Hillcrest-GEMS Booklet

We are Hillcrest I n s p i r e .

E n c o u r a g e .

E m p o w e r

Enhancing our global outlook, facilities and teaching and learning as we join the GEMS Education network.

EARLY YEARS

PREPARATORY

SECONDARY

BOARDING

WELCOME Welcome to Hillcrest International Schools. Following the recent investment in Hillcrest by GEMS Education Group, one of the largest and oldest education providers in the world, we would like to appraise you of some of the implications of this investment. We are confident that the move will positively impact the school to the great benefit of current and future students, parents and teachers, as well as provide continuity for those joining us from GEMS Nairobi. In this booklet we have captured a few key areas including: • • • • •

The commonality of our vision and values; Our stages of teaching and learning and the opportunities presented; The enhanced and expanded facilities now available to us; A timeline for change; Our leadership and governance going forward.

Hillcrest is comprised of four key components: Early Years (HEY), Preparatory, Secondary and Boarding and this will remain as the structure, as will the name Hillcrest International Schools.

Hillcrest’s vision is for each child to achieve personal excellence as a valuable member of our global community.

We set out to achieve this by inspiring, encouraging and empowering our children, through age-appropriate means, as they progress through their educational journey with us from their earliest school days in Early Years, right through to their transformation into young adults in Hillcrest Secondary.

Hillcrest has a unique and long standing position within East Africa. Our cultural diversity; academic, creative and sporting prowess; and the wide-ranging opportunities provided to broaden the mind, body and spirit are wellestablished. We aim to ensure Semper Prospice (Always Looking Forward) is a lifelong mission, achieving this through partnership with parents, staff and governors. The success of past students, in extraordinarily diverse fields, testifies to our achievement.

As Hillcrest International Schools joins the GEMS Education Group, we are gratified that the commonality of our vision for the children in our care and the values that guide us, as well as the expanded facilities, subject range and teaching capacity, will enhance our offering, allowing us together to build even stronger foundations for the next generation.

We trust that this booklet will be a useful reference guide to answer some of the questions you may have about what the future will look like at Hillcrest International Schools, whether you are already on your child’s education journey with us, transferring from GEMS Cambridge School Nairobi (CIN), or coming to us new, and the very positive developments that will be possible as we join the truly global GEMS Education Group. It is not, however, meant to replace a direct conversation with one of us. As the Head Teachers of Hillcrest Early Years, Preparatory and Secondary we, as well as our Senior Leadership Teams, are always available and we welcome you to visit us and raise any questions you may have.

John Eveson, Head Teacher, Hillcrest Secondary School Vikki Alden, Head Teacher, Hillcrest Preparatory School Jackie Leeson, Head Teacher, Hillcrest Early Years

Semper Prospice

OUR VISION, PHILOSOPHY & VALUES

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For each child to achieve personal excellence as a valuable member of our global community

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Hillcrest is a cohesive and caring community that believes in traditional values; we are very proud of everyone who plays their part and enables our students to leave as confident, well-rounded young people, ready and keen to take their place in society.

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The values that we uphold at Hillcrest are consistent with those portrayed by GEMS and, together, we will be working to expand the range of experiences that will inspire our students; the resources that will encourage them; Independence and the opportunities that will empower and learn to live by them, daily.

Respect them to develop these values for ourselves, each other, our community and the environment

to develop self-motivation and purposefulness to learn on an independent basis

Respect – for ourselves, each other, our community, the environment. A truly international school, with a large diversity of cultures and backgrounds, Hillcrest is built on a philosophy of inclusion, cooperation and mutual respect for each other as well as an awareness and confidence in ourselves. Involvement in, and respect for, Curiosity Determination the environment and community in which Hillcrest is placed offers many diverse and valuable opportunities to to discover, explore and to strive to achieve enhance learning experience so that our students develop personal interests grow into well-rounded citizens of the world who live with and strengths honesty, confidence and integrity.

Curiosity – to discover, explore and develop personal interests and strengths. Each child is unique, with their own individual talents and strengths. We see learning as a journey of exploration and discovery and give our students the freedom to aim high, develop their potential and exceed expectations. We will work together to give our students the courage to challenge convention and dare to dream of the possibilities.

Independence – to develop self-motivation and purposefulness to learn on an independent basis. Giving each student the opportunity to take ownership of their learning and to expand horizons on an independent basis, we encourage self-motivation as a valuable foundation for the future, and the opportunity to stretch oneself to achieve more.

Determination – to strive to achieve. The challenges presented at Hillcrest through the breadth of opportunity offered, the diversity of activities as well as the quality of the learning experiences, are intended to stretch students to do their best and aim high. While sometimes new skills may come easy, at other times it takes many tries to master them and students are taught to persevere to succeed.

