Tailored individual learning
Even virtually, schools are focused on getting the best from every pupil, says Judy Vickers
Home schooling, blended learning, Google Teams and Zoom – the last few months have seen some of the most dramatic changes ever in the education system; changes which came with a whole new vocabulary that has now become part of our day- to- day lexicon.
Parents, teachers and pupils had to adapt fast when schools were closed due to the Covid- 19 pandemic in March. It was a steep learning curve, but John Edward, director of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools ( SCIS), believes that the innovative response of independent schools sector more than proved its value and relevance to 21st- century Scotland.
He says: “Teachers worked through the Easter holidays and had a full distance- learning programme in place by the new term. Pupils, more or less, didn’t miss a beat from one term to the next. Many had six hours direct contact time – that’s pretty much a full school day.”
The SCIS represents 73 independent schools, including the vast majority of mainstream institutions out of just over 100 in Scotland. Their member schools educate about 4 per cent of Scottish children – almost 6 per cent of secondary school pupils – equating to just under 30,000 pupils, with more than 90 per cent day pupils.
These numbers have proved robust, staying steady despite crises ranging from the financial crash of 2008, which left great economic uncertainty in its wake, to the present pandemic.
The sector is worth about
£ 30 million to £ 35m, and pupil numbers are actually beginning to rise. Edward at least partly attributes this to the sector’s performance during the pandemic, saying: “Schools have been able to deliver, and people are putting their faith in them.”
And he maintains that this was possible due to one of independent schools’ most important plus points – their autonomy: “It is this which gives them the ability to tailor the curriculum, the methodology, the learning support, the technology to the individual pupil and to the school itself. Nothing has demonstrated that better than the way they have responded to coronavirus.”
Dr Michael Carslaw, headmaster at St Leonards in St Andrews, believes that independent schools have stayed relevant in a modern world because they are innovative and offer different, often unique, learning programmes.
He says: “There are a lot of interesting things going on in independent schools. We are one of only of 41 schools worldwide and the only one in Scotland to be accredited to the International Baccalaureate’s four programmes. And I know a lot of independent schools are doing special things as well. It’s part of a healthy diversity.”
With the new school year and pupils returning to real classrooms, there have been fresh challenges for the sector – not least figuring out how to hold open days, traditionally a time of welcoming families of potential new pupils to see for themselves what the schools have to offer.
But, as with lockdown, innovation has been the key. Many schools have turned to online options, including George Watson’s College in Edinburgh, which is holding a virtual open morning on Saturday, 3 October, with 69 live events scheduled covering every aspect of the school’s life.
Jenny Mcgill, admissions registrar, says: “Families choose from a programme of events which suit their own areas of interest in the school, with each event lasting around 20 minutes.”
Choices include Preschool: Why We Believe In Adventures, Music – LIVE!, A Day in the Life of Senior School, and The World Beyond Watson’s.
Mcgill continues: “Everyone has
“We know being ambitious and inventive is very
important”
put an enormous amount of effort into creating this live open morning. We have over 60 events, all live, coming from 12 different locations in and around the school campus.
“We appreciate that choosing an independent school is a big decision for any family. And, without the traditional open event, we know being ambitious and inventive in our approach is very important.”
That ambition has been rewarded, with registrations for the school’s open morning already showing an increase in ‘ attendance’ from last year’s real- life event.
Virtual open days are also being held at Kilgraston School in Perthshire, which caters for girls aged five to 18, on Saturday, 3 October at 11am, and at The Compass School, for children aged three to 12, in East Lothian, on the same day at 10am.
Strathallan School in rural Perthshire, a co- educational day and boarding school, is holding virtual open days on 10 and 31 October, which are being run via webinar with senior staff on hand to answer any questions and explain the opportunities the school offers pupils. Parents will also be given the chance to take a school tour during the week of the webinar on an appointment- only basis.
Wellington School in Ayr, for girls and boys aged three to 18, is in the process of organising a virtual open day. Dates and details are not available as yet – e- mail info@ wellingtonschool. org for more information.
St Leonards in Fife is holding personalised tours – call the school to book – but is also planning a virtual open day with Q& A sessions.
Other schools have gone for a more individual approach. Clifton Hall School in Edinburgh, a co- ed school for children aged three to 18, has not held formal open days for several years – prospective parents were instead asked to contact the admissions team and arrange a tour. This year, tours are out of the question but personal meetings with the headmaster, Rod Grant, are still being arranged.
Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh, for boys aged seven to 18, is also eschewing a traditional open day this year. Instead, the school is offering one- to- one personalised tours, to meet the headmaster and look over the grounds.
With the teaching and boarding areas unable to be visited due to current restrictions, there is a new 360- degree interactive digital tour, which shows inside the classrooms, boarding houses and other facilities, ‘ meeting’ staff and pupils along the way.
At the Edinburgh Steiner School, which caters for children aged three to 18, individual families are being offered a walk around the campus out of school hours with the Chair of College, and virtual tours can be accessed on its website.
Morrison’s Academy in Crieff, for children aged three to 18, has already held its virtual open day but digital packs are available, personal socially distanced tours of the school can be arranged.
St George’s School for Girls in Edinburgh has also had digital open days, but again personalised visits are available.