Holistic Education

The Holistic Approach

BSP provides a holistic approach to education. It educates the whole student, developing the capacity for inquiry, research, and problem-solving as well as essential skills for communication and collaboration. Students are taught to apply what they have learned in different contexts and across disciplines.

Dispositions for Mindfulness - BSP Keys to Success

In BSP, we are engaged in the personal development of the students as our values and beliefs underpin positive relationships and seek to develop all important competencies for lifelong learning.

After combining Dr. Art Costa’s Habits of Mind and the IB Learner Profile, we arrived at ten vital dispositions, which we called BSP Keys to Success. Each key is unique to our school and represents a pattern of intellectual behaviors that lead to improved attitudes and coping strategies, and arms learners with the skills necessary to succeed in an ever-changing future.

Managing Impulsivity

Take time to consider options; Think before speaking or acting; Remain calm when stressed or challenged; Thoughtful and considerate of others; Proceed carefully

 

Thinking Interdependently

Willing to work with others and welcome their input and perspective; Abide by decisions the workgroup makes even if I disagree somewhat; Willing to learn from others in reciprocal situations;

 

Thinking Flexibly

Able to change perspective; Consider the input of others; Generate alternatives; Weigh options;

 

 

Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision

Strive to be clear when speaking and writing; Strive to be accurate to when speaking and writing; Avoid generalizations, distortions, minimizations and deletions when speaking, and writing.

 

Questioning and Posing Problems

Ask myself, “How do I know?”; develop a questioning attitude; Consider what information is needed, choose strategies to get that information; Consider the obstacles needed to resolve.

 

Responding with Wonderment and Awe

Intrigued by the world's beauty, nature's power and vastness for the universe; Have regard for what is awe-inspiring and can touch my heart; Open to the little and big surprises in life I see others and myself.

 

Persisting

Sticking to task at hand; Follow through to completion; Can and do remain focused;

 

 

Taking Responsible Risks

Willing to try something new and different; Consider doing things that are safe and sane even though new to me; Face the fear of making mistakes or of coming up short and don’t let this stop me;

 

Listening with Understanding and Empathy

Pay attention to and do not dismiss another person's thoughts, feeling and ideas; Seek to put myself in the other person's shoes; Tell others when I can relate to what they are expressing; Hold thoughts at a distance in order to respect another person's point of view and feelings.

Striving for Accuracy

Check for errors; Measure at least twice; Nurture a desire for exactness, fidelity & craftsmanship;

 

Creating, Imagining, Innovating

Generating new and novel ideas, fluency, originality.

 

Thinking about Thinking (Metacognition)

Being aware of own thoughts, feelings, intentions, and actions; Knowing what I do and say affects others; Willing to consider the impact of choices on myself and others.

 

Remaining Open to Continuous Learning

Open to new experiences to learn from; Proud and humble enough to admit when don't know; Welcome new information on all subjects.

 

Gathering Data through All Senses

Stop to observe what I see; Listen to what I hear; Take note of what I smell; Taste what I am eating; Feel what I am touching.

 

Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations

Use what is learned; Consider prior knowledge and experience; Apply knowledge beyond the situation in which it was learned;

 

The Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development of Pupils

All BSO schools go through regular inspections from the British Ministry of Education, to prove that they cover certain standards. One of them is SMSC- Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development of the pupils.

During our last inspection, BSP proved that: “As they move through the school, pupils develop their understanding through the taught curriculum, planned Personal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE) lessons, the Youth Effectiveness Programme (YET), circle time, themed assemblies linked to the school’s values and the informal curriculum.

The school actively promotes tolerance and respect for human differences. This is embedded in the culture and ethos of the school. Feedback from parents over discussions about more sensitive topics has overall, been supportive of the school’s approach. Fundamental British values are instilled both explicitly and implicitly. Pupils are provided with a broad general knowledge of the responsibilities of citizenship in Bulgaria, the UK and internationally through the topics they study.”