Why Choose Our Primary School in Sharjah?
Our remarkable reputation for student outcomes reflects the success of our primary education. Children are empowered as co-creators of the learning process via an inquiry-based approach, and teachers encourage them to participate in lessons so that they can think critically and demonstrate their understanding while exploring various perspectives around a topic. Proactive learning establishes a strong foundation for future success, and we do all we can to help every student engage, and flourish, in the learning process.
Primary Years Curriculum
In Grades 1 to 6, students receive a high-quality education based on the Cambridge International Primary Years curriculum which is mapped against the National Curriculum for England. This robust course is broad and well-rounded, and subjects include literacy, numeracy, mathematics, and science. A knowledgeable team delivers each year of the primary programme of dedicated teachers. They work alongside arts and sports specialists to ensure every child receives personalized attention and support. Regularly, class teachers also arrange fun topic-related excursions to areas of interest close to the school to complement the syllabus.
Primary School Methodology
At the Primary School level, our methodology is supported by guidelines outlined by Cambridge International and the British Schools Overseas (BSO) board. It strengthens children’s innate curiosity through participation in enjoyable discussions, debates, and research, enabling them to delve deeper into topics and gain a greater depth of understanding overall.
Our commitment to an integrated, cross-curricular approach and interactive, collaborative lessons has made us a highly recommended Primary School in Al Hail South and a top choice for families in central Sharjah and nearby towns.
Primary School Language Programme
South African, American, Canadian, and UK-qualified native English speakers comprise the vast majority of educators at our school. They aim to cultivate an immersive English learning environment ideal for early language acquisition from Grade 1. The main language of instruction is British English; however, Arabic-speaking students also undertake the Ministry of Education's curriculum for Arabic, Social Studies, and Islamic Studies.
At the elementary school level, children are supported to learn English and cultivate a love of reading. Led by experienced childhood education practitioners, interactive daily English literacy lessons incorporate various effective strategies to ensure that students develop confidence, language fluency, and enthusiasm for a range of texts. Children enjoy a balanced weekly timetable of daily phonics tuition, guided reading, whole-class reading time, and research sessions in the school library.
FOUNDATION STAGE (AGE 3-5)
Your child is about to embark on one of the most important journeys of their life. Our philosophy is to nurture and celebrate the whole child. We endeavour to create an inspiring, safe, fun and welcoming learning space where the children's passions are unearthed, encouraged and supported.
When a child's level of well-being and engagement is high, the skills necessary for successful learning and development will be optimised, inspiring them to embrace the joy of discovery and distilling the desire to know more.
It is a recognised fact that children learn more between the ages of 0-5 years than at any other time in their life. The Early Years are a crucial time in your child's education. Ideas and attitudes formed at this stage will have a profound effect on their approach to future learning. It is a privilege to work in education and, in partnership with parents, we embrace the responsibility we have in contributing towards shaping and developing the adults of the future. We look to provide your child with a world-class learning environment and one in which they can feel comfortable, secure and valued as the unique individual that they are
Our Foundation Stage curriculum is based on the English Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS). It also incorporates opportunities to follow the children’s interests and is enriched with broader opportunities such as specialist teaching for PE. Swimming and Music. Through this, their all-round development is supported and they are challenged and motivated, allowing them to grow in confidence and experience success. Most importantly, they are supported by a team of committed and experienced professionals, who are specialists in their fields. They will nurture your child in every aspect of their development, with a strong focus on their happiness, well-being and academic progress.
KEY STAGE 1 (AGE 5-7)
In Key Stage 1 we continue our educational journey by building on the skills children have learnt in the Early Years Foundation Stage. In particular, we continue to extend and develop levels of independence as well as provide opportunities for children to develop their curiosity and lead their learning.
In Year 1 and Year 2, we look to educate the whole child using a holistic approach to teaching and learning. Through a range of cross curricular activities, pupils cover the learning objectives outlined in the English National Curriculum which have been adapted to reflect our unique International School context in UAE. Lessons are designed to promote critical thinking skills, high levels of engagement and collaboration. We continue to have specialist lessons in Swimming, PE and Music and introduce specialist Computing lessons in Year 2.
Our learning environment encourages children to be active, autonomous and unique learners. The environment has a variety of open ended opportunities to stimulate children’s interests; providing opportunities for children to explore, discover, learn new skills and achieve the curriculum objectives. These activities allow us to enable all students to be High Performing Learners.
As children progress through KS1, we continue to introduce the Learning Ethos and BSM Thinking Skills. We support students to become hard-working and Secure Individuals, learning the importance of persevering and being resilient when faced with a new challenge. We aim to develop confident learners who are willing to take risks and ‘have a go’ and ensure that all children understand how to be responsible members of our school community.
KEY STAGE 2 (AGE 7-11)
In Years 3 and 4, our children continue to follow the English National Curriculum, although we have contextualised the curriculum to reflect the fact that we are an International School based in UAE.
We are a High-Performance Learning school and focus on developing Resourceful Learners. We want our children to be motivated to learn and to always strive to do their best. We want them to develop an innate curiosity about the world around them. We help them to understand that ‘getting things wrong’ is good! As that is when they are being challenged. But it is also important to help them develop resilience as they also need to learn to keep going, even when they find things difficult.
In Year 3 and 4, the children have specialist lessons in PE, Swimming, Music, Computing and French. We also introduce Arabic lessons.
In Year 5 and Year 6, we continue our journey educationally and we start to prepare the children for their transition to Senior School.
Again, we follow the English National Curriculum, although we also contextualise the curriculum to reflect the fact that we are an International School based in UAE.
We continue to develop the Learning Ethos, through the learning opportunities that the children are offered, but also by encouraging the children to be Respectful Contributors. We encourage the children to be open-minded in both their learning and their relationships with others. We provide opportunities for them to develop their collaborative skills with group tasks and we encourage them to be community-minded through opportunities through our Student Leadership programme, charity work and events such as “Dragon’s Den”.
We, again, increase the amount of teaching from specialist teachers in Upper Key Stage 2: The children have specialist lessons in PE, Swimming, Music, Computing, French and Arabic. In addition, we have a growing instrumental programme and in Year 6, all children learn to play an instrument.
