In secondary school, we have opted for an educational project that uses an ipad as the main transverse tool to attain all skills. More specifically, the one to one project (for which each student has their own ipad) is set up in all years in secondary and enables technology to be integrated into the teaching process in a natural way, fostering co-operative learning and making the student the true central figure.
Being eager to incorporate new technologies into the classroom, a few years ago we introduced Lego Robotics project in secondary and college. The use of robotic education in the classroom stimulates logical-mathematical and special intelligence and the students’ ability to pay attention and concentrate as well as introducing them to the world of programming. It has been a project that has enthused our students and in which they have obtained great results.
In the last few years we have introduced into the classroom an initiation methodology for learning science. This methodology consists of drawing general conclusions from specific data which is proving to be enriching for the students and from which they are achieving very satisfactory results.
In Maths, in the first and second year of secondary school, we continue with the Jump Maths programme, innovative yet highly diversified in other countries and Spain, which encourages collective and collaborative learning, making maths playful and strategic. The objective of this programme is to overcome the barriers that some students have when learning maths.
Students have five hours of English classes per week. These classes are dedicated to working on all the communicative skills through preparation for the Cambridge exams. The students are divided by the following levels:
- Students in 1º ESO prepare and take the PET exam
- Students in 2º and 3ºESO prepare and take the FCE exam
- Students in 3º y 4º ESO prepare and take the FCE or CAE exam
Mestral School has signed a collaboration agreement with the Goethe institution, with the purpose of increasing German language learning and at the same time prepare students, so they can be evaluated in our establishment and receive certificates that accredit the diverse levels of German they are achieving. To do this, we have increased the hours of German teaching to three hours per week.
Our students have native and specialist teachers, as well as English and German speaking assistants. The speaking assistants organise small groups of students in order to engage them in conversation in a more comfortable and welcoming environment which breaks down the barriers to speaking in English.
