Last night we had our first prefect meeting to organise the events for this term. The prefects decided to take  a quick picture before we started the meeting. This term they will be working on raising money for charity, the Halloween party and Christmas ball, not to mention implementing new ideas within the school. A busy time ahead!

A part of the IMYC course, the accreditation process and their general education, the students in Years 7, 8 and 9 follow a course in Global Citizenship. In this course we look at a wide variety of international topics. Earlier this term, we discussed the causes and effects of tropical storms, taking case studies from the recent hurricanes on the east coast of the United States, in the Philippines and in China.

We are currently examining certain aspects of the students’ host country –Switzerland. In Monday’s assembly we looked at the unique form of direct democracy and federal government that is part of Swiss political life. This led on to discussions comparing Swiss politics with the students’ home countries.

In class we are now looking at a variety of aspects of Swiss geography and culture – including its main regions, the distribution of its population and main linguistic regions, the neighbouring countries, and the Swiss cantons. Studies of the host country do not necessarily form part of the taught curriculum, but we believe it is important for the students to have some understanding of the country in which they are living and studying, as well as a wider knowledge of global issues. We are currently organising a visit to the Swiss parliament in Bern so that the students can see the government in action later on in the term.

Each morning within the boarding house, we check the rooms to make sure that everything is tidy, beds made and clean overall. The students who look after their rooms receive weekly points which give them privileges as well. Sometimes, as in the photo attached, they 'try' to get extra points which of course, never works! A good try though!

All students from Years 3 to 9 are prepared for one of the Cambridge English or Other Language examinations (ESOL). The suite of examinations followed by La Garenne students is as follows:

• Starters
• Movers
• Flyers 
• Key English Test (KET)
• Preliminary English Test (PET)
• First Certificate in English (FCE) 

Examinations above this level, namely the Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) and the Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) are not designed for students of the age range we have at La Garenne, but more for adults. For this reason those students who have passed the First Certificate are given the opportunity to begin working towards their Cambridge IGCSE examination in English, that they will normally take in their next school.  Those who passed the First Certificate with a relatively low grade may also re-sit the examination in May.

The English entrance tests give us a good idea of the English level of new students, and all the students are tested at the beginning of the school year to ensure that they are in the correct class. All the classes are taught simultaneously, allowing movement to a higher group for any student who progresses rapidly. Students are grouped by level, but also by age. The inscriptions for the external examinations are made in the spring, and the tests themselves take place in June, at La Garenne and in other local partner schools. Parents are informed by email of the group their child has been placed in and are given the option of whether they want their child to sit the exam at the end of the year. We strongly recommend the children to take the exam as it is widely recognised in schools, universities and corporations.

Those students who are first-language speakers of English also follow the Cambridge course at a level that will provide them with an appropriate challenge. Experience has shown that these students benefit from increased exposure to the English language, particularly in the areas of vocabulary, spelling and grammar. However, they are not obliged to take an external examination at the end of the course.