2026-27 | DBIS Secondary Parent Handbook

SECONDARY PARENT HANDBOOK 2026–27

Our Mission To empower every student to develop their full potential and achieve personal excellence in all endeavours, enabling them to lead successful, fulfilling lives and enrich the world.

Our DBIS Mission is enacted through our values of Courage, Respect and Integrity.

Our Core Values Courage We embrace challenges, persevere and work hard to reach our full potential. We are resilient and always striving to learn and grow.

Respect We value our diverse community, appreciating their unique contributions, needs and rights. We foster positive relationships through kindness and empathy, embracing a global mindset.

Integrity We act with honesty and make responsible choices, understanding the impact of our actions on ourselves and others. We are self-aware, compassionate and accountable.

Contents The DBIS Learner Profile

02

Our DBIS Learning Principles

04

Staff

06

Curriculum

10

Assessment & Reporting

15

DBIS Character & Culture

16

Pastoral & Community

17

Student Safety

18

Attendance

19

Technology

20

Uniform

21

General Information

22

Communication

24

DBIS Sixth Form

26

Term Dates

27

School Hours & Contact Details

28

Useful Links

29

FOR DBIS STUDENTS As DBIS students, you will be supported in actively developing these learner attributes in many ways. They are a guide for your holistic and personal development, and by identifying and acting in ways that develop these attributes, you will become more skilful, empathetic and well-rounded young people. Through considered reflection, you will be genuinely prepared for the wider world that awaits you.

FOR DBIS TEACHERS

THE DBIS LEARNER PROFILE The DBIS Learner Profile is a set of personal learner attributes that are at the heart of our curriculum and the international education we provide for all our students. We actively support our students with their holistic development in order to prepare them for their lives as global citizens. We believe that through the development of these learner attributes and skills, DBIS students will recognise that their time at DBIS has resulted in them being exceptionally well equipped to live successfully in the wider world that awaits them.

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The DBIS Learner Profile is a guide to support the holistic development of all learners across all phases of the school.

They are common goals that transcend individual curriculum areas and unite us in a shared belief of what all DBIS students can and should become. We embed meaningful learning opportunities throughout the curriculum in order to support this.

FOR DBIS PARENTS The DBIS Learner Profile demonstrates to you our aspirations for your children. The creation of opportunities to develop these attributes are all around us, and we want to work with you, in partnership, to support your children in the development of these attributes that we truly value.

COMMITTED LEARNERS

Dedicated students who channel their curiosity and develop their intrinsic motivation to learn.

As they take risks and learn from mistakes, they grow as resilient, lifelong learners who adapt to their learning environment, establishing mutual respect in pursuit of collective and individual excellence.

MINDFUL LEADERS

Empowered students who build trust to activate and lead others to take action and make a positive difference in the world. They lead with kindness, integrity, honesty and a strong sense of equality and respect for all, nurturing an inclusive and respectful approach to leadership at all levels.

PROBLEM SOLVERS

Adaptive students who think deeply and critically about their learning and apply logic and innovation to identify and solve authentic problems. They set goals, plan and prioritise their approach and keep solution focused as they explore and iterate to discover creative solutions and different strategies.

EFFECTIVE COLLABORATORS

Purposeful students who work together towards a shared goal and promote a collaborative learning culture which is inclusive and celebrates diversity in the perspectives of others. They are confident when working independently but recognise they can be stronger when collaborating together.

BALANCED INDIVIDUALS

Reflective students who value their sense of self and are aware of their emotions and the impact they have on others. They understand the importance of physical, social and emotional balance to achieve personal wellbeing and know when to draw on the support of others.

RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS

Internationally minded students who act proactively to make a positive difference in the lives of others and to the environment.

They are courageous change agents who understand the importance of their role and are proud of the positive contribution and impact they have both locally and globally through service.

CREATIVE THINKERS

Inquisitive students who think creatively and imaginatively, asking great questions in order to enquire and make connections to further their understanding and satisfy their curiosity.

They investigate their own lines of enquiry and demonstrate their learning in innovative and creative ways.

CONFIDENT COMMUNICATORS

Articulate students who process, organise and coherently express their thoughts and opinions and actively listen and reflect on the views of others. They carefully consider purpose, audience and style when communicating, interpreting and expressing their ideas.

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OUR DBIS LEARNING PRINCIPLES Our learning experience at DBIS is: ● ● ●

Enriched through Discovery; Achieved through Personalisation; Stronger through Community.

Our curriculum is underpinned by our five Learning Principles, which have been developed to ensure all students have access to a learning experience in a through school which is driven by consistent values. Our commitment to these learning principles ensures our students have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and achieve optimal learning and development.

CONNECTED

RELATIONAL

The Learning Experience at DBIS is: - Enriched through Discovery - Achieved through Personalisation - Stronger through Community

PERSONALISED

INTENTIONAL

ENRICHED 04

RELATIONAL At the heart of best practice and the development of the whole child lie strong and meaningful relationships. At DBIS we nurture positive environments where our students are safe and feel a sense of belonging and happiness.

CONNECTED The DBIS learning experience enables our students to make connections, transfer skills and develop a local and global perspective. Our students develop a strong sense of self-esteem and self-awareness, which enables them to lead sustainable and fulfilling lives.

INTENTIONAL Intentional learning at DBIS is the mindset of seeing every experience as an opportunity to learn. Learning opportunities are designed and facilitated to ensure that all students develop a love of learning and approach challenges positively, with creativity and independence.

ENRICHED The DBIS learning experience raises aspirations and creates personal pride in achievement. A greater meaning to learning is given through the cultivation of students’ natural inquiring minds. They are encouraged to be curious and motivated to learn by exploring and expanding their experiences and broadening their interests.

