The British School - Al Khubairat
Encyclopedia
The School British Al Khubairat, commonly known and referred to as "Al Khubairat", "BSAK", "The British School" or and formerly known as "AKCS — Al Khubairat Community School", is a school for English
speaking children in Abu Dhabi
, United Arab Emirates
.
and Wales
, and is an international member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
(HMC), the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) and the Council of British International Schools
(COBIS). It has also received a top rating of 'excellent' by the Independent Schools Inspectorate
(ISI).
Paul Coackley has been Principal of the school since September 2005. BSAK also has two headteachers who lead the Primary and Secondary schools: Mark Yeowell (Primary) and Stephen Rogers (Secondary).
, where the pearl fishing fleet used to be first sighted on their return from sea. One suggested translation of the word 'Khubairat' is 'good news'.
In May 1971, the school was formally registered as a legal entity by Amiri Decree No. 5 of 1971, with its management vested in the Board of Governors. The Board is made up of elected governors and those appointed by His Excellency the British
Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. The school has been sponsored since 1980 by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, The President of the UAE.
In 1980 the school moved into its new purpose built facilities at its current location on Airport Road in Al Mushrif. The facilities reflected the school's main purpose at that time of providing primary education for children aged between 3 and 11-years-old. The original campus comprised an administration block, four teaching blocks and two sports halls. It also included a 25m swimming pool, around which were constructed staff quarters that accommodated the school's first teachers.
Towards the end of the 1990s it became apparent that there was a growing need in Abu Dhabi for the provision of secondary education. Increasingly, Abu Dhabi was no longer a posting of two to three years for most British expatriates, with more families staying here for five to ten years. As BSAK was the centre for educational provision within the British expatriate society in Abu Dhabi, the Board of Governors responded to this demand by approving the construction of a new secondary school alongside the original primary buildings on the existing site. This was Phase 1 of BSAK's recent development programme.
Whilst Phase 1 was under construction, the Board of Governors decided to proceed with the construction of Phase 2, a new purpose built 3-storey building for the primary school. This project not only improved primary provision but also released space for further buildings. Construction commenced in April 2001 and the Jubilee Building (Years 3–6) was formally opened by HE Sheikh Nayhan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan in April 2002.
As the construction of Phase 2 was drawing to a close, the new secondary school was proving to be a resounding success with full classes progressing into Years 7, 8 and 9. It became apparent that many families in Abu Dhabi wished to see their children continue their education at BSAK into the sixth form so they could sit their A Levels in Abu Dhabi. The first A Level students completed their studies in June 2005.
A third phase of development was started in October 2002. This flagship building includes a theatre, auditorium, library, sixth form accommodation, an additional gymnasium, drama studio, music centre and a range of academic and administrative facilities. This building was opened in September 2005. The whole school now holds over 1,800 students.
BSAK is now in the process of constructing the new phase 4 expansion entitled the Ruby Building. It started construction in late August 2010 and is planned to take 18-24 months to be completed.
The British School has undergone dramatic and extensive redevelopment in the last decade both to modernise its facilities and to meet the changing requirements of the British and wider expatriate community. The three phases of development have been entirely financed by the school itself, reflecting its principle
as a non-profit organisation that reinvests all its income back into the school for the benefit of the children.
plan consists of 4 gym
s, 2 pitches, a playground, a basketball court
, a theatre, 2 libraries and 7 teaching blocks/buildings. The school occupies a space of 39,579 m² with car parking
provided for parents, students and visitors.
Al Khubairat offers the following subjects to its students:
These are the following Modern Foreign Languages that are being taught:
es. Existing sports clubs include rugby
, netball
, volleyball
, football, swimming
, rounders
and cricket
.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
speaking children in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
.
Overview
The school broadly follows the National Curriculum of EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and is an international member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference
The Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference is an association of the headmasters or headmistressess of 243 leading day and boarding independent schools in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and the Republic of Ireland...
(HMC), the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools (IAPS) and the Council of British International Schools
Council of British International Schools
The Council of British International Schools is a membership organization of high-quality British schools worldwide. COBIS is a constituent member of the Independent Schools Council in the UK, and member schools are inspected by the UK-based Independent Schools Inspectorate...
(COBIS). It has also received a top rating of 'excellent' by the Independent Schools Inspectorate
Independent Schools Inspectorate
The Independent Schools Inspectorate is an organisation responsible for the inspection of independent schools in England which are affiliated to the Independent Schools Council . The Inspectorate is a separate company, owned by the Independent Schools Council and has its work monitored by the...
(ISI).
Paul Coackley has been Principal of the school since September 2005. BSAK also has two headteachers who lead the Primary and Secondary schools: Mark Yeowell (Primary) and Stephen Rogers (Secondary).
History
BSAK was established in January 1968 on land generously donated by the then Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in an area of the city known as Khubairat. This area was the part of the CornicheCorniche
The word corniche typically refers to a road on the side of a cliff or mountain, with the ground rising on one side of the road and falling away on the other...
, where the pearl fishing fleet used to be first sighted on their return from sea. One suggested translation of the word 'Khubairat' is 'good news'.
In May 1971, the school was formally registered as a legal entity by Amiri Decree No. 5 of 1971, with its management vested in the Board of Governors. The Board is made up of elected governors and those appointed by His Excellency the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. The school has been sponsored since 1980 by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, The President of the UAE.
In 1980 the school moved into its new purpose built facilities at its current location on Airport Road in Al Mushrif. The facilities reflected the school's main purpose at that time of providing primary education for children aged between 3 and 11-years-old. The original campus comprised an administration block, four teaching blocks and two sports halls. It also included a 25m swimming pool, around which were constructed staff quarters that accommodated the school's first teachers.
