Hummingbird International School: Key determinants of post-school success

Audrey Dralega on 17 July 2025 No Comments

Hummingbird International School – From our Head teacher Audrey Dralega FRSA

Choosing a primary school is a big decision for all parents, and academic performance is right up there at the top of the list when schools are being discussed. However, even though high achievement is a core aim, it is wise to think not only about academic results, but also consider the features that lead to long-term success after school. This is important, because while education is an end in itself, we are also involved in building towards our children’s future.

Research across the fields of education, psychology, and economics points to a few key determinants of post-school success—and some of them start early. So, in this article, let’s take a look at just five key determinants of post-school success and how Hummingbird ensures these are central to the education journey of each child.

1. Quality of Leadership, Teaching and Relationships with Adults

Why it matters:

The vision and focus of the school leadership makes a measurable difference to a child’s academic growth. Positive adult relationships build confidence and develop security.

When selecting a school, if possible, visit when the classes are in session and have your school tour. This gives insight into the nature of relationships in the school.

It is important that children grow up able to interact constructively with the people around them, and this includes the grown-ups.

What you will find: Hummingbird benefits from the expertise of a highly enthusiastic and committed team of educators. The school is founded on the principle that every child has unique strengths and the task of the educator is to both provide clear progression and light the spark for learning. The world of work is changing rapidly and societies are changing equally so. Children who enjoy learning, rise to the challenge of increasingly complex tasks.

The art of teaching really comes to life in the hands of teachers who themselves enjoy learning. Children enjoy being stretched and finding that they can do more than they may have thought possible – this happens when they are stimulated, engaged and learning is building on their previous knowledge. We engage children in real conversations and discussion, listen to them and expect them to increasingly be able to express themselves clearly and with the quiet confidence that enables them to communicate with people from any and all walks of life. Politeness is an under-rated yet essential social skill that can equip a child for an interconnected world. It is also a central feature of the school that we hold children to high expectations of conduct, expecting consideration for others and mutual respect. We model this as adults by being considerate and respectful also.

Hummingbird International School Entertaining Child

2. School Climate and Sense of Belonging

Why it matters:

A child who feels they belong and are supported is more likely to develop the confidence to engage in unfamiliar areas of learning, take on challenging tasks, and develop strong communication skills.

Partnership with the families is also an essential element of achievement and enabling children to be secure in their own identity.

What you will find: Hummingbird provides a vibrant learning community. The school is small by design and we work to ensure children treat each other with kindness and mutual respect. These are often called soft-skills: we call them essential 21 st century skills.
The school offers a community that we expect to endure beyond the children’s primary education. We are interested in their future progress and wellbeing and that anchoring is important, especially when children are increasingly mobile between countries.

Hummingbird International School playground

3. Opportunities for Exploration and Curiosity

Why it matters:

Active learning is an approach to education that engages students directly in the learning process, rather than having them passively receive information. In active learning, students are involved in thinking about how they are learning and developing strategies, which promotes deeper understanding, better retention, and stronger critical thinking skills.
Creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving are linked to future adaptability and innovation.

What you will find: The curriculum engages the children in direct teaching of concepts as well as project-based and inquiry-based learning. This gives opportunity for children to develop a strong foundation of core knowledge and skills, but also gives the intellectual freedom to apply their knowledge and extend it through independent inquiry.

4. Parental Involvement

Why it matters:

When families and schools work together the children thrive. Parental engagement boosts both social and academic development. When parents have information on the content and teaching methods of the school, they are better able to support their children.

What you will find: We value the families that join Hummingbird. The school has a welcoming environment for families of all backgrounds and an open-door policy. Assessment and progress are scheduled through the year and the sharing of this information with parents is key to ensuring that children have the support they need.

At Hummingbird we communicate the school’s values, teaching methods and curriculum content through parent workshops and talks.

5. An Enlivening Curriculum

Why it matters:

The curriculum is the skeleton around which our wider education grows. It is important that any selected curriculum is thorough, well-structured and engaging. A holistic education requires a curriculum which is broad-based and relevant to the location.

What you will find: Both the primary and early years curriculums use a blend of direct teaching and investigation. One of the advantages of the Cambridge Curriculum is that it offers both the structure and progression that is essential for ensuring learning is secure, and the flexibility to adapt the content to make it relevant to our setting. At Hummingbird, we enrich the curriculum to ensure it recognizes and reflects the history, environment and cultures which are connected to the country in which the children are based. The curriculum is broad and aims to give a truly well-rounded education.

Find out More

Hummingbird International School

Hummingbird was established in January 2025 – making it possibly Kampala’s newest international primary school. The school has engaged a creative, talented and skilled group of educators, who bring many decades of valuable international education and school development expertise. This, combined with continuing professional development with staff and workshops to equip parents with curriculum knowledge, means Hummingbird is a learning organization in the richest sense.

Contact us on 0759630005 for admission inquiries | hummingbird.sc.ug

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