PERSONALISED Every DBIS learner is valued as an individual. We celebrate students' strengths in order to identify realistic and challenging expectations that are uniquely tailored to each individual's learning journey and meet their specific needs.

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STAFF SECONDARY LEADERSHIP TEAM

Marc Morris Principal mmorris@dbis.edu.hk

Alexander Kilford Assistant Head of Secondary akilford@dbis.edu.hk

06

Jason Broderick Deputy Head of Secondary jbroderick@dbis.edu.hk

David Coburn Assistant Head of Secondary dcoburn@dbis.edu.hk

Rebecca Boddington Assistant Head of Secondary rboddington@dbis.edu.hk

HEADS OF YEAR Year 7

Louise Tyrrell

ltyrrell@dbis.edu.hk

Year 8

Jamie Owen

jowen@dbis.edu.hk

Year 9

Nick Moore

nmoore@dbis.edu.hk

Year 10

Amrith Prabhu

aprabhu@dbis.edu.hk

Year 11

Bobby Wilson

bowilson@dbis.edu.hk

Sixth Form

Ashley Jennings

ajennings@dbis.edu.hk

EXAMINATIONS/UNIVERSITY & CAREERS University & Careers Guidance Counsellor Lead

Elise Rickford

erickford@dbis.edu.hk

University & Careers Guidance Counsellor

Cecilia Lau

celau@dbis.edu.hk

Examinations Officer

Rosanna Nongdhar

rnongdhar@dbis.edu.hk

Head of Learning Enhancement

Serena Clark

serenaclark@dbis.edu.hk

EAL Coordinator

Minoli Samarakkody

msamarakkody@dbis.edu.hk

LEARNING ENHANCEMENT

HEADS OF DEPARTMENT (WHOLE SCHOOL) Learning Technologies

Nicolas Ng

nng@dbis.edu.hk

Mandarin & Modern Foreign Languages

Myra Mi

mmi@dbis.edu.hk

Music

Christopher Preddy

cpreddy@dbis.edu.hk

Physical Education

James Lugg

jlugg@dbis.edu.hk

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HEADS OF DEPARTMENT (SECONDARY) English

Amy Hii

ahii@dbis.edu.hk

Humanities

Tom Boddington

tboddington@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Alexander Jamali

ajamali@dbis.edu.hk

Mathematics

Graham Glew

gglew@dbis.edu.hk

Art and Design & Technology

Nicola Culican

nculican@dbis.edu.hk

Art & Design, Design & Technology

Chris Reinhardt

creinhardt@dbis.edu.hk

Business, Economics

Tom Boddington

tboddington@dbis.edu.hk

Business

Mark Beedham

mbeedham@dbis.edu.hk

Business

Nadeane Botha

nbotha@dbis.edu.hk

Computer Science

Nicolas Ng

nng@dbis.edu.hk

Computer Science

Graham Shergold

gshergold@dbis.edu.hk

Computer Science, Science

Jack He

jhe@dbis.edu.hk

Design & Technology

Naomi Higgins

nhiggins@dbis.edu.hk

Drama

Laura Tennant

ltennant@dbis.edu.hk

English

Amy Hii

ahii@dbis.edu.hk

English

Veronica Chow

vchow@dbis.edu.hk

English

Frances Fong

ffong@dbis.edu.hk

English

Colette Jones

cjones@dbis.edu.hk

English

Louise Tyrrell

ltyrrell@dbis.edu.hk

English, Humanities

Andrew Buddery

abuddery@dbis.edu.hk

French

Simon Little

slittle@dbis.edu.hk

Geography, History

Lily McLachlan

lmclachlan@dbis.edu.hk

Geography, Humanities

Bobby Wilson

bowilson@dbis.edu.hk

Geography, Humanities

Rebecca Youde

ryoude@dbis.edu.hk

History, Humanities

Rebecca Boddington

rboddington@dbis.edu.hk

History

Amy McGlashan

amcglashan@dbis.edu.hk

TEACHING STAFF

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TEACHING STAFF Mandarin

Myra (Ting) Mi

mmi@dbis.edu.hk

Mandarin

Rowling Luo

rluo@dbis.edu.hk

Mandarin

Fiona Mak

fmak@dbis.edu.hk

Mandarin

Weichi Wen

wwen@dbis.edu.hk

Mathematics

Graham Glew

gglew@dbis.edu.hk

Mathematics

Amie Allison

aallison@dbis.edu.hk

Mathematics

Samuel Cheung

scheung@dbis.edu.hk

Mathematics

Amrith Prabhu

aprabhu@dbis.edu.hk

Mathematics

Ewan Thompson

ethompson@dbis.edu.hk

Mathematics

Shawn Xia

sxia@dbis.edu.hk

Media Studies, English

Jordan Warburton

jwarburton@dbis.edu.hk

Music

Christopher Preddy

cpreddy@dbis.edu.hk

Music

Claudia Lai

clai@dbis.edu.hk

Physical Education

James Lugg

jlugg@dbis.edu.hk

Physical Education

Robert Bacon

rbacon@dbis.edu.hk

Physical Education

Jamie Owen

jowen@dbis.edu.hk

Psychology

Didi Surensoy

dsurensoy@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Alexander Jamali

ajamali@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Ashley Jennings

ajennings@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Juniper Thang

jthang@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Nicholas Moore

nmoore@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Gerard Tennant

gtenannt@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Samantha Whiting

swhiting@dbis.edu.hk

Science

Patricia Wong

pwong@dbis.edu.hk

Spanish

Richard Koenig

rkoenig@dbis.edu.hk

Outdoor Education

Drew Skellern

dskellern@dbis.edu.hk

09

CURRICULUM CURRICULUM OVERVIEW The Secondary School offers a broad and balanced curriculum covering the first two years of your child’s Secondary education, which applies to students aged between 11 and 13 years old (Years 7–8). Following this period, students then move into their (I)GCSE and BTEC Level 2 examination programmes, which cover students aged 13 to 16 (Years 9–11). The final phase for our students is when they move into Sixth Form to do their A Level and BTEC Level 3 qualifications, which cover the final two years of schooling (Years 12 and 13).

