InterParents is the federation of the thirteen Parents Associations of the European Schools that represents the parents in the Board of Governors and its subsidiary bodies. 

Each Parents Association elects a team of maximum four delegates to InterParents. Our team for the 2023-2024 school year is Reet Escribano (InterParents vice president), Tina Filzek, and two newcomers Maja Vorgic and Belen Lopez de Torre Verdejo. 

Since the 2022/2023 school year, internal InterParents meetings have been again organised in person. InterParents met in October 2023 in EEB3 for preparation of the Joint Teaching Committee (JTC) meeting. However, the preparation for the Board of Governors meetings at the end of November was decided to be held online during three afternoons. Reet Escribano represented InterParents at the Board of Governors meeting in Brussels on 5-7 December. 

Some of the topics discussed and decisions taken during the last round of meetings were the following:

Revision of the Language Policy of the European Schools

InterParents fully supported the proposal to extend ONL (Other National Language) lessons to all Irish, Maltese and Finnish pupils regardless of the language section in which they are enrolled.

Proposal to change the regulations related to the organization of the teaching for Students Without a Language Section (SWALS)

InterParents noted that the current proposal to offer free choice of L2 for SWALS does not answer the various concerns and questions raised by different stakeholders in the Pedagogical Reform WG meetings over the last two years (1. on the difficult situation of SWALS L1. The amount of time given to SWALS L1 is already significantly less than their counterparts in language sections. Therefore, parents have significant and valid concerns when these fewer hours are reduced further and / or vertical groupings are applied; 2. on differentiation in L2 language classes (also highlighted in the point 30 of the EP resolution that calls for regular review of second language teaching); and 3. on the selection of pupils for language testing when determining placement into language sections). Our understanding was that the InterParents’ concerns had been understood and would be taken up. After a two-year work, we would have hoped to see a more comprehensive proposal. The document was not ready for approval and that further discussion would be needed in the Pedagogical Reform WG.

Moreover, clarification is needed to see how feasible this option would be in big European Schools with complex timetables, in schools with a high number of SWALS language groups, or in schools that face important infrastructure constraints; how the proposal would affect SWALS enrolment into sections; how this proposal would affect mixed groups of SWALS where some chose a separate L2 and others did not; how this proposal would affect the educational support provision; and, most importantly, how this proposal addresses the concerns formally raised by SWALS families about the provision of SWALS L1 and general concerns about differentiation in L2.

InterParents also noted that this proposal does not sit well with previous decisions, namely the decision to allow schools to introduce the Host Country Language as L2 and the rejection of a proposal to introduce L3 in the primary, based on the argument that it was necessary to ensure that children in the multicultural environment have a good foundation in their dominant language.

InterParents found that the document was not ready for approval and that further discussion would be needed in the Pedagogical Reform WG and therefore called the JTC to give a mandate to the Pedagogical Reform WG to develop a proposal to improve the Language Policy with reference to SWALS L1, differentiation in L2, and selection of students for language testing, for presentation at the 2024 OCT JTC.

For a final clarification: at the JTC, the proposal about free choice of L2 for SWALS was rejected by the majority of stakeholders, including directors and teachers due to concerns about organisational issues.

Pedagogical Development and Quality Assurance of the European Schools, Inspectors activities and responsibilities.

The critical role of inspectors in ensuring the system’s pedagogical development and the quality assurance of the education provided, as well as the challenges they face in carrying out their duties. Their workload is huge, it encompasses a broad spectrum and is unevenly distributed. InterParents is pleased that the system acknowledged this problem and included the insufficient capacity of inspectors in the System Risk management register.

Summative assessment from S4 to S6 in the European Schools: Pedagogical and organisational arrangements

InterParents welcomes the joint setting of exam questions and assessment criteria by teachers, which is an important step towards the harmonised assessment of pupils and that several points raised by parents were taken onboard.

Overall, InterParents believes that there should be a gradual transition to BAC style exams through the secondary cycle and that the progression from S4 to S5 to S6 should be maintained. We feel that this proposal moves in that direction.

With regards to B-tests IP supported the move from four to two B-Tests in S4 and welcomed the recommendation to harmonize also B tests in S4-S6, appreciated the clarification on the timing and organisation of the B-tests in S4-S6 in particular the explicit reference to “No more than 1 test per day” and “no more than 3 per week”, given that they will be spread across the whole semester. InterParents suggested that each school establish and clearly communicate to teachers, students and parents the annual schedule of B-tests by the end of September each year. Ideally, the schedule will be published on the website. InterParents noted that additional guidance on the length of B Tests should be provided.

Gifted pupils in the European Schools

InterParents expressed a great appreciation to assist gifted pupils since their number is progressively increasing at school;

Indicated that parents have some concerns about an effective implementation of such policy since we are aware of the complexity of school timetable and additional arrangements to be foreseen to accommodate the needs of those students;

Recommended to appropriately plan a step where to assess local schools plans and what could be the challenges for such implementation.

 

The next meeting for preparation of the Joint Teaching Committee (JTC) will be held on 5-6 February 2024 in EEB2 and the next JTC meeting will be held on 8-9 February 2024. 

Participation of our Delegates in OSG meetings and Working Groups:

Reet Escribano participates as InterParents delegate in JTC and Board of Governors meetings as well as in monthly online meetings with Deputy Secretary General Mr. Bordoy; Simplification WG, School Trips WG, C.A.A.P. & WEX WG.

Tina Filzek is InterParents delegate for the OSG Student Mobility WG.

Belen and Maja are making their first steps in InterParents Pedagogical Reform Group work. From other Management Committee members, Valeria Morareti is actively participating in InterParents Sustainability WG.

Glossary:

JTC Joint Teaching Committee

BoG Board of Governors 

WG Working Group

CAAP Citizenship Actions for All Programme

WEX Work Experience

NB! If you feel that you would like to participate in InterParents work, please contact us at info@ampaescuelaeuropea.com.