Innovative schools creative learning

The humanist Erich Fromm used to say that "education consists of helping the child bring to reality that which is best in him". This assistance, in turn, is providing him the tools and skills needed for his personal development. If, additionally, we want to facilitate the educational experience of the student, then the social as well as the physical environment is essential. That is why The SEK Schools are thought out and designed so that our Educative Community can enjoy innovative spaces designed to motivate the student.

The SEK Schools maintain an open ear to the social environment and incorporate, into their pedagogical method, all those technological and communicative innovations that help our students build knowledge and develop as people of integrity. Given that we believe that there are not two students alike, we are firmly committed to personal and individualised teaching, in which each student plans, implements and manages their own work within collaborative environments. In this learning community, known as Intelligent Classroom, the professor is a guide that accompanies the student in the educational experience, utilising diverse teaching methods, authentic tasks and ICT tools.

If one quality can be mentioned that has always identified the SEK Schools, it is internationalisation. We are aware of the fact that we live in a globalised world; therefore, we endeavour to prepare our students to function competently and securely therein. Our commitment is such that, the SEK Schools, are the only Spanish centres that implement the three programmes of the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) along with the national curriculum. Furthermore, in order to establish more direct relations with other cultures and to facilitate foreign language learning to the maximum, we have extended our educational method by creating the schools of SEK Dublin International School and the École Internationale SEK Les Alpes. Given the complex and globalised world in which they live, knowing how to communicate in other languages is a basic tool for our students.

In order to prepare them for facing new challenges with confidence, the curricular goal of the SEK Schools is the attainment of the Skills and Competences of the 21st Century, which the psychologist and researcher, Howard Gardner (Prince of Asturias Award for Social Sciences 2011) summarizes in five mindsets: disciplined, synthesising, creative, respectful and ethical. These competences consider that the cognitive development is just as important as the mental one. To complete the learning of the social and emotional development in the classrooms, the SEK Educational Institute, along with the Camilo José Cela University and the professor Elsa Punset, are working in the adaptation and implementation of the programme, the first in Spain, “Resolving Conflicts Creatively” of the teacher Linda Lantieri, and successfully tested in the United States.

In the SEK Schools, we complement the tutorial and guidance action with the special programme called Learn To Be, Learn to Think and the Flagship Programme for High Achievers, in which individual differences are worked on and actions are reinforced that contribute to the complete educational process. The families likewise have training activities, such as the Cultural Trips or the Parents’ Classroom, in which the following issues are dealt with: e.g. health and nutrition, emotional and social learning, early care and guidance regarding the university.

In order to promote new aptitudes and areas of knowledge, each SEK School establishes a unique curriculum according to the demands and needs (scientific, linguistic, artistic or sport) of its students. One of the programmes in which cognitive skills are worked on the most is the Mind Lab. Logical and math strategies are developed within the same through games. Another initiative that works on the learning process by reference models is the SEKMUN project. Within the same, the students represent the example given by the United Nations (UN), reflecting and talking about current issues as well as international policy.

All the aforementioned examples form part of the educational programming of the SEK Institute, seeking to respond to the needs of the modern student and to the demands of the society in which we live. This society likewise expresses itself and communicates through virtual environments and social networks. Therefore, a large part of that which makes our SEK Schools different is the development of its activity in a collaborative and innovative 2.0 community. As schools of the 21st century, we work in an environment known as “www” (whatever, whenever, wherever), in which learning should be accessible from any place, at any time and during your entire lifetime.

For more information about SEK, visit our website