Students are taught in mixed-ability classes, with the exception of Mathematics and Science, whereby students are set according to their current attainment levels and aptitude for the subject. Work takes place both individually and in small groups.

Mandarin as either a first, second or foreign language is a compulsory subject for Years 7 and 8. Mandarin and Spanish are compulsory for current Year 8s. From Year 9, one language is studied at IGCSE level. French is available as an option for students currently in Years 9–11. In addition to our general subjects, Year 7–8 students also take our bespoke inquiry-based learning class, Discovery.

This time gives students a chance to think and learn beyond the curriculum, exploring new concepts with their teacher. Further details about our Year 7–8 curriculum can be found in the Year 7–8 Curriculum Handbook.

In Years 9–11, we offer pathways that include (I)GCSE and BTEC. Students study a breadth of subjects in the Creative Arts, Technology and Humanities fields, as well as a language and the three core subjects: English, Mathematics and Science.

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Students currently in Year 9 study at least one of Geography or History as part of their (I)GCSE programme. Typically, students will study nine or ten (I)GCSE subjects. As an alternative route, and to support more vocational choices, we also offer BTEC options. Further details of our (I)GCSE and BTEC Level 2 offerings can be found in the curriculum handbooks linked below: Year 9–11 Handbook (2026–29) - Year 9s Year 9–11 Handbook (2025–28) - Year 10s Year 10–11 Handbook (2025–27) - Year 11s In Years 12 and 13, students can choose from a combination of AS/A Level and BTEC courses of study, studying three or four subjects in Year 12. We encourage students to then take three subjects in Year 13, although, in exceptional circumstances, we allow a fourth subject to be taken. Students are able to choose from a wide variety of different subjects and are supported in their decision-making to ensure pathways are held open for higher education options.

LEARNING FOR LIFE We believe that promoting the health and wellbeing of our pupils is an important part of their overall education. One approach we use at DBIS is through our Learning for Life programme (L4L).

The L4L curriculum assists our students to make safe and informed decisions during their school years and beyond. Skills such as communication, listening, refusal, decision-making and negotiation, critical thinking, building self-awareness, developing empathy, accessing reliable information or services, challenging stigma and discrimination, and advocating for rights are explored.

The L4L objectives permeate throughout

all subjects and form an integral component of the pastoral programme through Tutor Time and assemblies. L4L also offers Relationships and Sexual Education (RSE) lessons, and the content covered during these lessons will include age-appropriate topics such as: the human body and puberty, pregnancy, contraceptives, prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, prevention of sexual abuse, body image, sexting and social media, pornography, and consent. Further information about our RSE can be found on our Hub. LEARNING ENHANCEMENT At DBIS, we embrace diversity, difference and the uniqueness of every learner. We recognise our collective responsibility to promote a nurturing environment in which all students have a sense of belonging, participation and equal access to every aspect of school life.

Within the resources of the school, students are supported to achieve their full potential through pathways that foster independence and resilience, instilling in every individual the confidence to succeed.

Students who are supported by Learning Enhancement staff generally will have a Personal Support Plan (PSP) in place.

This is either an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or a Student Support Plan (SSP). Targets and support strategies will be written to support the student’s learning. IEP and SSP targets will be reviewed three times throughout the year. Parents will be invited to the review, and it is expected that they attend.

DBIS recognises the individual progress achieved by all students and celebrates students’ successes relative to their need. The Learning Enhancement department embraces a holistic

approach to student progress, which is clearly identified through achievable targets.

The achievement and progress of students with identified needs can be defined in a number of ways.

For example, it might be progress which: ● ●

● ● ●

Matches or betters the student’s previous rate of progress; Is similar to that of peers starting from the same attainment baseline but less than that of the majority of peers; Where possible, prevents the attainment gap growing wider; Ensures appropriate access to the full DBIS curriculum; Demonstrates improvement in self-help, self-regulation, social or personal skills.

HOME LEARNING Home learning plays a significant role in supporting a student’s capacity for greater academic achievement – we hold this in very high regard. Although the demands of each subject will differ, our home learning provision ensures that students are provided with opportunities to consolidate or extend their learning whilst developing their ability to self-regulate. Greater ownership of learning is promoted and underpinned through our belief that students develop an increased sense of self-efficacy through engaging with appropriate levels of challenge.

Home learning will broadly align with the amount of learning time required to adequately supplement in-school learning; expectations will reflect the increasing academic demands associated with the respective year groups. Guidelines can be accessed within our Secondary Home Learning Policy HERE. 11

We strongly encourage you to engage with your child in relation to their home learning and to work in collaboration with us to ensure that your child is actively engaging with this fundamental aspect of their DBIS schooling.

WEEK WITHOUT WALLS Week Without Walls (WWW) is, for many students, the highlight of the academic year and a defining feature of the DBIS learning experience. The programme is grounded in the belief that powerful learning happens beyond the classroom, through carefully designed experiences that challenge students, build character and foster meaningful connections with others and the world around them.

