Recognising the fast-changing nature of the modern world is key to any schooling decisions. A dynamic educational programme will foster transferable skills and prepare children to thrive in the uncertainties of the future. For example, programmes like the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum are recognised worldwide as developing the critical abilities needed for lifelong learning and adaptability. They support students in becoming enquiring, self-directed learners who are motivated to succeed. 

Broad and expansive

A future-oriented curriculum will not limit children’s options but will instead promote a broad and expansive worldview. It will rigorously teach core foundational knowledge, and do so in ways relevant to students’ real-world experiences. Thus, children develop a passion for learning.Highly trained teachers will encourage creativity and risk-taking. This flexibility gives students the courage to experiment and to discover how they themselves best learn. Students grow into independent and critical thinkers capable of tackling new problems in unfamiliar situations.Dynamic schools also focus on collaboration, teamwork and communication. Students learn that even the most talented individuals cannot succeed alone. They recognise the abilities of each member of a team, and harness those skills to strengthen the group. Each student discovers how to lead, how to follow, and how to work together.

Inclusive of all students

Inclusive schools prepare all students for higher education, regardless of their performance in Primary School. They recognise that many students reach their academic potential later than age 13 or 14. For example, some international schools encourage all students to challenge themselves with the rigorous Grade 11 and 12 International Baccalaureate programme. The prestigious IB diploma is respected by universities the world over, including top-ranked schools in North America, the UK, and Switzerland.

Multilingual and multicultural

Enlightened schools are inclusive not just academically, but also culturally and linguistically. Many international schools integrate families from a multitude of nations across the planet. They support students’ mother tongues while teaching academic English fluency. They understand that tomorrow’s workplace involves global alliances and respect for a diversity of perspectives. An educational programme such as the International Baccalaureate also offers students the opportunity to earn a Bilingual Diploma, which recognizes that the graduate has achieved proficiency in another language of their choice. 

Irreplaceable skills

The skills learned at future-looking schools prepare students not just for higher education, but also for the global workforce. In a world of outsourcing and automating repetitive technical tasks, the employees most in demand are those who can collaborate to solve complex problems with innovation, efficiency and diplomacy. A school’s culture and curriculum can prepare its students to be ‘irreplaceable’ in tomorrow’s workplace. Those alumni will have the agility and courage to change careers when needed, or simply when they want a new challenge or experience.For all of the reasons above, many parents find that it is never too early to think about a child’s future.The Inter-Community School Zurich (ICS) is the only school in Zurich that offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum in a multilingual learning environment from ages 3 to 18. ICS welcomes new students throughout the year (depending on space availability). It encourages families to schedule a personal tour with the school’s Admissions Director. www.icsz.ch

This article is from Relocate Global's Guide to International Education & Schools 2019/20 which is packed with expert tips and information for those relocating and the professionals supporting them. For volume options, co-branded editions, digital or online licence agreements and advertising opportunities, contact Fiona Murchie at +44 (0)1892 891334 or email fiona@relocatemagazine.com 

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