Par Excellence

Bringing international and bilingual programmes under a Swiss curriculum to the heart of Dubai, Tania Jacobs sits down with Alison Roberts, Head of Admissions at Swiss International Scientific School to explore how they apply their unique vision of learning excellence

What makes Swiss International School unique?

Although the school is just 7 years old, it’s currently ranked as one of the top 100 private schools in the world, a fully bilingual, IB world school offering day and boarding education to students from the ages of 3-18 years. The school offers both French and German bilingual options for all age groups, and more than 50% of students graduate with a bilingual IB Diploma. With students from over 100 nationalities across the school, it’s a multi-lingual and global environment that offers the full range of IB programmes, from IB PYP, to IB MYP, IBDP and IB CP, and is one of only a few schools in the world to offer this.

The boarding school is unique and luxurious with individual, ensuite bedrooms and on-site facilities that can accommodate 200 students in a boarding environment in a world-class campus. Exceptional sport amenities, include an Olympic size pool, 400m athletics track, full size gym and cardio suite, indoor multi-sports hall, tennis courts, volleyball and padel tennis courts, as well as a host of extra-curricular activities for music, art and drama with a 600-seat auditorium. We are also situated in one of the most dynamic and exciting cities in the world with the largest travel hub for easy access, recently ranked as one of the safest cities in the world.

How do you balance academic rigour with co-curricular activities?

The IB is a holistic programme designed to ensure that students are rounded and balanced learners. All students are encouraged to participate in at least 3 after-school activities per week, which is also incorporated into the curriculum and students also have to complete CAS (Creativity, Action and Service) to ensure they are awarded their final IB qualification.

How do you ensure that students are mastering both knowledge and skills?

Skills and the ten IB Learner Profiles are embedded into the curriculum and the IB programme, and all our students are aware of these skills from the age of 3. They are incorporated into the planning and delivery of our curriculum, and assessment is based on skills as well as knowledge.

To what extent does the school foster an international outlook?

We have over 100 nationalities from around the word. The philosophy and essence of the IB is all about creating globally-minded citizens and the school is supremely well set up to deliver this.

Can you share a few stand-out achievements from this ?

The school was ranked as one of the Top 100 private schools in the world and won the Talk Education Global Achievement Environmental Award. We also achieved the ECO Green Flag Award for Sustainability.

How does the school prepare students for the future?

SISD prepares students not only for the next era of their education, but also for their future. Our IB DP and IBCP programmes provide an inherent set of skills, that often allows them to gain credit for a university place, bypassing the first year of a particular degree course. Our IB CP course is vocationally focused, and equips students with skills in business, management and soon, hospitality. We also have a guest speaker programme, that offers the opportunity to meet with and network with high profile individuals, on topics relevant to their studies and interests. We host regular career fair events, university road shows and also support our alumni long after they have graduated.

www.sisd.ae