International school in Geneva to open state-of-the-art secondary campus

A brand new international secondary school for Geneva, Switzerland, will open its doors in September 2017 to deliver progressive learning within a state-of-the-art environment. Geneva English School, one of the most respected international primary schools in Geneva for over 50 years will, for the very first time, offer an education for secondary students.

GES Secondary will combine innovative approaches for secondary learning with the school ethos that, since 1961, has focused on providing a caring, community-oriented, small school atmosphere that nurtures individual pupils with a global outlook.

Creating a new school from scratch means the environment will be totally fit-for-purpose for secondary students today. Renowned Dutch educational architect Dirk Jan Postel, a partner at Kraaijvanger Architects in The Netherlands is designing the interior environment. “In contrast with the school of the past (with classrooms along a corridor), we are creating an inspiring atmosphere with contrasting elements suited for different functions: soft and quiet; technical and dynamic; primitive and raw; sophisticated and refined,” he says. “The space should not only teach the children knowledge, but enable them to co-operate, be creative in a group, and learn how to learn.”

Dirk has already created an interim space on the existing primary campus for an initial group of Year 7 students who, this academic year, are leading the way for GES into secondary learning.

These Year 7 children are getting a glimpse of what life will be like next year when GES Secondary opens just three kilometres from the primary school. A single secondary classroom contains tessellating tables to optimise different learning opportunities; from individual work, to small or big group collaborations. There is also what’s called The Cube; a snug ‘room-within-a-room’ for quiet relaxed study and discussions, plus a white-wall (an entire wall-and-floor-whiteboard) allowing for the sharing of ideas and learning in an engaging, ‘think-big’ way.

GES has appointed highly skilled and dynamic teachers from England for the secondary school who are making the most of the interim learning space that Dirk designed.

“This is a room built for good teaching,” says GES Secondary Maths teacher David Flynn. His colleague Catherine Peart who is leading the learning of English for the secondary students adds: “Even as an interim classroom, this space is so functional for learning. It enables teaching and learning that doesn’t waste time, that gives lots more options for the way we go about the learning, that engages the children. It’s fantastic having a new, purposely designed space for children to learn.”

The Year 7 children are just as enthusiastic about their learning space. “I like it because you can get up and move around to where you want to be to work best; you don’t lose focus when you do this,” says pupil Lucie. Her classmate Maria Louiza adds: “My younger brother and sister can’t wait to be in Year 7!”

Melanie McGarry, a parent of one of the Year 7 students says, “You can’t fault the education happening in Year 7. The children have an energy to learn and it’s reciprocated by the teachers. The children talk about their classroom a lot. They really enjoy the space; they love their cube, their whiteboards, the different places to interact within the space; it’s much more than just a classroom to them. They like how it’s been thought out for their needs.”

Melanie shows no concern that her daughter is the first cohort in a brand new secondary school. “I didn’t feel that I was taking a risk by selecting GES Secondary for my daughter, not at all!” she says. “I felt I was taking more of a risk by sending her somewhere else. My choice was not just down to the academic learning, although that is very important. It was more about being certain my daughter was getting a well-rounded education. I could see the effort and attention to detail that went into the learning at GES Primary and was confident this would continue into the secondary years, which it has.”

Teaching and learning in the new GES Secondary will expand on what the Year 7 children are experiencing this year. From September 2017, places will be available for Year 7, 8 and 9 children (those aged between 11 and 14) and the school will then expand an additional school year each academic year.

Pupils will work towards the highly acclaimed IGCSEs (International GCSEs) at Year 11. “The English National Curriculum and its qualifications are recognised by the best universities around the world,” says GES Headmaster, Tim Meunier. Combine these qualifications with inspiring, collaborative approaches to learning within a state-of-the-art environment and with the GES ethos at the core, and we absolutely believe we can succeed in developing individuals who are ready to embrace tomorrow’s world.”

More information is available at www.geneva-english-school.ch/classes/ges-secondary