Our curriculum supports the way teenagers learn. Specifically designed around the needs of the developing adolescent brain, our teaching pedagogy and combination of subjects ensure that we provide challenging, engaging, connected learning that Secondary School students find relevant and inspiring.
The education offered in the Secondary School builds on the students' previous learning and knowledge from their Primary Years. At Key Stage 3, a bespoke concept-based curriculum designed with the English National Curriculum in mind allows students to establish links between their subjects and understand how what they learn in the classroom connects with their present and future life. At the same time, students understand how to transfer skills learned in one subject to another subject. The objective is to learn from the best approaches and curricula available internationally, and take what suits our students most. All subjects are taught by a team of specialists who are passionate about their area of learning. Our students sit the MAP tests in English, Maths and Science, which provides incredibly insight into progress from one term to the next. Such experience allows them to progressively build their confidence and skills, and train them to perform for the IGCSEs at the end of Year 11.
The following subjects are taught at Key Stage 3: English First Language, Arabic First Language, English Second Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Humanities, Modern Foreign Languages (Arabic, French, Hindi), Art and Design, Music, Drama, Physical Education, and Personal, Social and Health Education.
The school is proud to be fully accredited by Cambridge Assessment International Education and Pearson Edexcel to offer IGCSEs at Key Stage 4, and International AS-Levels and A-Levels at Key Stage 5. Being accredited by two major international examination boards allows our school to select courses that are most appropriate to our student population.
The following subjects are offered at Key Stage 4: English First Language, Arabic First Language, English Second Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Sciences (Coordinated), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Global Perspectives, Geography, Business Studies, Travel and Tourism, French Foreign Language, Hindi Second Language, Arabic Foreign Language, Physical Education, and Arts and Design.
The following subjects are offered at Key Stage 5: English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Arabic and Global Perspectives.
Form Tutors have the important pastoral role of coordinating all aspects of the students' academic and social development. The Form Tutor adopts a holistic approach and discusses themes such as global citizenship and health education. At NAISAK, our expectations of our students are high - all participate in the learning process and each student's contribution to the school is valued. Being fully committed to display our High Five values is a constant and consistent expectation.
It is our aim to help prepare students for the adult world and make them more independent and self-aware. Students are introduced to a wide subject content and studies, and are encouraged to learn and think for themselves. Teachers endeavour to give them confidence to join in, ask questions and help others, laying firm foundations for academic success at IGCSE, A-Levels and beyond. University and career guidance is offered to ensure that students understand the exciting opportunities that lie ahead of them, but also the hard work that is needed to make the most of them.
Not all skills are learned in a classroom, though. NAISAK successfully launched a few years ago the International Award. The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a world-wide recognised and celebrated initiative that promotes commitment, development and awareness of one’s responsibilities as a world citizen. Students are encouraged to be actively involved in the Global Campus challenges, which cover a wide range of subjects, but support the strengthening of key skills such as collaboration, self-regulation and perseverance, and offer a world-wide platform of discussions. Our luckiest students get to travel to Boston and sharpen their STEAM skills at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the world’s most renowned scientists. A smaller number of even luckier students are selected to attend the United Nations assembly in New York and make their voice heard. Model United Nations is also an extra-curricular activity offered to our students to widen their horizon and ability to understand, appreciate and contribute to the world that surrounds them. Having the ability to become a positive, constructive, active world citizen is key to impacting on the future!
NAISAK prides itself at offering the best learning environment possible, inside and outside of the classrooms, within our vibrant context. Our brand-new semi-Olympic swimming pool and our five world-class Science labs are the physical symbols of the ambitions we have for our students.
For further information about Cambridge Assessment International Education and Pearson Edexcel, please explore the following links:
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/home.html