Month: June 2022

ECP provides teaching placements for UK trainees

This term The English College welcomed six UK teacher trainees into our community, the first to join us since we established Teaching Together in Europe (TTE). This is a consortium of two UK pedagogical training centres and three top European Council of British International Schools (COBIS). 

Teaching Together in Europe

Along with the British School of Brussels and St George’s British International School in Rome, The ECP offered UK teacher training placements in April and May with robust instructional programming and mentoring by our skilled teachers. ECP Programme Co-Coordinator and Lead Mentor Daniel Ibbitson said the scheme is highly beneficial. “The TTE further solidifies ECP’s links to the UK as well as our European partners. Hosting the next generation of teachers in our classrooms brings a positive wave of energy and new ideas to our faculties,” he noted.

The trainees, from the Pennine Lancashire and Nottinghamshire TORCH School-Centered Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) providers, spent a week observing lessons and then led classes themselves under the close guidance and care of ECP staff. They delivered on topics from Gothic literature to composite functions. They relayed they felt professionally enriched by the experience. “It’s been a terrific opportunity to experience a different way of teaching your own subject… the amount of different methods I’ve seen in teaching here has been amazing,” said Marcus Garnham, a Physics trainee.

Likewise, History trainee Elizabeth Barnett said she’d take away “just the courage and creativity from each of the classes; that’s something I’ll be able to bring back to England.”

ECP students

ECP students were often cited by the trainees as being especially commendable. Geography trainee Charlotte Morris appreciated being able to “have conversations about topical things and sensitive issues.” Furthermore, the Maths trainee Jack Jones enjoyed “being able to stretch his own subject knowledge.” He added that bringing content even from his own degree to use with the IB students had been really refreshing.

Along with observing and teaching lessons under the tutelage of Mr Tognini, Dr Athwal, Dr Young, Mr Cossins, and Mr Ibbitson, the trainees attended sessions on topics like Using Data to Aid Learning; Cultural Context and Sensitivity; and the International Baccalaureate’s (IB’s) Philosophy. They also took part in school events like our Graduation Ceremony at Betlémská Kaple. In addition, they travelled to parts of Czechia such as Národní park České Švýcarsko.

Future of education

Deputy Head Emily Rankin hopes the international connectedness of the experience will foster knowledge, empathy and collaborative critical thinking: “We should be working across systems and borders to develop these symbiotic competencies in our future teachers; they have the power to shape a more equitable and just society.” 

Many thanks to The ECP community who welcomed our UK counterparts. Thanks go also to the trainees for such a positive first year of our innovative new TTE programme. It is the first of its kind in Europe! 

“The opportunity to engage with the IB curriculum and to work with knowledgeable, experienced and passionate practitioners within an international context, has been a truly enriching and inspirational experience,” reflected English trainee Eliza Richardson. “I very much look forward to weaving everything I’ve learned into my own pedagogical practice.”

It was fantastic to be back in Betlémská kaple for the Class of 2022’s graduation ceremony. The school band was a great addition to proceedings!

The ECP Graduation Ceremony serves two purposes: Graduates with outstanding achievements in both academic and co-curricular work during their IB studies are awarded prizes and all Graduates of 2022 are presented with their graduation certificates.

Senator Pavel Fischer delivered a speech as the Guest of Honour. He also congratulated prize winners.

Additionally, this year we were very honoured that the new Karel Schwarzenberg Prize for History was presented for the first time. This prize goes to a student who has shown exceptional interest in the history and spirit of European development. The prize recognises the ability to appreciate European heritage and to be able to analyse history and make connections with the current political scene. Michael Balamotis became the first holder of this prize.

Apart from subject prizes, there were also prizes for special achievements.

THE CHAIRMAN OF GOVERNORS’ PRIZE FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

This prize was awarded to Sabina Phanová: “In terms of report grades and predicted IB marks, Sabina is at the top of her class. She works diligently with teacher and peer feedback to improve her performance on assessments; if she is not pleased with how she performed on a paper, she will ask to redo it until she achieves an exemplary result. Her easy-going demeanour camouflages a forceful drive to do her best; she is simply relentless in honing her skills and knowledge. Sabina’s academic outcomes are a testament to her unflagging work ethic. She is also determined to stretch herself and achieve her fullest potential.”

The LORD HOLME PRIZE FOR SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Congratulations to Tomáš Nepala: “Tomáš is an active member and outstanding Vice President of the Student Council as well as a mentor to two Year 1 students. He has engaged very strongly with the school community and worked hard to bring everyone closer together during the pandemic. Tomáš cares about the world around him and has a genuine interest in making it better. He always seeks peaceful solutions to every conflict and is extremely kind and supportive of his fellow students. Tomáš worked very hard in support of the Tereza Maxová Foundation. In addition, he coordinated Dostupné Doučování, where a team of about sixty volunteers support socially disadvantaged students with remote learning.

A strong believer in financial literacy, he also launched a website, PlanetFinance, to educate individuals and help them develop the skills and knowledge. His aim was to enable them to make informed decisions about their finances. These projects encapsulate Tomáš’s personality perfectly: he cares about others and he is ready to use his initiative to find ambitious solutions to problems.”

HEADMASTER’S PRIZE FOR THE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Olga Kosjakova became the holder of this prize: “Olga is a wise young woman and shows maturity and understanding of complex issues beyond her years. In lower school, she produced assemblies and resources related to mental health. She did that by engaging with the PSME programme and by talking to year groups about recognising a potential decline in one’s mental health and wellbeing. Since then, she has continued to be very active in the background – not stopping at all, despite being in lockdown for almost two years of her ECP career. Last summer, she organised the production and sale of items to support the topic of mental health again. She is an unofficial adviser to many of her peers and she is a well-deserved recipient of this award.”

Here is a video from the event:/Zde je krátké video z akce: