bsakabudhabi
BSAKAbuDhabi
britishschool.sch.ae
The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) is Abu Dhabi’s leading British not-for-profit, co-educational day school. From Nursery to A Level (3 – 18) our dynamic school culture offers students an enriching experience and outstanding results OUR
A community committed to inspiring our students to create an impactful legacy OUR VALUES
Empathy and Care
Respect and Inclusivity
Honesty and Integrity
Endeavour and Resilience
Primary Head Welcome
Our Staff Curriculum
Wellbeing and Pastoral Care
Safeguarding School Clinic
Inclusion Department
House System & Student Leadership
Co-Curricular and Enrichment
Music, PE and Languages
Punctuality & Attendance
Pick up Procedures, Parking and Traffic
Term Dates
Uniform and Stationery
Primary Dining and Packed Lunch Options
The Library Transport
Communications - Parent Portal
Communications - Social Media
Dear Parents
We are a lively, busy, happy and hardworking school where our children are nurtured to achieve the very best they can.
All children in BSAK Primary School are encouraged to achieve their potential in academic, sporting and creative fields, whilst at the same time developing their social skills, manners, respect for each other and vitally important, kindness.
From Early Years to Year 6 we are proud to say that our children experience a holistic education where they develop self esteem and a love of learning
We strive for every child to exceed their expectations, develop passions and a true community spirit We are in the business of teaching children to a high standard, turning them into confident, responsible and interested learners
It is not just our heritage and facilities that mark out our school; it is the atmosphere and happiness that runs throughout our community.
Mrs Elaine Rawlings Head of Primary
Teaching and Curriculum Years 3-6 jpayne@britishschool sch ae
sajones@britishschool sch ae
rthomas@britishschool sch ae
jcrockett@britishschool sch ae
M k Year 2
mmccormack@britishschool sch ae
krhodes@britishschool sch ae
gcampbell@britishschool sch ae
pjones@britishschool sch ae csaunders@britishschool sch ae
Head of Inclusion sbibi@britishschool sch ae
Vicky Bolger Head of Primary KS1 PE vbolger@britishschool ach ae
Director nguages ahamoudeh@britishschool sch ae
Nik Rhodes Head of Primary KS2 PE nrhodes@britishschool.sch.ae
Gerard Fee Head of Primary Music gfee@britishschool sch ae
achorlton@britishschool sch ae
Diana Taylor dtaylor@britishschool sch ae
The curriculum is a narrative, a journey that the children begin when they enter school in the Early Years and continue through the Primary School It is, in effect, what the children are taught The children are provided with engaging and diverse learning opportunities as part of a very carefully sequenced, cumulative curriculum. Teachers, knowing the curriculum narrative well, base current learning on what children already know and also forecast future learning for the weeks, months and years to come Being able to make these ‘bigger picture’ connections, linking knowledge and concepts within a subject and between subjects, helps the children to contextualise what they have learnt, supporting them in making many new and meaningful connections
The curriculum is carefully designed in order that children frequently revisit previous learning which supports them in transferring knowledge into their long term memory Our teachers employ impactful, evidence informed and age appropriate teaching practices to ensure that the children learn and remember core knowledge with which they can then be skilful and creative, applying what they know and being challenged to think hard Thinking hard is the engine for learning and teachers provide planned and considered opportunities for such thinking across the curriculum. Transitions between each phase of the Primary School are carefully planned in order that children move seamlessly from one stage of their learning to the next
In the Early Years, staff pride themselves on a responsive teaching approach, where children learn through the joy of play and exploration. Enabling environments are thoughtfully designed to support children in feeling calm, safe and truly at home during their time in school. During the school year, children are provided with opportunities to enable them to develop socially and academically, grow in confidence and engage with every aspect of school life. Employing a child-centred ‘in the moment’ approach to teaching and learning, staff quickly learn the unique attributes of each and every child and are able to interact compassionately with the children as individuals. As a result, staff provide learning opportunities which encourage and extend the children’s development across all areas of learning, driven by each individual’s particular interests and ideas
The quality of the learning environment is crucial to success in the Early Years and hence, it is very carefully designed to support personalised learning and progress for every child. Another important element of the Early Years curriculum is that of core ‘secondary knowledge’, such as Phonics, Writing and Maths which are delivered during focused learning times. This is managed appropriately for the needs of the children and includes short whole class, group, paired or individual instruction These teaching and learning opportunities support children to deepen and extend their knowledge and skills in preparation for their transition into Year 1. Children start to learn Arabic, taught by specialist Arabic language teachers in Reception. PE and Music are delivered by specialist departments from Nursery through the Primary Years
