Ambition International School Copyright © 2024
Developing Great Habits And Eliminating Gaps
Preparing For The Future
Welcome
Arguably, the “mid-school” years are crucial for a child’s development during their school journey. It is during this period that weaknesses can either be addressed and eliminated or continue to grow into insurmountable learning challenges, as they lay the groundwork for the approaching graduation years.
In reality, it is highly likely that any student will have gaps in their understanding of fundamental concepts. Unfortunately, conventional schools often lack the time and resources to provide individualised assistance to those who are struggling. As a result, students may further decline and even develop a dislike for subjects they could otherwise excel in.
At Ambition International School, we prioritise every scholar’s learning journey by commencing with a digital Placement Test. This assessment quietly identifies any previously misunderstood concepts. Subsequently, our digital curriculum system, MobyMax, generates a customised learning path designed specifically to help your child address these misconceptions and reinforce their knowledge swiftly. As the integrated work-day assessments track progress, your child will automatically experience dynamic growth, reaching the appropriate level for their age.
This approach instills a significant boost in confidence and provides struggling students with a fresh start in their school life. By applying effective learning strategies during these “mid-school” years, students can approach the formative graduation years from Grade 9 with confidence and the potential to surpass their initial expectations. Importantly, your child will enjoy their academic growth within a supportive and progressive environment.
No matter how far behind your child may be in any subject, as long as they are willing to learn, we are here to help them not only catch up but also make rapid progress through their primary school years and into high school.
It is worth noting that our Mobymax syllabus is two years ahead of the South African CAPS system. This discrepancy means that our Grade 8 is equivalent to the South African Grade 10.
Even students in “High School” at our institution begin with our Primary School Mobymax Syllabus. This allows us to identify any learning gaps and promptly address them, ensuring a solid foundation for their academic journey.
Placement Test
Recognising that our children, much like us during our school years, have both strengths and weaknesses in various subjects, it becomes essential to strategically address and leverage these areas. This understanding is particularly relevant as national matriculant achievements have been declining year after year. Scholars often have a vague understanding of their weaknesses in certain subjects, attributing them to various reasons. As they progress through school, particularly from Grade 9 onwards, where concepts become more challenging, these weaknesses tend to deepen. This situation is further exacerbated by the fact that within the school environment, scholars are primarily evaluated through “internal” teacher-originated exams and tests, which may provide a false sense of security. However, when they eventually face the “external” national or international graduation exams, their performance is often poor.
In reality, it is highly likely that scholars will have gaps in their understanding of fundamental concepts. Unfortunately, traditional schools are often unable to allocate the necessary time and resources to address these gaps adequately. As a result, students continue to struggle and their performance deteriorates, potentially leading to a disliking of subjects that they could otherwise excel in.
There are various factors that can contribute to the development of learning gaps among scholars. Understanding these factors is crucial in order to effectively address and bridge these gaps. Here are some key reasons:
- Traditional Teaching Approach: The conventional classroom setting often focuses on delivering lessons to the average learner, which can lead to scholars who require more time falling behind, while advanced learners may become disengaged and develop gaps.
- Time Constraints for Individual Attention: Teachers often face time limitations and may not be able to provide extensive support to scholars who struggle to understand concepts initially, resulting in persistent gaps.
- Disruptions in Education: Factors like illness, the impact of events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, or other interruptions to schooling can lead to gaps in a scholar’s education, hindering consistent learning.
- Lack of Individualised Instruction: Large class sizes make it challenging for teachers to offer personalised instruction tailored to each scholar’s specific learning needs, potentially contributing to gaps.
- Limited Access to Resources: Insufficient availability of educational resources, including textbooks, reference materials, and technology, can impede scholars’ learning experiences and contribute to knowledge gaps.
- Language Barriers: Non-native speakers of the language of instruction may face difficulties comprehending and expressing themselves, resulting in gaps in their understanding of the curriculum.
- Socioeconomic Disadvantages: Scholars from economically disadvantaged backgrounds may encounter obstacles in accessing quality education, materials, and extracurricular activities, which can lead to disparities and learning gaps.
- Learning Disabilities or Special Educational Needs: Scholars with learning disabilities or special educational needs may require specific accommodations and interventions to address their challenges. Without appropriate support, they may experience persistent gaps in certain areas.
At Ambition International School, every scholar embarks on their educational journey by taking a digital Placement Test, which serves as a quick assessment to identify any gaps in their learning. Through the utilisation of advanced algorithms, we are able to pinpoint the specific skills that may be missing across various subjects and grade levels. Based on these comprehensive results, a fully customised and unique learning path is designed for each individual scholar, enabling them to efficiently address these gaps and quickly achieve the appropriate academic level for their age.
Through our experience, we have observed that many scholars have significant gaps in their learning, often surprising their parents with the extent of these gaps. Compounding this challenge is the fact that our grading system follows international standards, meaning that, for instance, our Grade 8 aligns with South African Grade 10.
Can your child do our Placement Test without Enrolling in our school?
Yes of course. We offer the Placement Test and Missing Standards Report for NO-CHARGE.
For details on how to book your FREE Placement test Click HERE
