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Secondary Department

The Secondary curriculum at VES is a planned programme based on the National Curriculum of England, which leads to IGCSE, A Levels.

The Culture and Curriculum

The VES culture and character is visible the minute you walk through our doors from our friendly staff and students, numerous sporting achievements to the amazing learning that is evident both in the classrooms and as you walk the corridors of our school. The purposeful and positive atmosphere is evident as we are a school very much in the ascendency with ever improving results and happy learners.
The Secondary curriculum at VES is a planned programme based on the National Curriculum of England, which leads to IGCSE, A Levels. These courses support our students’ development and qualify them for entrance into universities both in the UK and Internationally.

Key Stage 3 covers students learning in Years 7, 8 and 9. The curriculum is framed on the lines of the National Curriculum for England. It essentially builds on the learning in Key Stage 2 and provides the foundation for Key Stage 4. There is strong impetus on developing foundation in all key subject areas.

The subjects are:
∙ English
∙ Mathematics
∙ Arabic
∙ Islamic Studies
∙ Science
∙ Social studies
∙ ICT/Computer Science
∙ French
∙ Humanities
∙ Expressive Arts

The Personal Enrichment Programme further develops students’ critical thinking, application of subject knowledge and helps them to acquire life skills for the 21st century.

Key Stage 4 relates to courses studied in Years 10 and 11. Teaching is focused to prepare students for the IGCSE/GCSE examinations at the end of this key stage. Students will pursue seven IGCSE courses. Students follow flexible pathways which are designed based on the student needs and interest.

Five subjects are compulsory and will be taken by all students.
∙ English ∙ Mathematics ∙ Physics Chemistry ∙ Biology

In addition, they will have to choose the remaining four from a range of optional subjects which permits a very large number of possible combinations. The optional subjects offered are   Art & Design, French, Business Studies, Geography, Physical Education, Arabic First Language, Arabic Second Language, ICT, Computer Science, Psychology, History.

All students of Year 10 and 11 are also required to study the following Non IGCSE subjects: ∙ Arabic (General / Special)
∙ Islamic Studies / PSHE
∙ Physical Education

Pastoral

Transition and Pastoral Support

The transition into Secondary school is a big step but rest assured we consider the best way to build on the Primary experience, support and develop our students as they enter the next phase in their learning experience. Our planned Transition Programme builds links between Primary and Secondary so that the students become familiar with the Secondary section of the school, expectations and meet those important adults who will support them such as form tutors and the guidance counsellor.

Pastoral Policies

The Sixth Form Experience

Our students joining our Sixth Form enjoy a wide range of specialized of A Levels. We actively encourage our students to play an active role in the VES community by supporting younger learners as part of our ever developing student leadership programme. Our Head of Sixth Form, heads of department and our guidance counsellor are on hand to support both our students and parents with specific guidance with determining the optimal post 16 journey. At VES we are focused on guiding our students through their post-1 learning experience so that they achieve their very best as we help prepare them for the next stages of their adult lives.

House System

The House System at The Victoria Private School is an integral part of school life, where four different Houses run through the school from FS all the way to the Sixth Form. The VES House names are Nighting girl, Marco polo, Malala and Ali. The primary focus of the House system is to provide VES students with an inclusive annual competition that brings a sense of community to the school, whilst providing students with healthy competition across all areas of the curriculum.

Community Work

Engaging students with the wider community allows them to explore and develop their social intelligence. A student who volunteers within school and for events outside school learns to manage time, develop leadership skills, enhance emotional intelligence and develop a broader perspective in life. Exposure to community work starts early in the primary years through local community trips such as clean-up drives and old age home visits (elderly support) and through secondary broadens into volunteering for charity drives, in-school community work and for parent-led events such as the annual carnival, ‘The Family Fun Day’, to participating in the annual international community trip to various countries where students engage in infrastructural building, donating books and clothes and also supporting local communities through their schools and hospitals.