Junior English at BISC

English is a vital way of communicating in school, in public life and internationally. Literature in English is rich and influential, reflecting the experiences of people from many countries and times. Our aim at BISC in studying English is for pupils to: 

• Develop their skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing,
• Express themselves creatively and imaginatively and to communicate with others effectively,
• Become enthusiastic and critical readers of stories, poetry and drama as well as non-fiction and media texts.

Developing Children's English

At BISC we ensure that there is continuity, progression and balance in the English curriculum. In doing so we strive for the highest standards in learning and teaching: allowing each child to reach her/his fullest potential. Speaking and listening, reading and writing arise within a range of curricular contexts.  Pupils develop their understanding and use of Standard English through purposeful activities, where specific English skills are taught in a structured, systematic, progressive and rigorous way.

Although we have an international student body, English is the common language of all our pupils. However, we also wish to encourage children to value their mother tongues and cultures. 

The British National Curriculum and National Literacy Strategy

The British National Curriculum and The National Literacy Strategy are used as our principal sources of curriculum planning. We follow developments in U.K. educational policy and current academic research.

Assessment

The bulk of assessment is ongoing and continuous, takes the form of continuous narrative observations of key and incidental observations. We also collect written narratives by teachers and samples of written work and may include other evidence such as miscue analysis data. British Standard Assessment Tasks  (SATs) are taken in Year 6 and are reported formally to the Board of BISC and parents.

The Junior School Library

We are fortunate at BISC in that we have an excellent School Library. It contains over 5,000 children's books, story props, multimedia CD-ROM's, audio and videocassettes. We have a full time librarian. The stock of books is continually updated and provides one of the most comprehensive collections of children's literature in Cairo. The children use the library to select fiction but it is also used to support the whole of the primary curriculum.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

BISC as an international school has a large proportion of bilingual pupils. The metaphor of the brain as a receptacle with a finite capacity - so that bilingual children would never be able to speak either of their languages as well as of monolinguals - has been replaced by the metaphor of a dual iceberg. In this view, two peaks appearing above the water represent the surface features of a speaker's languages. Below, however, is a common proficiency, which makes it possible to transfer underlying skills from one language to another.  Some children receive bilingual support from designated teachers who have specific expertise in bilingual education.

Special Events

We believe a love of language is important and that reading is fun. During the year we organise a Book Week and Poetry Week in which we emphasise the joy of children's literature. The children also run a small bookshop for Key Stage 2 pupils which opens at break times during the school week.