The learning intention of WWW is to provide students with opportunities to

develop leadership, service, practical and interpersonal skills while promoting global awareness, collaboration and student wellbeing. Through outdoor, cultural and service-based experiences, students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, take responsibility for themselves and others, and grow in confidence and resilience in authentic settings.

In 2026–27, the WWW programme continues to go from strength to strength, building on a proven model and strong partnerships with established providers across the region. New itineraries further enhance our ‘challenge-by-choice’ approach for students in Years 10–13 while maintaining high-quality, age-appropriate experiences across all year levels. In Years 7–9, students travel internationally as a full-year group, strengthening relationships and shared identity while exposing students to different cultures, environments

and ways of life. In Years 10–13, students choose from a diverse range of experiences, including explicit outdoor and adventure expeditions, creativity and culturally focused programmes, and immersive outdoor education and service-learning opportunities, offered both locally and internationally.

At DBIS, we believe these experiences are integral to a student’s holistic development. WWW trips support personal growth, confidence, empathy and adaptability while complementing academic learning and enriching students’ overall educational journeys. As such, participation in WWW is a mandatory component of a DBIS education.

Student safety and wellbeing remain our highest priority. All WWW experiences are supported by rigorous provider selection, the use of vetted and secure accommodations, and careful itinerary design. Our robust internal systems ensure safety through appropriate staff-to-student ratios, qualified instructors, dedicated overnight supervision, and a comprehensive framework of risk management and duty management.

WWW 2026–27 will take place from Monday 9th to Friday 13th November 2026. Please note that for international itineraries, travel may extend into the weekend immediately preceding or following these dates; this ensures students can make the most of these valuable opportunities and maximise their learning time in country. Detailed itineraries and further information were originally shared with families in early March 2026.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES At DBIS, we believe a holistic education extends far beyond the classroom. Our extracurricular activities (ECA) programme

is designed as a gateway for students to discover lifelong passions and develop the 'future self' they aspire to be. Whether it’s through the discipline of sport, the creative expression of the performing arts, or leadership skills honed in Student Council, these offerings provide the space for students to explore new interests that may one day become defining hobbies or even career paths.

We encourage every student to embrace this opportunity by committing to at least one ECA per term. We value commitment as a core DBIS trait; by seeing a season/term through from start to finish, students learn the resilience and dedication necessary to turn a spark of interest into a lasting skill.

While most of our diverse offerings are free, some specialist sessions are provided by external partners and may require payment. This will be noted in the ECA description.

FOBISIA The Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) is a regional group of leading British international schools in Asia, established over 25 years ago.

FOBISIA applies stringent entry standards to all prospective member schools and maintains these standards through a review cycle. This cycle requires an ongoing commitment to excellence, including inspection or accreditation by recognised external agencies.

The federation's overall aim is to promote educational excellence within its member schools and provide opportunities for inter-school competitions and enrichment programmes. Our FOBISIA membership offers students several unique opportunities to travel and represent the 13

school. Each year, our highest-performing Primary and Secondary students are invited to FOBISIA international sporting competitions. Students may also be invited to participate in other FOBISIA events, such as Model United Nations (MUN), as well as Drama, Music and Mathematics competitions.

COSTS FOR OVERSEAS TRIPS Payments for overseas trips, including all FOBISIA competitions and WWW, require a deposit in advance to secure flights, followed by full payment prior to departure.

Agreeing that your child will attend these events will also include a commitment to fully cover the costs.

EDUCATIONAL/FIELD TRIPS Local field trips are integrated into the Secondary curriculum to enhance classroom learning. All logistics, including schedules and consent requirements, are managed and shared centrally via the Parent Hub. For short local learning activities within the school day, students may occasionally leave campus under staff supervision as part of their regular timetable.

Students participating in school-organised trips are school representatives at all times and are expected to adhere to the Character & Culture Policy and uniform

guidelines, and demonstrate consideration for the wellbeing of others.

A deposit is requested at the start of the academic year to cover the cost of these local trips. Any remaining balance will be returned at the end of the year.

LIBRARY The DBIS library enriches teaching, learning and wellbeing across the Secondary School by providing a well-targeted collection of resources, fostering students' love of reading, collaborating with teaching staff to develop students' information literacy skills, and maintaining a welcoming learner-focused environment for collaborative learning and individual study and reflection.

Staffed by a qualified librarian and experienced library assistant, our library is located on the first floor of the Discovery Centre. Opening hours are 8am to 4pm, and students may visit before school, at break times and as instructed by teachers during class time.

Our rich collection includes a large range of novels suitable for ages 11–18, a focused non-fiction collection and a growing number of ebooks, audiobooks and databases. To learn more about the library, visit the library website at library.dbis.edu.hk.

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ASSESSMENT & REPORTING ASSESSMENT Students are continually assessed throughout the school year. The primary purpose of assessment is to support student learning, underpinned by our growth-mindset belief that all pupils can succeed.

Attainment grades may be awarded for specific assessments; however, as a school, we believe that formative feedback is more likely to result in positive improvement than the assignment of a grade is. Marking will be a reflection of the learning objective(s) and the associated success criteria, and feedback will identify successes and areas for improvement (e.g. gaps in knowledge, understanding or application).

We place significant value on the importance of self-management skills and the effective use of information literacy to positively impact personal achievement; this includes academic integrity. It is an expectation that students produce authentic, original work and, where appropriate, acknowledge the work of others. Our Academic Honesty Policy and Acceptable Use Policy outline the expectations that students and teachers should follow. These policies cover the educational use of AI as well.

