Scholars by BSAK Abu Dhabi

Scholars Programme AT THE BRITISH SCHOOL AL KHUBAIRAT

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For more information contact Mrs Karen Collings Scholars@britishschool.sch.ae

OUR SCHOOL

The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK) is Abu Dhabiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading British not-for-profit, co-educational day school. From Nursery to A Level (3-18), our dynamic school culture o an enriching experience and outstanding results.

OUR VISION

Building on our unique local heritage, we will provide a world-class British education, inspiring all our students to exceed expectation.

OUR VALUES

Empathy and Care Honesty and Integrity

Respect and Inclusivity Endeavour and Resilience

CONTENTS

Welcome To The Scholars Programme

Why Join Our Programme?

Award Titles

Academics

Music

Sport

INTRODUCTION Welcome To The Scholars Programme As a school, BSAK’s success comes from a balanced and holistic drive to provide the very best education to each and every one of our students. Our high academic standards coupled with an extensive co-curricular programme clearly testify to this. The opportunities and possibilities open to all BSAK students, inside and out of the classroom are diverse and founded on a full regard for our students’ wellbeing and personal development.

It is simply a way of making sure that we offer opportunities to challenge our most capable students, to enable them to exceed expectations and achieve their best.

The BSAK Scholars Programme is our way of putting in place a provision to support our most talented students. In many schools, this is referred to as the ‘gifted and talented programme’, but at BSAK this is an augmentation of the exceptional education that we provide to every student and it runs alongside the academic, sporting and music opportunities that are open to all.

Are you excited by the idea of working with highly experienced teachers and of challenging yourself to excel at your talent? If you are, then the BSAK Scholars Programme could be for you. We hope that you find this brochure helpful and very much look forward to receiving your application.

James McBlane, Deputy Head, Secondary jmcblane@britishschool.sch.ae

WHY JOIN OUR PROGRAMME? The results that our students achieve academically, on the sports field and in music are exceptional. Academic

Music

• Consistently strong A Level • BSAK is the only school results in Abu Dhabi to offer tuition across the Full Cohort 36% A*- A 65% A*-B complete range of Top 50 61% A*- A 95% A*-B orchestral instruments. • Only School in Abu Dhabi to offer the BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Engineering, Sport and Business Studies • Outstanding GCSE results 56% A*-A 79% A*-B Our GCSE results in Maths and Science are among the highest of all UK non-selective schools.

Sport • BSAK is the leading school in Abu Dhabi for sports and is also accomplished Internationally.

• Our dedicated full-time • Scholar mentors are sports professionals, music professionals have many with a background experience in some of of playing or coaching the most prestigious at elite level. orchestras and choirs across the world. • Our U19 rugby boys team • Students are frequent won the 2017 Dubai 7s winners or runners up tournament and our U19 in the BSME Young rugby girls team won it in 2016. Musicians of the Gulf (YMOG) competition. • BSAK students won the 2017

• BSAK Alumni are • Students typically studying in the most achieve the highest prestigious universities grades at ABRSM around the world and music examinations on the most competitive with an average courses. Destinations score of 124/150, include Oxford, exceeding the global Cambridge, Harvard, average of 118/150. Yale, MIT, Cornell and NYU.

COBIS U13 Secondary Games, the 2017 BSME U15 and 2018 U13 Games

AWARD TITLES This year we have changed our format and the Scholars Programme now includes a Talent Development Programme for those entering Year 5 and Year 7 and Scholar Awards for those entering Year 10 and Year 12. All students should apply the year before the required year of entry. For example, apply in Year 4 for entry into Year 5.

TALENT DEVELOPMENT Title of Award

Year of Entry

Application Guide

Academic

Year 5 and Year 7

External: Apply the year before your required year of entry Internal: No application required All students considered

Music

Year 5 and Year 7

All: Apply the year before your required year of entry

Sport

Year 5 and Year 7

All: Apply the year before your required year of entry

Title of Award

Year of Entry

Application Guide

Academic

Year 10 and Year 12

External: Apply the year before your required year of entry

SCHOLAR AWARDS

Internal: No application required All students considered All: For entry into Year 12, an offer is dependent on confirmed GCSE results Music

Year 10 and Year 12

All: Apply the year before your required year of entry

Sport

Year 10 and Year 12

All: Apply the year before your required year of entry

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All external Scholarship offers made will be subject to satisfactory document checks, school reports and references, in line with the Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s General Admissions Policy.

ACADEMICS Gifted academics will gain access to a diverse and exciting range of academic enrichment opportunities as well as a personal academic mentoring programme. The School has a longstanding record of supporting and challenging our most capable students with proven outcomes. At A Level, our results are consistently strong. Full Cohort Top 50 Results

36% A*- A 65% A*-B 61% A*- A 95% A*-B

Our GCSE results are also impressive: Full Cohort

56% A*- A 79% A*-B

Beyond the Curriculum Every term, BSAK runs a series of academic lectures open to all students. The lectures aim to take and extend learning beyond the classroom, challenge students with new ideas, extend their knowledge of history and improve their understanding of the world. Topics covered are wide ranging, from ‘How the French Revolution changed the World’ to ‘Babylonian Maths’. Academic Clubs and Societies There is also a full selection of academic clubs and societies which allow students to develop their understanding and interests in various fields over a longer period of time. Examples in the Secondary School are; Medical Society,Politics Society, Oxbridge Club, Psychology Society, Duke of Edinburgh, Debating Club and Model United Nations. Oxbridge and University Applications The school runs a dedicated and highly successful Oxbridge and Medics

programme to prepare students for the application, testing and interview process. We also have a full time Careers and University Advisor and our students go on to the very best and most competitive universities and courses around the world. Our successful track record of Oxbridge, Ivy League and Medical applicants is unrivalled in Abu Dhabi.

