected to face mid-level
difficulties while learning, and it is
important to take special care of them.
It is important not to let them feel that
they are being left out.
Mainstream Education
In mainstream education practices,
students with special needs are kept in
the same class as regular students.
Mainstreaming is slightly different
from normal inclusive learning
practices. In mainstreaming, the
students are not completely part of the
regular classrooms. They will need
extra care in some subjects, and in
other subjects, they may study with
regular students. It is important for
regular students to be supportive of
students with special needs. It also
benefits the regular students by
allowing them to interact with special
needs students. The entire classroom
becomes more sensitive. Sometimes,
students with mild special needs adjust
to the regular classroom environment,
and thus, they can be regular students
too.
According to research, educating
special needs students alongside
regular students fosters an environment
of acceptance and tolerance that better
equips students of all abilities to
operate in the world outside of the
classroom. Participating in an inclusive
physical education program for regular
students results in improvements in
self-concept, tolerance, self-worth, and
an improved understanding of other
people. These students can be ideal
civilians in the future, and they will
help in creating an inclusive
environment in society.
Students with special needs will have
better social skills with mainstreaming.
With mainstreaming, they will be in
regular contact with the regular
students. This interaction will give
them higher self-esteem.
Mainstreaming will also push them to
perform better, and they can be more
successful academically.
International schools, with a diverse
environment, are expected to make
extra efforts to include all the students
in the learning process. Along with
special needs students, there can be
other students from different
backgrounds and specifications. These
people may also find it difficult to
interact with others with a lack of
social skills and low self-esteem.
International schools can make them
feel comfortable with the inclusion
practices.
32

Quick
Quick
Guide Writing your Personal Statement
O
ne of the challenges many
international students face
when they prepare for
admission into UK universities is
struggling to write a personal
statement.
What is a personal statement?
A personal statement is a crucial part
of the application process for
admission into UK universities written
by the applicant (student). It's the only
part where students have full control
with the opportunity to talk about their
unique individuality, demonstrate their
talents, passion, ambitions, skills,
experience, and why they want to
study the university course degree,
they plan to apply for.
How to write a personal statement?
There is no right formula for how to
write a personal statement. Redraft
your statement until you're happy with
it. However, it can be a key factor to
complement your application and your
chance to demonstrate what makes you
unique and something memorable
about yourself to the university
admission team, which would give
them a reason to want to meet you in
person and offer you a place.
What should your personal
statement include?
Since a personal statement is meant to
identify your uniqueness, never try to
copy the other personal statements
studies? Future career plans (how you
will use your qualification after you
finish the course).
Here are a few questions you may like
to reflect on that may help you when
drafting your personal statement –
Ÿ Why have you chosen this course?
Ÿ What excites you about the
subject?
Ÿ Is my previous or current study
relevant to the course?
Ÿ Have you got any work experience
relevant to the course that might
help you?
Ÿ What life experiences have you had
that you could talk about?
Ÿ What achievements are you proud
of?
Ÿ What skills do you have that make
you perfect for the course?
Ÿ What plans and ambitions do you
have for your future career?
Tip to consider when writing your
personal statement
Remember you have to write it to
cover all the courses you're applying
for, so avoid mentioning a university or
college by name and ideally choose
similar subjects. If you're planning to
apply for varied degree courses, then
write about common themes - like
problem-solving or creativity. Check
what skills and qualities the
university(s) you are applying to are
seeking, that you may have and you
can emphasize.
from the internet. There are plenty of
resources online, which you can read
for inspiration, but you should never at
no cost copy and paste.
What is the typical format?
A personal statement can be up to
4,000 characters long (equivalent to 47
lines) and no less than 1000 characters.
Choose your words carefully, and
avoid complicated fancy words to
sound smart; simplicity is the key. Try
to avoid italics, bold, underlining,
fancy fonts, or adding hyperlinks.
Make sure you check the grammar,
spelling and punctuation carefully.
Why are you applying?
Your reasons for choosing the course
and explanation of why you
particularly want to study in the UK.
Why does the chosen subject interest
you?
Include evidence that you understand
what's required to study the course.
What makes you suitable?
You can indicate any particular skills
and experience that will help you to
succeed in the course. A brief of how
you have already gained knowledge of
the subject you wish to study. Any
work or activity that relates directly to
the subject you wish to study,
including interests, hobbies, and
voluntary work. What do you enjoy
most about your current or previous
34

About
the
Author
She spent over 18 years working as a UK Higher Education consultant and admission
expert, where she is a member of many professional educational organizations.
Having dealt with hundreds of students and parents since 2005, and seeing how
many struggles with making vital decisions when it comes to educational choices
and knowing what would be the best option for them, she understands the
questions and concerns many families face during this puzzling but exciting time in
the student's educational journey.
She has successfully guided numerous families and students through the decision
and admission process with simpliﬁed steps, her ﬁrst-hand knowledge of the
admission world and unique approach helps families and students to identify the
best match, with valuable solutions to various problems and concerns faced during
their journey.
She is involved in social and government projects and holds various webinar
awareness and conference talks to the community on university admission planning
and preparation. Her mission was to enable students and families to make informed
decisions for their educational path.
Shoroq
Fandi
Higher Education Advisor
and Founder, Wiser Study
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The 5 Best International Schools in Spain, 2022.pdf

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