In Years 1 & 2, staff build upon the solid foundations of the Early Years and passionately believe that young children learn best through a considered balance of exploration within enabling environments and focused, instructional learning opportunities Continuous and enhanced provision strategies enable the children to consolidate and use their knowledge, understanding and skills They also enjoy regular opportunities to develop as independent and resilient learners Within the environment, both inside the Key Stage 1 building and outside in the curriculum play areas, children actively engage in a wide range of self-selected activities. Enhanced provision provides the children with choices and encourages them to develop a lifelong love of learning and to pursue their personal interests
The Key Stage 1 curriculum ambitiously challenges children to engage, explore and ask questions. Learning is made real, is contextualised and carefully sequenced Spanish is introduced in Year 2 for all children as are Islamic Studies and Social Studies to those children for whom it is a requirement By the end of Year 2, the children are more than ready for their move to Key Stage 2, Years 3-6.
In Years 3-6, the children continue to develop their love of learning through a breadth of experiences and opportunities, building upon the strong foundations of their previous knowledge acquisition and experiences in Key Stage 1. All children continue to be taught by specialist teachers for Music, PE, Modern Foreign Languages and Arabic Islamic Studies and Social Studies are taught to those children for whom it is a requirement.
As part of the sequenced curriculum, the children revisit learning from previous years and are challenged to retrieve the knowledge previously learnt, which helps to solidify its place in the child’s long term memory. Ongoing repetition and retrieval of previously taught knowledge helps it to ‘stick’ Teachers then provide the children with generative learning activities; new knowledge is taught which the children then select from, organise and integrate with what they already know The children continually develop rich schemas, organised units of knowledge for a subject or event.
Class timetables are arranged so that Maths, English, the UAE subjects, Modern Foreign Languages, PE, Music and Moral Education and Life Skills are taught each week Computer Science is also taught every week to children in Years 3-6 by a specialist Computer Science Teacher in a dedicated Computer Science Lab The rest of the subjects are taught in the time remaining in the class timetable using a modular approach e g Science for three weeks, Art for two weeks, History for two weeks and so on. The children and teachers have the opportunity to delve into the learning in that subject, making rich and meaningful connections within and beyond the curriculum area, and in doing so, powering learning and progress.
Home Learning Activities are provided to support long-term retention of curriculum knowledge and to develop understanding and meaning The amount, format and expectations of home learning progresses through the school Home learning tasks are be varied and engaging for every child
As the children progress through the school, they have the opportunity to enjoy trips across the Emirate, listen to visitors to school including the Sixth Form students and experience a variety of special curriculum days and events. Alongside this, from Year 3 upwards, the children can enjoy a wide range of Co-Curricular activities including Sports, Music, the Arts, Academic, Wellbeing and many more, all of which are in place to support and extend their learning beyond the curriculum delivered in the classroom
Children across the school have the opportunity to give feedback to teachers and leaders via ‘Learning Studies’ where the children are involved in focussed discussions about their learning with teachers, what they enjoy, what they find impactful in helping them to learn and what they have remembered and can apply. This feedback is very powerful, alongside other methods of monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum, in helping staff continually amend and adapt the curriculum in the best interests of all children
The School aims to provide the very best learning opportunities across all areas of the curriculum, Early Years to Year 6; to ensure that the children love and appreciate the journey of the curriculum, immerse themselves in the excitement and the wonder of the narrative. This is then built upon as the children move into Year 7, which supports the children’s transition into the Secondary School and allows them to turn the page to the next chapter of their education
Wellbeing plays a vital role in education and is intrinsically linked to children’s learning. At BSAK, we believe that it is essential to support the emotional health and wellbeing (EHW) of our children and staff. We look to create a school community where children are welcomed and feel happy and secure within a healthy environment We want all our children to have respectful, kind and supportive relationships with each other and adults. We want everyone to understand the importance of being proactive about their emotional and physical health and we want to teach our children to be resilient, to take responsibility and to be adaptable by having a growth mindset.
