Saltus is preparing its students and teachers to adapt to a changing world.

This message rang through loud and clear on Monday when Saltus teachers used the last day of their mid-term break for staff development.

They were joined by staff from three other private schools -- Bermuda High School for Girls, Mount St. Agnes Academy, and Warwick Academy -- which either follow the General Certificate of Secondary Education British curriculum or are interested in it.

The school's first staff development day was aimed at: Pursuing discussion among teachers of various levels at the school; Considering the benefits of a whole curriculum approach such as the UK National Curriculum; Updating key issues and good practice in the primary and secondary subject curriculum; and Reflecting upon the benefits of learning support.

A team of educators from the University of Exeter in the UK helped conduct the day's activities which included workshops with teachers in various subject areas on further developments in the subject curriculum and working toward an integrated curriculum.

Leader of that team and director of professional studies in education at Exeter Michael Golby took participants through the history of Britain's national curriculum and its relevance to private schools.

Mr. Golby told participants that since the creation of grammar, modern and technical secondary schools in the UK, attempts had been made to come up with a curriculum to "for hand, head, and heart''. This had not yet been achieved, he said, but educators continued to try.

"We don't know what the curriculum in the year 2020 will look like,'' he added.

Noting that Britain's national curriculum in 1987 was almost identical to the 1904 curriculum for secondary schools. Mr. Golby said both curricula failed to fully address students' needs in a changing world.

"The National Curriculum is subject based,'' he pointed out. "But the problem with subjects is what falls between them.'' He stressed that a cross curricular provision was needed to allow personal and social development among students.

Mr. Golby also noted that economies, communities, and cultures were becoming more global.

Yet, he said, the British national curriculum did not include economics.

It would have to take into account the consequences of modernity such as globalisation of economy, globalisation of communities, and homogenisation of culture, he added.

"In the future, teaching will be by example,'' he told those in attendance.

"And there's coaching, which is when you start with what already can be done.

"You're doing that here in your curriculum development and building from it.'' Mr. Golby later told The Royal Gazette what Saltus was trying to achieve was perfectly normal.

"They are going forward,'' he said. "By history it is a grammar school. But in practice, it is not. They are looking to broaden their curriculum and develop the teaching staff.

"We're impressed by what they want to learn. We have been asked detailed questions and the level of discussion among them is encouraging.'' Saltus principal Trevor Rowell said the school believed a staff development day was important because they wanted to be sure that their curriculum was meeting the needs of the future.

"We know that in order to develop children we have to develop staff,'' he said.

He also explained that each head of a subject area will be required to write a brief report recommending an action plan. And with the help of some senior personnel, the department heads were expected to develop an integrated school curriculum.

"We want to make sure there are no gaps,'' Mr. Rowell added.

While Saltus already had a strong tradition of teaching economics and information technology, he said: "We're planning to look at how we can improve environmental education.'' Saltus was also looking at developing more personal and social programmes at the secondary level.

He said the school uses the Lion Quest Skills programme in its primary and junior sections.

Staff development days of yesterday's magnitude, which was sponsored by parents, will be held twice a year. The next is scheduled for November.

In addition to such days, Mr. Rowell said the school will continue to offer staff development courses in areas such as stress management, information technology training, and first aid.

"This has been going on since October,'' he said. "We have more than one so staff can fit them into their schedules.

"We're having the development which any good school will be doing. Our aim is to be world class. My arrival here encourages me to look with fresh eyes and encourage development. We will carry on doing this. This will be a permanent feature.'' EDUCATION LEADERS -- Saltus principal Trevor Rowell (left) yesterday welcomed the University of Exeter's Michael J. Golby who led the first staff development day at the school.