Imperial’s personalised teaching approach allows for tailor-made education

HAVING first arrived in Malaysia some seven years ago, Katherine Beadle was immediately taken in by the tropical splendour as well as the cultural diversity of her new surroundings.

It made for a pleasant change from the challenges she faced as an educator in economically-deprived, inner-city schools in London, UK.

In those tough environments, Beadle experienced first-hand how large class sizes, poor resources and some underqualified staff affected many young learners, allowing only the really gifted or determined to achieve their full potential.

This contrasted sharply with her own private school background which clearly underlined how much of a head start a good education provides. Beadle qualified as an English, Media and Drama teacher almost two decades ago.

She is now more focused on the performing arts as she believes it to be integral in developing well-rounded students. When the opportunity to helm Imperial International School in Ipoh arose two years ago, she did not hesitate to further her education journey in her new adopted home.

Still besotted with Malaysia’s unique melting pot of cultures, she is also keen to share her experience as an educator while establishing Imperial as one of Ipoh’s top international school.

She further shares her experience with FocusM:

Tell us why parents should consider Imperial for their children.

Imperial’s main aim is to provide premium quality education for all. All of Imperial’s curriculum is delivered in English which prepares students to further their studies abroad. We offer Cambridge curriculum integrated with personalised learning approach which allows our students to discover skills and interests apart from just the expected.

How would you convince parents to switch from a national-type curriculum to an international syllabus?

An international curriculum is very different to a national curriculum. As stated previously, all lessons – apart from Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin – are taught in English. All staff and students speak English around the school.

Unlike national schools where students have to choose either the arts or science streams, Imperial students study all subjects up until Year 9. Our students will select subjects of their choice with guidance from their teachers for their International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams.

This allows them to develop their interests progressively rather than being forced to make a choice at a young age which will have huge ramifications on their future careers.

In your opinion, what are the strengths of Imperial’s teaching staff?

Imperial focuses on a personalised teaching and learning approach. We strongly believe that education should be tailor-made to fit individual student needs. A one-size-fits-all approach

only hinders students from fulfilling their maximum potential. At Imperial, students’ numbers are capped for each class to ensure that teachers can give each student the personalised attention he or she needs.

Lessons are designed to be fun and involving rather than chores that need to be done.

How can parents track their child’s progress at Imperial?

Imperial uses a diagnostic entrance assessment that gives us an outline of a child’s capabilities. Then at the start of each term, every student within the school sits for baseline test which includes key skills that will need to be demonstrated throughout that term.

Based on those results, each individual child will be set one or two personalised targets per subject and the teachers use this information to ensure differentiation happens within the classroom. It is also reviewed throughout the term.

Parents’ reports include this detailed summary of how they have improved these specific skills throughout the term. Such detailed tracking of a child’s progress is one of Imperial’s key strengths.

Many parents are concerned that their children will lose out on their vernacular capabilities if they attend an international school. How would you address this concern?

Bahasa Malaysia (BM) is compulsory for all Malaysian students from Year 1-11. Furthermore, Mandarin is taught from Year 1-9 and can become an option for the IGCSE exams.

We also continuously celebrate all cultural events in Imperial in order to encourage an understanding of each student’s background. One of the best things about school life at Imperial is the cultural diversity in the student and staff population. This diversity offers students a better worldview and a wider perspective on cultural relations.

Many Malaysian parents here still believe in academic rigour and the importance of traditional examinations. What are your views on this?

Having been in Malaysia for a number of years, I am acutely aware that many parents are very concerned about academic rigour and the importance of traditional exams. The Cambridge syllabus is no exception.

However, it allows for the syllabus to be taught in a more hands-on approach, allowing students to develop their own ideas and opinions and come to their own conclusions. It is not just about rote learning.

This is the principal difference between the national curriculum and the IGCSE. The former encourages students to memorise facts while the latter inspires students to formulate their own opinions and conclusions. Both are exam-oriented but the IGCSE syllabus is designed to produce critical as well as creative thinkers.

For more information on Imperial International School, Ipoh or to book a campus tour call or WhatsApp 017-604 4968. – Feb 9, 2022

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