We know that everyone experiences challenges which can make us vulnerable and at times, anyone may need additional support We take the view that positive emotional health is everybody’s business and that we all have a role to play. We do this within a supportive and caring ethos which models respect and kindness and where every individual is valued.
Your child’s Class Teacher (always your first port of call)
Your child’s Head of Year
Mrs Sam Walter (Assistant Head of Wellbeing and Pastoral Care)
Mrs Kate Lewis (School Counsellor)
Teddi Rawlinson (School Counsellor)
The Counselling Service provides an opportunity for your child to talk in confidence about issues which may be worrying them and affecting their day to day life. What they choose to talk about is completely up to them, but common issues are relationship issues, problems at home, stress, friendships, change, bereavement, distressing traumatic events and anger. Primary children are referred to this service, if required, by school staff and in consultation with parents.
help children to feel they belong through promoting our school values promote self confidence and ensure children know that they count, and ‘dare to be different’ help children to form and maintain strong relationships help children to understand and be able to talk about their emotions openly help children to develop emotional resilience and to manage setbacks
The welfare and safety of children who attend The British School Al Khubairat is our paramount concern. We will promote the health, wellbeing and safety of the students in all we do.
Our children have the right to protection, regardless of age, gender, ability, race or social background. They have a right to be safe in our school. BSAK expects all of its employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
The School recognises and understands its responsibilities to work together in partnership with other agencies both here in the UAE and the UK to help children to grow up in a healthy and safe environment. Staff appointments are subject to satisfactory checks including the enhanced DBS check, Prohibition check and references
In the interest of safety and security all adults are required to wear a BSAK lanyard, visible at all times. Navy blue lanyards are worn by BSAK staff and light blue lanyards are issued to parents upon admission to the School Any visitors to the School will be issued with a temporary orange lanyard once their entry is cleared by Security.
New parents please click here to apply for a Parent Pass if you haven’t already done so
If you have any concerns in this regard please contact any member of our Safeguarding Team
Telephone: +971 (0)2 204 0200
Email: safeguarding@britishschool sch ae
The School Clinic is staffed by a team of HAAD registered school nurses and professional administrators. The main role of the nurses is to provide first aid and/or emergency care to all students and to ensure the safety of children at all times.
BSAK has a clear policy for when children are unwell which is guided by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi and UK regulations. Please see the Nursing Handbook for more information on illnesses that require you to keep your children at home. The nursing team will contact parents when a student is unwell during the school day and needs to go home Students should not be using mobile phones to call their parents during the school day. Please ensure your contact details are correct on the Parent Portal as these are the numbers used in an emergency.
If you receive a call about your child who needs to either go home or be seen by a Doctor, we request that you collect your child as promptly as possible. We suggest that within 1 hour is an acceptable time frame, however, we appreciate that this may not always be possible. If parents are unable to collect their child, they should notify the Nurse of the details of another person who is able to collect them.
BSAK promotes Healthy Eating and we are a NUT FREE school.
At the start of each academic year you will be required to complete a health declaration form. It is an ADEK requirement that we receive updated and current medical information for every student. Without this your child will not be able to go on any school trips or play for the school’s teams or attend off site events
MONDAY- THURSDAY 7.30am – 2.45pm FRIDAY 7.30am – 12.00pm
MON-THUR Nurse is available till 3:45pm for after school clubs +971 (0) 204
The School values the abilities and achievements of all children and strives to meet the learning needs of every child. Lesson planning provides for scaffolded learning tasks to make the curriculum accessible to all children, and to enable each child to make personal progress
If a teacher has concerns about any child’s personal progress, we will share these concerns with you. Likewise if you as a parent have concerns about your child, please speak to your child’s teacher at the earliest opportunity
Most additional needs can be met through offering adapted and scaffolded work and by the teacher’s professional skills in managing a mixed ability class. However, if a teacher has more specific concerns about aspects of a child’s learning they may seek support from our Inclusion Department.
The Inclusion team supports children within the classroom setting and through short periods of individual or group work away from the class If the school feels your child will benefit from such support, you will be fully involved in the process and will begin regular review meetings with the Inclusion teacher.
