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Lately, I have been reflecting on how important curiosity is - not just for children, but for us as adults too. Through my own learning with coaching through Making Stuff Better and alongside our EYFS and Year 1 team's work with The Curiosity Approach, I have seen how curiosity can transform the way we learn, teach and create spaces for exploration.
Are we still curious as adults?
When was the last time you asked a question just to learn, not just to know the answer?
Our EYFS and Year 1 team have been taking a deep dive into The Curiosity Approach. They are reminding us to capture the essence of childhood and create beautiful, thoughtful environments that inspire wonder. It encourages us to move away from plastic toys and overstimulation, offering real, authentic experiences that spark exploration. Children don’t need to be taught to be curious - they already are. Watching my two-year-old daughter explore every gadget, button, or stone reminds me that our role is to protect and nurture that natural curiosity.
Curiosity is also one of our key 6C’s linked to metacognition supporting our children to think about their thinking, ask meaningful questions, and remain engaged in their learning journey. Curiosity is currently our whole-school Learner Ambition focus. For children to truly develop their curiosity, they need the metacognitive tools to think curiously. They need regular opportunities to question, explore, and make connections. At BIS Abu Dhabi, we are fostering this through a whole-school culture of thinking - one that purposefully integrates Project Zero Thinking Routines (a set of simple yet powerful strategies that help children slow down, reflect, and explore ideas more deeply) across the curriculum to scaffold curious thinking and spark wonder in every subject.
And it’s not just our students: we are building a coaching culture across the school, where teachers are learning to stay curious in conversations, to listen deeply and to ask thoughtful questions. Through coaching, we are creating an environment where curiosity leads to real reflection, innovation and growth for everyone.
As we move forward with The Curiosity Approach, we are committed to protecting wonder - for our children, for ourselves and for our whole school community.
So today, I leave you with this:
"What are you curious about?"
Leah Atkins
Assistant Head of Primary
As we draw this academic year to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has been a truly remarkable journey for The British International School Abu Dhabi. This year has been defined by so much more than achievement, it has been a year of resilience, creativity, compassion, and bold ambition.
Read on to discover the unforgettable highlights, proud achievements, and inspiring moments that made this year at BIS Abu Dhabi truly remarkable.
The penultimate week of term always brings a mix of energy and reflection. Lessons are still purposeful, but there is also a sense of looking back, recognising just how far our students have come.
This year, we have seen strong academic success across the school. Students have worked hard, and the outcomes reflect that effort. But just as important have been the achievements beyond the classroom in music, sport, language, technology, and the arts. Our curriculum is broad for a reason, and it has been clear this year that our students are thriving in many ways.
Celebrating Our Shared Success: A Year of Partnership and Recognition
As we approach the end of a vibrant academic year filled with events, achievements, and memorable moments, I am delighted to share some fantastic news with you all. Our school has been honoured with not one, but two prestigious awards in recognition of our commitment to parent engagement: the MENA Parent Partnership Award and the ADEK Best Parent Engagement Award.
Read on to discover how these awards celebrate our collaborative culture, highlight parent-school partnerships, and support meaningful improvements for our students.
It’s something I’ve believed for a long time — that learning isn’t predetermined by our genes. It’s about growing, persevering, and learning through the process. I was really mindful of this idea at this week’s wonderful Primary Summer Concert, after which I found myself reflecting on whether these amazing children have an innate talent, or whether they have achieved so much because of hard work and practice.
I believe it’s the latter. These children, their parents, and their teachers all seem to share the belief that by trying and working hard, they will get better at what they do. This is what we call a growth mindset.
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