It has been a year since Shackleton International School opened in Valencia and it continues to grow.
Burjassot School is an offshoot of English nursery Superfriends which has provided early learning for youngsters up to the age of six over the past decade. The school – five years in the planning – was a big step to take, and it paid off, said Shackleton School communications manager Zhandra Zuleta.
“We’ve gotten off to a good start with 110 students, and we currently have close to 300.” She said, “It shows how more and more families are choosing our school, even though our goal is not to become a large school with too many students, which would not allow us to give the personalized education that we want to offer.
Shackleton is currently starting the new school year with students in grades 7 and 8.
Concerned about the future of its students, the school has chosen to follow the IGCSE and International Baccalaureate systems.
Zhandra explained, “This will allow our students to pursue their college/university education wherever they choose to live.”
At the heart of the school’s success and expansion is the highly professional team.
Zhandra continued: “We are particularly proud of our staff, made up of highly qualified teachers and dedicated specialists. This year, we are adding more professionals with the same high standard, and we look forward to working with our families to build our students into highly skilled, caring, and independent citizens in the future.
The school is named in honor of the famous explorer, Ernest Shackleton, who with a combination of integrity, leadership and determination is considered a historical model.
The school’s philosophy is to inspire confidence in young people by encouraging creative thinking and talent; speak a language other than Spanish and use the latest teaching methods based on the British education system.
Principal of Shackleton School, Celeste Cutter, explained: “We believe in giving young people a values-based education that goes beyond subject and curriculum. We want all students to develop values such as effort, curiosity, camaraderie, adaptability and respect by strengthening their inner selves and through their social interactions.
At Shackleton they apply high British standards to all lessons which are taught in an innovative way.
“Each student gets the tools to develop their skills and enhance what they learn with the freedom to be creative.” said Celeste.
More details are available via the website, shackletonschool.com, or via their Facebook page, Shackleton International School.