Partnership with parents plays a key role in enabling children with learning difficulties to achieve their potential.
We recognise that parents hold key information and have knowledge and experience to contribute to the shared view of a child’s needs and the best ways of supporting them
The school works in line with the UK Code of Practice when carrying out its responsibilities toward all children requiring additional support
The British School Al Khubairat follows a traditional British House system The Houses offer a variety of opportunities which encourage team spirit, a healthy sense of competition and most importantly, allow for vibrant self-expression. The House system is an integral part of life at BSAK. Every student and member of staff is assigned to a House to build a strong sense of community and camaraderie.
There are four Houses in the Primary school, whose names are derived from an animal or bird from the Middle Eastern region; Falcon, Dhabi, Oryx and Cormorant.
There are regular House competitions in which we encourage all students to take part By taking part in these, our students will receive points that contribute towards the school-wide scores for the chance to win the House trophy, which is awarded termly.
At BSAK, our students are at the heart of all that we do. Student leadership is an integral part of student success as it instils quality life skills and shapes individuals As students move through school, more opportunities for them to take positions of leadership and responsibility become available to them. Students are encouraged to apply for the positions available to them, some of which are on a rota basis in class, some are rotated half-termly and others selected annually.
As part of the Student Leadership Team, our students will experience the opportunity to contribute towards making sure our school continues to thrive, sharing their own ideas and listening carefully to others.
As leaders, our students are supported to develop their communication and organisational skills, their resilience when faced with challenges, personal and social responsibility and critical and reflective thinking. By developing these leadership qualities in our students, we prepare them to thrive and be effective leaders in the modern world.
At BSAK, our world class curriculum is delivered alongside an array of engaging co-curricular and enrichment opportunities, which complement each other in providing students with opportunities to explore new interests, deepen thinking and develop their talents.
Our Co-Curricular and Enrichment programme has been carefully designed to promote intellectual challenge, broaden and deepen experiences, knowledge, understanding and skills outside of the core curriculum and class provision for all of our students.
BSAK’s Primary CCE programme offers the students, from Years 3 to 6, over 60 additional learning opportunities outside of the core curriculum. There is a wide range of co-curricular activities on offer from the UAE, Music and PE departments. Our CCE brochure is shared with parents at the beginning of each term with more information about each club
We are extremely proud of this exceptional and unique extended provision, which is carefully designed to deliver the very best opportunities for all students in Years 3-6 Sixth Form students support the delivery of clubs where possible to add to the experience, drawing on the skills and enthusiasm of our older students. They are fantastic role models for the Primary students.
Information regarding how to sign up and the timeline involved, including at what stage of the application process you will know if your child has been successful in obtaining a place in the CCE, will be shared with you via the Parent Portal.
If you have any questions regarding the CCE programme or require any support, please contact Mrs Christine Small at csmall@britishschool sch ae
Individual instrumental and singing tuition is offered by our full-time team of specialist Music teachers. Lessons are arranged on a rota basis for students, so as to avoid missing the same academic lesson each week
Associated Board Instrumental and Theory exams and Trinity Classical, Rock n Pop and Music Theatre exams may be taken twice per year
While many pupils are encouraged to take exams, it is understood that for others this may not be the best course of study. Ultimately, our aim is to deliver tuition which is tailored to the individual's needs The Department also offers Music Theory and Aural classes as well as a plethora of cocurricular ensembles. Information about the lessons and fees can be organised by contacting the Music Administrator: Instrumental@britishschool.sch.ae
Music in the Primary School is taught by two specialist Music teachers. Students from Nursery to Y6 have timetabled music lessons each week which take place in well resourced music rooms.
The curriculum is wide and varied with singing a main focus All children have opportunities to play many classroom instruments within lessons.
Y2 - Y6 students will spend one term per year learning a different instrument from the orchestra through our Instrument Enrichment Programme
There are opportunities to be part of school ensembles, including the choir, orchestra, string and flute groups, amongst others.
The students learn to be creative and focused listeners, while understanding how Music brings us together, boosting confidence and wellbeing.
Mr Gerard Fee Head of Primary Music
Physical Education is taught across the Primary School from Early Years to Year 6.