Towards the end of the 1990s it became apparent that there was a growing need in Abu Dhabi for the provision of secondary education. Increasingly, Abu Dhabi was no longer a posting of two to three years for most British expatriates, with more families staying here for five to ten years. As BSAK was the centre for educational provision within the British expatriate society in Abu Dhabi, the Board of Governors responded to this demand by approving the construction of a new secondary school alongside the original primary buildings on the existing site. This was Phase 1 of BSAK's recent development programme.
Whilst Phase 1 was under construction, the Board of Governors decided to proceed with the construction of Phase 2, a new purpose built 3-storey building for the primary school. This project not only improved primary provision but also released space for further buildings. Construction commenced in April 2001 and the Jubilee Building (Years 3–6) was formally opened by HE Sheikh Nayhan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan in April 2002.
As the construction of Phase 2 was drawing to a close, the new secondary school was proving to be a resounding success with full classes progressing into Years 7, 8 and 9. It became apparent that many families in Abu Dhabi wished to see their children continue their education at BSAK into the sixth form so they could sit their A Levels in Abu Dhabi. The first A Level students completed their studies in June 2005.
A third phase of development was started in October 2002. This flagship building includes a theatre, auditorium, library, sixth form accommodation, an additional gymnasium, drama studio, music centre and a range of academic and administrative facilities. This building was opened in September 2005. The whole school now holds over 1,800 students.
BSAK is now in the process of constructing the new phase 4 expansion entitled the Ruby Building. It started construction in late August 2010 and is planned to take 18-24 months to be completed.
The British School has undergone dramatic and extensive redevelopment in the last decade both to modernise its facilities and to meet the changing requirements of the British and wider expatriate community. The three phases of development have been entirely financed by the school itself, reflecting its principle
Principle
A principle is a law or rule that has to be, or usually is to be followed, or can be desirably followed, or is an inevitable consequence of something, such as the laws observed in nature or the way that a system is constructed...
as a non-profit organisation that reinvests all its income back into the school for the benefit of the children.
Campus
The school's campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
plan consists of 4 gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
s, 2 pitches, a playground, a basketball court
Basketball court
In basketball, the basketball court is the playing surface, consisting of a rectangular floor with tiles at either end. In professional or organized basketball, especially when played indoors, it is usually made out of a wood, often maple, and highly polished...
, a theatre, 2 libraries and 7 teaching blocks/buildings. The school occupies a space of 39,579 m² with car parking
Parking
Parking is the act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied for more than a brief time. Parking on one or both sides of a road is commonly permitted, though often with restrictions...
provided for parents, students and visitors.
School life
Currently, there are 1,740 students in the school, as from September 2007.Al Khubairat offers the following subjects to its students:
- EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
- Maths
- Dual Award Science
- PEPhysical educationPhysical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting....
- ICTInformation and communication technologiesInformation and communications technology or information and communication technology, usually abbreviated as ICT, is often used as an extended synonym for information technology , but is usually a more general term that stresses the role of unified communications and the integration of...
- HistoryHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
- GeographyGeographyGeography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
- PSHE
- Design TechnologyDesign TechnologyDesign and Technology is a school subject offered at all levels of primary and secondary school. In some countries such as England it is a part of the National Curriculum. It is offered in many countries around the world such as Brunei, Bermuda, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Jordan...
- taught as Art and Design at Key Stage 1Key Stage 1Key Stage 1 is the legal term for the two years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 1 and Year 2, when pupils are aged between 5 and 7. This Key Stage normally covers pupils during infant school, although in some cases this might form part of a first or...
(ages 5–7) and Key Stage 2Key Stage 2Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
(ages 7–11) - Food Technology & Textiles
- ArtArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
- taught as Art and Design at Key Stage 1Key Stage 1Key Stage 1 is the legal term for the two years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 1 and Year 2, when pupils are aged between 5 and 7. This Key Stage normally covers pupils during infant school, although in some cases this might form part of a first or...
(ages 5–7) and Key Stage 2Key Stage 2Key Stage 2 is the legal term for the four years of schooling in maintained schools in England and Wales normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6, when pupils are aged between 7 and 11. The term is applied differently in Northern Ireland where it refers to pupils in Year 5, Year 6 and...
(ages 7–11) - DramaDramaDrama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
- taught at Key Stage 3 + - MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
- Business StudiesBusiness studiesBusiness studies is an academic subject taught at higher level in Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom, as well as at university level in many countries...
- EconomicsEconomicsEconomics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
- Media StudiesMedia studiesMedia studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
- Health and Social CareHealth and Social CareIn the UK, Health and Social Care is a broad term that relates to integrated services that are available from health and social care providers...
- Travel and Tourism
- Personal,Health and Social Education
These are the following Modern Foreign Languages that are being taught:
- Arabic
- FrenchFrench languageFrench is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
- Spanish
Clubs and extra-curricular activities
There are numerous clubs and activities that children of different ages can attend, usually after the regular school hours. The extracurricular activities often change and are replaced throughout the year. The PE and sporting clubs (both academic and extracurricular) change according to seasonal and ½ semester timetables. Students who join the PE clubs can have a chance to enter sports teams which then play against numerous inter-school sides and Varsity matchVarsity match
A varsity match is a sporting fixture between two university rivals; in its original and most common form, it is used to describe meetings between Oxford University and Cambridge University.-Popular British and Irish Varsity matches:*University of Oxford v...
es. Existing sports clubs include rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
, volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
, football, swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
, rounders
Rounders
Rounders is a game played between two teams of either gender. The game originated in England where it was played in Tudor times. Rounders is a striking and fielding team game that involves hitting a small, hard, leather-cased ball with a round wooden, plastic or metal bat. The players score by...
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
.