REPORTING Each student in the Secondary School receives at least three formal reports per year. Different types of reports are published to parents throughout the year.

Short reports show grades related to student academics and attitude towards learning.

Strength-and-target reports

include both grades and comments from specific subject teachers, detailing student successes and how they can improve.

Reports provide an opportunity to work in partnership with parents as they provide a platform for informed discussion about your child’s achievements and areas for growth; they equip parents to have impactful learning conversations at home and understand their child’s academic profile and capabilities as they advance through the school.

PARENT–TEACHER–STUDENT CONFERENCES (PTSCs) There will be one annual afternoon/evening PTSC per year group. At all other times, parents are welcome to book appointments with tutors regarding any matter. PTSCs are aimed at giving parents an insight into their child’s attainment level and progress in all subjects. Areas for improvement are also highlighted to ensure parents and students come away from the conference with clear targets.

Appointments run for ten minutes, and in all instances students should attend with their parent/s in order to engage in learning conversations and to reflect on progress and areas for improvement.

We want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to meet. The booking window for appointments will be shared with you in advance. To ensure we can schedule your meeting, please make your booking within the specified timeframe as we may not be able to accommodate requests after the window closes.

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DBIS CHARACTER & CULTURE Our Character and Culture Policy contains a reflective approach to behaviour choices, illustrating steps to success as well as a restorative process enabling there to be an agreed understanding between student and staff member.

Through our character and culture approach, positive choices are promoted at DBIS so that every student feels supported, happy and secure. We recognise that our students are developing. This can mean that students occasionally make mistakes. We aim to put restorative actions in place that guide and support our students towards making better decisions in the future and also help them to develop a sense of personal responsibility.

FOR DBIS STUDENTS As DBIS students, you are expected to continually reflect and develop your character throughout the years, always holding yourself accountable to your choices. This will allow you to become self-aware, self-managing, socially aware and able to develop strong, effective relationships as a key cornerstone of your approach to life.

FOR DBIS STAFF DBIS staff members are here to guide and support the holistic development of all learners across all phases of the school. The role of a staff member is to embed and support expected character and culture, using common language and role modelling the values expected of us and our students.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION If your child experiences or perceives that they are experiencing bullying, they are requested to speak with their form tutor or another trusted adult in school for assistance. As a parent you are requested to immediately inform your child's form tutor. This will allow the necessary internal processes to commence, and parents will be informed as appropriate on the next actions to be taken. Each context is individual, and restorative solutions are seen as a vital part of the resolution.

FOR DBIS PARENTS DBIS endeavours to build a supportive dialogue between home and the school, and we inform parents immediately if we have concerns about their child's displayed character and/or choice(s). If our school has to use reasonable responses, we ask parents to support those actions. If parents have any concerns about the way their child has been treated, they would initially contact the class/form teacher.

Bullying is not: ● ● ● ●

Single episodes of social rejection or dislike; Single episode acts of nastiness or spite; Random acts of aggression or intimidation; Mutual arguments, disagreements or fights.

These actions can cause great distress; however, they do not fit the definition of bullying and they are not examples of bullying unless someone is deliberately and repeatedly doing them.

PASTORAL & COMMUNITY THE HOUSE SYSTEM Students are designated to a house for the whole of their time at DBIS; siblings are usually assigned to the same house. Our four houses are Dragon, Goldhorn, Griffin and Phoenix. Students will generally stay in the same house (and tutor group) throughout their school experience, meaning they develop close connections with members of their group. Each house has House Captains, who are elected by their peers and are responsible for coordinating house competitions and aiding the Heads of Year with house-related matters.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES DBIS is committed to preparing our students to become community and professional leaders in their chosen fields.

To this end, students are provided with a rich array of student leadership opportunities to develop confidence and skills that they can take with them after graduating. Leadership development at all levels of our school is encouraged and valued.

COUNSELLING The school provides counselling services to assist with low to moderate social and emotional barriers to learning. Parents will be contacted for consent and will be informed of the process. Any counselling sessions initiated by the school will have agreed-upon and clearly understood boundaries of confidentiality.

Any information divulged through the counselling will remain confidential unless a student’s health is at risk or there are child protection issues at hand. The appropriate member of staff will then discuss with parents the external options available if necessary.

STUDENT SAFETY Student safety is paramount to us here at DBIS, and even within our extremely safe Discovery Bay community, we need to

ensure that students are ready to act calmly and appropriately in the event of an emergency.

FIRE DRILLS

GUEST VISITS

Fire drill procedures are carried out each term and involve all staff and students. In the event of a fire, all Secondary staff and students are evacuated to the pitch, where class registers are taken. Clear procedures are in place, and staff will direct students appropriately in the case of any situation.

Parents are informed by email and SMS that all students are safe following fire drills. Further information is available upon request.

All ex-students and family members of students attending DBIS must sign in upon arrival and are required to wear a visitor’s pass at all times whilst on campus. Visitors are not permitted to attend classes with students. This is to ensure learning is not disrupted as well to align with safeguarding processes, ensuring the health and safety of all students whilst in our care.

LOCKDOWN PROCEDURES Lockdown procedures are usually carried out once or twice a year and involve all staff and students. In the unlikely event that the school campus needs to be locked down, all blinds and windows are closed, and all staff and students stay silently and safely in a locked area until the all-clear is given over the school tannoy system.

Again, parents are informed by email and SMS that all students are safe following any drill.

CHILD PROTECTION The health, safety, physical and emotional wellbeing of every child and young person enrolled at DBIS are of paramount importance. At DBIS, we believe that children and young people, as individuals, have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, free from emotional or physical danger, abuse and neglect. All children and young people at our school are entitled to learn in a safe environment where they receive the support of caring adults and are able to develop a positive image of themselves and a secure sense of identity. Child protection always comes first at DBIS; it is our core concern.

