School profile

MSI and JHS Konstanziagasse 50, 1220 Vienna

Our school is a middle school and junior high school with an IT specialism. Since September 2001, all pupils have learnt the subject global studies – taught using English as the working language – in addition to their regular English lessons and their other subjects which are taught in German. Currently 383 boys and girls attend the school and are taught by a total of 43 teachers. We are supported by a school psychologist and a school doctor who work here on a part-time basis.

Changes to the new middle school in 2019 / 20

In 2018, changes were agreed with regard to the new middle school, which as of this year is simply described as a middle school. These will be applied in all schools beginning in 2020 / 21, but have already begun this year at our school. A key change is the enabling of different assessment groups in the core subjects of German, maths and English, whereby pupils can be assessed based on standard criteria or AHS (Allgemeinbildende Höhere Schule – academic secondary school) criteria. This can vary from subject to subject for a particular pupil, meaning that he or she can be nurtured and challenged at a higher level in line with his / her particular strengths.

Aims of the middle school

The middle school aims to nurture pupils according to their individual strengths and interests, hence preparing them for their transition to an academic secondary school or for an apprenticeship in their chosen careers. As a junior high school, those with a feel for languages are in a strong position to be able to develop their English skills through global studies and participation in Cambridge English exams. Similarly, IT features prominently on the curriculum, and we offer a range of extra-curricular activities in science too.
Pupils are supported individually in lessons but are taught together, even though their pace of learning varies. In this way they can also support and learn from one another.

Project-oriented lessons

By working on a range of projects in lessons, pupils learn the importance of context and how different subject areas relate to one another. Class trips – particularly during project weeks – feature regularly at our school. During these trips, pupils often work in groups to complete tasks, which bolsters their team-working skills. Social learning also plays a prominent role here.

Alternative assessment

Pupils’ completion of a Europass folder allows parents to see their children’s progress across the 8 key European competences. This provides an alternative and differentiated insight into their achievements and current capabilities.

Team teaching

Two teachers teach in almost two thirds of lessons at the school, enabling another form of differentiation. In this way, flexible learning groups can be formed which can work at varying tempos and with a varying focus based on pupils’ talents and particular areas of interest.

Junior High School

Pupils have 4 to 6 lessons of global studies per week, which means learning in English as a working language in addition to 3 lessons per week of regular English. Global studies lessons (which cover history, geography, biology, maths, art and IT) are taught by native speaker teachers along with subject specialists. Pupils also visit an English-speaking country in the 4^th class, which is of course a particular highlight! English cinema and theatre trips take place every year as part of the enhanced English programme on offer at the school, and pupils can choose to prepare for KET (Key English Test) and PET (Preliminary English Test) exams when they reach the 4^th class. Some pupils have also taken part in drama workshops in English.
Through global studies, the aim is for pupils to use English as a tool for communication through which they can make progress across a range of subject areas, as well as building skills in “connected thinking”. Its connection with IT, the internet and an internationally interconnected world is particularly important and relevant here.

IT specialism

IT is taught as a compulsory subject for up to two lessons per week from the 1^st to 4^th classes (school years 5 to 8). We have three IT rooms, each containing 16 computers with up-to-date software. In IT lessons, classes are divided into two groups where they are taught by two separate teachers, whilst computer competence can be developed in other lessons too by using the third IT room, which is larger.
Additionally, teachers have access to a scanner, 5 digital cameras and three beamers which they can use in lessons. The majority of classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, which enables teaching with modern media across the whole curriculum.
We offer a preparation course for the ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) as an after-school class to pupils from the 2^nd to 4^th classes, as well as a “Tech Lab” workshop which pupils can register for at the beginning of the year.

Integration and inclusion

Each year group has at least one special needs teacher who caters for pupils in that year group with special educational needs. These teachers work with colleagues to develop individual learning activities and objectives specific to the needs of these pupils. The special needs teachers make it possible for these pupils to learn alongside their classmates as part of the wider group, and hence to engage in social learning in the usual way, but also to learn in a way which suits their individual needs.

You can find out more about the school on our school homepage!

www.ko50.at