To provide the best learning environment, private schools in Singapore are continually looking for ways to improve their working practices. Insworld Institute believes that the quality of what happens in the classroom depends significantly on two factors – the number of students in the class and the skill of the teacher in working with the class. The average class size in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries is 23. Insworld Institute restricts its classes to a maximum of 12 learners, and trains teachers especially to work with smaller groups. Smaller classes mean that interactions between teachers and students are more frequent and involve a higher level of engagement. Students become more confident in their learning and more motivated and focused. Small classes are popular with students and parents alike. Students learn better and results are better. Insworld is the only private secondary school in Singapore teaching a British curriculum which commits to this policy.
What advantages do smaller classes have?
The British-based curriculum taught at Insworld stretches students intellectually. Students are challenged to acquire critical thinking and analytical skills at IGCSE and A-Level. Small class sizes make it easier for these abilities to develop. Students have more opportunities to express their thoughts and ideas through guided discussion. They learn to think quickly and to focus on problems – essential skills for life as well as for IGCSE and A-Level exams. Students become active and engaged learners who are motivated to extend their understanding and knowledge.
1. Individualised attention and guidance
Each student has different learning capabilities and styles. With fewer students in a class, teachers are able to take the time to observe and understand each student, and adapt lessons to meet their needs. This approach helps students feel more confident about approaching teachers to ask for further explanation if they are not sure about any particular point or concept. Small classes are also easier to manage. Students are more likely to be involved with what is happening in the lesson, and more likely to work in a disciplined way. It is also much easier to maintain a focused and purposeful atmosphere in a small group; problems are relatively easy to identify and appropriate solutions are easier to find.
2. Classes are more interactive
With smaller class sizes and smaller classrooms, students quickly learn not to be intimidated by their surroundings their teachers or what they are studying. There are time and opportunities to speak in class – to ask for clarification, to voice opinions, to share and develop ideas. We want to instill in our students the self-confidence to become independent learners who are engaged in their own learning and who can participate fully in all classroom activities. We aim for all our classes to be student-centred, stimulating and challenging. We want our students to learn to speak as well as to listen. With small class sizes we can enable this to happen.
3. Fewer distractions
In large classrooms with many pupils, students may feel overwhelmed. They may be over-stimulated and can be easily be distracted by movement or chatter. They may also feel that the situation is out of control and that they can do nothing to improve it. The result is that they suffer, and their education suffers. Small classes can control themselves. Students are more engaged, more motivated, more responsible, more responsive and more considerate of others. It is simply a better environment for teaching and learning. Insworld Institute works only with small classes. There is a maximum number of 12 learners in any class. Lessons become easier to follow and new learning is easier to process. The atmosphere is calm, purposeful and focused. It is a better learning environment.
4. Active communication with parents
In small classes, teachers have more time to spend with each pupil. They know the students better, and can monitor how well each student is working. This means teachers can provide more accurate and meaningful feedback to parents. Insworld Institute seeks to work closely with all parents and guardians in ways which are open and transparent. We want communication to be active and constructive. We welcome all feedback, even criticism, at any time. Because we are a small and flexible institution we can respond quickly to concerns and make changes when they are needed. We continually update parents and guardians on student performance, providing detailed reports every week and a detailed report card at the end of each term.
5. Close community
In a small classroom setting, students develop positive relationships with their peers and with their teachers. They feel valued as individuals and as members of a group. This helps Insworld to be an integrated community of learning that fosters a sense of belonging and connection. Students are comfortable with each other and feel comfortable at school.
In other schools in Singapore, which work with large classrooms, students can find it difficult to relate to classmates and may feel isolated, lonely or left out. This is never a problem at Insworld.
Why Insworld Institute is the right school for your child
Insworld Institute is an international school that is distinguished by the level of personal care and support we can provide for each individual student. This is in part because we work only with small classes. Teachers can spend more time working with each member of a class, and students can develop the self-confidence to learn independently, knowing that the help and guidance of the teacher are there when they needed. There is less pressure to learn, and more support for learning. Insworld Institute, with its specially adapted British curriculum, offers an alternative to the big international schools. We want our students to achieve, but we believe an important factor in this is providing a friendly and supportive school environment with a real sense of community and shared purpose. Students who feel at ease in their environment are more likely to commit to real learning, and to make real progress. We can facilitate this by being flexible and adaptable in our approach to teaching, allowing each student to work in the way which suits them best. It is a simple approach, but it works.
If you are in search of a leading British Curriculum school in Singapore which offers a positive learning environment and which focuses on the needs of each individual student, please contact us at enquiries@insworld.edu.sg, or call us at +65 6732 1728 to arrange a consultation and to begin the online school application process for your child.
