At Kinabalu International School we base our academic programme on the National Curriculum of England and Wales with adaptations to reflect our status as an International School in South East Asia. Classes range from our Foundation One Class for three year olds, through to Year 11 for sixteen year olds, when students complete their IGCSE exams before going on to post 16 education alternatives in other parts of Malaysia or abroad. Teachers in the Foundation Stage through to the end of Key Stage 3 base their planning on the QCA schemes of work produced to support the National Curriculum of England and Wales. In Key Stage 4, Year 10 and Year 11 students follow a programme published by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in England. While the skill base and expected levels of understanding that are expected of Year 11 pupils are still based upon the ‘Level Descriptors’ found within the National Curriculum of England and Wales, the syllabus has a more international content. This is particularly evident in subjects such as history and geography where world history and geographical issues are emphasised, as opposed to strictly British ones.
The school has a clear commitment to making learning an enjoyable experience and regular student and parent surveys support the schools belief that we are successful in this aim. Students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning, to be self-motivated and to develop enquiring minds and sound work habits. At the beginning of each term, Primary teachers hold topic talks for parents of students in their class and are able to use this opportunity to outline areas of study and suggest potential ways to support the curriculum at home. Secondary teachers send out ‘Curriculum Statements’ for each subject, also at the beginning of each term.
A thriving playgroup, ‘First Steps @ KIS’ with a limited number of places, provides an interactive introduction to schooling for children from the age of 18 months, accompanied by parents. KIS is committed to maintaining low student to teacher ratios in each year group and all Primary classes have full-time teaching assistants working in them to support the curriculum.
All funds generated from school fees are put directly back into the school and accordingly KIS is fortunate that it possesses very good resources and teaching materials to support the curriculum across all general class and specialist subject areas. The school library has a growing range of books that is regularly updated and all students follow a library skills programme as part of their curriculum that allows them to make best use of the resources on offer. All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and the school has over one hundred networked computers to support learning.
Formal assessment takes place through the use of UK the National Tests and Optional National Tests, as well the use of the Durham University pioneered INSIGHT assessments at Key Stage 3 and CLaIT exams in Key Stage 4. Primary parents receive reports twice a year and are also invited to termly parent-teacher interviews to discuss progress. The Secondary Department sends home a brief report cards home each half term and also sends a comprehensive student report at the end of each academic year. As in the Primary School, there is a scheduled programme of parents’ evenings. Outside formal meetings, parents are welcome to make an appointment to meet with their child’s teacher at any time throughout the year. These appointments can be arranged through the school office.
17 February, 2012
