Getting ahead in education
Learning and Growing
www.bisabudhabi.com | Pullout reference | 12 – 18 November 2009
TOP CLASS YOUR EDUCATION OPTION
including OFF TO A FLYING START British International School Abu Dhabi opens with highest enrolment THINKING GLOBALLY, ACTING LOCALLY Multi-cultural approach with focus on Arabic and Islamic studies FULL DATES School-year calendar
OPEN DAY
Thursday 19th November 9am – 4pm auhwk_v02-i40_wrap_bisad.indd 1
11/10/09 7:45:08 PM
Getting ahead in education
12 – 18 November 2009
British International School
Opens in Abu Dhabi T
he British International School Abu Dhabi was officially opened on 2nd November. The opening ceremony was attended by HRH the Duke of York, Prince Andrew. The school opened with the highest number of pupils ever enrolled, said Nord Anglia Education’s CEO Andrew Fitzmaurice – which he hailed as a very positive result given the economic downturn. BISAD is operated by international education services company Nord Anglia Education Limited, one of the world's leading specialist suppliers of independent education. BISAD is its first educational institution in the UAE and the largest international school to open anywhere in the world this year. Nord Anglia's students enjoy high achievement across all age groups. Last year its schools were above global averages at all age levels, with an average pass rate of 90
The Curriculum
B
ISAD offers a British International curriculum to meet the needs of the diverse and rapidly-growing community of Abu Dhabi. Its offering takes into consideration the specific cultures of its students and conditions in which they live in the UAE in order to provide a relevant and relatable educational programme that will give students the skills and the attitudes required to achieve anywhere in the world. BISAD offers the National Curriculum for England and international GCSE to children aged 3 – 16 years, and intends to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma to students over 16 years old, subject to authorisation. For little ones just starting school, BISAD offers the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum which is divided into two groups: Foundation Stage 1 and Foundation Stage 2. This curriculum identifies six primary areas of development: • personal, social and
emotional • communication, language and literacy • physical development • creative development • problem solving, reasoning and numeracy and knowledge • understanding of the world. Children work toward the EFYS’ Early Learning Goals through organised play and well-thought-out activities. They are also exposed to both Arabic and French through ‘taster sessions’ that involve singing songs, reading stories, and using puppets. BISAD then moves through to Key Stage 1 and 2 (Years 1 – 6) for students between 5 – 11 years and Key Stage 3 (Years 7 – 9) for pupils aged 11- 14 years. While providing the children with specialised subject teachers, extensive resources and learning materials, the international school discourages ‘spoonfeeding’ its pupils and mixes direct instruction with collaborative, exploratory and investigative approaches. For the most part, children continue to be taught as a class by dedicated class teachers in groups of no
more than 22 children. There are however specialist teachers for Music, Art, Drama, Languages, Arabic, Islamic Studies, Physical Education, Computer Studies, and English as an Additional Language. Key Stage 3 students are encouraged to become more
percent in the International Baccalaureate. The state-of-the art facility at BISAD has a capacity of 1,500 students with modern, fully-equipped classrooms and learning centres, and extensive sports facilities that include and indoor swimming pool, gym, an athletics track and a football pitch. Principal Stuart Dennis says that additional sports areas are in the pipeline, particularly for rugby, hockey and cricket. He adds that the school will always be looking to grow its footprint and aims to accommodate up to 2,000 pupils in the near future. BISAD is a member of the Council of British International Schools and is recognised by the local Ministry of Education as a provider of Arabic mother-tongue and second language programmes.
independent learners and take increased responsibility for developing effective personal learning processes and useful study skills. Specialist educators teach all subjects; and a more mature, analytical approach to learning is expected, while the homework load increases
considerably. We consider assessment, target setting and testing to be essential to the cycle of teaching and learning. During the year, teachers assess pupils continually and we make use of standardised assessment tests at different points during the three terms
OPEN DAY – Thursday 19th November | 9am – 4pm
auhwk_v02-i40_wrap_bisad.indd 2
11/10/09 7:45:09 PM
Getting ahead in education
12 – 18 November 2009
to help inform staff in their planning and teaching. Additionally we make use of Assessment Tasks. BISAD issues two Report Cards per year, one in December and another in June.
Beyond the standard curriculum Mr Dennis explains that BISAD puts a strong focus on Arabic and Islamic Studies. Three dedicated teachers are assigned to the subjects and students have two hours of Arabic and Islamic Studies lessons
a week as well as the opportunity for extracurricular Arabic classes. Arabic A is offered as a mother-tongue course for native speakers (or those who are proficient at the language) from Year 1 and follows guidelines set by the Abu Dhabi Education Council. Arabic B will be taught to beginners as a native language and as a second language, using differentiation in the classroom to work at the varying levels. Each member of BISAD teaching staff is required to provide at least one extracurricular activity a week throughout the year. After-
school activities are a vital part of the life of the school, they include: drama clubs, swimming, karate and music lessons, sports clubs and competitions such as soccer, netball and basketball. An exciting schedule of field trips will be confirmed at the start of each school year. Going forward, the school has set its sights firmly on opening up Years 9 to 13, and Mr Dennis says that BISAD hopes to accept students in the final year of their diploma by 2012/13. A press conference was held on the day of the official opening and attended my some of BISAD’s most talented students, one of whom
A commitment to the creative
B
ISAD boasts a dedicated music technology room, recording studio and drama studio. These impressive and exciting features enable its students to explore and develop their creative side in a modern environment. With a degree in music and education Mr Dennis has a strong inclination toward the arts. He encourages arts and drama as a crucial part of personal development that enables pupils to develop creative and critical thinking skills from a young age. Students will perform regularly in front of an audience in order to build their confidence and enhance self-belief.
questioned the potential of collaborating with the school’s neighbour – Khalifa University. Mr Dennis said that although no firm plans are in place as yet, it would be hugely beneficial to allow BISAD’s older students
access to the university’s facilities and this will be explored in future. The issue is both testament to the analytical thinking BISAD encourages and its commitment to providing the highest level of educational services to its pupils.
Term dates Spring 2010 Term Two Wednesday, 6 January to Thursday, 1 April School opens for teachers 3 January (3 – 6 January: Administration / staff training) School opens for students 6 January School closes for half term break 18 February (25 February: Prophet Mohammed’s Birthday) School reopens 28 February End of second term 1 April – School closed for two weeks (2 April: Good Friday; 4 April: Easter; 5 April: Easter Monday)
Summer 2010 Term Three Sunday, 18 April to Wednesday, 30 June School opens for teachers 14 April (14 – 15 April: Administration / staff training) School closes for summer
CONTACT Tayna Subritzky, Admissions Officer Email: admissions@bisabudhabi.com | Tel: 02 586 6979 www.bisabudhabi.com
End of third term for students 30 June End of third term for teachers 1 July
OPEN DAY
Thursday 19th November 9am – 4pm auhwk_v02-i40_wrap_bisad.indd 3
11/10/09 7:45:12 PM
OPEN DAY – Thursday 19th November | 9am – 4pm
E-mail: admissions@bisabudhabi.com | Website: www.bisabudhabi.com auhwk_v02-i40_wrap_bisad.indd 4
11/10/09 7:45:13 PM