The International School of Nice achieves High Performance Learning World Class School Award​

The International School of Nice (ISN) is proud to announce a major milestone in its pursuit of educational excellence—officially earning the High Performance Learning (HPL) World Class School Award. This prestigious distinction makes ISN the only school in France to achieve HPL status, underscoring its dedication to fostering global citizens through a transformative and forward-thinking approach to education.

High Performance Learning is a research-based framework designed to maximise the potential of every student. It empowers learners to develop the cognitive skills, values, and attitudes necessary for success both in and beyond the classroom. As Emily Morgan, ISN’s Director of Quality Assurance & Accreditation and HPL Secondary Lead, shares: “HPL is a perfect fit for ISN’s mission and vision. Over the past two years, we’ve woven HPL values and characteristics into the very fabric of our teaching, and we are already seeing how it enhances our IB and IGCSE programmes. The impact on our students’ growth and confidence is remarkable.”

ISN Director Mel Curtis highlights the broader impact of this achievement: “At ISN, we are very proud to be an accredited High Performance Learning school, which is a research-based, pedagogy-led philosophy that responds to our growing understanding of human capability. It is very evident when you are in ISN that a High Performance culture is truly embedded into everything we do—from children articulating their learning in the classroom to working collaboratively and engaging in creative and critical thinking tasks across all areas of learning. Pastorally, students are given opportunities to develop skills within Values, Attitudes, and Attributes (VAAs), supporting them in overcoming barriers and challenges along their learning journey. We carefully plan lessons that incorporate the five Advanced Cognitive Performance Characteristics (ACPs): Meta-cognition, Linking, Realising, Creating, and Analysing.”

As part of the HPL journey at ISN, staff received intensive training from HPL Coach Melanie Saunders. The workshop equipped teachers with practical strategies to incorporate HPL principles into their classrooms, enabling them to create a more student-centred, dynamic learning environment.

Science Coordinator Mélanie Laroche reflected on the experience, saying: “The training gave us invaluable tools to teach beyond academic knowledge. Through HPL, our students gain the life skills and mindsets needed for lifelong success.” 

Similarly, Santanu Bhowmik, IB Coordinator, highlighted the positive impact on his department: “HPL has helped us rethink how we engage students with mathematical concepts, focusing on their confidence and perseverance. It’s a game-changer for how we teach.”

ISN is a proud member of Globeducate and HPL is closely aligned with ISN’s identity as an IB World School, supporting our commitment to holistic, inquiry-based learning. This synergy enriches our student-centred approach, fostering values like empathy, resilience, and respect—qualities essential for navigating an increasingly complex world.

Having achieved full HPL accreditation, ISN continues to lead the way in educational innovation. As Professor Deborah Eyre, Founder of High Performance Learning, remarked: “It’s wonderful to see ISN’s commitment to excellence recognised. You are part of an elite group of schools globally that are transforming the future of education.”

This milestone underscores ISN’s unwavering commitment to delivering an exceptional educational experience for every student. As HPL becomes further integrated into the school’s daily practices, ISN looks ahead with excitement, confident that this transformative approach will continue to shape resilient, creative thinkers, ready to make a meaningful impact on the world.