Society has undergone radical changes since IES was founded over 30 years ago. That’s why we constantly improve our operations to continuously deliver high quality. We have not changed our core values, though. We are just as convinced today as we were when IES started, that our students’ success is grounded in excellent English skills, a peaceful classroom environment and in the high expectations we have of every student. As our surveys clearly show, this is the reason why parents and students choose IES.
In response to a social climate which many people feel is unsafe, we have implemented a number of initiatives during the year to improve students’ well-being and safety – prerequisites for learning. This has involved raising awareness of how to deal with potentially dangerous situations and ensuring the proper functioning of the infrastructure in our schools. Our schools must be perceived as – and be – safe, secure places for students and staff.
Safety is also about well-being. Nowadays, many children’s mental health is being adversely impacted by the rise in digitalisation, from online bullying and appearance anxiety to a sedentary lifestyle and lack of sleep. Not only does this affect the student’s mental and physical well-being, it also impacts their perception of school and learning. To counteract the negative effects of too much screen time, IES is increasing the range of physical activities during the school day, not least through the #movewithIES initiative. We also encourage students to read more through our excellent school libraries and the trained staff who work in them.
Our schools are located in different types of socio-economic areas, and the composition of students in some areas can be more challenging than in other schools. To succeed in areas where there may be some insecurity in the child’s family and local community, it is even more important to establish a caring school environment with adults who create a feeling of safety. We do our utmost to ensure that every student reaches their full potential, whatever their background.
Our aim is to safeguard the high level of quality that IES schools are known for, and which we constantly endeavour to improve. Our strong school leaders and talented staff are key to our success, they see and acknowledge each individual every day. They respect our students and aspire to provide a school life that equips students with the best possible tools for adulthood.