The Oxbridge International School (OXIS) is a bold approach to alternative learning, with a strong focus on developing mental and emotional skills alongside academic excellence. Located in Trinidad, OXIS prioritises exploration, play and creativity but also maintains a more ‘traditional’ assessment system to ensure students are developing their abilities and future prospects.
Under the guidance of founder and current chairman Rolph Balgobin, OXIS continues to welcome new cohorts of students each year, with assessment strategies designed to help them achieve goals and pursue professional success. From early years to GCSEs, young people are given the opportunity to study and complete qualifications without losing sight of the social side of education. To learn more about this educational style, please see the embedded PDF.
The approach is very student-centred, encouraging children to take control of their studies and design learning plans that match their individual learning styles. Assessment tools such as electronic portfolios, multiple choice tests, presentations and structured tests are used to target different areas of learning, with traditional coursework and end-of-semester exams also introduced as students approach GCSE and A-Level age.
There are also a wide range of study paths available, with options to pursue either British or American curriculums or choose a combination of both in exceptional cases. Some of the subjects on offer include:
- Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Further Math
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Law
- Psychology
- Global Perspectives
- Music
- Computer Science
Feedback is also given regularly so students feel supported in every lesson, especially those in which they may struggle. The ultimate goal of this approach it to develop deep subject knowledge and superior thinking and reasoning skills. When it’s time to apply for university, OXIS also assesses student applications to maximise their chances of being accepted.
OXIS is a school, but it also encourages young people to treat it as an investment in themselves. Each assessment is designed to show how much they have learned, laying the foundation for further educational and vocational possibilities. Traditional tests are combined with interactive environments to ensure that children are being softly assessed in every lesson.
The OXIS approach is very much based upon the principles of classical education, with the mission of developing modern minds and worldly understandings at the same time. OXIS students are able to think critically, ground their education in real life and continue learning throughout their lives. Assessing young people in this way ensures they not only receive the necessary qualifications but also the opportunity to develop themselves creatively and independently.
