ICS is the first formal democratic modern school in Sri Lanka.
Delivering Cambridge curriculum with UK GCSE and A/Level provision, entirely via student led project-based learning and holistic social and practical skill based practice, ICS provides an opportunity for parents and students to experience stress-free and joyful school journey.
Modern education is an opportunity for students of all ages to learn and study at their own pace, using tools, methods and support that are ideally crafted to cater to their individual educational needs. This allows every child to thrive, compare to mainstream school where only those that can connect to the system thrives.
Modern education emphasizes active participation, responsibility, inquiry, critical thinking and problem-solving. All key skills that are vital as we face a rapidly changing world over the next few decades.
Mainstream education follows a teacher-led model with a focus on memorization and standardized assessments. In contrast, progressive education values student autonomy, individualized learning, and hands-on experiences.
There are many Student-led teaching/learning models available, "project-based learning" being the most common term used to describe this kind of education in a mainstream setting.
However while there are many schools that offer a "project-based" approach, they tend to be highly teacher-led, which is counter-productive to the method.
For project-based learning to deliver real results, there has to be a student led approach, and this is what makes ICS so special in a Sri Lankan context.
This approach emphasizes the process of learning rather than just the end results. This has been proven to deliver a much higher standard of learning for students than “traditional” or mainstream education.
Democratic schooling is a way of designing a school that provides its students with an equal voice in decision making processes, both in terms of their education and in matters of running or administering the school.
Democratic Schooling recognizes students as active participants and stakeholders in their learning environment.
Students have opportunities to engage in governance, express their opinions, and shape their educational experiences.
Democratic schooling encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. It fosters a sense of responsibility, self-advocacy, and respect for others, beyond what is available via mainstream schooling.
Students develop a strong sense of agency, social awareness, and active citizenship, preparing them for active participation in society and professional life.
Furthermore, as we focus on developing the student’s learning skills, rather than rote learning, the student is able to absorb their learning at a much deeper level of understanding compared with mainstream schooling, which sets them up much more successfully for adult life.
Personalised learning is where we customise the learning experience for each student, based on their individual skills, ability, need, and preferences.
It allows students to truly study, removing the additional stresses, hurdles and challenges posed by mainstream classroom learning, while also developing their skills in autonomy, responsibility, inquiry and exploration.
It is very important that students take responsibility for their learning, and so at ICS we are committed to encouraging them to discover and establish healthy, productive and empowered choices and habits.
At ICS we will be delivering the Cambridge curriculum, with more cutting edge content also provided by our panel of esteemed industry experts, to ensure that all students have access to a very high standard of education.
ICS is designed to ensure that each child’s journey into learning, both in terms of starting at a school with an empowered environment and in terms of their longer educational journey, is fully supported with individual attention and care by the ICS team.
Frequent conversations with the student and the parents to ensure that the student is tapping into their full potential at ICS will not just be a key component of their initial integration to ICS but considered a vital ingredient of the long term education at ICS.
Progressive and democratic schooling will benefit a wider range of students than mainstream schooling, as it values the individuality of each student and recognizes and caters to diverse learning styles and needs.
This is particularly important for students who do not “fit the system” whether it be because of their thinking styles, individuality or because they SEN support that will not “other” them (ie by removing them from “normal” schooling).
ICS has an SEN (Special Educational Needs) quota of 15%. This allocation is for students who have specific and defined learning needs.
We are a licensed Cambridge school, which means that from Pre-school to A-Level we are underpinned by Cambridge syllabus. This also gives us access to great Cambridge tools to understand each student’s capabilities and to provide parents with the peace of mind that their child’s education at ICS is to a measurable global standard.
At ICS ALL activities and interests are “curricular”, so from an ICS perspective it is impossible to say that anything is extra curricular. This is because what is traditionally deemed non-core “subjects”, such as dance or music or arts, are extremely important to a students wellbeing, development and education.
There is no point studying anatomy in a book, if it is not coupled with dance or sport, so that the student can learn how the body moves, what happens when the body hurts or why bodies cant do certain things.
Maths might teach sequences or fractions or measurements, but those are only ideas unless a student gets to experience it in music or cooking or carpentry.
Everything is curricular.
As a school underpinned by the Cambridge curriculum, we offer Cambridge IGCSEs and A Levels.
In addition to the formal qualifications offered, ICS assesses each student on an on going basis to ensure that they are developing their skills for the AI future.
Core subjects are the building blocks of all activities. We cannot function in the world, even as a child, without the 3 Rs (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic).
Whether the student is more interested in dance, music, art, games etc, every activity or project in a project based system involves the core skills and knowledge.
What is infinitely better for the student is that they are allowed to learn these skills and knowledge via elements that do interest them.
This means that a student who might say they hate maths in a traditional school, will learn those same skills without ever having to “hate” anything. When applied via interesting and exciting projects that they are allowed to choose, learning stops being a burden.
