CANTERBURY SCHOOL
DEVELOPING RESPONSIBLE, INFORMED AND CULTURALLY AWARE CITIZENS
Choosing the right school for your child is, as a parent, one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. For more than 40 years Canterbury School has been preparing children to take their place in the world as responsible, informed and culturally aware citizens. We believe that the professionalism of our teachers, the excellence of our facilities and the warmth of our educational philosophy offer the perfect environment for every pupil to develop their full potential.
EARLY YEARS AT CANTERBURY: MILTON HOUSE AND MASPALOMAS
The children spend the first four years of their schooling in the Early Years Section either in the quiet, residential area in the heart of Las Palmas or the Primary building in Maspalomas. The buildings are light, spacious and friendly with attractive, well resourced classrooms and ample playground space for children’s games and outside activities.
The atmosphere is warm and inviting as a happy child is a child we can help develop into an inquisitive and active learner. We follow the English national Curriculum Early Years Foundation Stage programme and use positive reinforcement and the celebration of children’s work and creativity throughout: we praise our pupils for good behaviour, good work, trying their best, being kind to others and so on.
All children are accustomed to taking part in the various shows and assemblies throughout the year and to enrich the curriculum, educational visits are arranged to places of interest on the island.
Parents’ cooperation and support are encouraged at all times as children progress more when we all work together. As well as the normal close academic liaison, parents are invited to watch class assemblies, accompany children on excursions and join in on special occasions so that our children feel that home and school is one united family.
PRIMARY EDUCATION: SAN LORENZO AND MASPALOMAS
Primary pupils in San Lorenzo and Maspalomas have their own tutor based classrooms which are spacious and well equipped. On both sites there are ample facilities and extensive playgrounds. There is a maximum of 25 pupils in each class and staff for the different classes in each year group work together in teams. Pupils follow a programme based on the English National Curriculum which offers the children a variety of opportunities to develop their competence in English and other curriculum areas: in addition every child receives a Spanish lesson each day. Once again the atmosphere and ethos of the school reflect the professionalism of the staff who work in it to provide a rich and stimulating learning environment: achievement is recognized in assemblies and with certificates and lots of praise.
When the children move to the Secondary Department at the end of Year 6, our aim is to have provided them with the necessary skills to be able to access the Secondary curriculum. At the same time we hope we have given them a solid basis for them to grow as individuals showing respect, care and tolerance towards others.
SECONDARY DEPARTMENT: SAN LORENZO
On the completion of Year 6, the children move into the Secondary Department which consists of two well-equipped, modern buildings on an area of more than 30.000 m2 of school ground with various playing fields on the outskirts of Las Palmas. The classrooms are spacious and well equipped and both buildings have computer rooms and laboratories. There are also music and art rooms, a library, kitchen and dining halls, a theatre, gymnasium and sports pavilion (currently under construction). All pupils follow the guidelines of the English National Curriculum as well as the stipulated studies in Spanish language and culture.
In Lower School, NC Years 7,8 and 9, pupils learn best when they are motivated and to encourage them we have a system of credits, achievement certificates and public praise for effort, good work and behaviour during regular assemblies.
Upper School pupils need to be given as many opportunities as possible to reach their true potential in preparation for IGCSE examinations which are taken either at the end of Year 10 or 11. In Upper school, English, Mathematics, Science, Spanish and P.E. are obligatory subjects but there is also a wide range of optional subjects from which each pupils selects five and follows a programme of study leading to an IGCSE qualification in each. This enables pupils to choose what interests them most and be actively involved in their own progress.
Music, art and drama frequently come together in school productions. Our Lower and Senior Choirs, musical groups and actors perform concerts, play and musicals which are thoroughly enjoyed by pupils and parents and staff and provide some of the highlights of the school year.