1 – LINGUISTIC OBJECTIVES

Throughout the world, language is the path to culture and knowledge. It is clear that, in the 21^st century, it is the English language which opens the door to a world which is more and more globalised.

From its very beginning, St. Paul’s has given the utmost importance to the study of the English language. Immersion in the language is one of the specific characteristics of our school. In Early Years, immersion is almost 100%, varying according to the rate at which the children learn to read and write.

At St. Paul’s all teachers give classes in their first language, they all have teaching status from their country of origen which are officialy recognised by the Spanish Ministery of Education and are fully qualified in the subjects in which they teach.

In the graph below, the distribution of the different languages throughout the school can be seen.

Our pupils take the English examinations of the University of Cambridge – Flyers, Preliminary, First Certificate, Advanced and Proficiency. These certificates make it possible for our pupils to study at any English-speaking university.

Unlike the majority of schools in Barcelona, St. Paul’s gives equal importance to Catalan and Spanish.

French is introduced in the first year of secondary education and is taken by all pupils during the four years of compulsory secondary education. In BXT French is optional.

The four languages taught at St. Paul’s are seen to be the key to the future of our pupils. For some, English will be essential to their professional and personal development, while for others it will be Spanish, Catalan or French. What St. Paul’s guarantees is that all our pupils will have the tools necessary to decide their own future.

2 – ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

At St. Paul’s the importance given to languages does not detract from the demands made of our pupils in other areas of the curriculum.

Our objective is academic excellence and the curriculum is planned accordingly. To this effect, we have a highly qualified staff, reduced class sizes, support of the school psychologists, first-class facilities, a close relationship with families and a commitment to high teaching standards.

98% of our families live in Barcelona and want their children to go to university. For acceptance on the degree course of one’s choice, the marks obtained in ‘Selectividad’ and ‘2 Bach’ are decisive. For this reason, great effort goes into encouraging each pupil to achieve his or her maximum potential.

Effort, hard work, dedication, a sense of responsibility and intellectual rigor are the key elements in our programme. In the technological world in which we live, these values are just as valid as ever.

St. Paul’s has a staff of highly- qualified and experienced teachers who are in permanent contact with new methods and developments in the teaching profession; a team of highly-motivated professionals which is the key to the academic excellence we are seeking.

Pupils at St. Paul’s have all the support they need at all times and the school expects and insists on their total commitment during the learning process.

3 – ATTENTION TO DIVERSITY

The new vision of equity in pedagogy is no longer to give everyone the same, is to attend to each individual according to their needs and abilities. Our effort is focused on accompanying each student to reach the maximum of their potential.

A class is a heterogeneous group of individuals, each with their own needs and abilities, hence our insistence on modeling educational experiences in line with individuality.

Attention to diversity is part of our DNA, it is our way of understanding pedagogy. We support students who have difficulties, reinforcing them and helping them to exceed the levels required each year. At the same time, we detect gifted and talented students and empower them with various educational strategies so that they can develop accordingly.

The mechanisms and techniques that we use are many and varied: personalized work in speech-language problems, specific reinforcement in certain areas, Read & Write Inc. method for literacy, mathematical standards, students studying several Bachillerato options at once, national and international educational competitions, academic acceleration for gifted students, etc.

4 – CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

St. Paul’s believes in educating its pupils to enable them to lead full and happy lives. In addition to high academic standards, this also involves promoting the personal development of each pupil as well as encouraging them to behave appropriately in a range of different situations.

Character development involves personal effort, determination, self-control, self-confidence, the setting of goals and their achievement. Ethical values include a sense of responsibility, respect, honesty and an understanding of what is right and wrong.

Character building forms an integral part of the curriculum and requires the collaboration of both teaching and non-teaching staff alike.

The different aspects of character development are:

• Adaptability.
• On – going learning throughout one’s life.
• Organisation, perseverance, independence, autonomy.
• Emotional intelligence, communication and negotiation skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Critical thinking.
• Creativity.
• Leading a healthy life both physically and mentally.
• Behaving appropriately.
• Tolerance, awareness of the world in which we live.

