TES Annual Report

British Secondary and High School Section This academic year has been defined by a shift from strong foundations in authentic assessment to a deeper focus on authentic learning. In line with our goals to offer a world-class Middle Years Programme (MYP) curriculum, PD across BSHS has been centred on building conceptual understanding, enhancing service learning, and embedding the Approaches to Learning (ATLs) in day-to-day classroom practice. This year we welcomed three internationally respected educational leaders to TES: Dr Jennifer Wathall worked intensively with our Mathematics faculty on Concept-Based Mathematics, introducing vertical classroom strategies and tools to deepen student understanding through visual and kinaesthetic approaches to the subject. Tania Lattanzio, working with the whole teaching staff, helped us better understand how to foreground concepts in the curriculum and design units with conceptual understanding at their heart. Her work gave staff the tools to move from activity-focused lessons to learning sequences driven by transferable ideas. The INSET day with Tania was both reflective and practical; BSHS staff engaged with provocations, thinking routines, and planning structures that continue to shape our curriculum conversations. Later in the year, Cathy Berger-Kaye built on this foundation through her work on Service Learning. She reminded us that research is not just digital, it can be experiential, social, and community-based. Year 7s applied her MISO method (Media, Interview, Survey, Observation) the very next day in an Approaches To Learning-focused project. In a memorable moment, Cathy used live whiteboarding with our English team to show how curriculum narratives can be built across year levels. This made a direct connection to our annual staff professional reading book 'Streamlining the Curriculum,' which focused on cohesion and connection in the curriculum both vertically and horizontally.

These three voices strengthened our shared strategy for building an exceptional MYP curriculum grounded in student ownership, community engagement, and deep learning

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