ATTENDANCE Our mission calls upon us to fulfil each individual’s potential. Regular attendance is a prerequisite for success in school, and those who are not in class will miss important learning opportunities. Poor attendance can lead to underachievement, and absence can have a detrimental impact on student progress and overall academic development. It is vital that we work together with families to ensure every child is in school and being challenged to meet their potential.

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY PROCEDURES Regular attendance at school is vital for students to achieve their full potential, and we value your support in helping us maintain high attendance rates at DBIS. We expect all students to make every effort to attend school each day and to have a minimum attendance of 95%. For a student attending DBIS from FS-1 to Year 13 with an attendance rate of 90%, they would miss one and a half years of schooling, significantly impacting their learning. We closely monitor attendance to ensure regular school attendance, and we will directly address any concerns with parents.

If a student is absent, we require parents to notify the school as soon as possible on the day of the absence with the reason for the absence. Absences should be notified using the forms on the Parent Hub. There are two forms: one for planned absence and one for unplanned absence. If we notice that a student is missing school frequently or for an extended period of time, we will reach out to parents to discuss the situation and provide support.

We reserve the right to intervene when we feel it is necessary to support a student's attendance and academic progress. This includes situations where a student has been absent for an extended period of time or has repeatedly missed school.

We are aware that due to the nature of some of the work-leave restrictions our parents have, families may make the decision to take their children out during term time. Although some holidays may be considered educational, your child will still miss out on the teaching and learning that their classmates will receive during the holiday. Students returning from a term-time holiday are also unprepared for the lessons, which build on the teaching they have missed. The extra time it takes for a teacher to assist a student in catching up also has a potential impact on other students in the class – this is something we all have a responsibility to avoid. If a family decides to take their child(ren) out of school during term time, the online application form should be submitted in advance.

EARLY DISMISSAL If a student needs to be dismissed early from school, they must collect a slip from either the school receptionist (where parents have notified the school of an arranged appointment) or the nurse (for instances when a student has had to visit the nurse’s office). Students must bring slips issued by the nurse to the reception to collect a leaving sticker, which records the student leaving the premises. This sticker must be shown to the guard on gate duty before the student can be allowed to leave school.

PARENTAL ABSENCE Please notify the school if you are planning to take a trip out of town for more than a day. The school office will require details of appointed guardians and emergency telephone numbers.

ILLNESS When your child is unable to attend school due to being unwell, please complete the relevant absence form as soon as possible.

TECHNOLOGY DIGITAL DEVICES IN SECONDARY The school has a 1:1 technology programme throughout the Secondary School. Students in Years 7–11 should bring their own Chromebook or laptop (with paid antivirus already installed and the school’s wellbeing monitoring software uploaded by the IT team).

Students in Years 12 and 13 should bring a Windows laptop or a MacBook rather than a Chromebook. Computer Science and Media Studies students completing either IGCSE or A Level courses have different minimum requirements specified by their teachers.

Students are required to read the school’s BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Agreement. and sign the agreement via the jotform HERE. Students should read and adhere to the school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for the use of technology at DBIS. All agreements and the AUP are available on the Parent Hub. Please note, it is the responsibility of our students to use their mobile devices in an acceptable way at school. Recording or taking photos of others – both students and staff – without their permission is unacceptable and will be dealt with according to the schools Character & Culture policy. At home, however, the responsibility falls upon parents, and your guidance is key. Setting family rules pertaining to the use of mobile devices is encouraged to avoid misuse.

The link to the DBIS Secondary School Guide to Learning Technologies document can be found HERE.

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GOOGLE CLASSROOM & WORKSPACE Google Classroom is an easy-to-use online tool. The Google Classroom serves as a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) that allows teachers to set work and send information to students in their classes.

Sometimes this will be simple class messages (such as ‘Don’t forget to come to the revision session tomorrow lunchtime’), but more often it is used as an area for students to access learning materials, share and upload work and collaborate with their teachers and fellow classmates, both in school and at home.

Google Workspace comprises all other items supplied by Google, such as Gmail (email), Google Drive (cloud storage) and Google Calendar. All students have a DBIS Google Workspace account set up when they join the school. These different systems allow the students to contact their teachers, receive messages, organise their work and generally operate as well-equipped and efficient students. For additional information and guidance, please see the DBIS Secondary School Guide to Learning Technologies.

UNIFORM All students are required to wear the compulsory school uniform as stated in the Secondary uniform list.

Summer and winter options are available at the uniform shop, located at the Main Campus. The shop is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.15am–11.30am and on Wednesdays from 1.30pm–4pm during term time. Further details regarding uniforms, including order forms, can be found on the Parent Hub. All parents with students enrolled in our school are required to support the school uniform policy. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that their child has the correct uniform and that it is named, clean and in good repair.

Jewellery & Make-up For health and safety reasons we do not want students to wear jewellery while at school. The exceptions to this rule are earrings in pierced ears that would be suitable and safe for the school environment, and small objects of religious significance, such as a crucifix on a chain.

We ask students to either remove these objects during PE and games or cover them with plaster to prevent them from causing injury. Necklaces of any kind should not be visible over clothing.

Hair Should students wish to dye their hair, we would expect this to be in natural colours and not be of an obvious nature.

PE Uniform & Footwear Changing facilities are available for students who wish to wear full school uniform and then change into their PE kit at school and/or who wish to change into full school uniform after taking part in sporting activities.

