Whilst very proud of the school’s existing academic structures, operations and procedures, we know that we should never get complacent and rest on our laurels, and that ongoing reflecting and striving for continuous improvements is vital.
It was in this spirit that on Friday, 24th May SUIS Gubei’s Heads of Department and other academic leaders met at an off-campus venue, away from the hustle and bustle of campus goings-on, for their important annual planning and brainstorm day.
The day commenced with a warm welcome and an overview of the agenda, setting a collaborative tone for the series of discussions and activities that ensued. The principal highlighted the importance of such gatherings, emphasising the role of teamwork in achieving educational success.
On this note, four Department Heads (Art, Maths, Sport and Theatre) then shared their own tips and ideas for best practice in managing their teams, exchanging insights and strategies on effective leadership, including innovative ways to motivate staff, manage resources, resolve conflict, and foster a positive and productive learning environment.
Next, participants reviewed the presentation given to parents of new students joining the school, ensuring it effectively communicates the school’s values and expectations, and helping to align everyone’s vision for the school. This presentation is crucial for building strong partnerships with families and supporting students’ educational journeys.
The results of a recent teacher survey, conducted during the all-staff Professional Development day in March, were also discussed. This feedback session aimed to address concerns, celebrate successes, and identify areas for improvement, harnessing valuable insights and feedback from across the faculty.
A detailed discussion on templates for Grade 12 test scores and predicted grades followed, department heads collaborating on standardising assessments and reporting to further bolster consistency and fairness in grading, which is vital for students’ college applications and future pathways.
Building on the topic of assessment, looking ahead, the team tackled academic calendar planning for the next academic year, involving coordinating key milestones, dates and events to optimise instructional time and ensure a balanced and manageable schedule for both students and staff.
Dovetailing on the assessment planning, a session on unit plans then followed, emphasising the integration of skills across subjects, and systematically highlighting links to TOK, CAS, and the IB Learner Profile across subject teaching. This holistic approach aims to develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary skills, preparing them for the challenges of university life and the modern workplace. Related student progress trackers were also updated as an important means to monitor and support individual student progress, helping educators differentiate and tailor their support to meet specific needs.
Improving English levels across the school was another crucial agenda item, the Head of English sharing ideas and facilitating discussion on the further refinement and development of the school’s language policy and related support systems. Strategies were proposed to bolster language proficiency, essential for students’ academic success.
The focus of the final two sessions of the day pivoted to the digital realm. Both the potential opportunities and pitfalls afforded by the rampant growth of AI tools were debated, with challenges in ensuring academic integrity explored, particularly in relation to the online TurnItIn Studio, a website that helps to detect plagiarism and ensures that students’ work is original and authentic, fostering a culture of honesty.
Finally, the IB’s plan to gradually migrate exams to an online format over the coming years were examined. While this transition will mark a significant step towards modernising the examination process, making it more efficient and accessible in many ways, there are a variety of questions and challenges, both pedagogical and logistical, regarding how the change will take place, and Heads expressed their perspectives on key considerations and priorities for planning moving forwards.
One of the Team Leaders, Ms Xu, shared the following reflection on the day:
I’ve gained valuable insights into effective management strategies, especially implementing regular peer observations and monitoring students’ progress based on comprehensive data. These strategies offer great advantages for teachers to improve their pedagogical practices through peer feedback and the evaluation of students’ performance.
Furthermore, I’ve received the PD Day Staff Survey results on purpose, learning, and teaching. This made me realize the significance of making students open to various career opportunities, community and charity programs, and practical and hands-on activities.
Last but not least, the integration of mini-assessments, open-format, and exam-format assessments is emphasized during the session, which serves as a key priority for us in the upcoming year.
With sense of purpose renewed and collective commitment to educational excellence reasserted, the HODs enjoyed a highly productive day and look forward to another great academic year in 2024-25.