Secondary Handbook

#MAKINGADIFFERENCE HANDBOOK Secondary

Our school values underpin all that we do in JESS and we are purposeful in instilling character strengths within our community. Students are given the opportunity to actively reflect on their experiences and make mindful decisions over their future. This is supported by the belief that our community is strong when all of its members are able to flourish, we celebrate our individual identity and embrace our differences.

Inside the classroom, we pursue excellence in all that we do, not as an outcome but as a process. We believe that every action, no matter how big or small ripples outwards and can have a long term impact. Our results in external examinations speak for themselves, but if you scratch beneath the surface, you will

find confident learners who understand their strengths and are driven to seek improvement.

With a commitment to offering exceptional experiences beyond the classroom, all students at JESS are provided with opportunities to explore their passion. From the sports field to the stage and everything in between, we offer a rich co curricular programme that provides great lessons and memories that will last a lifetime.

The learning environment at JESS is one of nurture, where students are given the freedom to explore while under the guidance of our exceptional staff. Recruited from around the world, our teachers always go the extra step in supporting students to achieve beyond even their own expectations. Our staff also act as positive role models for lifelong learning, with everyone engaged with high level professional development and many undertaking additional qualifications in their pursuit of outstanding teaching.

SECONDARY HANDBOOK #MAKINGADIFFERENCE

JESS Dubai is a truly international school JESS Dubai is made up of three schools, JESS Jumeirah Primary School, JESS Arabian Ranches Primary School and JESS Secondary School.

Curriculum Pathways

Pre 16 – GCSEs / Sixth Form – BTEC & IB

The secondary school pre 16 broadly aligns with the British curriculum alongside the core subjects (English, Mathematics, and Science) including Moral, Social and Cultural education, Arabic and Islamic for our Muslim students. The curriculum has been created to reflect our vision and mission statements, and our local and international context. Students have the opportunity to follow a varied range of subjects and options from year 7 11, at GCSE, iGCSE and BTEC, followed on by either an IB or BTEC pathway in the Sixth Form (Years 12 13).

Years 7-9

The curriculum includes core subjects alongside Physical Education, Performing and Visual Arts, Innovation, Digital Skills and Computing, Humanities and Modern Foreign Languages (French and Spanish), and Personal and Social Education.

Years 10-11

Core subjects are followed alongside a broad range of options subjects.

Students will also continue to study Personal and Social Education.

Years 12-13

The curriculum in the final two years of high school (Sixth Form) follows one of three pathways;

• The IB Diploma Programme

• The IB Diploma Courses,

• BTEC International Level 3 Extended Diploma.

For IB students (both routes), there is a range of subject options covering all IB Groups (Languages, Humanities, Sciences, Mathematics and Arts)

For BTEC students they have the choice of specialist studies in either Art and Design, Business or Sport.

SECONDARY HANDBOOK #MAKINGADIFFERENCE 04 | JESS SCHOOL

JESS CurriculumAssessment & Reporting

The secondary school assesses through a range of methods; class work, home learning, summative and formative assessments with reports generated at regular intervals throughout the year to track student attainment and progress. Our reports provide information on a student’s Learning Behaviours (Self Management, Engagement, Reflection and Collaboration) and Academic Competencies (Knowledge & Understanding, Inquiry, Critical Thinking and Communication). In addition to these reports, you will also gain feedback on your child’s academic and personal progress during Parent Teacher meetings at timely points throughout the year.

SECONDARY HANDBOOK #MAKINGADIFFERENCE

Life outside the Classroom

Students in the Secondary School are offered an extensive range of opportunities to extend their school experience beyond the classroom. All students are actively encouraged to part in a range of activities and while Sport and the Performing Arts are highly visible, there is something for everyone with clubs ranging from sewing to investing.

The Sport programme at JESS is a feature of our offering, with a large number of teams competing across our representative sports. From high quality coaching to strength and conditioning sessions, our students are given every opportunity to perform to their very best.

More importantly, the themes of resilience, integrity, and determination become ingrained, and teamwork develops into a way of life.

Performing Arts provide a pathway for students to express their creativity on the stage and through this grow in confidence as they find their voice. Each year there are a range of large scale events where talent is showcased, and our annual production is an absolute highlight of the calendar.

During the cooler months there are regular outdoor concerts as bands perform at lunchtime in front of crowds of their peers.

Through service-based learning and leadership opportunities we believe that everyone in our community can make a difference in the world.

Service learning is supported through the International Awards, Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS) projects and through initiatives with local and international organisations.

Leadership opportunities are varied and available throughout the year groups.

The Head Students alongside the Sixth Form Student Executive Group contribute to school life through the various committees they lead; Digital, Service, Diversity, Environment, Heritage, Social, Well Being and Creative.

The Student Voice Committee meets regularly to discuss a broad range of issues such as:

• enrichment opportunities, • school facilities, • school events, and

• school culture.

Alongside these groups sit our House Captains from all year groups who work with the Heads of Houses to organise whole and year group events including the House Song and our famous Wild Wednesdays.

SECONDARY HANDBOOK #MAKINGADIFFERENCE

JESS Community

Our community is built on the foundations of care, respect, and belonging, where every member is able to make a positive contribution. We work closely with in parents in supporting both their child and wider school activities.

The JESS Parents Group (JPG) is active in regularly meeting with Senior Leaders to discuss the role they play in bringing parents and the school together. All parents are encouraged to take part in JPG events, our community is certainly not just for students.

SECONDARY HANDBOOK #MAKINGADIFFERENCE

JESS Cares

JESS Communicates

At JESS we believe effective communication is key to ensuring positive partnerships with the JESS Community. It builds understanding, trust as well as showcasing excellence celebrating the success of everyone who is part of JESS.

We use the ISAMs Parent Portal to communicate and disseminate information with parents, and we use SOCS to share our School Calendar, Events and Extra Curricular Programme Sign Ups. Our website includes a parents only site with all the information in one place for you.

Digital Channels

You can keep up to date with events, information and celebrations at JESS Dubai through our official JESS Dubai Digital Channels. Please like, follow and engage with us and be a part of our online JESS community.

Instagram @jessdubaischool