Welcome to Verdala International School (VIS)

Where we are dedicated to remaining the international school of choice, celebrating diversity, empowering, and inspiring future generations.

Our Vision

To be the international school of choice, celebrating diversity, empowering and inspiring future generations.

Our Mission

At VIS, our mission is to ensure that all our students emerge as knowledgeable, inquisitive, and ethical contributors to our world. We are committed to creating a unique environment that nurtures academic learning while encouraging students to become open-minded, principled, and reflective individuals who appreciate the richness of our diverse, multicultural society.

Educational Philosophy

In line with our educational philosophy, we aim to prepare our students for tomorrow’s challenges through inspirational education that employs 21st-century learning methods. Our approach encourages students to explore and reflect, appreciating diverse perspectives while understanding concepts with both global and local significance. We emphasise the IB Learner Profile, a framework designed to develop internationally minded individuals who are inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. This profile shapes all our educational endeavours, nurturing attributes that help students become responsible members of both local and global communities.

Our Definition of Learning

At VIS, learning involves developing the knowledge, skills, and understandings through inquiry-based and trans-disciplinary strategies, which prepare our lifelong learners for their future challenges. Effective learning occurs in a positive and nurturing environment, fostering a reflective growth mindset. This develops best in a context where students apply problem-solving skills to think critically and creatively in order to collaborate and take responsibility for their own learning.

We promote personal well-being through a balanced education that includes creativity, activity, academic rigour, and a service learning environment.

We provide meaningful learning experiences through an inclusive educational journey which develops transferable skills, resilience, and well-grounded and mindful individuals.

We strive to offer varied pathways and opportunities to enable success for all.

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Our commitment to inclusion is deeply embedded in our Anti-Discrimination Policy. This policy highlights our commitment to a school community where every member, regardless of their background, is respected and valued. Discrimination is not tolerated, and we strive to provide a variety of opportunities for our students to learn about and celebrate different cultures. Our values of respect and empathy are at the heart of this commitment.

Student Expectations

Students at VIS are expected to embody the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. They are encouraged to be principled, acting with integrity and honesty while demonstrating a strong sense of fairness and justice. Respecting themselves, others, and the world around them, our students are called to be caring members of both local and global communities. They should seek out and engage in opportunities that allow them to make significant contributions and uphold our school's code of conduct. These values are fundamental as our students strive to make a positive impact and navigate their educational journeys with confidence and responsibility.

Environmental Responsibility

We recognise the importance of environmental responsibility, which is integral to our Whole School Eco Charter. This charter underscores our commitment to integrating environmental education into our curriculum and aligning our practices with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. In 2024, we proudly achieved Eco-Schools Green Flag status, a testament to our ongoing efforts to uphold high environmental standards. We are dedicated to maintaining this prestigious status and continuing our work with integrity and dedication. Our approach encourages making principled, sustainable decisions that minimise our environmental impact, fostering habits of reduce, reuse, and recycle. We are committed to nurturing these practices to ensure a sustainable future.

Eco Charter

Rationale

As a community, we have a common understanding that environmental education needs to become a core part of our school’s program and ethos. We recognise the need to find a balance between our personal interests and protecting our health, our lifestyle, and our environment. This document serves to outline the principles, practices, and commitments we expect all members of our community to be guided by when engaged in any activity related to the school.

Guiding Principles

- VIS values our global ownership of the planet on which we live and we are committed to educating our community to be active & responsible eco-citizens.
- We will make principled decisions that are sustainable and minimise any negative impact on the environment.
- We will foster activities and initiatives that have a positive impact on the environment.

Practices

The school will actively:
- Integrate environmental learning into the curriculum at all levels of the school in connection with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals;
- Implement operational systems and policies that support sustainability and protection of the environment;
- Foster habits of reduce, reuse, recycle throughout our community;
- Communicate and promote our shared environmental responsibilities to all our stakeholders.

Commitments

- We will actively demonstrate our engagement with these principles & practices through sustainable actions & initiatives that benefit the environment.
- We will consider and, where possible, prioritise environmental sustainability as part of financial decision-making.
- We will encourage and educate our community to integrate this environmental responsibility into their daily & home life.
- We will unpack and interpret our Principles and Practices at age & context-appropriate levels across all stakeholders.
- We will explicitly identify short-term and long-term goals and report regularly on progress towards achieving these goals.

Community Engagement

Our community is urged to carry these values beyond school life, integrating environmental responsibility into their daily and home lives. We regularly evaluate our progress toward sustainable practices and set both short-term and long-term goals to ensure we are always moving forward. As part of our dedication to holistic growth, we actively promote service learning, encouraging students to engage in community service projects that enhance their understanding of social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

We trust that our caring and inclusive community will help each student discover their true potential and build a lifetime of respect for others and their surroundings. Our commitment to service learning helps forge strong bonds within the community and fosters a sense of global citizenship. We look forward to seeing each student grow into a thoughtful and proactive citizen, ready to face the world’s evolving challenges.