All projects designed by ICS will cover skills and knowledge that is required to master the traditional subjects. Students are able to choose the projects that they take part in, but all projects will cover the skills that they require.
The personalised element of the student’s curriculum will allow students and parents to let ICS know what they want to pursue and what they need more support to achieve.
This allows every student to make empowered decisions for their education and their future.
The hiring requirements at ICS are built on qualifications, experience, understanding of alternative education and child development.
This allows us to hire facilitators who will not only fit the ICS culture and methodology but also be competent educators.
Once they have been selected the facilitators will undergo training in child led Project Based Learning.
ICS is committed to long term personal development of our team, and so will be conducting many trainings during the course of their time with us.
As a parent, you can support your child's learning at ICS by encouraging curiosity, embracing their individuality, and fostering a love for lifelong learning.
Engage in conversations about their experiences, collaborate with teachers, and provide opportunities for exploration and self-expression outside of school.
Any student joining ICS will be fully guided and supported in their transition from either a home environment or a mainstream school environment.
ICS expects all students to develop self-awareness, respect for others, kindness and an individual voice.
Our students are able to communicate their needs, their thoughts and their challenges with no fear of repercussion or any form of belittlement by the ICS team or other students.
ICS is very committed to providing a safe, secure, empowering and invigorating environment for all.
The democratic education movement has shown over more than 100 years of practice that students learn more and have deeper understanding of what they have learned, when given choice, freedom and autonomy.
When the stress and burden of education is reduced, student’s natural human curiosity drives their innate natural need to learn.
When this is supported, nurtured and guided, students are able to achieve much more than their conventionally educated peers.
Their confidence, mental and physical health, self-awareness and ability to face challenges are all much more developed.
ICS students can access our library, which not only has academic books but also books of all types to foster curiosity and self learning.
ICS has a pool of phones, tablets and laptops for students to access information.
This is closely monitored and supported always by a facilitator and limited to age appropriate content.
It is also very important for us at ICS to develop students ability to question the information that they have access to.
In a world of fake news and increasing dilution of fact, we are very committed to ensuring that our students are able to analyse and question anything that they are taught or told.
We dont believe in burdening parents,. Therefore at ICS there are:
In fact, we include all materials, an extra curricular allowance and we contribute to a savings on behalf of the student as a saving pot for entrepreneurship.
The only additional fees that may become payable to parents are for meals, transport, Cambridge assessments and any extracurriculars that go above the allocated pot.
Please refer to the Fee Structure page for information: www.theicsschool.com/fee-structure
ICS is open 7am to 3pm for all students aged 2 to 18 years.
Parents and students are able to set their own hours for their convenience.
This would mean that a full-time student will be offered 6 hours within the 7am to 3pm day. Our students attend school in shifts, 7am - 1pm, 8am - 2pm and 9 am- 3pm.
ICS is committed to ensuring that all our students develop discipline and respect, therefore we expect all students to arrive and depart at the designated times.
These hours can be changed via the office with prior notice.
Upon arrival we will ask students to prepare for the study day by getting their water bottle filled, writing in their diary and discussing what they want to do with the facilitator.
This sets up the plan for the day in a way that the student is then able to follow.
Students are also able to change this plan by discussing with the facilitator.
Each day will also host different workshops, activities, discussions and experiences for the students, and they can decide to take part.
Students are able to take “rest” if they need, by switching to a slower activity such as reading, drawing etc.
For us at ICS, the parent and child relationship is paramount, and we as a school are there to support the parents to provide the education and childhood that they wish their children to have.
We do not see ourselves a being more important than that.
At ICS, parents have the freedom and the respect to make decisions for their children, with no interference from the school.
This is only possible with the 4 to 6 years age group, and for a limited time, at the school's discretion.
And with an SEN student who might need a shadow teacher.
This is very strictly only possible if the shadow teacher is able to adhere to the culture and practice of ICS.
At ICS we believe in both not burdening parents with unnecessary expenses and also in developing each student’s individuality.
In accordance with that, ICS does not enforce a uniform for staff or students.
Instead we have some simple guidelines for attire at school, to ensure that we can foster a spirit of community and cohesion amongst students.
Additionally, there are no guidelines or expectations for hair cuts or colour.
ICS has a strong culture of providing parents an education service that does not burden them.
ICS parents and student are able to take holidays or leave as they wish, with ICS providing students with ample support to continue their education while away.
Not only should parents always have the freedom and power to decide when their family takes time out, but this is another step aimed at creating financial affordability for parents.
Nowhere in any walk of life are we categorised by our year of birth, other than in conventional schools.
If we want our children to be future ready, agile and able to successfully take on the challenges in life, then they have to have inter-generational people skills, where they are not just comfortable but are able to thrive with a diverse range of ages.
Copyright © 2024 Independent Collective School - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by GoDaddy Website Builder