The DNA of Learning: Unpacking our school’s core principles
Sunday 23 February 2025
I have just returned from facilitating a regional IB workshop on Leading an IB Education, which was hosted at The International School of Prague. I always appreciate visiting schools; you can tell so much from the external learning environment.
Mission in action
At ISP, their mission is not just a statement on a wall—it is embedded in every aspect of school life. Their guiding principle is clear: “Everything that we do at ISP is driven by our Mission to Inspire, Engage, and Empower all learners to be Curious, Competent, Compassionate Changemakers.”
Walking through the school, this mission comes to life through their learning programme, which is deeply rooted in the attributes of the IB Learner Profile. From curiosity-driven inquiry projects to student-led initiatives that promote social change, ISP exemplifies how a school’s mission can be a living, breathing force in education.
Use this page How does 'learning' happen in your school? to reflect on the learning principles of your school. Do all members of your school community share a common language? Do you share the same beliefs about learning? Are all your decisions based upon those beliefs?
These may sound straight forward questions. What I have found, however, is that in most schools there exists inconsistency between what colleagues believe about learning. I am not trying to say that teachers should not bring their own expertise and unique skills to classes. However, it is important that there is a common shared understanding of how learning happens in the school so that students are not confused as they move from one classroom to another.
Visiting a school so aligned with its mission raises important questions for all educational institutions to consider:
- To what extent is your school’s mission truly tied to learning? Is it just words on a website, or does it actively shape teaching, curriculum design, and student experiences?
- How do your learning principles live out the IB Learner Profile? Do they encourage curiosity, risk-taking, and global mindedness in a meaningful way?
- Are students empowered as changemakers? Does the learning environment equip them with the confidence and skills to make an impact beyond the school walls?
- How does your school environment reflect and reinforce its mission? From displays and language to teaching methods and policies, does everything align with your core values?
For any school, ensuring that its mission is authentically tied to student learning requires ongoing reflection and action. It is not enough to have aspirational statements—these principles must be intentionally embedded in the curriculum, culture, and daily experiences of both students and educators.