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PRIMARY SCHOOL
The children follow a broad and balanced curriculum appropriate to their age and ability. All of our classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards which helps present educational resources in a highly interactive way and is suitable for whole class and small group settings. The curriculum, based on the British system, is carefully planned and structured to provide continuity and progression in all subjects throughout these formative years in a child’s development. The class teachers develop and strengthen skills in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science and use topic work to explore other areas. For key stage 1, pupils are given the opportunity to undertake ICT through weekly sessions in the Activities Room, whilst in key stage 2 ICT is taught formally in the main computer room with a subject specialist teacher. Extra-curricular Activities are offered from 1.15 – 1.55pm. The Primary School is a time when we like to see children gaining confidence and making progress but, above all, enjoying themselves at school.
Subjects:
Greek is taught at two levels, (1) as a first language from Infants 1, compulsory for all pupils of Cypriot nationality. The curriculum and textbooks are those laid down for state primary schools in Cyprus. (2) Non-Cypriots start less formal Greek as a Second Language, using a simpler textbook, from Infants 2 level. First Language: A few children join the Key Stage 1 department with limited English. The teachers are experienced in dealing with this situation and have a working knowledge of other languages to help newcomers in the initial settling-down period. Once immersed in a totally English-speaking environment, even the shyest child tends to be chatting happily by the end of the first term. Difficulties with English Language are generally of short duration. At Junior level pupils are expected to be proficient in English. Reception:
Our
children participate in daily Literacy (English) and Numeracy (Maths)
sessions to develop reading, writing and number skills. The children
work in small groups, sometimes in separate rooms, using a range of
teaching and learning styles with lots of opportunity for play. The
class is in the care of two members of staff, the class teacher and a
teaching assistant. Academic progress is entirely individual. Some children take off fast and slow up later. Others are late starters but, once launched, never look back. Maturity is as relevant a factor as intelligence. We are therefore a little flexible regarding the age on entry to Reception and upon meeting with prospective children we assess each child’s readiness for learning.
KEY STAGE 1 (INFANTS) The Key Stage 1 department houses Reception, Infants 1 (Year 1) and Infants 2 (Year 2) with its own playground, amenities and Activities Room. The children are offered a wide and varied curriculum that is taught through a range of methods to suit individual learning styles, encouraging them to be confident and independent learners. The children learn their literacy skills through a range of reading schemes and the encouragement of Emergent Writing. We stress the importance of books and the joy of being a reader. Reading and writing is taught through the Oxford Reading Tree, New Way and Nelson schemes which teach letter sounds and basic digraphs using visual, auditory and kinaesthetic clues.
The children’s progress is carefully monitored through observations and regular teacher assessments, both formal and informal. At the end of this phase of education, children are confident of their abilities and are enthusiastic and prepared for key stage 2 (or the Junior phase of education). KEY STAGE 2 (JUNIORS) The Junior department consists of Junior 1 (Year 3), Junior 2 (Year 4), Junior 3 (Year 5) and Prep (Year 6). The children are encouraged to develop independence and responsibility. Learning is exciting and creative, yet balanced and structured, with a wide range of activities to meet each child’s individual needs. Our curriculum continues to be based broadly on the British National Curriculum, although tending to be working beyond expected levels. We use the same schemes for English and Maths as in Key Stage 1 however subjects are more discrete in their presentation. For most lessons children are taught by their Class Teacher, but for some subjects such as Greek, P.E., ICT and Music, they are taught by Subject Specialists.
During Junior 3 (Year 5) the children attend a residential trip to Paphos. This is an important step for many of the children as it allows them to be away from home, some for the first time, to try many new activities Prep Prep is an important stepping stone from Primary to Senior School and aims to make a smooth transition to the secondary system. The children have a form tutor but all of their subjects are taught by specialist teachers with French being introduced as a compulsory foreign language. The children become more self-reliant as they have to move classrooms frequently for these specialist lessons. Furthermore throughout the year the children complete some projects requiring independent learning and research assisted by their teacher. Children have end-of-term assessments in all subject areas. Any child achieving satisfactory progress and results passes automatically to Form 1 (Year 7) without additional examinations.
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Our
aim is to give the children a broad and balanced start to their
education and the confidence to achieve their potential in a happy,
industrious and stimulating environment. We look upon each boy and girl
as an individual and our positive approach to behaviour fosters a sense
of personal responsibility. Our main objective is that children feel
learning is fun and that they are happy and confident. We seek to bring
out the best in every pupil - to develop skills, talents, curiosity and
imagination. We encourage social awareness, courtesy and consideration
for others. We take special care to include parents through regular
reporting and meetings and we encourage a warm and open relationship
with parents as we feel this is vital to the educational process.
We
offer a caring environment catering for the social, moral and academic
needs of the individual child in a bright and stimulating setting.
We follow the Foundation Stage curriculum working to and beyond the
Early Learning Goals, fostering a love of independent learning.
Numeracy skills are
developed through using lots of practical activities alongside the
Heinemann Maths scheme. The children work with numbers up to 20 for
addition and subtraction, while at the same time investigating number
patterns with numbers to 100. The studies of shape, space and measure
are covered with practical activities.
Children
have a wider range of subjects set for homework and it is more than just
the nominal amount expected of key stage 1. Informal end of unit tests
and more formal end-of-term written assessments complement continuous
assessment to monitor progress.
