Head of Senior School
Senior School at a glance
We are a British International School following the British Curriculum, IB and BTEC. Pupils enter the Senior School at Kent College Dubai at the age of 11, in Year 7. Each pupil is allocated a tutor who oversees their pastoral and academic welfare. In addition, all pupils become members of one of four competitive School Houses – Chaucer, Becket, Marlowe or Augustine.
Pupils are helped and encouraged to develop a strong work ethic inside the classroom, where expectations are always high. Sport, art, music and drama are encouraged at all levels. There are team-building and personal development activities, and numerous opportunities for trips. There are also teacher and pupil exchanges between Kent College Dubai and its sister school in Canterbury, as well as other opportunities to create close ties between the two schools, including a daily routine that allows joint lessons to take place in both schools.
Teaching staff
The vast majority of the teachers at Kent College Dubai have trained and taught in the UK and Ireland, so they are completely familiar with the British curriculum and best teaching practices. Small classes of no more than 20 pupils, a carefully-developed tutoring system and individualized learning pathways allow each pupil to be him or herself within the school community.
Facilities
We offer small class sizes: there is a 20-pupil cap for classes in the Senior school, to allow for individualised teaching and learning in our spacious and well-equipped classrooms. Pupils have access to specialised facilities for music, drama, art and Design & Technology, as well as a 458-seater auditorium, two-storey library, large sports hall, tennis courts, cricket pitch, football and hockey fields, and climate controlled swimming pool. Lunch is eaten in the school dining room.
More information about our Senior School can be found in the Senior School Parent and Pupil Handbook here.
Sixth Form pathways at KC
All our graduation pathways offer challenging, highly-regarded qualifications which are accepted as university entrance qualifications worldwide. Our BTEC, IB and A Level programmes of study are two-year courses, with external exams at the end of the two years.
The choice of which programme to study will rely largely on a student’s academic interests, personal learning style, and plans for university and beyond. Bespoke, individual timetables accommodate the subjects or combinations of subjects students wish to study, ensuring each student is able to pursue their interests.
Choosing the Right Course for You
We aim to be the best British Senior School in Dubai, and as such we offer multiple graduation pathways for our Sixth Form Students including A Levels, the IB Diploma Programme and BTEC in Sports, Business or Performing Arts. Herewith a side-by-side comparison of our offerings. We also have a Careers Counsellor who can help you to make this choice based on what you plan to do after school:
A Level | IB Diploma | BTEC |
---|---|---|
Pupils specialise in their chosen area of study, focusing only on their preferred subjects. | Pupils gain a breadth of knowledge across the languages, social sciences, sciences, maths, and the arts. | Pupils specialise in their chosen area of study, through vocational training and assessment. |
Most pupils study four subjects in Year 12, and can reduce to three by Year 13. | All pupils study six subjects and the DP core over two years, three at higher level and three at standard level. | Most pupils complete a Level 3 BTEC, which can be equivalent to 1, 2 or 3 A levels, depending on the number of units covered. |
Pupils can expand their subject offering with the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). This can be in the form of a dissertation, investigation, performance or artefact. | The core subjects are the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge course (TOK) and the Creativity, Action, and Service programme (CAS). They support the development of links between the subject groups. | Pupils can manage their BTEC qualification easily due to its modular makeup, and they are encouraged to take advantage of the Sports Leaders Award, CAS and EPQ. |
Although there is no formal requirement for their academic programme, all A Level pupils take advantage of the wide variety of extracurricular programmes on offer. | Through the CAS programme, pupils focus on personal development beyond the classroom through acts of creativity, service, and physical activity. | Although there is no formal requirement for their academic programme, all BTEC pupils take advantage of the wide variety of extracurricular programmes on offer. |
A-Levels are graded from A*-U. | The IB Diploma is awarded out of a maximum of 45 points, with 7-1 points per subject, and ToK and EE count for 3 points. | BTEC qualifications are marked from Distinction* to Pass. |
QUICK LINKS
CLICK HERE to visit our Curriculum Overview Page
CLICK HERE to read more about Key Stage 3
CLICK HERE to read more about GCSE
CLICK HERE to read more about A Levels
CLICK HERE to read more about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme IBDP
CLICK HERE to read more about BTEC