All year groups and classes receive a total of two hours of PE & Swimming per week Swimming lessons begin in Reception and continue through to Year 6.
There are ten specialist PE teachers who deliver PE and Swimming classes across the Primary School
The Physical Education Curriculum covers subjects such as Fundamental Movement & Sports Skills, Gymnastics, Athletics, Netball, Football, Cricket, Rounders, Basketball, Touch Rugby, Dance and Trampolining These are taught in half termly blocks
The Swimming Curriculum closely follows Swim England Levels and caters for beginners and elite swimmers alike All classes are taught in both the beginner and 25m pool
Sports Days, Swimming Galas, and House Football and Netball Competitions are held across the school year offering participatory and competitive sporting opportunities for all
BSAK competes in the ADISSA (Abu Dhabi International School Sport Association) Leagues with other schools across Abu Dhabi. BSAK enters competitions for U9 & U11 Touch Rugby, Netball, Boys & Girls Football, Basketball and Y3 - Y6 Swimming Squad
These are competitive squads with a selection based approach to participation. All children are given the opportunity to represent BSAK.
Vicky Bolger and Nik Rhodes Heads of Primary PE
The Primary Languages Department comprises of French, Spanish and Arabic languages. The languages team work together to provide an exciting curriculum for all three languages, sharing innovative ideas and using impactful developments from recent learning research
Arabic is taught from Reception. From Year 1, students are separated into native and non-native classes. Students of Arabic B are taught how to read the alphabet using a very successful reading scheme developed by the department, using the UK phonics system as a basis for progression Students are also introduced to the Arabic scheme called Arabee. Students are encouraged to speak Arabic through the use of games, puppets and a variety of fun and challenging activities.
Arabic A is taught in specialist lessons from Year 1 for native speaking students These students have grown up speaking Arabic as their main language at home and consider it their mother tongue. Lessons are conducted in classical Arabic and students are encouraged to learn the alphabet, speak as much Arabic as they can and learn the fascinating grammar and vocabulary of this language
Students are motivated through the use of songs, games, puppets and circle time from a young age. All student abilities are catered for and all are encouraged to reach and surpass their potential
The MFL curriculum employs the renowned Language Angels scheme. Students focus on oral and listening skills in their Spanish classes (Years 2-4), French lessons (Year 5) and a mixture of both in Year 6 We are crosscurricular in nature with an emphasis on fun!
Arwa Hamoudeh Director of UAE Subjects & Languages
Mona Ahmed Second in Charge of UAE Subjects & Languages
Arwa Hamoudeh Director of UAE Subjects & Languages
Mona Ahmed Second in Charge of UAE Subjects & Languages
Regular attendance and punctuality are a prerequisite for student progress and a vital preparation for adult life It is essential that students form good habits with regard to attendance and punctuality early in life. In the interests of student welfare, attendance and punctuality records are logged electronically and closely monitored
Levels of attendance and any impact this has on student learning is communicated to parents via letters, face to face meetings and school reports.
Please promote positive attitudes towards learning in your child through supporting your child’s regular attendance at school
For the Early Years, Nursery & Reception, the School day begins at 7.45am. Door Open at 7.30am
Children in the Early Years should be brought to the external classroom door in the Early Years playground by an adult and handed over directly to their teacher The classroom doors will be opened at 7.30am. There are no car drop off lanes for the Early Years arrivals hence parents need to park in the roads close to school and walk their children to the entrance. Security staff will be present at the Early Years’ Entrance and will offer guidance and support if required If the Early Years child has an older sibling in Years 1-6, the siblings can also use the Early Years’ Entrance meaning that parents only have one drop off point for their children.
