Al Ain English Speaking School

Secondary School 

Arabic, Art, Biology (Year 9), Chemistry (Year 9), Drama, English Language, French, General Science, Geography, History, ICT, Islamic Studies, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Physics (Year 9), Spanish, * Arabic Culture (Under review)

This page outlines the planned programme of learning for students in their first three years with us. We hope it will help parents to talk to their children about the work they are doing at school and to appreciate the progress they are making. It is also a useful background to reports and to discussions with teachers.
Your child’s tutor is a vital link between subject teachers, parent and child.

Our Key Stage 3 curriculum builds on the experiences children have had at their primary school. Our aim is to maintain the strengths of the primary approach as we introduce teaching by subject specialists. in particular, we want our students to use their skills across the curriculum and not to confine them to the subject in which they happen to be learned. Information Technology equips students with skills which are used and reinforced across all subjects.
In Year 7 we provide a Personal Organiser (Student Planner/Homework Dairy) for each student. We think they will be invaluable to young students, who are faced for the first time with the need to organise their day and week at school.
We know from experience that the earlier the skills of organisation are learned, the more happily children settle and the greater chances of success at GCSE and beyond.

We ask you to help your child make effective use of this Personal Organiser and especially at first to share responsibility for it. Students should be encouraged each evening to look forward to the next day, making sure that they have completed homework by the required date and that they have all the equipment they need for the next day’s lessons. If parents take an interest in the tasks and targets set, it will make it easier for us to work together. We are always keen to identify any concerns at an early stage so that matters can be put right.
Through Personal and Social Education, tutors encourage positive attitudes to learning and working co-operatively together. Although we set aside a specific period each week for PSHE, it is also an aspect of everything we teach and cannot be limited to a single lesson.

Information for Parents on National Curriculum Levels of Attainment
If your child is currently in Key Stage 3 of their education (Year 7, 8 and 9) they will receive a detailed academic report twice each school year – at Christmas and in the Summer term. Alongside grades for effort and attainment each subject area will also provide a National Curriculum Level.
As you may be aware we teach the British National Curriculum at AAESS. This governs what is taught in all subject areas and ensures that all students receive a broad, balanced curriculum as they progress through the Key Stage.
Students are assessed via National Curriculum Levels. This internationally recognised form of assessment enables parents to see how their child is progressing in comparison to students of the same age in England and around the world.

What do the National Curriculum Levels mean?
There are 8 levels in the National Curriculum. Children are expected to work their way through one level every two years. If a child has achieved the expected level in the National Curriculum, it means they show knowledge and skills that are the same as, or slightly better than, most children of the same age.
At the end of Key Stage 3 the minimum level expected in English, Mathematics and Science is Level 5.
This indicates that a student has the potential to attain a C grade or higher at GCSE level (Years 10 –11).
In the 3 core subjects mentioned above students sit formal end of key stage tests at the end of Year 9.
This determines their level. However throughout the Key Stage all subject teachers monitor their students’ performance using National Curriculum Level criteria. This enables teachers to set subject specific targets for each individual student that will provide the structure they require to progress up to the next level of attainment. It is a consistent and accountable form of assessment.
Your child will receive a level on their end of term report in all subject areas. As your child progresses through Key Stage 3 you will be able to monitor their progress in each subject and make comparisons to the U.K. national average. In the meantime if you have any questions or would like more information regarding the National Curriculum or Levels of attainment then please look at this excellent web site below that is produced specifically to provide information for parents.
http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk/key-stages-3-and-4/index.aspx