Pastoral Handbook | Year 11 | 22/23

2022/2023

THE BRITISH SCHOOL AL KHUBAIRAT

PASTORAL HANDBOOK

YEAR 11

RATED OUTSTANDING BY ADEK AND BRITISH SCHOOLS OVERSEAS TOP SCHOOL AWARDS 2022 Best School in the UAE for Fine Art and Creative Studio Work

TOP SCHOOL AWARDS 2022 Best School for Post-16 Education in the UAE

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

OUR VALUES Empathy and Care | Respect and Inclusivity Honesty and Integrity | Endeavour and Resilience

YEAR 11 PASTORAL HANDBOOK 2022/2023 CONTENT P02 P04 P05

BSAK’s Vision and Values Assistant Head Welcome Meet Your Head of Year

KINDLY CLICK ON THESE HYPERLINKS Code of Conduct Safeguarding Term Dates and Timings Google Classroom and Devices Transport Communications - Parent Portal Library

Mental Health and Wellbeing House System Uniform School Clinic Parking and Traffic Communications - Social Media Wellbeing Padlet

WELCOME FROM THE ASSISTANT HEAD Dear Parents, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and your child to Year 11 here at BSAK. The aim of this booklet is to supply you with the essential, practical information you need to get a smooth start to the academic year.

Year 11 is obviously a very important year for all students. For many, it is their first opportunity to show us what they are really capable of academically in the external GCSE exams.

We believe the support our students receive from their teachers, tutors and head of year give them the very best opportunity to exceed our expectations and achieve what they are truly capable of.

While it is vital that we work together to support our students to give their best in the exams, we believe in still maintaining a healthy balance between exam preparation and growing from the experiences they are offered alongside the curriculum, preparing them for life beyond GCSE’s.

The opportunities they receive outside of the curriculum are vast, through Moral Education and Life Skills lessons, tutor time and assemblies, co-curricular activities and many more, we aim to see our students grow into well rounded young people who embody our BSAK values of Empathy & Care, Endeavour & Resilience, Honesty & Integrity and Respect & Inclusion. In order for this to be possible we believe it is essential to work in a meaningful, positive partnership with parents and I would like to thank you all in advance for your support this year.

Ms Nichola Cooper Assistant Head ncooper@britishschool.sch.ae

MEET YOUR HEAD OF YEAR Dear Parents, I am delighted to be given the opportunity to follow your children from Year 7 into Year 11.

I have been really impressed with the growing levels of maturity across the year group over the past two years. The independence and resilience they displayed throughout lockdown and Covid restrictions fills me with great confidence for their success in this important year. Whilst much of this year will be focused on getting them GCSE ready there is still opportunity for fun, leadership and decision making.

I will be reopening the invitation to the Year 11 Leadership Group and appointing Form Representatives and House Representatives. I encourage students to apply as it offers excellent leadership experience and provides them the opportunity to have their voice heard.

In form times we will provide a chance for students to build on their study skills that were looked at during this year, continue our house competitions and also look to prepare them for Sixth Form. Part of this preparation will involve a Sixth Form Information Evening and a Taster Day for the students. I would encourage all of you to attend this information evening as it will provide you with an understanding of what our Sixth Form has to offer and the entry requirements for students.

Students will also have the opportunity to experience what external exams are like with their Mock Exams. These are designed to be as similar to the real thing as possible. This will include both study leave and a Mock Exams Results Day. This has worked really well in the past for preparing our students for their GCSE exams in the summer.

I will also be putting a “Prom Committee” together to organise our first BSAK organised Prom since the outbreak of Covid.

I look forward to welcoming you all back to Year 11.

Mr Mike Edgar Head of Year 11 medgar@britishschool.sch.ae

Become part of our outstanding #BSAKCommunity and follow us on Social Media @BSAKAbuDhabi