Academic Mentoring In addition, gifted academics will be supported by a mentoring programme. Personal attention and support is a key component of our approach, to ensure that our most capable students realise their potential. In turn we expect our talented students to provide peer mentoring for younger students, contribute to the community and develop their own leadership and interpersonal skills. Selection For external candidates, this will be done on the basis of the results of an aptitude test and student interview, alongside the application form and previous two years’ school reports. The aptitude test is done through an external provider at the cost of AED 70, which is settled by the applicant. All current BSAK students will automatically be considered for our programmes and parents will be informed if their child meets the criteria.

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MUSIC the complete range of orchestral instruments from a dedicated Music students excel at BSAK, typically achieving the highest grades in Abu Dhabi at ABRSM music examination, with an average score of 124/150, far exceeding the global average of 118/150. In 2016 a BSAK student was crowned BSME Young Musician of the Gulf and in 2018 we had overall wins in the Solo Guitar and Duets and Trios categories, as well as most promising U15 musician. Expectations The BSAK Scholars Programme exists not only to support and enhance the education of the most gifted, but also so that scholars may enrich the learning environment at BSAK for the benefit of others. For a Music Scholar this might mean taking a leading role in a number of school ensembles, or setting a good example of attitude and showing outstanding commitment to instrumental practice and self-improvement. In other words, we are looking for capable and talented ambassadors of music. All scholars will be expected to sing in at least one of the School Choirs to enhance their note and sight-reading ability. Benefits • Tuition and guidance from some of the best instrumental teachers in the Middle East • Access to a wide range of co-curricular ensembles • A tailored programme of enrichment and development and regular Scholars Talks

• A dedicated music mentor to oversee each individual’s progress and musical commitments • A wide variety of regular performance opportunities Criteria and Assessment Years 5-6 Equivalent to ABRSM/Trinity Grade 4-5 on main instrument Years 7-9 Equivalent to ABRSM/Trinity Grade 5-6 on main instrument Years 10-11 Equivalent to ABRSM/Trinity Grade 6-7 on main instrument Sixth Form Equivalent to ABRSM/Trinity Grade 8+ on main instrument Selection Students who can show outstanding potential on one or more instruments are encouraged to apply. Students must submit an application form which includes an academic report and a reference from their current instrumental teacher(s). Short -listed candidates will be given an audition including performance on their instrument(s) and sight-reading their main instrument. Applicants should offer two contrasting pieces if offering one instrument, or one piece on each instrument if offering two instruments. Students will also have an interview with the Director of Music.

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SPORT BSAK's sports curriculum caters for the talented athlete and provides opportunities to excel as sports performers, as well as developing leadership and team building skills. BSAK caters for the talented athlete and provides opportunities to excel as sports performers, as well as developing leadership and team building skills. Customised care and a tailored approach to each individual ensures that our students are nurtured through their sporting education. Core Sports Our programmes focus principally on the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four key sports: Football, Rugby, Netball and Swimming. Students are accepted into a programme if they excel in one or more of these sports. Students are also considered if they are an excellent athlete in two or more of these sports or if they perform to a very high standard in a non-core sport. Mentoring and Guidance Each student is assigned a sports mentor and athletes are guided through their sporting year in bespoke sessions. Guidance on fitness training, nutrition and diet, sports psychology, injury prevention and goal setting provides students with the knowledge to become a successful athlete.

Furthermore, students are academically tracked by their mentor and pushed to ensure that both sporting and academic success is achieved through a balanced approach. All mentors are sports professionals and many have a background of playing or coaching elite level sport. Inspirational Workshops & Masterclasses During the sporting year, students access a variety of different workshops and seminars given by professional athletes and inspirational speakers. These events not only inspire the students but give them a chance to see what makes a proven professional performer reach their peak. Masterclasses are also made available where students gain direct coaching and guidance from elite athletes in their specific fields - a highlight of the programme.

Sporting Opportunities

Benefits

The school has an extensive sporting calendar which allows our students to participate at the highest level. With teams competing locally both in the Abu Dhabi (ADISSA) and Dubai (DASSA) schools leagues, this allows scholars to be pushed to varying levels of competition

• • • •

The school competes in internationally recognised multisport elite events in both British Schools of the Middle East (BSME) and Council of British International Schools (COBIS) tournaments, giving students the opportunity to showcase their talents. We also host a tri-series of tournaments in Football, Netball and Rugby and compete across a range of invitational tournaments throughout the sporting year.

• Specialised trips

Opportunities for participation in elite events Regular bespoke mentoring Continuous feedback on performance Recognition for achievement amid high expectations • Leadership opportunities, modules and training • Scholars lead sports assemblies and presentations • Strength and Conditioning plans • Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation Clinics

Selection Successful applicants will be invited to attend the selection day and a variety of sports performance assessments will take place. A timetable will be sent to students who are taken forward to the selection day.

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Please direct enquiries to Karen Collings on Scholars@britishschool.sch.ae | call the Admissions Team on 02 446 2280

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