The tutor is a key element in the relationship between the school and the family throughout the pupil’s time at St. Paul’s. In addition to teaching their particular subject, the tutors have a close relationship with their tutor group.

Tutors are responsible for resolving difficult situations, helping and advising their group, informing the families regarding performance and results and, above all, for contributing to character development. They put into practice a programme of workshops the aims of which are:

• Acceptance of and adaptation to diversity.
• Managing conflicts.
• Creativity in the thought process and in problem-solving.
• Responsibility for oneself, for others, for nature and society.

We give great emphasis to social awareness and developing a sense of responsibility. We collaborate regularly with foundations and charitable organisations and encourage our pupils to participate in voluntary activities.

5 – A LEADER IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES

St. Paul’s is at the forefront of the new technologies and acutely aware of the impact these have on the learning process.

Our IT department is made up of specialists in their field and we are constantly investing in new equipment in order to keep abreast of innovations. The new technologies give us the opportunity to improve our teaching methods by using:

• Interactive whiteboards.
• Fibre-optic internet connection and full Wi-fi cover.
• One computer per child in 1 ESO and 2 ESO.
• Digital content in all subject areas.

The introduction of these new technologies into teaching leads us to reconsider the following:

• Uso de las Methodology: how we transmit knowledge.
• Subject matter: what exactly we should teach.
• Skills: what skills we should teach our pupils to prepare them for the future.
• Pupils: what character traits future generations will need

These technological changes affect and modify our way of teaching, making constant adaptation and in-service training a part of our daily lives.

Technology is becoming increasingly important in helping us to achieve our ultimate objective: effective education.

6 – INTERNATIONAL PROJECT

St. Paul’s School ofrece a sus alumnos distintas oportunidades dentro de su Proyecto Internacional que les permiten poner en práctica y perfeccionar sus competencias lingüísticas en lengua inglesa y, al mismo tiempo, vivir experiencias vitales enriquecedoras en entornos culturales diversos.

Las distintas actividades engloban: viajes, summer camps, estancias e intercambios. En todos los casos supervisados organizados y coordinados por St. Paul’s.

En el siguiente cuadro se muestra el detalle de nuestro Proyecto Internacional.

7 – CURRICULUM OF THE GENERALITAT DE CATALUNYA

St. Paul’s does not follow the British National Curriculum. Our teaching curriculum is the same as that of any other school in Barcelona, the only difference being that a large part of the curriculum is taught in English as set out in our linguistic programme (approved in 1992 and up-dated with the introduction of the LOE in 2009).

Since 2004, the school has received a grant from the Generalidad de Catalunya for education from year P3 (aged 3) to 4 ESO (aged 16).

In our school pupils are given the opportunity to learn in an environment which embraces different cultures. Our families, who for the most part are from Barcelona appreciate the enriching experience to be gained from contact with other cultures and traditions.

8 – ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

St. Paul’s is administered by a foundation, Fundación Privada St. Paul’s, a non-profiting making organisation whose sole objective is that of giving pupils the best education possible.

The trustees of the Foundation are always parents of pupils who are or have been members of the school board. Elections for the school board take place every 4 years. The Foundation fosters and regulates active parental participation in the academic programme and management of the school. The day-to-day running of the school is conducted by professionals, both teachers and also administrative personnel, who report to the Headteacher.

The income received by the Foundation is used to improve the school, the facilities and the service provided.

9 – QUALITY

Both the facilities and pupil support provided by the school are excellent. Every effort is made to improve whenever the need arises.

At. St. Paul’s we attach great importance to the individual needs of each pupil, both inside and outside the classroom. The care and attention our pupils receive is in the hands of a dedicated and fully-committed staff who provide a service which goes beyond the purely academic.

St. Paul’s is excellent value for money. The school has a policy of reinvestment which is effectively and efficiently managed.

10 – FROM THREE YEARS OLD UNTIL UNIVERSITY

Most of our pupils are with us from the age of three until they start university during which time lasting friendships are formed.

Many parents welcome the opportunity to have their children educated in one institution which offers continuity from infants through to the end of Bachillerato.