Your guide to
Junior School The British International School Shanghai, Pudong
CONTENTS 5
Our story
6
First, a little background
8
Setting the scene
10
The main plot line
12
Character development
14
Textbook heroes
16
Thinking outside the book
18
Happily ever after
20
Find out more
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Want to hear our story?
Welcome to our guide to Junior School, the third chapter of your child’s education. This Guide tells the story of the many exciting opportunities that await your child at the Pudong Campus of The British International School Shanghai. Children starting Junior School have already established key skills and learning ambitions, and understand what academic success feels like. They know how to respect themselves and those around them, and have started to appreciate a world beyond the classroom. After reading this guide you will have a better understanding of how your child will learn, how to use and develop everything they have learnt so far, and transform into fully-fledged global citizens.
guiding your child through juniors
FIRST, A LITTLE BACKGROUND Our curriculum and how we teach it
Our Junior School spans Years 3 to 5 with learning based on the English National Curriculum, Key Stage 2. Each year group is divided into four or five form groups and all
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Average class size - 21 students
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Core subjects taught by class teacher
such as English as an Additional Language
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Specialist subjects and teachers
(EAL) to accompany and speed up learning.
major subjects are covered, as well as extras
Your child will benefit from our unique education philosophy - High Performance Learning - ensuring a pathway to success. We focus on your child as an individual and put their needs at the centre of our approach, working on their strengths, and removing any barriers to their success. Going beyond academics, we create an environment that stimulates intellectual and social confidence in each student, fostering leadership skills, ambition, dedication, respect, cultural awareness and sensitivity. With access to our Global Classroom, your child has the opportunity to express opinions and share knowledge with their peers from other Nord Anglia Education schools around the world. Your child will develop the skills that will make them confident and well-rounded global citizens. Above all else, we hope to develop in our Junior School students a love for learning that will remain with them for life, and help them in all future endeavours.
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guiding your child through juniors
SETTING THE SCENE Creating the best learning environment for your child
Our Junior School provides continual opportunities to learn both inside and outside the classroom through thoughtfully planned spaces that are creatively designed to inspire inquiry and participation. Your child is not limited to four walls; daily activities flow freely from the classroom to comfortable adjoining communal spaces perfect for individual or small group work. Look inside our Junior School classrooms and you will find bright and welcoming spaces where children’s work and achievements are displayed with pride. Our classrooms are equipped with the latest smartboard technology enhancing interactive learning and your child has access to both laptop computers and iPads. Complementing our classrooms are a variety of specialist facilities including: •
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The Learning Centre - filled with books and resources, individual and communal spaces for reading and research, it is located adjacent to our Junior School classrooms Information Communication Technology (ICT) lab – for weekly ICT classes and located within The Learning Centre The Hive - integrating multimedia and technology in an innovative open classroom space Auditorium – a new 400 seat space for school assemblies and regular performances, as well as music teaching rooms Gymnasium and two indoor sports halls Science and Art Lab – a multi-purpose laboratory designed specifically for Junior School Dance Studio Aquatic Centre – indoor heated swimming pool The Hub – our modern cafeteria serving a variety of healthy Asian and Western foods
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Your child is not limited to four walls
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guiding your child through juniors
THE MAIN PLOT LINE Developing learners
As your child enters Junior School, their timetable will start to reflect a differentiation of subjects through the day as they start to understand the specialisms and skills required for the separate subjects they study. Students study the core subjects of Maths, English and Science with their class teacher, with specialist teachers offering Mandarin, Art, Drama, Physical Education (PE), as well as French in Year 5. Each year group also studies two themes every term. For instance, while Year 3 students look at ‘Rainforests’ and ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’, Year 5 may be focussing on ‘Explorers and Their Journeys’ and ‘Environment’. This theme-based approach inspires creative exploration and enriched understanding. Our curriculum promotes four key aspects of achievement. These are: • • • •
The ability to express oneself in oral and written form and, where appropriate, to remember facts accurately and use them constructively The ability to apply knowledge through practical tasks, problem solving, investigation skills, and through the use of oral and written language The development of personal and social skills, such as the ability to work with others and to be able to take on a leadership role within a group The ability to develop confidence that comes with self-discipline and the commitment to learn and persevere even when tasks seem difficult
In the Junior School, we encourage your child to find and explore their own passions and talents. Each and every child benefits from further development of core skills and understanding.
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guiding your child through juniors
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Well-rounded learning, well-rounded students
Isabella found an instant connection with other students through team play and it wasn’t long before she had established herself as a talented footballer. Isabella took part in the football Co-curricular Activity (CCA) and was selected to play in the Year 4 football team where she has proven herself as a team player and enthusiastic
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Global Classroom
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Guidance lessons
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Student initiated activities
competitor. We look forward to seeing this promising young footballer’s talents flourish as she represents our school in the football league competition! Students in Junior School experience a range of subjects designed to broaden their knowledge and experience, and develop their understanding of the world around them. Importantly, we also focus on their ability and confidence to explore topics and express themselves. The Nord Anglia Education Global Classroom is an online portal which gives your child the opportunity to work with their peers and teachers in our schools throughout the world, sharing their experiences and knowledge, and participating in a range of activities. Our students benefit from learning about and feeling valued by the communities to which they belong, be they within the school, local or global. Your child will participate in our Service programme, developing a greater sense of belonging, responsibility and an understanding of how communities support each other. In this way their voice is heard, their views are valued and they take part in real decision-making.
