GEMS FirstPoint School has designed its curriculum around the global needs of our students. Fundamentally, we offer the National Curriculum for England; however, we also incorporate the goals and values of GEMS Education and the rich national influence of the UAE. This mix results in students being offered a modern, exciting and educationally advanced curriculum.
Core Curriculum: National Curriculum for England
GEMS FirstPoint School follows the National Curriculum for England course structure for Foundation Stage through to Year 12.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) and Foundation Stage 2 (FS2)
Ages: 3 years old and 4 years old
In Foundation Stage, learning is introductory and play based, as students are nurtured and welcomed into the world of education in a positive, colourful, fun and happy environment. Fundamental information is taught to students and students are watched to ensure they are at the standard for their age level.
The key areas of learning and development covered at this stage will be:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Language: Students in the Foundation Stage are introduced to Arabic language and dedicated lessons delivered by Arabic specialists take place from FS2. French and Spanish also appear as students are introduced to the world and the languages it consists of.
By the end of Foundation Stage, students will be confident and comfortable in the school environment and have basic knowledge of core concepts in order to prepare them to begin the British National Curriculum.
Primary School
Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 3 to Year 6)
Ages: 5 years old to 10 years old
In these years of school, students lay a solid foundation for learning that they will use for the rest of their lives. The National Curriculum for England has a very structured flow of learning that challenges and assesses students to ensure development in key academic areas is being met.
Subjects taught in these years include:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Information and Communications Technology
- Arabic (for native speakers and for non-native speakers)
- Islamic Education
- Thematic Curriculum: which is a project-based approach to learning that encompasses History, Geography and Visual and Performing Arts.
- Physical Education
- Personal, Social and Health Education
- Enterprise
Our enriched international curriculum gives students a number of opportunities to develop competencies and an understanding of the world and cultures in it. The Ministry of Education (UAE) has developed a regionally renowned curriculum for the learning of Arabic and Islamic that is second-to-none. Followed correctly, students will finish Key Stage 2 prepared for entry into the higher levels of learning and be well rounded, intellectual and global learners ready to take on greater challenges.
Secondary School
Key Stage 3 (Year 7 and Year 8)
Ages: 11 years old and 12 years old
The middle years of school make for a seamless transition from primary years to upper years learning. At these ages, students are growing rapidly and they are paying more attention to their own unique identity and their place in the world. Learning at this age strengthens subject competency alongside supporting students as they take on more enquiry-based learning to answer their own questions about the world.
Our classrooms are encouraging, supportive and structured to allow students to maximise their learning opportunity.
Core subject at this level:
- English
- Mathematics
- Citizenship
- Science
- Computer Science
- Arabic
- Spanish
- French
- Art and Design
- Technology
- Physical Education
- Islamic Education
- PSHCEE PSHE (Personal, Social, Health, Education)
- Humanities
Key Stage 4 (Year 9 to Year 11)
Ages: 13 years old to 15 years old
Our senior students are inspired to learn through a range of interesting skills are those that an individual can utilise to communicate and actively participate in the world around them; these include work placement, university seminars and workshops, and other relevant activities that we feel will add value to student development and preparation.
Core Subjects
Core subjects at this stage consist of:
- English
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Arabic (for Arabic students)
- Physical Education
- Islamic Education (for Muslim students)
- Electives
Furthering our commitment to individual student-development, we offer a variety of elective subjects for students to select from when designing their curriculum. These electives include:
- French
- Spanish
- History
- Geography
- Economics
- Business
- Music
- Drama
- Art and Design
- Psychology
- Music
- Technology
Key Stage 5 (Year 12 & 13): A-Levels
Ages: 16 years old and 17 years old
The final two years of school significantly shape and prepare students for the years post-graduation. At this stage, they have a greater responsibility in designing their curriculum around their strengths, competencies and interests. This introduces them to the decision-making process that will become a significant part of their lives. Students are encouraged to seek support when selecting the subjects to suit their requirements or to match their graduation expectations.
FirstPoint Core Enrichment Programme
To supplement the A-levels, students will have the opportunity to complete an extended individual or group project and will also take part in the FirstPoint Core Enrichment Programme. These additional opportunities will ensure that students leave FirstPoint not only with excellent results, but also with a well-rounded education that will prepare them for university and the workplace.
Subjects Offered
By this stage, individual competencies have been developed significantly. As the pursuit of individual excellence is our commitment, the range of subjects available for students to study at this stage is broad and widely inclusive of many interest areas.
Subjects offered:
- Art
- Biology
- Business
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Design Technology: Engineering
- Design Technology: Fashion Design
- Design Technology: Product Design
- Economics
- English Language
- English Literature
- French
- Further Mathematics
- Geography
- History
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Physical Education
- Psychology
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