In Years 1-6 and without a sibling in the Early Years, children should be dropped off in the Primary Drop Off Zones from 7.30am where they will be met by members of staff There are several drop off lanes for parents to pull their car into, drop their children off, and then move away to leave space for other parents dropping off. The children should then walk by themselves the short distance to the main Primary Entrance
No child should be left unsupervised at any time outside of the school campus and children should not arrive at school before 7.30am. Security and other school staff will be present in the Drop Off Zones and at the Primary Entrance and will offer guidance and support if required
If your child arrives in school after 7.45am, please report to Primary Reception with your child The class register will then be updated Your child may then go to class / lessons
If your child is unwell, you know they are going to be late or cannot make it into school for any other reason, please complete the relevant form on the Parent Portal For sickness, this needs to be completed for each day your child is unwell
If we do not hear from you in terms of your child’s absence, you will receive an email from us. However, if there are many absentees, this can be a long process and may delay our Receptionist from discovering if there is an emergency issue
Please complete the necessary forms on the Parent Portal so we are aware of the reason your child is absent. If you do not confirm a child’s absence and provide a reason, this will be noted as an unauthorised absence
If your child has an appointment that cannot be made outside of school time, or they have to leave school early for a reason then you must complete the planned absence form on the Parent Portal Please note that this may be registered as an unauthorised absence
There are two options for Nursery pick up 1 001.15pm OR 2.30pm, and 11.55am on Fridays. Pick up is from the classrooms, through the EYFS Gate.
Whilst we understand that, in certain exceptional circumstances, students may have to be withdrawn from school and miss curriculum time, we would advocate that this disruption is minimised wherever possible If you intend to withdraw your child, you are requested to complete the planned absence request form on the Parent Portal with reasons clearly stated, in advance, so that the details can be added to your child’s attendance record.
UNAUTHORISED ABSENCE
We would strongly advise parents to avoid holidays during term time Absences for holidays will be recorded as ‘unauthorised’ as per ADEK guidelines
For Reception children, the official end of the day is 2.30pm. Pick up is from the classrooms, through the EYFS Gate.
Siblings of EYFS children will be dismissed from the Mini Pitch Please collect your child from EYFS, then walk to the Mini Pitch to collect siblings in Years 1-6 This ensures one point of pick up for EYFS children and their siblings.
The official end of the day is 2.35pm and 12:00pm on Fridays. Pick up is from the Primary pitch. Please enter through the St Joseph’s Gate and walk to the Primary Pitch where the children will be lined up in classes (see map on next page)
Please ensure that children are collected on time as late collection has a negative impact on the smooth running of the school and on your child’s wellbeing. The following pages show the areas around the school where you can collect your children from and how you can pay to park
The map below shows the pick up areas for the end of day: Early Years for Nursery and Reception children. Mini Pitch for siblings of EYFS children Primary Pitch for Year 1 to Year 6 Both St Joseph’s gate and St Andrew’s gate may be used to enter and exit the school at the end of the day
There are plenty of paid parking spaces around BSAK and these are indicated in blue on the map. Standard authorised parking around the School is marked with black and blue lines. If you park anywhere else, you run the risk of being fined.
There are no ticket machines around BSAK and therefore many parents and staff use a Parking App, DARB or pay through Mobile Phone payment (m-MAWAQiF), which enables payment via credit card or your Etisalat / Du mobile number.
Thursday 15th August 2024
Thursday 22nd August 2024
**Monday 26th August 2024
**Tuesday 27th August 2024
Monday - Wednesday 14th - 16th October 2024 (inc)
Monday - Tuesday 2nd - 3rd December 2024 (inc)
Friday 13th December 2024
A Level Results
GCSE Results
Term commences for all students in Reception to Year 7 and all new Secondary students
Term commences for all remaining students
Half Term
Commemoration Day and National Day Holiday
Last day of Term 1
Monday 6th January 2025
Monday - Friday 10th - 14th February 2025 (inc)
Friday 21st March 2025
Monday 7th April 2025
*Thursday - Friday 5th - 6th June 2025
Friday 27th June 2025
Term commences for all students
Half Term
Last Day of Term 2
Term commences for all students
Eid Al Adha*
Last Day of Term 3
* Provisional. Exact dates of Islamic Holidays and are subject to the moon-sighting Schools must wait for public announcements for these and any National Holidays
Students are expected to take pride in their uniform and appearance, creating a positive first impression of themselves and the school. Wearing school uniform is mandatory and all uniform must be purchased through our official supplier, Trutex Textiles.
