A lot has changed recently at Elian’s British School of La Nucía. Having followed a fully British curriculum for years, the school’s increasingly international community prompted a bold decision to replace A-Levels with the IBDP, aligning with its global identity.
Jorge, the IBDP Coordinator, was brought in specifically to lead this transition.
Jorge quickly recognised that adopting the IBDP was about more than just a curriculum change—it required a fundamental shift in the way teachers approached teaching and learning and how the whole school mission and vision had to be aligned with the IB philosophy . The challenge wasn’t just in delivering the content but in cultivating a deep understanding of the IBDP framework and its unique demands.
“As a new IBDP team,” Jorge shares, “we weren’t simply looking for a tool to organise and document our work. We needed a platform that would guide us through this complex transition. That’s where Toddle came in. In addition to helping us streamline lesson delivery and the IBDP Core—it empowered us to continuously refine our practices, grow as IBDP educators, and meet the programme’s rigorous demands.”
Challenge: The newly-formed IBDP team was stretched thin between learning the programme and implementing it effectively
For Jorge, the challenge went beyond managing a new programme; it was about equipping an entirely new team with the knowledge and tools to thrive within the IBDP.
“Our team was new to the IBDP, and the learning curve was steep,” Jorge explains. “We were trying to balance our day-to-day responsibilities with building expertise in the IBDP. On top of that, the tools we had weren’t designed for the IBDP’s unique structure, and we spent more time working around these limitations than focusing on refining our understanding of the curriculum and implementing it.”
Solution: Built from the ground up for the IBDP, Toddle became the foundational support that helped teachers both understand and implement the programme effectively.
Toddle’s IBDP platform offered the school an all-in-one solution for everything from curriculum planning and Internal Assessments to DP Core, progress reports, and more. The built-in guidance and templates, especially for planning and DP Core, provided the support new teachers needed to get immediate, contextual professional development while working on their daily tasks.
Impact 1: The three most pressing challenges of implementing the IBDP core were addressed in one place
For Jorge, one of the standout benefits of Toddle was how it streamlined the management of the DP core components—TOK, CAS, and EE. With dedicated modules for each, Toddle offered built-in resources that guide both students and teachers through every step of the process. This made tracking requirements, managing deadlines, and staying organised far simpler, significantly reducing the typical stress that comes with overseeing these critical DP components.
Jorge explains, how he addressed the 3 key challenges of implementing the IBDP with Toddle:
Guidance for students: One of the biggest challenges in the IBDP programme, especially for a new team, is ensuring that students get enough guidance from their supervisors, especially for CAS and EE. With Toddle, that worry was immediately addressed. The platform provides guided workflows that walk students through each phase of their projects, from understanding requirements to tracking progress. This has been a huge timesaver for our teachers, while empowering students to become more independent learners—a win-win situation for a team just starting out.
Real-time collaboration: This is another feature that has made a significant difference. In our first year, there’s always that concern about communication—how do we ensure students are getting timely feedback without waiting for formal interviews? Toddle’s inbuilt chat and voice messaging features have allowed our teachers and students to stay connected throughout the entire process. Whether it’s a quick idea for an EE or feedback on a CAS reflection, our team can easily jump in and offer guidance without the need to schedule time-consuming face-to-face meetings. This has allowed us to keep things moving smoothly while saving precious time.
Tracking deadlines: Perhaps most importantly, Toddle’s ability to track deadlines and progress across the board has been a game changer. When you’re managing a new programme, it’s easy to lose sight of the logistics — which students have had their CAS interviews or who’s due for their next EE check-in, and when. Toddle has taken that stress off our plates by keeping everything in one place, enabling us to stay on top of each student’s progress with just a click. For a new IBDP team, this level of organisation has been crucial in helping us focus on what matters most—supporting our teachers and students in their journeys.
Impact 2: Lesson plans aligned seamlessly with the IBDP framework
The built-in IBDP planners had a significant impact on lesson planning and the overall implementation of the IBDP. They provided a clear scaffold for developing unit plans, ensuring that teachers knew exactly what to include. Additionally, teachers had direct access to the latest course guides within the planner, eliminating the need to constantly refer to separate documents. Any questions could be addressed within the platform, creating a more efficient and informed teaching environment.
Jorge explains, “Toddle’s IBDP planning templates were an excellent scaffold for our teachers. The structured framework gave our team a clear path for developing unit plans. Everything—from lessons to formative assessments to CAS connections—could be planned in one place, which really streamlined the entire process.
The built-in IBDP guidance within each section of the planner was exactly what we needed as we navigated the IBDP for the first time. Teachers had instant access to syllabus content and subject-specific resources right when they needed them, without ever leaving the platform. Whether it was understanding CAS or ToK connections, improving formative assessments, or writing better inquiry statements, all the necessary information was integrated into the planner at each step, making the learning curve much easier to manage.”
Impact 3: A meaningful and positive shift in the IBDP Coordinator’s role
Reflecting on how Toddle has impacted his role as a coordinator, Jorge shares, “Toddle has been crucial in helping me lead a new team in a new programme. I can now track planning, monitor student progress, and ensure everything stays on track without constant follow-ups. It’s not just about tracking submissions; with that level of insight, I was able to better understand each student’s development and know where support is needed.”
Having also been an IB evaluator, Jorge often helps different schools handle the complexities of the IBDP, and often points them to Toddle. “I’ve observed many schools going through similar transitions, and when they lack a platform to support the implementation of the IBDP, my recommendation is always the same: try Toddle.”
Looking ahead, Elian’s British School plans to integrate Toddle AI to make planning more efficient, continuing to embed Toddle into all aspects of their learning community.
“Toddle is more than just a tech tool”, Jorge concludes, “It’s become one of the foundations of our school’s learning community.“
