KEY STAGE TWO

Classrooms, Facilities and Resources

Key Stage Twos (KS2s) spacious classrooms and specialist teaching areas are mainly located on the first and second floors of the Junior School, and are the heart of the magnificent new campus.  There are three classes for each of Years 3, 4, 5 and 6.  Our classrooms are airy, spacious and bright and excellently equipped and resourced.  All classrooms are equipped with interactive white boards and digital projectors.   Book corners and computer areas feature in all classrooms and there are specialist laboratories and centres for Science, ICT, Music, Languages and Art and DT.  A large Junior School Library, equipped with multi-media research facilities, is situated centrally within the Junior School classroom areas.  In PE and Games, all pupils fully utilise the extensive facilities of our new campus, including spacious playing fields, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, and multi-purpose and sports halls. 

Our Teachers: BISCs Most Important Resource

KS2s highly qualified and experienced class and subject specialist teachers understand and respond to the needs of international pupils. We have a low turnover of staff in KS2 and our staff are well known and respected by our pupils and parents.

We have support teachers in both English and Maths for a number of pupils who need this.  Lessons are carefully differentiated to meet all pupils’ needs and to assist maximisation of each pupil’s potential.

Curriculum

KS2 is a happy, hardworking team of staff and pupils, and the purposeful atmosphere is tangible as you walk around the School.  Our curriculum is based on the English National Curriculum and builds upon the solid foundations laid in KS1. Practical activity reinforces learning and also reinforces the children’s developing abstract thinking and recording.  KS2 pupils move forward strongly through Years 3-6 in their knowledge of the world, and their skills, confidence and creativity. Pupils have lessons with their class teacher in the following subjects, with English and Maths taught in ability groups: 

Pupils have lessons with specialist teachers in the following subjects: 

Pupil Assessment

All pupils are assessed upon entry to the School.  Throughout KS2 our pupils are assessed informally on a continuous basis by their class and specialist teachers.  More formal English National Curriculum and other diagnostic assessments also happen at the end of terms and at other intervals.  Assessment happens within the context of best UK practices and central to this is also the process of pupils themselves reviewing their progress and personal targets.  BISC KS2 ‘SATS’ results have been well above UK national averages for many years.

Homework

Homework is given regularly to enable our pupils to practise skills and use knowledge introduced in class.  Daily reading is also set as an integral part of a pupils homework. Book choices may be free or guided and we also recommend that parents hear their children read as much as they can.

Entry to BISC Senior School

Our Year 6 pupils sit assessments in English, Maths and reasoning skills before being offered a place in Senior School. These assessments take place in February and places are offered based on the results. Our Year 6 teachers prepare the children for all aspects of these assessments.

Special Days and Events

There are a number of special events each term, including:    

• Class educational visits: for example to the Pyramids at Giza, Sakhara and to local museums; to concert and dance performances and creative art centres; to the River Nile; and to other locations extending pupils’ understanding of their world
• Residential Visits: in Y6 to Alexandria and El Alamein, in Y5 to Luxor
• Book Week: our annual bookfest is always a great pupil favourite
• Pupil Concerts; each term pupils perform quality productions
• Visitors; artists, parents and other adults from the community
• KS2 Weekly Assembly;  presented by a different KS2 class each week
• Charity Stalls Day: an annual event organised and run by pupils
• Annual Summer Exhibition: a stimulating showcase of Junior School work
• Parent Curriculum Information Meetings; these help parents with advice on supporting their children to achieve their best in all their educational activities

After School Activities

Our pupils take part in a very extensive programme of over forty sports and cultural extra-curricular activities after school.  Participation is very popular and strongly encouraged and KS2 pupils take full advantage of the manifold opportunities offered by our purpose-built and very spacious new campus.