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Welcome from the Head of PBS Secondary School
Dear Parents and Students,
It is an honour and pleasure to be leading the Secondary School in this next phase of development for PACE British School. As the founding Head of Secondary, I will be working closely with the Secondary School teachers to ensure we install high standards as the norm, create a learning culture that promotes curiosity, collaboration, and kindness in a rich and vibrant environment. Great relationships and morals are the underpinning elements of a great school, and with the key values; integrity, tolerance, and respect at the heart of everything we do, I look forward to seeing our pupils embrace the challenges on offer with enthusiasm and passion.
From my previous experiences of leading a Middle School and a Sixth Form, I know that a successful and happy school depends on all of us working together. Any changes we make will be done so through consultation, to ensure they are supported by all those who they impact, on our journey towards IGCSEs, A-Levels, and university admissions.
Parents are crucial in making an important contribution to their children’s achievements at school, and I want to develop the relationship between the school and parents for everyone’s benefit. As a mother of two young children myself, I fully understand the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and children attending physical school. I am more than happy for parents to contact me if they have any concerns about their child, or their health and safety.
The Secondary School teachers and I are here to do whatever it takes to ensure our students have the best possible learning experiences at PACE British School. I look forward to getting to know you in due course.
Yours faithfully,
Kay Turner
Head of Secondary
The primary curriculum includes; English, Maths, Science, Arabic, Islamic (optional), Moral Education, Social Studies, Humanities, PE, Expressive Arts, IT and French. The children also have a range of extra curricular activities to engage in at the end of the academic day. The primary years involves two milestones: key stage one and key stage two.
Key Stage 3 | Years 7, 8 and 9
At PACE British School, we know that Key Stage 3 can be a big change in a child’s life as they move from the safety of one classroom and teacher to a wide range of specialists delivering a demanding curriculum. We ensure that the transition into Secondary is as seamless as possible and that students (and parents) are well prepared for the new ways of working.
Following the Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum, our students work hard to grow and develop as independent young adults. We teach them the foundations they will need for their IGCSE courses and challenge them to grow and develop as individuals. With a caring ethos and supportive teachers, our students feel safe to take risks and challenge themselves.
As students progress through the years, they are given detailed advice and guidance so that, when in Year 9, they can make the right choices for moving on into Key Stage 4. This is conducted through parent-student option and information evenings, as well as one-to-one advice from Senior Leaders and Heads of Departments.
Students in Years 7, 8, and 9 follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum, alongside the Ministry of Education requirements.
Subjects
| CORE | FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Arabic (for Arabic speakers) | History |
| Arabic (for non-Arabic speakers) | Geography |
| Islamic Education (for Muslims) | Computer Science |
| English | Physical Education |
| Mathematics | French |
| Science | Art |
| Moral Education | |
| Social Studies |
Assessment
We assess frequently during lessons, at the end of topics, and on a termly and annual basis. This takes the form of quizzes, assessed homework, projects, conversations, and examinations. Progress checks take into consideration progress over time, to assess the level the learner is working at. As a British school, assessments can cover all prior material studied, not just the last term.
Key Stage 4 | Years 10 and 11
Key Stage 4 are the IGSCE years. Students take responsibility for selecting their own curriculum through the option subjects they choose to study. The chosen subjects are selected through their interests, their achievements and the guidance received from the school for their future. Independent study skills are vital to students having success throughout the two-year course. Outside of class, students will be expected to read, recap previous learning, and complete practice questions.
IGCSE examinations are normally held in May and June of Year 11. The timetable and length of examinations are published by the examination board and results are released in August.
Students in Years 10 and 11 follow the Cambridge* IGCSE Curriculum, alongside the Ministry of Education requirements.
Subjects
| CORE | FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Arabic (for Arabic speakers) | History |
| Arabic (for non-Arabic speakers until Year 11) | Geography |
| Islamic Education (for Muslims) | Computer Science |
| English | Physical Education |
| Mathematics | French |
| Science (Co-ordinated and Triple Options) | Art |
| Moral Education | Business Studies |
| Social Studies (Until Year 10) | Accounting |
| Physical Education (Non-IGCSE) |
for our 2021-2023 GCSE Options Booklet.
Assessment
We assess frequently during lessons, at the end of topics, and on a termly and annual basis. This takes the form of quizzes, assessed homework, projects, conversations, and examinations. There will also be a formal ‘mock examination’ week. Progress checks take into consideration progress over time, to assess the level the learner is working at. As a British school, assessments can cover all prior material studied, not just the last term, and anything listed on the IGCSE specification.
*Cambridge is officially known as Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)
Key Stage 5 | Years 12 and 13
Our Senior Leaders and teachers will help students investigate where their future interests lie towards the end of Year 11 when students are then given the opportunity to refine their interests into three or four subjects to be studied further in Key Stage 5.
In Key Stage 5, students will be required to have their own laptops to use both in school and at home. Students will use their devices throughout lessons to research, access support, and challenge materials in a range of formats including webpages, journal articles, and videos to suit the topic. A-Level teachers ensure many opportunities for independent work are embedded within their two-year course to prepare students for learning at university. For every subject studied in school, an additional four to five hours of independent study is required. This will include researching and preparing for presentations and debates or constructing responses to exam-style questions.
A-Level examinations are normally held in May and June. The timetable and length of examinations is published by the examination board and results are released in August.
Students in Years 12 and 13 follow the Cambridge* A-Level Curriculum, alongside the Ministry of Education requirements.
Subjects
With the exception of the Ministry of Education subjects, there are no compulsory subjects students have to study in Year 12 and 13
| CORE | FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Arabic (for Arabic speakers) | English Literature |
| Islamic Education (for Muslims) | Geography |
| Moral Education | Biology |
| Chemistry | |
| Physics | |
| Computer Science |
|
| Business Studies |
|
| Accounting | |
| French | |
| Art | |
| History |
Assessment
We assess frequently during lessons, at the end of topics, and on a termly and annual basis. This takes the form of quizzes, assessed homework, projects, conversations, and examinations. There will also be formal ‘mock examination’ weeks. Progress checks take into consideration progress over time, to assess the level the learner is working at. As a British school, assessments can cover all prior material studied, not just the last term, and anything listed on the A-Level specification (including content listed as ‘prior knowledge, such as IGCSE content).
*Cambridge is officially known as Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)
