Your guide to
Upper 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 Upper School at the Pudong Campus of the British International School Shanghai, an exciting new chapter in your child’s education. In Upper School, for the first time, students make their own decisions about continuing their studies, an important step forward in their independence on the path towards adulthood. While ultimately the decisions will be made by students, good advice from school and parents will help them make those decisions the right ones. After reading this guide, you will have a greater understanding of the opportunities that await your child in Upper School.
YOUR GUIDE TO UPPER SCHOOL
FIRST, A LITTLE BACKGROUND Our curriculum and how we teach it
Students in Years 9, 10 and 11 form the Upper School, with each year divided into four or five form groups. We base learning on the English National Curriculum with a
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IGCSE in Years 9 and 10
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Average form class size - 18 students
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67% of teachers from the UK
strong international influence. Years 10 and 11 are the academically focused International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) years, preparing students for the International Baccalaureate. Upper School is an exciting time when your child has the opportunity to influence the school community by taking on leadership roles. They may also participate in many co-curricular activities (CCA) to enrich their learning and development as global citizens. At this point in their learning, our unique approach High Performance Learning – develops in students the higher level thinking, social and personal awareness, that allows them to excel both academically and as community members. Your child has personal High Performance Targets in each subject. We provide many opportunities for your child to become a resourceful and enterprising learner. As they enter Upper School, they will have further opportunities to take on new challenges, develop selfreliance and be open-minded. They will learn to show respect for evidence, be pragmatic and committed to making a difference in the community. Our Global Classroom links your child with students from our Nord Anglia Education Schools worldwide, participating in debates and virtual exchange, to increase their understanding of a range of cultures and the world in which we live. In this way, they also benefit from guidance from our team of highly skilled teachers and experts around the world.
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YOUR GUIDE TO UPPER SCHOOL
SETTING THE SCENE
Nils is a motivated team player and leader. Whilst Year 11 is a challenging time for
Creating the best learning environment for your child
music and drama groups, as captain of the volleyball team, Nils has shown huge
students juggling external examinations with their commitment to sports teams,
dedication and commitment to both his studies and co-curricular activities. Giving up his weekends to travel and play in ACAMIS, SISAC and CISSA tournaments, you will find him out on the pitch come rain or shine. He is a trustworthy and well respected team player whose open minded nature means that he is receptive to the ideas and beliefs of others. In Upper School, your child’s learning environment begins to reflect the more autonomous learning they undertake at this phase of their education. Crucially, it will prepare them for the International Baccalaureate (IB) environment with its strong focus on mature and student-led inquiry. As students make decisions about their future studies, we provide them with excellent facilities that maximize their learning and ensure they are well-equipped for the requirements of the IGCSE and beyond. Our suite of science laboratories have been carefully designed to facilitate studentled inquiry, and our range of laboratory options means the right space is available for every task.
Our Art studios feature natural light, open space and creative display options providing a perfect environment for inspiration and execution. While we maintain a traditional classroom setup for most classes, some work spaces, notably The Hive, our new multimedia technology integrated classroom, provide a transition to more collaborative workspaces. Teachers also take advantage of our expansive outdoor spaces to bring learning to life with interactive activities that stimulate student interest. Similarly, computer hubs in the central atrium of our Upper School mean that your child always has access to our Global Classroom, extending their learning beyond the classroom.
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YOUR GUIDE TO UPPER SCHOOL
THE MAIN PLOT LINE Developing learners
In Upper School your child will, for the first time, see an end goal to their learning. They will be asked to make choices in some subjects, taking ownership of the shape of their education as they grow and develop as learners. Our experienced teachers and form tutors provide the guidance and support to ensure those decisions will lead them to future success. In Year 9, students explore a variety of subjects with the goal of finding the right fit for them as they move towards Year 10 and 11, the IGCSE years. This element of forward planning and taking responsibility for their own education starts in Upper School and will continue into IB courses and on to university. A main focus for Upper School is to assist your child to develop autonomy as a learner. It is essential for their future success that they have the capacity to work alone or with others and take ownership of their learning. This is an essential attribute for your child as they work towards IGCSE examinations and then on to the IB. We encourage your child to take on leadership roles within the school and which affect how the school runs. There are many ways in which they can be involved, including as Head Boy and Head Girl, prefects, Upper School Ambassadors, and in peer mentor roles. Our school’s commitment to Service gives your child the chance to work beside and with people in their school, local, and global community and we organise a number of service-themed projects each year. Bringing together bright young people and watching them form a positive peer group culture is at the heart of continued high achievement.
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CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Well-rounded learning, well-rounded students •
The Hive
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Global Classroom
Fernanda joined us as a quiet-natured student but, through her determined effort, she has become a more interactive student who takes significant risks that have enabled her to build her confidence. This persistence saw her work collaboratively and creatively for months with staff and peers, contributing to the unforgettable “Best of Broadway” performance. Whatever the task, whether working with disabled children during an orphanage visit, or on the volleyball court, Fernanda approaches it with a positive attitude, enthusiasm and diligence. We believe in nurturing your child’s talents and celebrating their achievements whenever they occur. Beyond academics, we provide many cocurricular (CCA) and extra-curricular activities (ECA) to extend them in sports, performance and within the community, important skills for their success in the future. During their Upper School years, we encourage your child to develop a genuine and long-term concern for society, and a determination to make a difference. Our Service programme, supported by regular Guidance lessons, encourages your child to become an active participant in our school, local and global communities. Our Nord Anglia Global Classroom gives them an enviable opportunity to collaborate, share ideas and learn from students and teachers around the world, instilling in them the importance of their role as a global citizen.
