Interview with Justine Brown
When and why was the school created?
El Limonar International School was founded in 1990 in Murcia. The Murcia school takes pupils aged 3 - 5 at its Infant School in La Alberca and aged 6 - 18 at the El Palmar site. The Villamartin site was opened in 2004 and takes pupils aged 3 - 18. The Monteprincipe, Murcia site was created in 2007 and takes pupils aged 3 - 8
What is the mission/philosophy of the school?
The philosophy of El Limonar International School is defined by the following principles:
To provide a safe and democratic educational community with maximum learning opportunities for all pupils while recognising each child’s unique abilities.
To develop pupils’ sense of respect and dignity in order to be sensitive to an even greater degree of inner excellence.
To facilitate the development of personal and social skills that lead to mature citizenship in a diverse and rapidly changing world.
To promote the mastery of academic skills and the understanding of concepts that will lead to a lifetime of meaningful application and personal excellence.
To seek academic merit by stimulating pupils’ potential.
To encourage learners to think critically and logically and to process knowledge and information powerfully to effectively meet life’s challenges.
To optimise bilingual immersion in order to achieve linguistic excellence in a global society.
To encourage high performance in logical mathematical thinking in order to accomplish academic excellence.
What curriculum does the school follow?
El Limonar International School follows a curriculum based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales adapted to the needs of pupils in an international school in Spain. We teach the compulsory subjects in Spanish at all levels. Pupils take a third modern language (French, German or Chinese) from Primary 5 onwards. At Bachillerato level, the Murcia school offers preparation for the Spanish Selectividad examination. Pupils may also take the Cambridge University suite of examinations and Trinity College oral English examinations. IGCSE and A Level examinations are offered at the Villamartin site and Bachillerato will be introduced alongside A Levels from September 2012. The school is an authorised examining centre for Cambridge International Examinations and Edexcel, as well as for Trinity College London.
Are the children taught Spanish and if so to what level?
All pupils are taught Spanish Language and Conocimiento del Medio from the Infant school right through to Bachillerato/A level. Beginners and Intermediate classes are available for non-Spanish speakers in Primary and Secondary.
From which countries do the students come from? What is the ratio of Spanish students to foreign students?
The majority of our students are Spanish or British although El Limonar currently takes students of some 25 different nationalities.
For children not from the local community, does the school have any specific strategy to ensure they are somehow integrated into the local community?
El Limonar receives new pupils from outside the local community every year. The integration process into the school begins with the personal interview with the head. New pupils are assigned a "buddy" for the first weeks. New families are encouraged to attend school events and meetings.
How does the school select teachers?
El Limonar has a stable staff body. Any new members of staff are recruited via advertisements in specialised press and websites either locally or abroad. Prior to joining the school, new teachers have a personal interview, tour of the school and references are obtained. All staff are fully qualified to teach the subject area they are employed for.
What are the class sizes?
The maximum number of pupils in each class is 25, although many year groups are smaller than this. For some subjects where an option system operates, class sizes may be as low as 4 or 5 pupils.
What is the total number of pupils at the school?
There are 1020 pupils on roll over the four different sites.
What extracurricular opportunities (sports, clubs, community service etc) are available for students?
The school's extracurricular programme takes place mainly at lunchtimes and includes sporting activities such as tennis, football, basketball, volleyball, athletics, taekwondo, dance and cultural activities such as art, the performing arts and music. The school organises a termly day trip for each year group as well as residential trips to England, France and Italy and ski trips for Primary and Secondary students.
What strategies are used to teach students who are not fluent in English?
All students joining the school are assessed in English language before admission. Those Primary-age students who are not fluent in English join the immersion class where they receive specific intensive instruction in the English language. They integrate into mainstream classes once their language skills develop sufficiently to all them to follow lessons.
For which countries are students prepared for further education at 18?
Students are prepared for further education at any college or university inside or outside of Spain.
What kinds of support or resources does the school offer parents?
Parents are invited to general class meetings at the beginning of each school year as well as subject specific parents' evenings during the year. They also have the chance to take part in Coffee Mornings, Open Days and workshops run by the different subject areas and Guidance Department. All staff are available for personal appointments with parents throughout the entire school year.
Is there an admissions policy - what is it and why does it exist?
Pupils applying for a place in the school must provide the following:
Previous school marks
Reports from previous schools
Prospective pupils sit an entrance exam with the Educational Psychologist which will determine the level at which the pupil may be admitted. The test consists of language and mathematics papers as well as a general test of maturity. The final decision on the pupil’s admittance is taken by the Head of the respective department. Test results are communicated to the family by telephone. In some circumstances, a written agreement may be required.
New pupils without the required level of English language attend the Immersion Programme in English language and Mathematics. Depending on pupil’s progress and when s/he joined the School it is highly likely that English immersion pupils will have to repeat a school year. New pupils who do not have the required level in Spanish follow the Spanish immersion programme.
What is the application process?
Prospective parents may contact the school by phone or email for a personal interview and tour of the school with the Educational Advisor or Headteacher. Following this appointment, pupils take the entrance examination. Once the results are communicated to the parents and a place is offered, parents complete the registration paperwork and a start date can be agreed.
November 2011
