Rockwoods International School is a distinct blend of international education with traditional Indian values. While on one side we offer Cambridge curricula and pedagogy, on the other side, we also teach students about the Indian values of respect for all and gratitude.
Dr. Vasudha Neel Mani, Principal Rockwoods International School, Udaipur
We are a K-12 school that teaches every stage of the Cambridge Pathway. This means that our students experience a seamless transition from Cambridge Early Years to Cambridge Lower Secondary and Advanced levels. That makes us one of four schools in the country that follow the entire Cambridge Pathway from age 3 to 19.
An international education
The school encountered challenges when introducing Cambridge programmes stemming from parental preferences for national board-affiliated institutions, based on their own familiarity as students. They feel that such schools offer more scope to students who want to continue studying in India at undergraduate level.
The demand for top-tier education conforming to international benchmarks posed a challenge, with parents desiring holistic development opportunities for their children. Additionally, the city’s non-native English-speaking population posed language-related hurdles.
Inspiring lifelong learners
Rockwoods International School was established in 2016 with a mission to create an environment where students are raised as empathetic, positive human beings. We want them to be lifelong learners who are respectful towards all humans and cultures.
The school offers a blend of international curricula with additional emphasis on Indian identity and local traditions. We follow the Cambridge Primary curriculum framework, but we also add details about events that have shaped our country. We celebrate Indian achievements and festivals, along with international key events.
This, along with the culture of learning that we have helped to foster, has helped parents to see the benefits of an international education from Cambridge.
Primary programme
Our primary programme unfolds organically for a learner who moves in from Cambridge Early Years and graduates to Cambridge Lower Secondary. Active learning is a part of Rockwoods’ culture, which helps students internalise concepts better. This prepares them for the future in all ways possible.
At all stages, we encourage students to develop their curiosity, asking questions to further the learning process. We encourage students at Rockwoods to go beyond their books and showcase their understanding. The teachers work very hard alongside students to provide a customised learning experience.
We conduct Cambridge Checkpoint tests at primary and lower secondary stages, which help us to gauge our scholars at an international level.
To prepare our students for Cambridge Checkpoint tests, we have a blend of formative and summative assessments that are based completely on Cambridge pedagogy and the assessment pattern of Progression Tests, Cambridge Checkpoint tests, the active learning cycle and high order thinking questions from Bloom’s taxonomy.
We have a reading program for primary learners that encourages them to read books and then participate in tasks related to the story. This not just helps them enhance their vocabulary, reading skills and writing skills, but also makes learners think critically and builds their imagination. Competitions like inter-school spell bees, Olympiads and English Champ give them a stage to work as an independent learner and improve their language skills.
Our teachers are part of Cambridge Professional Development Qualification programme where they develop their understanding of pedagogy. There are also internal trainings that help teachers to share good practices and strengthen class management.
The result
The primary school programme at school is well developed and is now one the most popular in the city.
Teachers have become more confident over the years about their methodology and teaching practices and the results have meant that there is an increasing number of parents who place trust in Rockwoods International.
Although some parents were worried about an international board, the flexibility of Cambridge means that we can make content relevant and reassure parents that the international and local mix works.
Our learners show greater conviction in everything they do; they display better verbal, written and comprehension skills in English. Learners are responsible, innovative, confident, engaged and reflective in all ways.
The amalgamation of international educational standards with traditional values has yielded a generation of students who excel academically, while retaining cultural sensitivity and holistic development.