Through Guidance lessons across the week your child will learn the importance of confidence, responsibility, respect and safety, and be encouraged to become more independent, confident and mature. As international students this will assist them to grow as active participants in the global community. Junior School marks an important stage in students’ development as leaders, as they are invited to take on enhanced responsibilities within the school. Your child may nominate to become House Captain or Student Voice Representative, representing their peers within the school community. We believe that children benefit from teaching and supporting others, and that the benefits flow both ways. Our Junior Students may take part in a range of programmes where they play with and assist students from younger years, including the student-initiated Play Pals, Buddy Readers, and Lunch Duty Monitors.
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guiding your child through juniors
TEXTBOOK HEROES Daily routine of subjects and activities
Hazel is a wonderful academic role model for her fellow students. She approaches all of her lessons with an enthusiasm to learn and a willingness to offer ideas and help others. Socially, Hazel is respected and admired by her peers for her thoughtful, caring nature and has become an integral part of her class. Your child benefits from learning across a broad range of topics that allow them to grow in confidence and selfexpression. We use a topic-based approach to teaching, introducing fun and engaging topics and using them as a vehicle for learning. For example, a class learning about Pirates may write about them, count their cutlasses, learn a song about them, and research famous pirates. In this way, your child’s learning will include History, Geography, Art, Drama, and Design Technology. Our experienced teachers determine which parts of your child’s learning should be taught in a stand-alone way, always with the aim of achieving the best understanding and outcomes for students. The Junior School curriculum also includes specialist subjects in Mandarin, French (from Year 5), Music, Physical Education (PE) and English as an Additional Language (EAL), taught by specialist teachers. In Mandarin and Numeracy classes your child is grouped with children at similar stages of their learning, an approach proven to enhance their learning outcomes. While EAL students receive separate tuition to allow them to gain the skills to participate with their peers in the regular classroom. Learning a different language introduces our students to exciting cultures and fresh ways of thinking. Being multilingual today is a notable benefit in social, academic and employment circles and we are fortunate to have a network of language speakers who teach programmes such as Dutch, German and French after school.
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Our experienced teachers aim to achieve the best understanding and outcomes for students
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guiding your child through juniors
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOOK Connecting with the world around us
By the time our students reach Junior School, they have already experienced a world beyond the classroom. We continue to give them these invaluable opportunities to learn
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CCAs
and become independent with more extra-
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Residentials
curricular activities and the chance to travel further afield. We pride ourselves on our Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) programme which has over 140 activities for students to choose. The range of activities and clubs complements our classroom teaching and allows your child to develop other skills and interests through sports, performance, academic, community and expressive arts. The first hour after school is dedicated to CCAs and we also run many activities at weekends and during school holidays. Trips for our Junior School students become more adventurous and involved. We offer many residentials, all carefully planned to relate directly to the curriculum, bringing to life topics being taught in the classroom. Towards the end of Year 5, students can go on a residential for up to a week. By staying in places such as Beijing, they’re able to appreciate other parts of the world and take on added personal responsibility. We find that these trips encourage team building and that strong friendship groups often result from sharing new experiences in a different environment.
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guiding your child through juniors
HAPPILY EVER AFTER Success stories
Ciro epitomises the description ‘well-rounded’. He is a student who takes every opportunity presented to him and makes something of it. He takes part in a variety of co-curricular activities in and out of school. Ciro was instrumental in setting up Play Pals, taking a leading role in teaching his peers in Infants how to play traditional games during Guidance lessons. An unassuming student, he is popular amongst his peers for being both fun and focused. There is no doubt that Ciro has a bright future. We believe that your child’s achievement should be celebrated. By acknowledging personal achievements, we send a strong positive message, creating role models for other children to look up to, and encouraging all students to aspire to improve. Here are some ways we encourage the best from your child, and reward success:
Celebration assemblies We want you to be a part of your child’s success and, throughout the year, we invite parents to attend special celebration assemblies. Junior School students’ achievements are recognised in these assemblies where our Head of School hands out awards for academic and sporting success.
House points Each student is assigned a house and teachers award house points for academic achievement, good behaviour, and more. There is also the chance to score house points in inter-house competitions. We believe this encourages healthy competition, collaboration and team-work.
High performance target certificates Through our unique High Performance Learning philosophy, your child is always working towards their personal High Performance target. Upon reaching their target, we celebrate their achievement by sending home a certificate acknowledging their progress, thus encouraging them to work hard towards their next target.
Star of the Week Teachers nominate a student to be the class Star of the Week. This can be awarded for anything from outstanding work or effort, to exceptional behaviour or an act of kindness.
In Junior School, students also have the opportunity to be rewarded with positions of responsibility, like House Captain and School Voice representative.
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guiding your child through juniors
FIND OUT MORE
The best way to find out about what we can offer you and your child is by visiting us and experiencing for yourself our welcoming school environment. The Pudong Campus of The British International School Shanghai is open to visitors year-round, and our friendly admissions team is always on hand to answer your questions. To book a visit or ask a question: +86 21 5812 7455 admissions@bisspudong.com Skype
Read more about our school and keep up to date with news and events online at: bisspudong.com weblog.bisspudong.com facebook.com/BISSPudong twitter.com/BISSPudong 600 Cambridge Forest New Town, 2729 Hunan Road, Pudong 201315
CENTRAL SHANGHAI
HONGQIAO AIRPORT
PUDONG AIRPORT
THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, PUDONG CAMPUS
Lost? Look online at the interactive Google maps on our website to find out our location.
* Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals in this document.
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