Curriculum Policy

CURRICULUM POLICY

INTRODUCTION:

The City School International offers the National Curriculum of England supplemented by the Ministry of Education. The school is geared to prepare students for British IGCSE Examinations.

The students are encouraged to be independent learners with their peers, gain conceptual clarity and critical thinking through asking questions, analyse and evaluate situation and ideas. They enhance their creativity through a variety of opportunities within classrooms and beyond. TCSI caters to the needs of children aged 3 to 16.

With the implementation of the British Curriculum for English, Mathematics, Science, Humanities and Computing from KS1 to KS3 followed by the Cambridge Curriculum in KS 4, graduates from The City School International secure places in top universities worldwide. Our students, according to the Cambridge International Examinations annual results analysis are amongst the high achievers in the city and in some cases in the world. The curriculum bolsters curiosity, critical thinking and creativity and thus ensuring our students meet the challenges of tomorrow. The academic and non-academic curricula ensure that when children pass out from The City School International, they have the ability to make significant contributions to the society.

The City School International offers a variety of subject combinations andrevises them in accordance with the cumulative experience of its teachers and students. Teacher selection is done on the basis of their experience as curriculum developers and syllabus writers. In addition, curriculum consultants from the UK are appointed on a regular basis to assist The City School teachers in revising their curriculum and syllabus.

At the City School International, we aim to provide quality education to our students. The City School has consistently maintained its high standards and is views as an institution par excellence. The implementation and maintenance of rigorous standards in the academic and administrative spheres give The City School a well-deserved reputation for quality in education that enables it to compete with the best schools in the UAE.

Conformity with National Aims:

All schools must conform to national aims in education. The national aims may well have a significant impact on the curriculum of the school-for example in terms of an emphasis of the religious element of the curriculum or with particular reference to the social and political needs of the country.

The aims of the curriculum are to:

a) Provide opportunities for all pupils to learn and achieve.

b) Promote the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society.

c) Prepare such pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life.

Curriculum and Educational Programmes:

The table below indicates a detailed information regarding the TCSI curriculum and programmes. The table also indicates boards and organisations which have accredited or authorised the school. Websites are included if parents wish to seek further information.

Phase/ Cycle: Curriculum/ Programme: Accreditation/ Authorisation

Foundation Stage

FS 2

Primary Year 1Year 6

Secondary 1 Year 7Year 8

Secondary 2 Year 9Year 11

EYFS http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/earl y-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

UK National Curriculum https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum/keystage-1-and-2

UK National Curriculum https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum/keystage-3

IGCSE https://www.gov.uk/national-curriculum/keystage-4

Year 12 AS/A Level www.caie.com

A. Mandatory Subjects:

As per the rules and regulations in the UAE, it is mandatory for:

1) All Muslim students to study Islamic Education from Year 1 to Year 12 inclusive.

2) All Arab students (registered at the school with an Arab Passport) to study Arabic as a first language from Year 1 to Year 12 Inclusive.

3) All students registered at the school with a non-Arab passport to study Arabic as an additional language from Year 1 to Year 9 inclusive.

B. Subject Offering:

[Foundation Stage] Literacy, Communication & Language, Personal,Social & Emotional Development, Maths, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts & Design, Islamic, Arabic, Music, Physical Development

[Year 1 to 4 ]

Arabic, Islamic Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, History, Geography, Music, ICT, PE, Library, Art, Moral Education for NonMuslims, (program based on living moral valuessuch as Honesty, Truthfulness, Cooperation, Respect), French (Year 3 & 4) and Robotics (Year 3 and 4)

[Years 5 & 6]

Arabic, Islamic Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, History, Geography, Music, ICT, PE, Library, Art, Moral Education for NonMuslims (program based on living moral values such as Honesty, Truthfulness, Cooperation, Respect), French and Robotics

[Years 7 & 8]

Arabic, Islamic Education, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, History, Geography, ICT, PE, Library, Art, Moral Education for Non-Muslims (program based on living moral values such as Honesty, Truthfulness, Cooperation, Respect), French and Robotics

[Years 9 & 10 - Science /Commerce/Humanities]

Arabic, Islamic Education, English, Mathematics, ICT, PE, Environmental Management, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Business Studies, Economics, Accounting, Sociology, Travel & Tourism, Development Studies

[Year

11 - Science /Commerce/Humanities]

Arabic, Islamic Education, English, Mathematics, ICT, PE, Environmental Management, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Business Studies, Economics, Accounting, Sociology, Travel & Tourism, Development Studies

AS / A Levels / Year 12

Business Options

Business Accounting, Business Studies, Economics, (compulsory) IT / Math Statistics, Travel andTourism (students to choose one from the three options)

Further Opportunities at TCSI for Year 12

Sports Students who wish to continue their sporting participation have the opportunity of both on-site and off-site activities, in competitive teams and for fitness and recreation. Our school teams compete successfully at the highest level and individual students have represented us in regional events. You will have the option of continuing core PE lessons in your Complementary Studies time.

