Education and Training Awards 2020

Jun20074 Best Education Professional Development Academy - Europe The International Leadership Academy (ILA), part of The British School in the Netherlands, is the home of professional learning and development for international schools across Europe. Recently, we profiled the ILA to discover more about the impact and success the academy has had over the years and the award-winning support they provide. Since its launch in 2017, the ILA has been a dynamic and innovative centre of professional learning and development for international school staff, bringing world-class expertise to the heart of Europe. It offers provision that is internationally research-based and evidence- informed with improved student outcomes at its core. Through partnerships with organisations around the world, the ILA team develops co-designed programmes that are externally verified and certified. Mission, Vision and Values As an ethically driven, not-for-profit endeavour, the ILA is on a mission to build the professional capacity in the international school workforce and is committed to education excellence for all, both for the present and future. The ILA is recognised and valued as a professional measure of gold-standard professional learning and development by the international school community. When discussing the academy’s mission, Liz Free, the founding Director of the ILA, stated, “We have seen the number of international schools double in the last five years alongside education staff shortages across the globe. The ILA strives to ensure that we are nurturing world-class staff who are at the forefront of education practice, constantly curious, pioneering and changing. Education is not standing still, and neither are we at the ILA. We look to learn from domestic systems across the world and from research around international schools, to offer bespoke professional learning and development provision specific to the international school community that encompasses the best of all.” Building on What Works As one of Europe’s largest centres for international school professional learning and development, the ILA has harnessed the collective expertise within the international school community for the benefit of the international school community. By building on what research has shown to work best, all of the programmes are designed specifically to meet the needs of the full breadth of school staff. Each one of their programmes is categorised into four key strands; • Leading and Supporting Learning • Leadership and Management Development • Health, Safety and Wellbeing • General Skills Challenges and Opportunities One of the biggest challenges that the international school market faces is the significant growth in the number of international school students, and the implications this has on staffing needs. ISC Research shows that by the end of this decade, the staffing for international schools will need to double. The ILA is looking for new ways to attract, develop and retain staff as the need for more staff numbers increases. Furthermore, to deliver excellent international schooling, schools need the ability to create diverse environments for their students; however, much of the professional learning for teachers and school staff is designed around domestic systems that do not meet the needs of international school staff. Through its offer of programmes with the global view in mind that are fit for purpose for international school staff, the ILA is building professional capacity in the workforce for the benefit of the future global community. This work begins within the ILA’s own organisation: The British School in The Netherlands does not performance manage. The organisation recognises that professional learning and development for school improvement is the factor that makes the most significant difference. All of the staff engage with professional learning and all professional conversations are centred around this learning rather than performance compliance. This cultivates a culture of improvement and leads to reflective practitioners that are curious and constantly looking for ways to innovate to create optimum conditions for their learners. What is on the Horizon for the ILA The current global health crisis will also affect its workforce. The ILA worked constantly with school staff to provide them with the best support during this difficult time. Going forward, there will be continued use of blended learning, both face to face and online, as well as a greater focus on the health and wellbeing of their staff and their community as a whole. Despite the global challenges, this summer, the ILA moved into their new, purposefully designed learning space in The Hague. Here they will continue to welcome participants from their campuses at The British School in The Netherlands as well as from schools right across Europe. Ultimately, the ILA will continue to provide their exceptional service and impact, one which righteously earned them the title Best Education Professional Development Academy – Europe. Contact: Susanne Van Panhuys Press Enquiries: Elizabeth de Libero Company: International Leadership Academy, The British School in The Netherlands Web Address: www.bsnila.com