ACADEMIC APPROACH & BREADTH OF OPPORTUNITY At Hillcrest, we follow the English National Curriculum, while making the most of the opportunities provided by our environment and location in Kenya; the quality of our teaching and learning is our top priority. In the process of joining the GEMS Education Group, the depth and quality of teaching and learning will be further enhanced as the pool of teachers from both Hillcrest and GEMS will be combined, providing a greater breadth of skills and experience while maintaining the maximum class sizes as they are currently.

Different types of learning suit different people and everyone has a unique combination of skills and interests. We believe in supporting each child to achieve their own personal excellence and since every child is different, we work to match their learning styles and interests as they move through the various learning stages.

Hillcrest Early Years (HEY) offers young children a stimulating and creative play-based learning environment in a caring, family-style atmosphere. HEY primarily focuses on providing children with the building blocks of education whilst fostering and nurturing a lifelong love of learning and sense of curiosity. This in turn lays strong foundations of confidence, independence, determination and regard for each other.

At HEY we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, which is the English Early Years curriculum, for the very important development stage up to the age of five. This prepares children for their future learning in a happy, active, exciting, fun and secure environment, supporting the child’s development, care and learning needs.

As children reach Year 1, at the top of Hillcrest Early Years (5 – 6 years), they follow the latest UK curriculum for Key Stage 1 so that they are fully prepared for their transition to Prep School and Year 2.

Hillcrest Preparatory School takes the task of inspiring each child further and provides pupils of every level with an individualised approach to learning. By placing an emphasis on the development of the whole child within our mutually supportive community, our pupils build self-confidence, independence, a purposeful attitude and a sense of responsibility.

At Hillcrest Preparatory we are guided by the National Curriculum for England - as well as the Common Entrance syllabus for pupils in Year 8. Within this framework, we contextualise our learning to make the most of the rich opportunities offered by the environment in which we live — both in Kenya and more widely across Africa. Our curriculum is broad and all pupils study the academic subjects: English, Mathematics, Science (from Year 7 as separate subjects Biology, Chemistry and Physics), Geography, History (also known as Topic for Years 2 – 6), Modern Foreign Languages as well as Computing and Personal Social Health Education (PSHE). All pupils also enjoy weekly curriculum time in Art, Design Technology, Drama, Music, Games and Physical Education.

Semper Prospice

Hillcrest Secondary School provides a diverse and stimulating environment, enriched with fulfilling experiences, motivating and guiding each student to identify their strengths, achieve their individual potential and grow into emotionally intelligent independent thinkers, equipped to become effective young adults and world citizens.

The breadth of the curriculum offered at both IGCSE (Years 9 – 11) and through A-Level and BTEC options (Years 12 – 13) is second to none. The Cambridge International Examinations board is our preferred choice of syllabus in the majority of subject areas.

In September 2018 we diversified the options available in Sixth Form to include BTEC qualifications and the range will expand a little further with the addition of Hospitality, Performing Arts and Music Technology to provide continuity with the GEMS Cambridge International School Nairobi subject options.

ENHANCING FACILITIES & EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES As well as the overall increase in depth and breadth of the teaching and learning opportunities that will be available to our students, there are a number of immediate improvements to facilities that we would like to highlight.

Music, Drama & Performing Arts Music, Drama and the Performing Arts Drama are a thriving part of the school curriculum at Hillcrest, where talent is nurtured and students are encouraged to extend themselves through different forums. While the main hall at Hillcrest Secondary was renovated in 2015 to provide a versatile and high quality performance venue, the GEMS Cambridge International School Nairobi auditorium is in a class of its own. Going forward, this world-class facility will be made available to Hillcrest students for key performances and studies, enhancing what was previously available and expanding the variety of facilities they experience.

Hillcrest’s performance of Mamma Mia was of extraordinary quality with the staging arrangement allowing maximum interaction with the audience. The addition of the GEMS auditorium to our facilities will further enhance opportunities for our students.

Semper Prospice

Sports Sport plays a significant part in the life of Hillcrest and we pride ourselves in our enviable reputation with every pupil having the opportunity to represent the school in the various leagues, as well as at a national level across various age groups. Students receive expert coaching from our staff and are able to make the most of our extensive 35-acre grounds, developing a long term healthy lifestyle.

The school’s sporting expertise includes Hockey, Cricket, Rugby, Football, Tennis, Squash, Equestrian, Swimming, Netball, Rounders, Basketball, Fencing and Athletics — extending the range of options currently available to GEMS Nairobi students.

Hillcrest’s 35-acre site provides the space and freedom for a diverse range of sports.

An exciting area of immediate investment will be the development of an astroturf pitch. This will enable our students to enhance their skills and match experience on a premium quality sports surface, while also helping prepare them for playing sport on this medium when going abroad for tertiary education.