The post 16 students will have a timetabled session of sport in the week and will be expected to actively participate in this, studies have shown that exercise helps students to feel less stressed and to perform better. The sport session will be flexible to suit a range of different requirements.

Debate, Public Speaking, Model United Nations and Journalism

TCSI has a very strong successful tradition in these arenas and this is something the school wants to build upon further. Students with a talent for writing or speaking have no shortage of opportunities for the development and practice of their skills. Post 16 students will play a pivotal role in assisting in the production of the school newsletter and yearbook, as well as the organization of major school events. Post

Involvement in this committee gives students an opportunity to discuss issues that are of concern to them and play a role in helping positive change to take place. The committee meets regularly, planning upcoming social events and other extra-curricular activities. The Post 16 Student Council work as a team; helping to shape the future of their growing community.

There are significant opportunities for students to develop their leadership capacity and capabilities. At TCSI, there are a number of leadership roles that students can engage with and are encouraged, as a senior student in the school, to lead by example by role modeling excellent behaviour and attitudes.

Students are required to select four AS levels in Year 12 and may drop one for Year 13, if they wish to. Full guidance will be given to students that need help in choosing their subjects. External examinations in most subjects will take place during May/June for Year 12. It is important to remember that all courses offered are from CAIE, UK.

16 Student Council and Leadership Body opportunities

The Post 16 Curriculum

To be compliant to the Ministry of Education requirements, it is mandatory for all students to complete Arabic studies in Year 12, this applies to both Arab and Non-Arab students.

Selecting the Right Course of Study:

• Before you consider which subjects to select, research a range of university and career options so that the subjects you select satisfy the entry requirements

• You are advised to use our new online Career product called: Fast Tomato to assist you with subject selection as well as university and career options. This tool is a Morrisby product, a UK based organization that helps students explore many different career opportunities. Students will have the latest academic and career information available especially whenchoosing IGCSE and AS Level subjects.

• Think about which subjects are prerequisites for further study or your career path

• Ensure that you have the correct number and combination of AS, A level to satisfy any university or career requirements prior to application

• Think about which subjects you enjoy now but also consider new subjects you haven’t experienced before but which sound interesting.

• Prioritize your subjects in order of interest and value to you

• Decide how you are going to organize your subjects across the two years.

• By getting the best grades possible at IGCSE you will ensure you have a wide range of options available at Post 16.

TCSI Post 16 Community Service

The TCSI Community Service Programme is a dynamic pastoral programme that is an integral part of the Post 16 curriculum. Every Post 16 student develops personal skills and attributes through the completion of a variety of Community

Service activities across the Lower, Middle and Senior schools as well as outside of school. This valuable addition to the Post 16 curriculum is monitored and certificated by the school. Exactly what is selected will depend upon the AS level choices, personal interests and what lends itself best to a particular career pathway. Students are left to make their own decisions about their area of focus. Some examples of the work students have completed in the past include;

• Post 16 students assisting in foundation stage, middle school and senior school classes

• Initiating and running after school stay backs with the support of staff

• Planning school events and organizing fund raising events

• Supporting the Inclusion department with students in classes and around the school

• Developing the student careers support programme alongside the Careers Advisor

The Community Service Programme has developed greatly since its inception, particularly in the area of activities offered and the way it is successfully led with the assistance of the students. As the program is run for students by students it offers many opportunities for all those wanting to take an active leadership role within the school. Its success is also due to the cooperation and feedback from the students and staff who are regularly surveyed for their feedback and ideas on how it can be improved.

Careers and Higher Education Guidance

Higher Education choices are discussed from an early point in Year 11 and 12. This is done to establish the importance of AS level subject choices.

TCSI has strong links with Universities. Guests from visiting universities are invited to school to give presentations on a variety of aspects of university life such as how to apply and life on campus. The destination of all students is

important and so our programme of support for students is strong and targeted at preparation for both University and the work-place. The school continues to develop students’ ability to be prepared for Higher Education in many different ways, including;

✓ Experts in both Careers and Higher Education brief students on the range of opportunities will be made available to them and the process of application.