Everyday
Light blue polo shirt with BSAK logo on the front
Navy blue shorts
Any colour ankle socks
Trainers (any colour)
Sun hat with BSAK logo Any other branded caps or hats are not permitted
PE
There is no separate PE uniform in EYFS
Swimming (Reception only)
Plain one-piece, navy, school swimming costume
Waterproof PE/swimming bag
Swimming towel
Goggles and flip flops
Everyday
Light blue polo shirt with BSAK logo on the front
Navy blue shorts
Any colour ankle socks
Trainers (any colour)
Sun hat with BSAK logo Any other branded caps or hats are not permitted
PE
There is no separate PE uniform in EYFS
Swimming (Reception only)
Plain navy school swimming trunks
Waterproof PE/swimming bag
Swimming towel
Goggles and flip flops
Please ensure that ALL items of clothing and all personal property such as school bag, PE/swimming bag, book bag, lunch box water bottle and hat are CLEARLY marked with your child’s name and class.
Students are expected to take pride in their uniform and appearance, creating a positive first impression of themselves and the school. The wearing of school uniform is mandatory and all uniform must be purchased through our official supplier, Trutex Textiles.
EVERYDAY
Light blue gingham dress: white collar and BSAK logo on front pocket
Navy blue skort/culottes with blue gingham blouse.
White collar and BSAK logo on the front pocket
Navy blue cardigan/v-neck jumper with BSAK logo
White ankle socks
Shoes: all black, sensible leather shoes
(no trainers, boots or high heels)
Sun hat with BSAK logo. Any other branded caps or hats are not permitted
WINTER UNIFORM (January and February only)
Navy blue, smart, tailored trousers. Denim sportswear or casual trousers are not permitted
Navy or white tights
PE
Blue school polo shirt with BSAK logo
Blue Shorts
Trainers: non-marking, light trainers
Waterproof PE/swimming bag
SWIMMING
Plain one-piece, navy, school swimming costume
Waterproof PE/swimming bag
Swimming towel
Goggles and flip flops
EVERYDAY
Light blue short-sleeved gingham shirt with BSAK logo on front pocket
Navy blue shorts: pleats at the front, elastic at the back, no turn ups
Navy blue cardigan/v-neck jumper with BSAK logo
Navy blue ankle socks
Shoes: all black, sensible leather shoes (no trainers or boots)
Sun hat with BSAK logo Any other branded caps or hats are not permitted
WINTER UNIFORM (January and February only)
Navy blue, smart tailored trousers Denim, sportswear or casual trousers are not permitted
PE
Blue school polo shirt with BSAK logo
Blue shorts
Trainers: non-marking, light trainers
Waterproof PE/swimming bag
SWIMMING
Plain navy school swimming trunks
Waterproof PE/swimming bag
Swimming towel
Goggles and flip flops
BSAK Book Bag (available from Trutex Textiles)
Lunch box (cool box type container with frozen cool pack insert)
Pencil case containing, pencils, coloured pencils, scissors, glue and eraser
Water bottle x 2
Rucksack or shoulder bag
Hair longer than shoulder length must be tied up
Hair accessories should be in keeping with school colours (blue/white)
The use of dye/colouring is not permitted
Make up and nail varnish must not be worn
One pair of small, stud earrings and a watch are permitted; anything else, including friendship bands and bracelets are not permitted
Any haircuts which detract from a neat and tidy appearance (i e patterns, close shaven, fringes over the eyes) are not permitted
BOYS & GIRLS | Year 3 - Year 6
GENERAL (GIRLS AND BOYS)
NO STATIONERY is required for children in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
YEAR 2
Headphones with an audio jack
YEARS 3-6
Pencil case
Pencils
Rubber Ruler
Glue stick
Coloured pencils
Pencil sharpener which includes a pot to collect
sharpenings
Small scissors
Headphones
YEARS 4-6 IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE
Protective case for Chromebook
YEAR 6 IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE
Black pen
Food builds community and, particularly in Early Years, helps children to develop interactive social skills BSAK has partnered with Food Nation since October 2019 to deliver the highest quality of food to students, staff, parents and visitors.
Food Nation is a school catering company that is raising the quality bar across the UAE. It provides nutritious, tasty food through an 'Eat Bright' programme, by which all dishes are created inhouse and contain no artificial colours, flavours, sweeteners, texture altering chemicals, additives, trans-fats, GMO or preservatives.
Food Nation is a chef-driven company, cofounded and led by Magnus Mumby, who has more than 30 years ’ experience of working in both food allergy clinics as well as high-end restaurants at Michelin level.