As they mature and embark on this new period working towards their IGCSE goals, we encourage your child to develop perseverance, one of the Advanced Performance Cognitive (ACPC) characteristics crucial to High Performance Learning. The ability to make sound choices, to stick with them, and to deal with constructive criticism is essential to their development as learners and leaders. We also offer all students a full programme of careers education. Starting in Year 9, we introduce them to the Careers Library, and work on subject choices. They are taken through a structured programme of Guidance, including talks, computer programmes, drama and classroom activities. Individual interviews are given at key points to aid their decision making. Help and advice at the right point can make all the difference to define direction and get students in to their desired university.
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We nurture your child’s talents and celebrate their achievements
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TEXTBOOK HEROES Daily routine of subjects and activities
Upper School marks a distinct progression in your child’s learning, as they are able to make some subject choices, based on their personal interests and goals. That element of choice starts at the end of Year 9 when your child will choose their subjects for the two years of study for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). The Year 9 curriculum is broad-based and leads on naturally from students’ learning in Year 8. It allows your child to explore a range of subject choices, empowering them to make an informed decision about which subjects they would like to go on to study in the IGCSE years, Years 10 and 11. This decision-making process is done with guidance from our skilled and highly experienced teaching team, and with parent involvement. While some subjects are chosen, all students in Years 10 and 11 must still complete core subjects of English, English Literature, Mathematics, Triple Science and a Modern Foreign Language. Most students take in addition three optional subjects, chosen from Art, Drama, Geography, German, History, Business Studies, Music and Spanish. In some situations, additional courses are offered, for example, Korean and English as an Additional Language (EAL). All students
take the non-examined subjects of Physical Education (PE) and Guidance, which includes a comprehensive study skills programme. Your child’s study over these two years will lead to important examinations in each subject at the end of the course. The IGCSE has gained such a reputation of its own that many of the best known UK independent schools are choosing to let their students sit them instead of the ordinary GCSE because it gives an even better preparation for future study. We use two well-regarded UK examination boards - Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), part of the University of Cambridge, and Edexcel, the UK’s largest examination body. After successfully passing the exams, students will be awarded these world-recognised certificates in each subject, ready for the next stage of education, the International Baccalaureate.
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THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOOK Connecting with the world around us
By the time your child reaches Upper School, they have already experienced a world beyond the classroom. We continue to give them these invaluable opportunities and
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Co-curricular Activities
more co-curricular activities (CCA) become
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International Award
available, with students travelling further
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Service programme
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Work Experience
afield to remote destinations in China. We greatly value the importance of actively promoting co-curricular involvement for all, and believe invaluable skills are developed this way. More than 140 co-curricular activities (CCA) are available for your child to choose from, with activities held immediately after school each day, as well as on weekends. Each year, your child will have the opportunity to travel far afield within China on a service-oriented trip. Destinations are varied and remote, and in the past we have, for example, offered a trip to KangDing on the Tibetan border where students stayed in a Buddhist monastery, taught English, cooked, and rebuilt a floor during their visit. We believe these trips foster and understanding of other cultures and assist your child to develop as a global citizen. In addition, we encourage your child to take part in the worldwide International Award. This award promotes personal growth and social awareness, encouraging participants to make a positive impact on the lives of others. It is an excellent complement to our school Service programme. In Year 10, your child will also take part in a two week work experience placement. This experience, at a company or organisation which they choose and apply to, gives them invaluable real life work experience and inspiration for their future careers.
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Service-oriented trips assist your child to develop as a global citizen
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HAPPILY EVER AFTER Success stories
Alix recognises the need to work hard in life; her attitude towards learning is serious and it shines through in all aspects of her school life. She sums it up best, “If you don’t try your best then you won’t get what you want.” That attitude extends beyond the classroom. While she has already achieved her High Performance Targets in certain subjects, she is also an excellent athlete, excelling across a range of sports including swimming, athletics and triathlon. Always keen to embark on a new challenge, this year Alix joined the football team and has a place in the Divison 1 team; with her sights set on adding to their unbeaten record. Celebrating individual, group and whole school success is important to us and we like to do it as publicly as possible. We recognise the potential of each young person and seek to stimulate in them an appetite for learning inside and beyond the classroom. On a daily basis, we update our Weblog, recognising students’ achievements and providing positive learning snapshots for parents and the broader community. Students’ successes, both inside and outside of school, are celebrated regularly in Assembly. We
also hold a special Awards Assembly each term where students receive awards for outstanding contributions to their form class and the school as a whole. Our challenge-based rewards system recognises that your child is most motivated by personal goals. The system covers eight categories across student life, from academics to Service and their involvement in CCAs, giving them goals to work towards. Your child will collect points for achievement in each category, with the their successes being celebrated with the presentation of certificates in Assembly.
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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
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THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, PUDONG CAMPUS
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* Some names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals in this document.
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