Masterclasses for students in Grades 6–12
Specialised workshops led by industry experts, academic leaders and accomplished professionals — beyond the classroom, inside the school day.
What the Masterclass Programme is
Masterclasses are designed to inspire and challenge students through specialised workshops and unique learning opportunities, led by industry experts, academic leaders and accomplished professionals from around the globe.
They go beyond the classroom — giving students a deeper understanding of their chosen fields and empowering them to excel in areas of passion and interest.
How it works
The programme runs throughout the academic year, with sessions scheduled during school hours and in the DISCOVERY after-school hours. Participation is open to all students from Grades 6 to 12, and students choose the sessions that match their interests and goals.
Programme highlights
Expert-led sessions
Renowned experts from technology, arts, sciences, sports and business — firsthand insights from people shaping their fields.
Diverse topics
From robotics innovation to fine arts technique, from entrepreneurial skills to sustainable practices.
Interactive and practical
Hands-on learning: students apply knowledge in real-world scenarios and gain skills relevant to their future careers.
Networking
Students build connections with mentors and peers — foundations for future collaborations.
Bridging education and the real world
The Masterclass Programme reflects our commitment to future-ready learning: exploring passions, acquiring cutting-edge knowledge, and cultivating the skills that set students apart.
Curious about upcoming masterclasses?
Ask us which sessions are coming up — or see the programme in action on a school visit.
Details and questions
- Year groups
- Grades 6–12
- Led by industry experts, academics and professionals
- Open to all students from Grades 6 to 12
- During school hours and in DISCOVERY after-school hours
- Hands-on: robotics, fine arts, entrepreneurship, sustainability
Masterclasses at a glance
| Who | All students from Grades 6 to 12. Primary students have the Discovery Programme instead. |
| Led by | Practitioners: industry experts, academics and professionals from technology, arts, sciences, sport and business. |
| Topics | From robotics to fine arts technique, from entrepreneurial skills to sustainable practices. |
| When | Through the academic year, during school hours and in the afternoon Discovery Programme. |
| How students join | They choose the sessions that match their interests and goals. |
| Afterwards | The work belongs in the student's Portrait of a Graduate portfolio. |
The programme of sessions for the year is shared with students and families at the school.
Not the online platform
A search for masterclasses today mostly returns a streaming service of recorded celebrity lessons. This is not that. An ISS masterclass is a person in the room with a group of students, a workshop rather than a video, and the questions go both ways. That is the point of it: a student in Grade 8 who has interviewed a robotics engineer or worked through a problem with an entrepreneur knows something about that field that no recording gives.
Questions families ask about masterclasses
What is a masterclass session, and how does it work at ISS?
A specialised workshop led by an expert in their field, hands-on and interactive rather than a lecture. Sessions run through the academic year, during school hours and in the afternoon Discovery Programme.
Which students can take part?
All students from Grades 6 to 12. Students choose the sessions that align with their own interests and goals.
How is this different from a workshop or a class?
The person at the front: masterclasses are led by practitioners, industry experts, academics and professionals, who bring their field into the room rather than a curriculum.
Is this the MasterClass streaming platform?
No. ISS masterclasses are in-person sessions at the school with a practitioner present. They are not recorded online courses and are not a subscription.
Are masterclasses compulsory?
Students choose the sessions that match their interests, so a student is not expected to attend every one. Where a session falls in school hours, the school schedules it so that it fits the timetable.
Can primary school children take part?
The programme is for Grades 6 to 12. In the primary years, the Discovery Programme covers robotics, design and the arts in an age-appropriate way.
How do we find out what is coming up?
The programme of sessions is shared with students and families at the school. If you are considering ISS and want examples of recent masterclasses, contact the school.
Do masterclasses count for anything?
They are not graded. They are recorded in the student's Portrait of a Graduate portfolio, where they become material for university applications that ask about interests and experience.