Last month, H-FARM International School Vicenza welcomed the International Baccalaureate evaluation team for a three-day visit, an important milestone in the life of any IB World School.
As part of the IB’s regular evaluation cycle, these visits are designed to ensure that schools continue to align with the highest international standards, while also reflecting on their own growth and future direction. In the weeks leading up to the visit, our entire community (students, teachers, and parents) contributed to a comprehensive self-study, highlighting both our achievements and areas for development.
The visit itself was an opportunity not only for evaluation, but for dialogue: classroom observations, meetings with leadership, and conversations with families all contributed to a rich and authentic picture of our school.
The PLT is proud to share a summary of the key strengths identified by the visiting team, alongside their suggestions to help us continue evolving.
Key Strengths
Purpose and Leadership
The school demonstrates a strong sense of purpose, guided by a clear mission and identity. Leadership is cohesive, with alignment between the leadership team and the board, ensuring shared values across the school. Relationships with students and parents are positive and meaningful, fostering trust and engagement.
Learning Environment
The school promotes a collaborative and reflective environment where learning is visible and happens in diverse settings. “The school building is buzzing”
Resources are strategically allocated with a long-term vision, and facilities are used flexibly to meet students’ needs.
Student wellbeing is a priority, supported by SEN coordinators, pastoral leadership, and tutors. Transitions between programmes are well supported, and career counselling is effective.
Teachers benefit from strong professional development opportunities and a culture of continuous learning, supported by an observation system that includes peer collaboration.
School Culture
Policies reflect the community and demonstrate a strong commitment to inclusion, language development, and academic integrity. Assessment is effectively used as a tool for learning. The development of IB Continuum policies highlights a coherent and reflective approach to school improvement.
Learning and Teaching
The curriculum is broad, balanced, and aligned with the IB philosophy. Social-emotional learning and the IB learner profile are well integrated, promoting lifelong learning.
Teaching practices make thinking visible, encourage deep reflection, and extend learning beyond the classroom. Technology is meaningfully integrated, and there is a strong sense of shared learning within the community.
Assessment practices are varied and creative, offering multiple ways for students to demonstrate and celebrate success.
PDP (Professional Development Plan)
Strengths
- Strong teacher engagement and passion
- Clear focus on student learning
- Well-defined and challenging goals
- Effective leadership by coordinators with a community-driven approach
- Dedicated time for planning and collaboration
- Alignment with IB standards
- High levels of commitment and perseverance
- Diverse professional learning activities
- Insightful reflection embedded in the process
- A clear culture of ongoing development and learning
Suggestions for Growth
- Incorporate research-based approaches into planning
- Engage a wider range of stakeholders
- Use multiple methods for data collection
- Consider adopting a structured change framework
- Define milestones and success criteria
- Introduce a more formal reflection protocol
Areas for Further Development
- Enhance understanding of school policies among students and parents
- Improve curriculum coherence, especially vertical alignment at transition points
- Develop a whole-school approach to ATL (Approaches to Learning) mapping
H-FARM Words
And these are the words that were captured by the visiting team during the meetings with teachers, students and parents:
Environment
Friendly/Excellent/Lively/Multiple/Welcoming/Dynamic/Futuristic
Culture
Special/Caring/Community/Peaceful/Openminded/Adjustable/Flexible/Thoughtful/Meaningful
Learning
Fun/ Connections/Creation/ Messy/Allowed/ Inquiring/ Organized/Exploration/Engaging
Parents
Encouraging/Complete/Wholistic/ Human/ Active/ Individual
Students
Creative/ Professional/ Community/ Good/ International/ Disciplined/ Perfect/ Communicator / Unique