Case studies of successful learning environments: Artatse school in Bilbao, Spain
Artatse is a primary school located in Bilbao (Basque Country), Spain, serving children from 2 to 12 years old. Located in the diverse district of Otxarkoaga-Txurdinaga, the school’s students mainly come from families with Roma, immigrant, and working-class backgrounds. Despite these challenges, Artatse has become a model of educational innovation, inclusion and effective teaching practices.
Interactive Groups as an innovative practice
At the center of Artatse’s success is its adoption of Interactive Groups (IG), an educational approach that facilitates collaboration, inclusivity, and academic excellence. The IG model brings students together in small, diverse groups where they work on academic activities under the guidance of volunteers from the community, including parents, grandparents, and university students. This method enriches learning and strengthens community bonds.
Maria, a second-grade teacher at Artatse, shared the impact of IG on her students:
“I am seeing that difficult things can be proposed and achieved through Interactive Groups. For instance, the writing..the own production is difficult for them, and I see that they are making huge progress, and I am loving it.”
Positive outcomes of IG
Since implementing IG, students have shown major improvements in literacy, attendance, and engagement. Even newcomers with no prior exposure to Spanish have quickly integrated into the classroom, thanks to the welcoming and collaborative environment created by IG.
Beyond enhanced academic performance, the program promotes inclusivity. Students with special needs or those facing discrimination find support and respect among their peers. One 7-year-old Roma boy explained:
“It’s easy and for me it’s like an energy because it’s very fun. It’s like you change groups, you have to read, you have to write, you have to do math…we are learning more and more… and the more I do it, the more I feel like I am learning”
The school’s success demonstrates the power of combining educational innovation with community involvement – leveraging the unique strengths of the diverse community to make students feel engaged, included and excited to come to school.