During the block of swimming lessons, students should wear PE uniform and trainers to school and bring their full swimming kit in a bag, in case swimming is cancelled.

In certain circumstances, there may be exceptions to the above points. Parents and students will be informed in advance if this is the situation.

Non-Uniform Day Make-up and jewellery regulations remain the same as for any school day. Clothes must be clean, neat, modest, in good repair and appropriate to the day’s activities. Very short skirts and shorts, midriff/tank tops and torn jeans are not permitted.

Hot/Wet Weather PE kit should be brought to school on extremely hot or rainy days to ensure students have a change of clothes.

Field Trips PE uniform should otherwise advised).

be

worn

(unless

Wearable Electronic Devices Wearable electronic devices are not encouraged and if they must be brought into school should be in school mode at all times while students are on campus. The wearing of AI glasses is not allowed.

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GENERAL INFORMATION LOCKERS Students in Years 7–11 are assigned a locker number at the beginning of the school year. Students are provided with a key that they are responsible for. Should the key be lost, the first replacement will be free of charge. A small fee will be charged for the second replacement and onwards.

All Year 7–11 students must keep their belongings in their locker throughout the school day. The ten-minute period between lessons can be used to retrieve necessary items for lessons.

STUDENT DIARY At the beginning of the school year, each student receives a student diary. The diary is used to record all homework and upcoming activities and events. The student diary also contains useful information, such as academic integrity guidelines. The student diary is used as one important form of regular communication between school and parents.

TEXTBOOKS & EQUIPMENT All students in Secondary are required to have their own set of classroom stationery.

In Years 7 and 8, all necessary books are provided by the school. When students move into the three-year (I)GCSE programme, they are expected to purchase the relevant books for their courses. These can be found in the textbook lists linked on the Hub. All students studying Maths are required to have the correct equipment and calculator.

Information about the can found on the document HERE. CAFETERIA Our school cafeteria is open before and after school and at morning break and 22

lunchtime. The Boardwalk Cafeteria serves hot meals (including a vegetarian option) as well as snacks and drinks. Students can purchase a swipe card from the cafeteria manager any time, enabling a cashless option when purchasing meals. The cafeteria also accepts Octopus cards.

LOST & FOUND Lost and found items are either kept at the main reception or in the Primary covered playground, and students can ask at the reception desk. We ask that all student clothing is clearly labelled with the student’s name. At specific times throughout the year, we will put all lost and found items on display, and, if unclaimed, we will donate these items to one of our school charities.

VALUABLES Students are asked not to bring valuables into school. Occasionally, students may wish to bring valuable items into school as part of a project or other piece of school-related work.

Under these circumstances, any valuables should be given to the school office for safekeeping.

MEDICAL CARE If a student becomes unwell while at school, they will need to take a medical card given by their teacher and take this to the school nurse. The school nurse will evaluate the student’s medical condition.

The school nurse will decide as to when students are required to be collected from school, as directed by the Hong Kong Department of Health. The time of handover to a parent or caregiver must be noted and the classroom teacher made aware.

If a student has a minor complaint or

accident, the school nurse will administer first aid and care. In the case of a more serious concern, the school will contact the parents and/or emergency services and will make medical decisions based on doctor’s recommendations. Parents will be systematically informed if the school contacts emergency services, but it may not always be possible to do this in advance of making an emergency call.

Please note that the Prescribed Medications Permissions Form must be completed to permit the school nurse to administer mild medications, such as paracetamol, to your child. For more details, please refer to the Medical Room page on the Parent Hub.

emailed. If there is a red or black rainstorm in place at the end of the school day, Secondary children will be dismissed unless their parents have completed the associated jotform for us to keep their Secondary children students in school until they are collected. Please familiarise yourself with the school’s Severe Weather Policy.

PERSONAL INFORMATION It is very important for the school to have complete, up-to-date information about all of our students and those whom we may need to contact in case of emergency.

Please complete the online form on the Parent Hub if you need to update your details.

PERMISSION FORMS From time to time, parents may be asked to sign an online permission form, which gives students advance permission to attend local school trips.

SCHOOL CANCELLATION The school website will display weather warnings and notifications of school closure. In the event of school being cancelled, parents and guardians will be

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WITHDRAWAL OF STUDENTS To withdraw a student, please complete the official Student Withdrawal Form not less than 60 days (excludes July and August) before the student leaves DBIS. If students are not returning to DBIS after the summer holidays, official notice must be given 60 days before the last day of term.

The school will charge school fees in lieu if the above notice period is not adhered to.

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COMMUNICATION Clear communication between home and school is essential. Our communication system utilises the functionality of the

following platforms to communicate with our parent community:

THE PARENT HUB All communication to parents regarding upcoming events and information can be found on the Parent Hub. A bulletin for calendared events will be added to the Hub approximately two weeks prior to them taking place. The bulletin notices will also be shared via the weekly parent bulletin email, which is sent each Saturday.

password to log in to SchoolsBuddy will be shared with you so you can see all of the activities your child is involved with. For further information about WWW, please refer to the detailed section earlier in this handbook.

iSAMS PARENT PORTAL & APP Parents can access all student-specific information via the iSAMS Parent Portal.

This platform is used to communicate confidential information about your child, such as school reports and attendance data. The app can be downloaded free from the App Store and Google Play Store.

The school code is DBIS, and you will need your personal iSAMS username and password to log on.

STUDENT DIARY Students are required to write all home learning tasks in detail in their diary.

Parents are asked to check the diary regularly. The tutor will check and sign the diary each week, ensuring a strong communication network whereby each student is accountable in ensuring home learning activities are noted and completed.

