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Alicante
British
Primay School
El Limonar
(espanol)
Newton
College
The English School
Xabia
Int'l College
Asturias
English school of Asturias
Barcelona
American
School
Benjamin
Franklin International School
Blossom International Kindergarten
Col.legi
Europa School
Bilbao
American
School
Madrid
British
Council School
Hastings
School
International
College
International
School of Madrid
Runnymede
College
Malaga
Aloha
College
International
School Estepona
Mayfair
International Academy
The Music
Factory
The Peter Pan Bilingual Nursery Schools
Sunland
Int'l School
Mallorca
Baleares
Int'l School
Murcia
El Limonar
(espanol)
Sotogrande
International
School
Valencia
American
School
Caxton College
Language Schools
English
Connection, Madrid
Hispania Center, Madrid
Hispania
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International School of Madrid
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School Profile:
Founded 1971
550 students, aged 3 - 18
British Curriculum
(SATs, IGCSE, AS and A levels) 50 staff .
Address
Primary:
Calle Rosa Jardón 3, 28016 Madrid Email ismprimary@terra.es
Secondary:
Calle serrano Galvache 13, 28033, Madrid, Spain. Email: ismadrid@terra.es
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History
The International School of Madrid, which as the International Primary
School had provided an education in English since 1971, expanded into
the secondary sector on the occasion of its 25th anniversary in 1996.
In 2000 the secondary section moved to a new site nearby. Since 1999
pupils have been going to British, US, Spanish and other universities.
Location
The Primary school is conveniently located in the Chamartin area of
northern Madrid, near the Pio XII metro station, with good elevation
and little pollution. The secondary building, built site is nearby,
close to Arturo Soria street
The Principal, Mrs. Anne Mazón, is British, and has her degree
from London University. She has more than thirty years experience,
teaching in schools in England, the U.S.A. and Spain. She has her
office in Primary, where she teaches religion.
Mr. Michael Wickham is Head of Secondary, and since 1996 has been
responsible for the secondary section. He has an M.A. and P.G.C.E.
in Geography from Oxford University, and has taught in the state system
in the U.K., in an English international school in Barcelona and in
a Spanish school in Madrid.
Education at ISM
I.S.M. is a British school permitted to accept Spanish students. Pupils
are aged 3 to 18 years. As well as the subjects normally studied in
British schools, pupils receive daily Spanish lessons. From Year 1
up, all students take both Spanish language and Social studies. In
the primary section there is integrated topic work, where the British
and Spanish staff work together in the classroom on different aspects
of History, Geography and Science. Children who change to the Spanish
system have their studies validated.
The student body is of mixed nationality and these varied backgrounds
of race, language and creed enrich the school environment. No one,
we may say, feels different where all are different. However, there
is a strong native English-speaking contingent in all classes. This
we feel is important in order to maintain the high level of English
necessary for exam success. Students can easily transfer to U.S.,
British and other schools, and the school has an excellent record
of passes in the end of Key Stage, IGCSE, Advanced Level and Cambridge
English language exams. The aim in the secondary section is to continue
this high standard of academic work, preparing our students for entry
into universities anywhere in the world.
Examinations
The school is an official examination centre of Cambridge International
Examinations.
Students sit the Cambridge Key English Test (K.E.T.) in Year 6 and
the National Curriculum end of Key Stage 2 tests. The Preliminary
English Test (P.E.T.) is taken in Year 7. In Year 9 most students
take the First Certificate English (F.C.E.) exam, and all take the
end of Key Stage 3 tests in Mathematics, Science and English. In Year
10 students sit English as a Second Language and Spanish as a Foreign
Language IGCSE examinations. In Year 11 students take the rest of
the IGCSE exams in a variety of subjects, and embark on A/AS level
courses afterwards, being examined in these in Years 12 and 13.Pupils
that wish to take Spanish university entrance examinations study their
specific options in Year 13.The school has a 100% pass rate in these
examinations, students going to the private and public examinations
of their choice.
Philosophy
To 'educate', as defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is to 'bring up
(young persons); to give intellectual, spiritual and moral training
to'. This is our objective at the International School of Madrid:
to prepare our students for the world of the 21st Century.
For 25 years the school provided an excellent primary and middle school
education for its students, who often write back and comment on this
preparation. From September 1996 the school has continued to prepare
its students with a secondary education marked by quality and individual
attention, adapted to the world we live in, but with the same principles
and values which have characterised it up till now.