Magnus’ passion for healing foods and nutrition was borne from his parents, who are still very active in the area of food allergy and nutrition.
Children can choose to bring in snacks and a packed lunch from home or can enjoy food provided by Food Nation We are a nut free school and proactively encourage children to drink plenty of water and choose healthy options for their snacks.
Early Years and Year 1 have their Food Nation meals delivered to their classrooms Years 3-6 sit and eat with their friends in the Dining Hall The food is tasty and nutritious and is ordered and paid for in advance using an online system. There is also an option for Year 3-6 children to buy food from Food Nation’s ‘grab and go ’ counter.
To use the online food ordering system please click HERE
BSAK Primary Library boasts over 30,000 titles by world renowned children’s authors. Spread out over two floors, the library contains a wealth of fiction and non-fiction books on a wide array of topics that support and keep reading at the heart of the Primary curriculum
The Primary Library is a special space in the school that encourages and fosters a love of books and reading for pleasure. The librarians have an extensive knowledge of children’s authors and books, and they strive to create a warm and welcoming environment with regular activities, competitions and events.
The children who visit are encouraged to seek out new authors and genres, and the carefully curated and regularly updated collection reflects the diverse school community A recent shift to a more genrefied organising system for both fiction and non-fiction has made it much easier for children to browse and choose independently and explore the subjects they are most interested in
Every child in the Primary School visits the library over the week. For the younger years there is story time, from picture books for EYFS to extended reads for Key Stage 1.
For the upper primary years the Primary Library staff administer and support the Accelerated Reader Programme, a reading programme that helps support and monitor children’s reading practice Student engagement is a priority and to this end the library provides a calm and quiet space for students during break, Library Monitors and Y6 Prefects are a vital part of the library team.
Storytime for the youngest members of the BSAK community is held every Wednesday during term time. Siblings are welcome with a parent or guardian from 8.00am for stories, songs and fun for the littlest of listeners.
In an effort to combat the increase of myopia in children, a joint initiative between the Nursing Department and the Primary Library saw the opening of an Outdoor Library at the start of 2024. A dedicated space in the Primary School playground with comfortable floor seating and a dedicated selection of books available during the cooler months for the children to read It has proved to be a huge success, with many teachers also choosing to use the space during class time, and providing a more quiet and calm environment for the children during breaks
The School Bus Service is currently under review and will be confirmed as soon as possible.
For full details about the service please go to your Parent Portal, School Information and Bus Service page, where you will also find information on how to Register for the service.
The buses and service are fully compliant with the Department of Transport (DoT) and the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) regulations.
If you are interested in this service please complete the Registration form found on the BSAK Parent Portal. The School Bus page is located under the School Information section. Thank you.
The in school contact for the Bus Service is Christine Small, csmall@britishschool.sch.ae
Throughout the year we will keep you up to date regarding your child’s progress and events at the School. You will receive communication via email, the BSAK Parent Portal, newsletters, the School calendar and our social media channels.
Available form from Your Phone, Tablet or Desktop:
School Emails: delivered to you and kept forever in the portal
Co-Curricular and Enrichment Activities: information about clubs, sport fixtures and music group times can be found in your calendar, which you can also sync to your personal calendar
Timetables and Reports
Daily timetables are available for Secondary students
Forms and permission slips, Parents’ Evening appointments and club sign-ups are all in one place
School Events: search the School calendar and never miss what is going on
Click here to view the BSAK calendar
Please follow the instructions below to sav BSAK Parent Portal as a web app to your d This will allow quick and easy access to the p
Please follow the instructions below to save the BSAK Parent Portal as a web app to your device This will allow quick and easy access to the Portal.
Follow @BSAKAbuDhabi and your year group on Twitter to stay connected with daily events.
Also, engage with BSAK departments such as
@BSAKSecondaryhead
@BSAKMusic
@BSAKSports and others to learn more about life at BSAK
Follow us on our official BSAK Facebook and Instagram pages to keep up to date with events, information and celebrations at BSAK
You can also consider joining our @BSAKParentCommunity to connect with other BSAK parents in support of school events.
Become part of our outstanding #BSAKCommunity and follow us on Social Media @BSAKAbuDhabi