Boarding at Hillcrest Boarding at Hillcrest offers students a safe and secure family environment, and the opportunity to enhance their learning experiences while living in a caring, purposeful and multicultural community.

The boarding house at GEMS will be home to all boarding students from September 2019 until a new facility is built at Hillcrest. A bus service will be provided to transport the students to and from the Hillcrest site, also giving them a little separation from the immediacy of school life.

Semper Prospice

CONTINUITY AND CHANGE While we are pleased that the core elements of the vision, beliefs and educational offering of Hillcrest International Schools and GEMS Education Group are already closely aligned, naturally there will be changes that need to be rolled out to bring operational consistency.

Primary location From September 2019, all students will be based on the Hillcrest International Schools sites on Langata Road for their studies. As already mentioned, use of some facilities such as the theatre and boarding facilities will be retained at the GEMS Nairobi site on Magadi Road for the foreseeable future.

Uniform The Hillcrest International Schools uniform colour, branding and style will be retained and all students will be required to adhere to this, as it is integral to the sense of community around the school.

Scholarships At both Hillcrest and GEMS Cambridge International School Nairobi, we celebrate our scholars and the diversity of talents that they bring to our community. All scholarships already awarded will be honoured at their current level for the duration of the scholarship. As we go into our next round of scholarship applications, which will start in October 2019, the details and criteria will be published on the Hillcrest International Schools website. Bursaries and payment plans will be dealt with on an individual basis and parents are encouraged to make an appointment with their respective Head Teacher to discuss this.

LEADERSHIP & GOVERNANCE As Hillcrest International Schools joins the GEMS Education Group, the leadership structure has been reviewed and planned so as to maximize continuity and minimize disruption to our student, parent, teacher and staff communities. The current Head Teachers of the Hillcrest International Schools Group will remain in their positions to take their school sections smoothly through this period of change and a new position of Education and Merger Director, GEMS Africa has been added to incorporate the Principal of GEMS Cambridge International School Nairobi so as to create a strong, professional leadership team who will work hand in hand with the Hillcrest Governors and GEMS Education management teams.

Scott Webber, Education and Merger Director, GEMS Africa Prior to being a much appreciated Principal of GEMS Cambridge International School Nairobi since September 2016, Scott was an IAPS Head Teacher for the Braeburn Group of schools for 12 years as well as being a teacher at Hillcrest Prep School. As Education and Merger Director GEMS Africa, he is overseeing the successful transition and integration of the GEMS community into Hillcrest at all levels, with a clear focus on actively supporting the students, staff and parents as well as the transition of Hillcrest International Schools into the GEMS Education Group.

John Eveson, Head Teacher Hillcrest Secondary School At the helm of Hillcrest Secondary School since September 2016, John joined Hillcrest from the Ministry of Defence School, King Richard in Cyprus. His passion is teaching and learning, which continues to drive his vision to ensure that the quality of what goes on in the classroom is as good as it can possibly be.

John’s wife Helen joined him on the Hillcrest Secondary School team and teaches English.

Vikki Alden, Head Teacher Hillcrest Preparatory School An experienced English National Curriculum educationalist with an international focus, Vikki joined Hillcrest Preparatory in January 2018 from the English International School Prague - Nord Anglia Education where she had been Deputy Principal and Head of the Primary School for several years.

Vikki is passionate about student progress and the holistic experience of our pupils.

Vikki’s husband James also works in Hillcrest Secondary School as the Data Manager and two of their children are students at Hillcrest Secondary School.

Semper Prospice

Jackie Leeson, Head Teacher Hillcrest Early Years Passionate about the formative early years of young children’s education and warm and energetic in her approach, Jackie is an English National Curriculum specialist who has created various phonics and numeracy teaching and learning programmes. With over 25 years’ experience in Early Years and Primary settings, focused principally on KS1 transition, Jackie joined us in September 2018.

Jackie is married with grown up children. Having originally trained in England, Jackie’s ‘home’ is in Spain, although over the past few years she has worked in Kuwait and England.

Governing Body Hillcrest International Schools has a governance structure that makes use of the valuable skills and experience of members of our community, our alumni and our parent body. Details of the Governors currently in office may be found on the Hillcrest website. This structure will remain in place and the Governors will retain their integral role in guiding the strategic and educational development of Hillcrest International Schools – doing so in partnership with the GEMS Education management team.

Tel: +254 (0)20 266 2139/41, (0)724 255 444, (0)733 255 442 Email: admissionssearlyyears@hillcrest.ac.ke admissionsprep@hillcrest.ac.ke admissionssecondary@hillcrest.ac.ke www.hillcrest.ac.ke