SCHOOLSBUDDY ACTIVITIES & TRIPS PLATFORM All information about your child’s ECAs, sports fixtures, camps, trips and WWW expeditions can be found via SchoolsBuddy. A personal username and 24

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Each Friday, the school’s newsletter is emailed to parents. The newsletter provides a snapshot of the week’s events across all phases of the school.

DBIS WEBSITE The school’s website, linked HERE, is a window into the school, giving parents access to information on all aspects of the school’s operations as well as teaching and learning approaches. The website also provides parents with a link to the Parent Hub. GOOGLE GUARDIAN The Google Guardian add-on to Google Classroom allows the school to add to our communications system and provide all parents with more insight into their child’s online learning experiences.

CONTINUATION OF LEARNING In the event of a school closure, the school will communicate with parents and students regarding home/online learning.

Learning resources and materials will be shared through Google Classroom for each subject taught. Pre-recorded learning videos and other resources may also be uploaded to Google Classroom.

EMAIL CONTACT

TEXT MESSAGE/SMS

For all general enquiries, parents can contact the school office by email at dbis@dbis.edu.hk or by phone on +852 2987 7331.

Occasionally, we will send out a text message/SMS to parents to inform them that we have had a fire drill or lockdown practice and that all children are safe and accounted for.

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DBIS SIXTH FORM The Sixth Form Campus is located at the North Plaza in Discovery Bay. This campus is equipped with classrooms dedicated to the teaching of Years 12 and 13, as well as a study room and specialised Art room.

The majority of Sixth Form lessons take place at the North Plaza Campus; however, for some subjects, such as Science, D&T and PE, students are required to travel by shuttle bus to the Main DBIS Campus.

SIXTH FORM SUBJECTS Most students choose three subjects to study at either A Level or BTEC Level 3. In some cases, students study four subjects, usually only if this is necessary to fulfil future university entry requirements.

Each A Level and BTEC subject is timetabled for ten hours in the two-week cycle. The remainder of the Sixth Form timetable is made up of careers advice, Learning for Life, PE and independent study periods.

STUDY RESOURCES Sixth Formers are very welcome to work in the library on the Main Campus, where a wealth of resources are available as well

as private study rooms, which can be booked with the librarian. Books will need to be purchased for each course. The book list can be accessed here.

Having personal copies of books is important and enables students to effectively use their resources outside of lessons; they can annotate them and keep personal notes to revise and refer back to.

DRESS CODE All Year 12 and 13 students are required to follow the Sixth Form dress code. Full details of the dress code can be found in the Sixth Form Handbook. The exception to this is PE, for which Sixth Form students should wear their house PE top with plain blue or black shorts and footwear appropriate for physical activity.

SIXTH FORM HANDBOOK Our Sixth Form Handbook contains further information about studying in Years 12 and 13 at DBIS, including useful links to bus timetables and study resources. Students can access the Sixth Form Handbook HERE.

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TERM DATES School Dates and Holidays for 2026–27 can be found on the Parent Hub HERE.

AUTUMN TERM Monday 17th August 2026

Y7, Y9 & Y12 Students Start Term 1 New Students Also in School

Tuesday 18th August 2026

Y8, Y10, Y11 & Y13 Students Start Term 1

Thursday 1st October 2026

Public Holiday

Monday 12th – Friday 16th October 2026

Half Term

Monday 19th October 2026

Public Holiday

Tuesday 20th October 2026

Teacher Professional Development Day (Students Not in School)

Monday 9th – Friday 13th November 2026

Week Without Walls

Friday 11th December 2026

End of Term 1

SPRING TERM Monday 4th January 2027

Start of Term 2

Monday 8th – Friday 12th February 2027

Chinese New Year Half Term

Friday 5th March 2027

Teacher Professional Development Day (Students Not in School)

Friday 19th March 2027

End of Term 2

SUMMER TERM Monday 6th April 2027

Start of Term 3

Thursday 13th May 2027

Public Holiday

Friday 14th May 2027

School Holiday

Wednesday 9th June 2027

Public Holiday

Friday 25th June 2027

End of Term 3

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SCHOOL HOURS & CONTACT DETAILS TIMINGS OF THE SCHOOL DAY

Time

Activity

08:00 – 08:20

1:1 Tutoring

08:20 – 08:45

Tutor Time

08:50 – 09:50

Lesson 1

10:00 – 11:00

Lesson 2

11:00 – 11:20

Break

11:20 – 12:20

Lesson 3

12:30 – 13:30

Lesson 4

13:30 – 14:20

Lunch

14:20 – 15:20

Lesson 5

SECONDARY SCHOOL CONTACT DETAILS Website: Main Campus Email:

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www.dbis.edu.hk :

+852 2984 7331 dbis@dbis.edu.hk

USEFUL LINKS Year 7–8 Curriculum Handbook Year 9–11 Handbook (2026–29) - Current Year 9s Year 9–11 Handbook (2025–28) - Current Year 10s Year 10–11 Handbook (2025–27) - Current Year 11s RSE Programme Overview Secondary Home Learning Policy Parent Hub Parent Portal School Website DBIS Library Academic Honesty Policy Parent–Teacher–Student Conferences Secondary Student Leadership Handbook Student Planned Absence During Term Time Form Student Unplanned Absence During Term Time Form Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Agreement Acceptable Use Policy DBIS Secondary School Guide to Learning Technologies Uniform Policy & Order Form Student Contact Details Change Form Prescribed Medications Permissions Form Medical Room Information Secondary Students Severe Weather School Dismissal Form Severe Weather Policy Student Withdrawal Form Sixth Form Handbook 29

dbis.edu.hk