The Gems Al Barsha National School's grading system follows a standard scale that ensures a fair and thorough evaluation of students' academic progress. It reflects their understanding, skills, and overall performance across various subjects.
Section
|
Grades
|
Foundation Stage
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FS1 and FS2
|
Primary Stage
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Year 1 to Year 6
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Middle School
|
Year 7 to Year 9 (Key Stage 3)
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Secondary Stage
|
Year 10 and Year 11 (Key Stage 4)
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High School
|
Year 12 and Year 13 (Key Stage 5)
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GEMS Al Barsha National School follows the British Curriculum, combining UK education with Arabic culture and traditions. The school focuses on academic, emotional, and social development.
Foundation Stage (FS1 and FS2):
The foundation stage focuses on developing basic skills in a creative and play-based environment:
Foundation Stage Subjects
|
Core Areas
|
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
|
Additional Subjects
|
- Arabic Language
- Islamic Education
- Physical Education
|
Primary Stage (Year 1 to Year 6)
The primary stage focuses on building a strong foundation in core subjects and developing critical thinking.
Primary Stage SUBJECTS
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Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2)
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- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Humanities
- Digital Learning
- Arabic Language
- UAE Social Studies
- Islamic Education
- Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE)
- Enterprise Education
- Design and Technology
- Arts
- Physical Education
|
Key Stage 2 (Year 3 to Year 6)
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Builds upon Key Stage 1 subjects with the addition of Spanish from Year 5
|
Middle School (Key Stage 3, Year 7 to Year 9):
Key Stage 3 helps students refine their academic skills and begin specialising in different subjects.
Middle School SUBJECTS
|
English
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Mathematics
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Science
|
ICT
|
Arabic Language
|
UAE Social Studies
|
Islamic Education (for Muslim students)
|
Business Studies
|
Design and Technology
|
Physical Education
|
Humanities
|
Digital Learning
|
Enterprise Education
|
Spanish
|
Arts
|
Personal, Social, Health, and Economic Education (PSHE)
|
Moral Education
|
Secondary Stage (Key Stage 4, Year 10 and Year 11):
Key Stage 4 focuses on preparing students for IGCSE exams and future higher education:
Secondary Stage Subjects
|
Core Subjects
|
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Geography
- History
- Computer Science
- Arabic Language
- Moral Education
- UAE Social Studies
- Islamic Education
- Spanish
- Design and Technology
- Arts
- Physical Education
|
Examinations
|
Students sit for internal assessments in Year 10 and external IGCSE examinations by the Cambridge board in Year 11.
|
High School (Key Stage 5, Year 12 and Year 13):
High school students prepare for their A-levels or equivalent international qualifications:
High School Subjects
|
Compulsory Subjects
|
- Arabic
- Islamic Education
- Moral Education
- Physical Education
- UAE Social Studies
|
Elective Courses
|
- Biology
- Chemistry
- History
- Mathematics
- Business
- English
- Information Technology
- Psychology
|
Home Learning
Home learning is essential to the learning process. It allows students to reinforce and practice what they have learned at school, helping them develop independence, responsibility, and crucial skills for future academic success. Home learning approaches vary by grade level, emphasising reading and phonics in the younger years and focusing on skill application and independent learning in secondary school.
Foundation Stage
In the Foundation Stage, the emphasis is on fostering a love for reading. Parents are encouraged to read with their children daily to develop phonics and reading skills. Students can also access various optional activities on Padlet to support and enhance their classroom learning.
Primary Stage
- Year 1: Students are given work through Phoenix Classroom, focusing on phonics and reading, essential skills for the rest of the curriculum.
- Years 2 to 6: Students use online platforms like Century and Times Table Rock Stars. Century personalises learning, while Times Table Rock Stars helps with times table practice. Year 3 to 6 students use Accelerated Reader to match books with their reading abilities and take quizzes to assess comprehension.
Secondary Stage
Home learning becomes more structured as students progress into secondary school, helping them develop independence and prepare for future assessments. The time spent on home learning increases as students move from Years 7 to 13:
- Years 7 to 9: 20-30 minutes of study per subject per week, focusing on skill application and retrieval.
- Years 10 to 11: 30-45 minutes of study per subject per week, building in-depth understanding for GCSE exams.
- Years 12 to 13: One hour per subject per week to prepare for the demands of higher education.
Post-16
The Post-16 phase at GEMS Al Barsha National School offers a personalised learning experience to help students achieve their academic and career goals. Students can choose from various subjects, including A-Levels, BTEC qualifications, and compulsory UAE Ministry of Education courses. The subjects include:
Post-16 Subjects
|
Compulsory Courses
|
- Arabic (MoE)
- Islamic Studies
- Physical Education
- Moral Education
- UAE Social Studies
|
A-Level Subjects
|
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- English
- Psychology
|
BTEC Courses
|
- Business
- Applied Science
- Creative Media
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