Curriculum Overview

Key Stages

The Secondary education phase at AAESS starts in Year 7 and ends in Year 13. The Years are separated into 3 main Key Stages as follows:

Key Stage 3 – Year 7 and 8.

Key Stage 4 – Year 9, 10 and 11.

Key Stage 5 – Year 12 and 13.

Key Stage 3	Key Stage 4	Key Stage 5
The first two years in Secondary school are regarded as the transition years between the Primary phase and the middle phase of Secondary school. Students in Key Stage 3 follow a broad curriculum which aligns with the outcomes of the United Kingdom National Curriculum. A wide variety of teaching styles aims to stimulate and challenge students as well as develop their interests and confidence. Teachers present innovative lessons to ensure a passion for the subject, and a desire to study it further at Key stages 4 and 5. Students are equipped with skills and knowledge to access the subjects offered in Year 9 as they will make bespoke subject choices in Year 8 which form the foundation for their University studies and career paths.	In the second term of the Year 8 academic year the school hosts a subject options meeting to provide information and guidance for students to choose subjects (from the subjects on offer) which they will study for the next 3 years. Students will sit external board examinations at the end of Year 11 and the subjects and their performance within these will see them progress to Year 12 and ultimately to Universities and Colleges.	The Sixth Form at AAESS is a very special place indeed. It is an honour to welcome students into what will be one of the most challenging, and rewarding, eras of student life. 6th Form students follow AS/A level courses which qualify them for entrance to universities throughout the world. The transfer of students from AAESS to the UK and other countries is straightforward and is supported by our Universities and Careers Guidance Counselor.

Key Stage 3

The Key Stage 3 curriculum comprises the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science* Arabic, Islamic (compulsory for Muslim students only), Moral Education and UAE Social Studies.

Students also study Art, Music, History, Geography, ICT and they participate in two Physical Education lessons a week.

Students choose a Modern Foreign Language (either French or Spanish) to study over the two years.

*In Year 7 students are taught General Science but they transition into the separate Sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics in Year 8. This helps them to determine their relative strengths in each of the Science subjects especially as they will choose subjects for their Key Stage 4 curriculum towards the latter half of the Year 8 academic year.

Key Stage 4

The curriculum in Key stage 4 is thus split into compulsory subjects and optional subjects.

The compulsory subjects include English (Language and Literature for first language students and just Language for second language students), Mathematics, Arabic, Isalmic (for Muslim students), Moral Education and UAE Social Studies (in Year 9 and 10 only)

Students also choose 6 subjects from the subjects* listed below to make up their bespoke subject packages. It is imperative that students consider their subject choices carefully as their choices form the foundation for their University studies.

Art, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, French, Geography, History, ICT, Music, Physical Education, Psychology, Sociology and Spanish.

*The subjects offered each year are subject to change based on their subscription in previous academic years.

Key Stage 5

6th Form students have a number of subject options available to them, depending on their (I)GCSE grades. Studying at A level is academically demanding and acceptance to a particular course will be subject to a student having achieved at least five (I)GCSEs, including English Language and Mathematics, at grade C or better .A minimum grade B in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics is required should students choose to study these options at AS/A Level. Advice on the choice of course and subjects is provided by the Head of 6th Form as well as subject teachers during a subject options presentation during the Year 11 academic year. Collaborative learning is encouraged in a collegiate atmosphere of teamwork between staff and students. There are areas for independent learning and group work, for relaxing and for reflection, all backed by underlying principles suitable for young adults of today.

Students choose 2,3 or 4 subjects in Year 12 depending on the Universities they aim to study at. In Year 13 students continue with 1,2 or 3 of the subjects which were chosen in Year 12. Arabic is compulsory for students who are passport holders of Arab countries and Islamic Studies is compulsory for Muslim students in Years 12 and 13. Moral Education is compulsory for all students in Year 12 and 13.

Subjects* on offer for AS/A Levels include Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, French, Geography, History, ICT, English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Physical Education, Physics, Psychology, Sociology and Spanish.

*The subjects offered each year are subject to change based on their subscription in previous academic years.

Curriculum Overview