Expect even more personalised education, high-quality teaching and learning, as well as overall better support for students from GESS – International School this August 2025!
We stan a school that values its community, especially one that takes action based on input from families and students. This was exactly what GESS – International School did when it started working on its five-year Limitless Learning plan to improve the school’s offerings.
The latest on GESS’ agenda? A revamp of its International Baccalaureate (IB) section’s programme, especially for students following (or planning to follow) this curriculum. Changes kick off in August 2025 – just in time for the 2025/26 academic year. And trust us, it’s going to be good.
What will GESS’ IB programme restructure cover?
The upgrades will focus on three main areas: high quality teaching and learning, student wellbeing, as well as giving learners more opportunities to pursue their passion.
GESS has a strong focus on personal excellence. With the help of data, the school is set to improve its academic offerings to nurture every student’s unique talents, ensuring that everyone can achieve their full potential.
Student wellbeing is also highly prioritised at GESS, and the school will continue to do so for the upcoming academic year. This will be done through more focus on social-emotional learning (SEL); and the school will continue to provide a safe, supported, and structured learning environment for all.
Finally, as a school that champions out-of-classroom learning, GESS continues to emphasise on holistic growth by giving students more opportunities to pursue their passions. There will be more specialist programmes and opportunities for students in leadership, innovation, sustainability, technology, arts, sports, and languages. Its innovative BeyondClassrooms programme will also be boosted.
What does it mean for students?
If you’re wondering how these changes will directly affect your child’s school timetable and learning, we’ve got it all broken down into bite-sized pieces here.
For children in primary school (six to 10 years old), you can expect:
- French, Spanish, and Mandarin to be newly available in Grade 1 at acquisition level, an optimal time for young students to grasp a foreign language.
- A revamped outdoor education programme, including three hours of sports each week.
- A new drama programme, in addition to art and music lessons.
Middle school students aged 11-13 years old will see:
- A new ‘Encore’ electives programme that provides students with more opportunities to pursue their passion. This includes over 25 specialist courses in languages, arts, technology, sports, and more within the school’s timetable.
- Better support for students with a new ‘Flex’ programme, which includes dedicated time within the timetable for personalised subject support, learning extension, clubs, and leadership.
- Smaller advisory homeroom classes of 12-14 students that will result in more individualised student wellbeing and guidance.
- More unstructured time built into timetables to reduce stress and foster creativity.
- An increase in restorative practices and SEL during advisory homeroom time.
- Enhanced mentoring and coaching programme.
Last but not least, the 14-18 year-old high school students can look forward to:
- More pathways to personal success with additional subjects, including environmental systems and societies, as well as computer science.
- A Business and Sustainability Pathway, which leads to the internationally recognised IB Careers Programme qualification.
- 33% more hours of subject teaching, along with enhanced mentorship, one-to-one tutoring, and counselling programmes.
- The award-winning BeyondClassrooms programme welcoming a new internship segment and industry expert speaker series.
- Career and university guidance units as well as work experience preparation that will be further ramped up to set students up for success beyond school.
More enhancements are on the way!
The IB programme restructure is just the beginning. GESS’ Limitless Learning plan has more developments in the works – and families will be kept in the loop as new projects roll out (spoiler alert: the future is looking very bright!).
Want in? You can find out more about GESS’ Limitless Learning plan through its website; or if you’re a family who’s interested in joining the school, drop an enquiry and the admissions team will be in touch with you to explain more.
This post is in partnership with GESS – International School.