Education obviously includes teaching, but the former word has a much
wider meaning. We attempt to continue and complement the education
which children have already begun in their homes, but adding to this
professional direction and instruction, attention to the learning
process of children, and the transmission of learning skills and techniques
so that the student develops the ability to learn independently. We
are preparing these children to become worthy citizens of whatever
country they may live in when they grow up. We are educating them
- children of different races, creeds, colours and tongues - to live
together in peace and harmony, appreciating and understanding each
other's different backgrounds and cultures. Our theme is not 'I teach,
you learn.' No! We prefer 'We are all here together to learn from
each other'. And the basis of this philosophy is respect - for classmates
and companions, mutual respect between adults and pupils, respect
for property, for laws, etc. Without respect there cannot be discipline,
nor can there be a happy learning environment. Thus there is an important
emphasis on these values at I.S.M.
In accordance with our philosophy, the education of the whole person
and education for life are the principal aims around which the curriculum
revolves. In order to fulfil these aims successfully, we consider
at I.S.M. that good manners and an attention to social behaviour must
be included among the elements which go to make up the education of
the whole person. For example, as a child must learn good eating habits
and correct table manners at home, so he must at school. This applies
to all areas of social development. The school's philosophy is therefore
to help to develop intellectual, physical, moral, spiritual and artistic
qualities in each student.
One of the ways to achieve this personal development is active participation.
While maintaining the basic MUSTS (correct reading, spelling, grammar,
writing, tables, the 4 rules), I.S.M. encourages the children in active
rather than passive learning. The carefully selected, qualified staff
are there to observe, direct, stimulate, encourage and, where necessary,
control and discipline. Every effort is made to stimulate the student's
interest in his environment and to extract from it knowledge and understanding.
In the younger classes this is done through play experience.
But experience is the key word at all levels. No amount of book learning
can make up for an equal period of first-hand experience. This philosophy
is implicit in the English National Curriculum, which is the foundation,
and forms the guidelines and policies for all subjects taught at I.S.M.
The N.C. is flexible though, and can be adapted to suit the Spanish
environment and culture. Experienced British staff carry out their
teaching so that there is continuity if students move on to schools
in Spain, the UK or other countries. There are frequent written reports
and assessment at all levels, as well as Parent-Teacher Conferences.
At I.S.M. there is an emphasis on good discipline, and students are
helped to see the social and personal benefits of this, whilst at
the same time teachers seek to encourage self-expression, individual
ability and talent. There are few rules, these mostly made for the
safety and comfort of all, but they are expected to be obeyed to the
letter.
Children are encouraged to be, as far as their maturity permits, self-disciplined,
since this is the aim of all, and is the only true discipline. That
which is arbitrarily imposed is usually resented. In Primary there
is a student government in which all pupils from Year 3 up participate,
some of the older students being elected officers or representatives.
Here the everyday running of the school is taken care of and criticisms
and appraisals of pupils and teachers are made. In Secondary the Student
Council fulfils the same function.
Buildings
The Primary building is modern and purpose-built, light, spacious
and cheerful. Although located in the city, there is ample playground
space, with three play areas and a gymnasium.
The secondary building was opened in the year 2000 and has specialised
facilities such as a science laboratory, a computer room, art and
music rooms, and a library asa well as a large, well-equipped gymnasium.(See
photographs).
Physical Education and Sports
Students from Year 4 up are taken out for sports such as football,
basketball and athletics. Swimming is compulsory from Year 2 to Year
7. All classes from Nursery up have twice-weekly PE lessons. From
Year 4 up students participate in all inter-school sports competitions.
The new secondary building on a site close to the school increases
the sports and other facilities at ISM with the large gymnasium. Secondary
pupils have P.E. and Games lessons, using the gym and a local sports
centre for the latter.
Other activities
Judo, riding, guitar, piano, ballet and religious education (children
are taken to Mass and prepared for First Communion and Confirmation),
and basketball and football coaching are options. There are annual
skiing, field, adventure and camping trips.
Library
Reading is greatly encouraged and in Primary there is a library of
over 7000 books in English, of which I.S.M. is justly proud. There
is also a library in secondary in continuous expansion, and there
are reading programmes in English and Spanish.
Computers
The school gives great importance to the teaching of information
and communications technology. Computers are at the disposal of
primary pupils and teacher and all pupils in secondary have the
opportunity of receiving instruction, using the Pentium III computer,
equipped with internet access and scanner. In Years 7 to 9the ICT
courses are supplemented with a typing course.
Careers Guidance
A personalised Careers Guidance Service prepares, informs and guides
students concerning further education, so that they can choose from
the whole range of national and international options for university
entrance. Three members of staff dedicate time to help students
and organise the university visits and career talks, sometimes done
by parents of pupils in the school.
Parents Association
Close contact is maintained with parents individually and through
the Parents Association (A.P.A.).
A MINI UNITED NATIONS
The International School of Madrid endeavours to be a school with
a happy, family type atmosphere. There is a small student body and
this ensures that all pupils know each other, building up lasting
friendships. The students at I.S.M. like to feel that they are a
little United Nations. And who knows? Perhaps these grey-uniformed
boys and girls will be the leaders of the future generation. At
least they will have their International School of Madrid years
to draw on for experience.
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