Our School

Core values

IGS is a school built on strong core values. These qualities underpin our activities, actions and behaviours.

The five core values:

  1. Diversity

  2. Personal Achievement

  3. Connectedness

  4. Authenticity

  5. Vibrancy

  1. Diversity

    1. Inclusiveness
    2. Celebration of diversity and differences
    3. Global connections
    4. Acceptance and embracing of difference

We believe that through diversity and intercultural understanding, students will acquire a global perspective. We value this as an essential quality for our kids to achieve by the time they finish school. Our language-learning program is a key plank in this process. Children develop an understanding of themselves and others through language, music and art. We honour all cultures and rejoice in learning from the diversity of our students and their families. We value all members of our community and the contributions each can make and share – this brings dignity to our community. The globe on our school logo represents our perspective and our place in the world; the arc, which spans the globe, represents the bridges we are building between people and cultures.

  1. Personal Achievement
    1. Success and reward for success
    2. Questioning
    3. Extending
    4. Focus on positives
    5. Curiosity
    6. Affirmation
    7. Innovative programs
    8. Meeting individual needs
    9. Evolving challenges
    10. Range of opportunities
    11. Passion for learning
    12. Creativity
    13. Generosity and contribution

Quality learning requires passionate teachers and learners. We aim to provide a quality environment for every student. To this end we design rich and challenging learning experiences within a broad curriculum and co-curricular program. Our approach to teaching is to focus on each individual, meeting his or her needs as a learner. This allows us to adapt programs as students develop. The curriculum is as flexible as possible, allowing us to tailor programs for individual students as the need arises. Learning is designed to allow every student to maximise his or her potential and, through success, grow in self-esteem and develop as an individual. Our students acquire self-awareness, esteem, confidence, humility and resilience through their learning. Ultimately the full circle of ‘personal achievement’ includes giving back understandings, insights, truths and perspectives that have arisen from personal achievement. This requires senses of ‘making a contribution’ along with humility and empathy.

  1. Connectedness
    1. Community
    2. Family
    3. Student care
    4. Team
    5. Friendly
    6. Warmth
    7. Supportive
    8. Closeness

It is essential to provide a warm, friendly and caring environment so that every child will feel safe and secure at school. We provide challenges and risks, which are necessary for student development, within a nurturing and caring community. We want each individual to feel welcome and accepted; part of a team who will support his or her growth and development. We believe that students grow when they feel safe and happy and when they are strongly connected to others. To this end, every child is part of a close-knit Homeclass or Tutor Group. All our structures are designed to ensure connectivity between students, teachers, parents and the wider community. Participation promotes a healthy lifestyle and our children are encouraged to share, cooperate and work together. The school is not an isolated entity; it is a learning community which directly involves staff, parents and students in student learning. Parents are always welcome in the school, and are encouraged to take an active role in the community, working as collaborators in student learning.

  1. Authenticity
    1. Personal responsibility
    2. Respect for self and others
    3. Integrity
    4. Informative
    5. Openness
    6. Quality relationships
    7. Transparent actions
    8. Ethical behaviours
    9. Trust
    10. Honesty
    11. Treating others with dignity.

We aspire to high levels of personal responsibility. Children learn best when they are responsible for their own learning, so we encourage independence and self-evaluation. Students learn that consequences flow from their behaviour choices. We express support and compassion through our relationships with others. We value individual character, maturity and integrity. We encourage students to set goals and directions, and the aspiration to achieve them. We encourage students to increase their independence and self-discipline, especially as they move into senior high school. Our relationships are transparent, honest and ethical. We trust our students and parents, and are proud of the interpersonal relationships between staff and students. We will maintain and nurture our culture of high levels of staff support for students. Ultimately in allowing others their dignity, or treating people with dignity, we go beyond respectful.

  1. Vibrancy
    1. Different
    2. Informal
    3. Ground breaking
    4. Buzzy
    5. Pursuing quality
    6. Energetic
    7. Colourful
    8. Contemporary
    9. Uniqueness
    10. Fun
    11. Happy
    12. New ways
    13. Innovative

This is probably the hardest to articulate. It defines the unique tone and mood of the school. Newcomers feel this immediately upon entering the building - an emotional response to the colour, the buzz, the relaxed vibrancy of the school. We are informal, friendly, contemporary, happy – it is fun to be in the school! We do things in new ways; we experiment and use innovative methods and technology, whilst pursuing quality at all times. We are an inner-city contemporary, cosmopolitan community – and we are proud of this.