| Al Ain English Speaking School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Al Ain, United Arab Emirates | |
| Information | |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Non-Secular, Islamic Studies available for Islamic students |
| Established | school 1979 |
| School board | National Curriculum of England and Wales |
| Principal | Adrian May |
| Grades | Nursery to Year 13 |
| Enrollment | Approximately 1150 (as of September 2010) |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colour(s) | Navy blue, Light blue, |
| Website | http://www.aaess.com |
| Last updated | 18 October 2008 |
The Al Ain English Speaking School (A.A.E.S.S.) is a school for expatriate children living in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.[1] As of 27 April 2010, the school had an estimated 1,150 students, 400 in Secondary and 750 in Primary. The school consists of children and teachers of many nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, which makes it nationally recognized. It is also Cambridge certified, and a member of British Schools Middle East. The school is also a member of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools. In recent years, AAESS has developed its professional reputation within the UK by achieving official status. It is currently recognized by the UK Government's Department for Children, Schools and Families.
The basic curriculum is that of the National Curriculum of England.
Contents |
The primary school currently provides education for children aged 3 to 11. The students are taught according to the British curriculum. The school also follows Ministry of Education guidelines and provides compulsory Islamic studies courses for Islamic students.
The children have their own eating and play areas. Although very much part of the whole school, they are able to operate independently. The Nursery children have their own outdoor working area and play area.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children share a building and have classes around a central area. The children have their own outside play areas.
The Key Stage 2 building is identical in design, but houses a study area in the center. This is used for small group work, independent study and one on one activities. There is also a primary ICT laboratory in the building.
The curriculum in the Senior School is based on the English National Curriculum for Key Stage 3, with individual department heads. In Key Stage 4, pupils follow two-year courses culminating in the GCSE and IGCSE examinations. Pupils then continue their studies at AS and A level.
Outside of the academic curriculum, pupils have the opportunity to take part in a small selection of sports and clubs, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award program.
The school staff are all trained and certified. Most of the teachers have been trained in England, with the exception of the foreign language teachers who are hired from their own countries.
The School has a house system that fosters competition among its students and prepares them for the rigors of Inter School Level Competition. The first established houses were named after famous explorers; Armstrong Neil Armstrong, Thesiger Wilfred Thesiger and Cousteau Jacques Cousteau. The houses are names after British writers later when the house system was re-established: Orwell, Keats, Shakespeare, and Dickens.
The school has undergone a major expansion with many remaining facilities opening within 6 months. Current facilities include:
Sami Alexander Mubarak Safi (a.k.a W.M.G) - German/Syrian chart topping rapper
Francisco 'Frank' Lobo - High profile Al Ain resident.
Other over-achieving alumni including UK based carpenters, doctors and lawyers can now be found on the newly created AAESS Alumni page on Facebook.