In Primary Education, the comprehensive development of the human potentialities continues, a process already started in Preschool. Besides, a further development of the basic competences, later worked in Secondary Education, takes place. The child will need these competences for their own fulfillment and self-development, active citizenship and social inclusion.

In this stage, it is essential to acquire social skills, study habits and individual responsibility (at the level required for the different subjects), which will enable the pupil to improve these knowledge and skills in Secondary Education.

In order to do this, the classroom and space disposition permits the adaptation to the various activities which are carried out. The classrooms are spacious and flexible, equipped with developmental materials and didactic and technological resources that give access to all fields of knowledge.

The natural surroundings are also part of the learning environment: the forest, the garden, the School’s orchard, the sports fields and the real world which they see when they go on field trips help them understand how the world works.

LANGUAGE TREATMENT AND METHODOLOGY

In Primary Education, we use a trilingual approach (Basque, Spanish and English), giving all three languages an integrated treatment. There is linguistic model B that includes the learning of English as a third language, which was already started in Nursery Education. The content and language integrated learning (CLIL) is a methodology based on the transfer of knowledge in the different languages through the various curricular areas to achieve a multilingual communicative competence.

Our goal is that the pupils achieve the expected learning with critical awareness and in a creative way, attempting to make the teaching-learning process rewarding. Thus, we stimulate the comprehensive development of the person and the achievement of individual autonomy and personal and social identity.

Primary is the stage for reasoning, imagination and intellectual and moral development.

We promote active methodologies, where the CHILD is the protagonist of their own learning process, paying individual attention to each child and respecting their development level to stimulate their talents and consolidate autonomy and initiative skills.

Innovation is an aspect of great importance in this stage and proof of this is the use of integrated methodologies. Some good examples are the Scientific Methodology CV-XXI, Cooperative Learning and 1:1 iPad Learning Initiative.

The Scientific Methodology CV-XXI started in Nursery School progresses to Primary Education first stage (ages 6 to 8). The prepared environment, the materials and diverse resources and the adult’s role support the child’s work, based on self-development through experimentation and exploration of the environment, by independently performing the activities designed for individual or group work.  

From the second stage of Primary Education (ages 8 to 10) on, we introduce Cooperative Learning. The pupils work in cooperative groups, which they all are a part of and where they equally participate and take responsibility for their individual part of the work. Communication skills are worked every day, and so are leadership development and the social skills which are key to regularise interaction.

In the third stage of Primary Education (ages 10 to 12), classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and 1:1 personal iPads, so that an education in accordance with modern society standards can be reached.  The use of the iPad supports autonomous learning and, through different channels, it promotes the development of creativity and provides an easy way to access information and store all their resources and creations. Therefore, the use of new technologies is present in the pupil’s daily life, enabling the development of the digital competence.

UNIFORM

The use of the School’s uniform is compulsory. From this stage to the fourth year of Secondary Education it will consist of:

• Long or short CV model light blue polo shirt or shirt (compulsory use of navy-blue tie with white spots when wearing the shirt).

• For girls: Pinafore dress (plain bodice and pleated skirt) with navy-blue cardigan; pleated skirt with braces or long grey Tergal trousers with the option of V-neck jumper.

• Navy-blue warm clothes.

• Black shoes (neither boots nor trainers) (Primary 1 and 2 without shoelaces).

  • White T-shirt with blue edging around the neckline.

  • Navy-blue shorts.

  • Trainers (any model).

  • Socks.

• For boys: long or short grey Tergal trousers and V-neck jumper.

• Navy-blue socks, tights or woollen tights.

• Navy-blue accessories.

• CV model sweatshirt for class.

• PE kit and swimwear:

• Tracksuit: it is compulsory for all the pupils who take part in the School’s sports competitions; it is optional for the rest (who, in case of using a tracksuit, they will have to use the school one, though).

• SWIMMING: swimsuit (girls), square-cut shorts or speedos (boys), flip flops, water bootees (recommended use), swimming cap (preferably silicone) and towel. 

TIMETABLE

The timetable in the first and second stages of Primary Education (from Primary 1 to Primary 4) is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., also offering before-school care service (from 8:30 to 10 a.m.).

In the third stage, Primary 5 and 6, the timetable changes, from 8:50 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. We also give the pupils the chance to attend our guided study courses (from 3:55 to 6 p.m.)

From Primary 1 on, the School offers a wide range of after-school activities, which complement the pupils’ training. In the first four years, the timetable for these activities will be from 5 to 6 p.m., while from Primary 5 on it will be from 4 to 6 p.m. For all those pupils who sign up for after-school activities, we provide an additional bus service. (For further information see the After-school Activities and Transport section).