The Lower School covers the English National Curriculum Key Stages 1 and Lower Key Stage 2, Years 1 to 4 (ages 5 - 8). Teachers provide stimulating activities to build up pupil confidence and harness their natural curiosity. Children thereby achieve high levels of knowledge, skills and understanding while enjoying the learning process.

 

Our aim is for children to enjoy their time at school and to develop knowledge, understanding and values in order to reach their full potential in all academic and social areas of school life. The work of each year group is guided by the appropriate level of the English National Curriculum, Key Stage 1, which is by nature broad and balanced. Subject areas include English Language, Mathematics, Science, Geography, History, Art and Craft, Music, Physical Education (including swimming from Year 1), Health Education and Information Technology.

 

In Language and Literacy we aim to provide a rich and stimulating environment in which children find interest and pleasure in communicating in English. The are offered many experiences to develop their interest in reading with fluency, accuracy, understanding and enjoyment. The development of handwriting skills forms an important part of Language and Literacy.

In Numeracy and Science we aim to develop a knowledge and understanding of the role of these subjects in everyday life. Children are encouraged to relate their Numeracy and Science work to other areas of the curriculum and the skills and attitudes acquired are important components of cross-curricular topic work.

 

In Lower Key Stage 2 some pupil work falls easily into identifiable subject areas but children are also involved in a variety of cross-curricular topic based investigations. This approach promotes a variety of skills and offers scope for the development of many different concepts. We emphasise active investigative methods to facilitate purposeful learning and to encourage independence, while at the same time ensuring that the main requirements of the English National Curriculum are covered.

As in Britain, the children take Standard Achievement Tests (SATs) in the three "core" subjects (English Language, Maths and Science) and these are then sent to Britain for evaluation and marking. The Curriculum also covers Art, Craft and Technology, Humanities, Russian and French Languages, Information and Communication Technology, Music and P.E. These subjects, in addition to the core subjects of Numeracy, Literacy and Science, complete the curriculum.

In general, Lower School children work mainly with one class teacher although certain subjects, such as Music, Languages, Art and P.E. are studied with specialist teachers. Most teaching staff are British Nationals, with appropriate teaching qualifications from British universities and all teachers have recent experience in delivering the English National Curriculum in British schools in the UK and overseas and each teacher has the support of a full-time Teaching Assistant.  TAs are usually qualified to teach English as an Additional Language (EAL) and are able to support students with a lower than native level in English in small groups and in every subject not just Literacy. Teaching Assistants are recruited from both the UK and as local hire expats, this approach helps ensure that the highest quality of teaching and learning takes place in our classrooms, particularly in the areas of Literacy and Numeracy.