E-Sports Flyers

Departments & Subjects

Early Childhood (PreK - KG2)

GWA PreK classes provide 3 year old children the first gentle steps into the routines of school life. These are crucial to future success and GWA creates a warm and nurturing environment for this early childhood development stage.

Our KG1 and KG2 classes are oriented towards practical applications, social development and acquiring the skills, knowledge and understanding required to interact in a changing world. Encouragement and support are provided for children to achieve their full potential in a caring and stimulating environment in which the learning process is positive and meaningful.

Learning through structured play and regular educational visits are an integral part of the Nursery and Kindergarten.

Download the Early Childhood Philosophy Statement.

The Elementary School (Grade 1 - 5)

The Elementary School programme helps children to develop a love for learning, to think independently and encourages initiative, innovation and participation. It is based on the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IBPYP).

The program is a child-centred inquiry based program. Parents should not expect traditional (old fashioned!) teaching. However, this does not mean that children do not make excellent academic progress. Learning through inquiry is being well developed at GWA.

For further information GWA elementary team offer regular information sessions for families to explain our methodologies that are based on excellence in international schools from around the world.

The Secondary/Middle School (Grade 6 - 10)

In the Middle School we lay the foundations for the Upper Secondary programs. Assessment is continuous and ongoing relating to targets in all subjects. Formal assessments take place at the end of each year. Students are well prepared for formal examinations.

During the Middle School years students have the opportunity to broaden their academic focus and develop a variety of skills because of the wide range of subjects offered. Courses equip students with many life skills that they require to become independent citizens of the world.

The Secondary School has exclusive use of the classrooms in the C wing of the school. This includes 12 classrooms plus dedicated rooms for Drama, Design Technology and Music Technology. Two other classrooms plus practice rooms are shared with the Elementary School for Music. In the A wing the Secondary uses 5 classrooms (for Maths and Science).

In addition to this, the Secondary has use of the Science Labs (3).We have our own Computer Lab on the First Floor, and share the Library and the Sports facilities with the Elementary School.

In the C block – second floor classrooms are used for English, Humanities and Art. Third floor C block classrooms are used for second languages (Spanish, French, Arabic and German). This also includes rooms for Special Needs, ELL and Speech Therapy.

The Diploma Centre (Grade 11 & 12)

Diploma students begin Grade 11 as part of their upper secondary studies. The programme offers Diploma students the possibility of greater independence and self determination which helps to prepare them for study in further education. GWA also offers the Advanced Placement International Diploma (APID)

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_intl.html

Counselling for university placement begins in Grade 12. These one-on-one interviews for university and careers advice provides students with opportunities to focus their interests into potential careers and action planning their research. University representatives from the UK, Canada, U.S., Australia, New Zealand and India will hold regular exhibitions throughout the school year to enable students to ask specific questions about their university or further education choices.

Alongside the academic requirements of the Diploma, all students are involved in creative activities and a choice of physical activities and also take part in community service (CAS).

Teaching of Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies

With Ministry approval, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), is now responsible for the majority of the regulatory issues in Dubai with regard to private education. KHDA is driving forward the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with regards to education.

KHDA Requirements as per the UAE Law

All private schools are to offer, should the parents request it:

The appropriate UAE curriculum for Arabic as a first language including the required teaching hours
Islamic Studies teaching to meet the legal requirements
Social Studies teaching to meet the legal requirements

The UAE Law as it stands now

Teachers of the Arabic language, both first and second language learners, must be registered with the Ministry. They are also required to be registered as to the GRADES they are qualified to teach.
Islamic Studies and Social Studies teachers must also be registered with the Ministry, again confirming the Grades they are qualified to teach
18 hours per week is the approved teaching time for the above staff
The UAE Curriculum is set out in the books from the Ministry which are provided by the school
All Muslim students are required to take Islamic Studies. For first language Arabs this must be delivered in Arabic.

The UAE Law No 4532 of 2005 states:

6 Arabic language teaching sessions per week, of 40 minutes, until Grade 3, 5 sessions for Grades 4, 5 and 6 and 4 sessions for Grade 7 upwards
3 teaching sessions of Islamic Studies per week of 40 minutes until Grade 3 after which 2 classes per week are permitted
1 teaching sessions of Social Studies per week of 40 minutes for Arabic as first language speakers until Grade 6 then 2 sessions per week for Grades 7,8,9
For second language learners 1 session per week for Grades 4, 5,6, and 2 sessions per week for Grades 7,8,9

Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies The following table confirms the latest instructions from the Ministry of Education in regard to the teaching of these subjects in schools from September 07 which all Dubai schools will need to adhere to.

Each period is of 40 minutes duration
* If parents do not require their son / daughter to study in the UAE or an Arabic University in the region, then Arabic is optional in Year 11 and 12. A letter of acknowledgment must be signed by the parent of the children concerned.