✓ All students receive an interview with a member of the Post 16 team which helps inform decision making.

✓ Representatives of various jobs and companies in the local community will be invited in to deliver seminars outlining the demands and requirements of their area of work.

✓ Visits to local Higher Education fairs will be arranged to stimulate ideas and test out options.

✓ Students will be trained in writing CVs, application forms and in interview skills.

✓ Mock interviews will be carried out for work and university applicants.

✓ An experienced and dedicated team oversees the applications of all students and writes positive, detailed references.

C. Choice of Educational Streams

• Subject choices are provided at the end of Year 8.

• The subjects prepare for IGCSE in Year 9 – Year 11.

• They appear in all papers at the end of Year 11.

• They have the following choices: Science, Business, Humanities

• Other than two mandatory subjects, English and Math, the school has made it compulsory to choose one subject from the following:

o Group 1: ICT / Development Skills

o Group 2: Environmental Management / Travel and Tourism

• The school can offer any optional subject if a minimum of seven students apply for it, other than the regular subjects.

• Subject choices for AS Business Programme is offered for the first time for the Academic Year September 2020-2021. Students have to compulsorily take Business Studies, Economics and Business Accounting as their first three options.

• They have a choice to make in option four from Travel and Tourism, Information Technology and Math Statistics.

• Kindly note that the option four will depend on a minimum of ten (10) students signing up for any of the above three subjects.

CURRICULUM MODIFICATION AND CURRICULUM ENHANCEMENT AT TCSI:

In TCSI, curriculum is adjusted and modified according to students’ needs and the goals set forth in the Personalized Learning Plan (PLP) and Individualized Learning Plan.

Curriculum enhancement is built around TCSI’s existing general curriculum and involves teachers’ alterations of curriculum. Frequently, teachers will enhance curriculum with additions of instructional strategies. Frequently, enhancements are created to evaluate and teach adequate background knowledge in preparation for a new task. Additionally, teachers may incorporate a variety of instructional materials and procedures to meet students’ needs, including theuse of coteaching and/or instructional collaboration.

Curriculum modification differs from curriculum enhancement in that modification is a more extreme alteration to the curriculum than that of an enhancement. Modifications involve combinations of altered content, conceptual difficulty, educational goals, and instructional method versus building scaffolding and bridges between existing curriculum and people involved in the educational process. Such differentiation between curriculum modification and curriculum enhancement is based on ranging degrees in which our educational approach becomes distinct from or maintains the similarities to existing general curriculum. In other words, educational practices in which student and teacher interactions differ from those designed in existing general curriculum are present to a greater extent when curriculum is modified than when enhanced.

There are numerous ways curriculum modifications are put into practice for different purposes and outcomes on various levels (such as individual, classroom, and school-wide). Due to a flexible nature and countless applications,curriculum modification often remains an ambiguous concept and is understood as an umbrella term to include multifarious aspects of everyday teaching practices. We have refined our definition of curriculum modification based on understandings of its nature and potentialities.

Curriculum Modification in TCSI is mostly provided and implemented to Students of Determination or whenever need for any regular students.

EXTRA CURRICULLAR ACTIVITIES AND CELEBRATIONS:

Beyond the classroom, activities that help students polish their innate skills and groom their personality are an integral part of the school curriculum. Once a week in the zero period, different club activities are held for all students.

Environment, Cooking, Arts & Crafts, Debate, Drama, Music, Computer Programming, Robotics, Ballet are some of the many clubs at the school. Each

student has to be a member of minimum one and maximum of two clubs during school hours.

In addition to this, afterschool outdoor activities are also offered to the students, such as football, basketball, cricket, volleyball etc. Various field trips and educational trips are also arranged for different class levels. Students also get the chance to participate in various outdoor or inter-school competitions andactivities such as environmental campaigns, Model United Nations, elocution, quizzes etc.

Humanities and Commerce Week

Earth Day

TCSI Annual Concert or Family Fest (alternate years)

Parent Teacher Meeting (PTM)

Autism Month Celebration

Litter Free Week

Career Option/Subject Orientation Day

Robofest

Transition FS 2 to Year 1 & Other Year Groups

IGCSE / AS Exams

Annual End of Year Exams (Year 3 to 10)

/ May

Reviewed September 2021