Foundation Stage and Years 1 and 2

Mrs Deirdre Greaney Head of Pre-Prep

Senior Teacher Pre-Prep Mrs Christine El Eisawy

Location: Abou Ela Villa and Wilson Building , Mahmoud Abou Ela Street.

Pre-Prep: The Foundation Stage - Aboul Ela Villa

The Early Years Foundation Stage at the British School is built on an excellent reputation for nurturing the school’s youngest learners. Occupying the lovely Abou Ela Villa, there are a very good range of classrooms, learning spaces and outdoor areas dedicated to children aged between 3 and 5 years old.

Learning in Foundation Stage is child-centred with free-flow learning between different activities both inside and outdoors. Children in Foundation Stage are grouped into FS1 and FS2 with a team of 6 teachers and 12 teaching assistants. The dedicated and experienced staff ensure that this is a safe and happy environment for children at this early stage of their development.

Pre-Prep: Years 1 and 2

Location: Wilson Building, Consulate Campus, Mahmoud Abou Ela Street.

For children aged between 5 and 7, the Year 1 and 2 classes are based in the Wilson building which includes its own music and art rooms as well as a children’s kitchen. Like classrooms in the Abou Ela villa all classrooms have interactive white boards within the comfort and safety of air conditioned rooms.

Classes are small and teachers, together with their teaching assistants, focus on learning well matched to individual needs. The children are taught in a ‘home-room’ with specialist teachers and lessons for Arabic language, music, physical education and French. The core curriculum is very well supported with a wide range of after school activities, trips and visitors all designed to develop in the students a love for learning based on the firm foundations of literacy and numeracy skills.

Years 3 to 6

Ms Jayney Lucas Head of Prep School

Location: Stables, Consulate Campus, Mahmoud Abou Ela Street

As children transition to Year 3 their curriculum still includes a wealth of hands-on learning, opportunities for inquiry and appropriately challenging literacy and numeracy curriculum all matched to National Curriculum for England 2014. As in Pre-Prep the teachers continuously review and develop the curriculum so that it remains relevant to the children here is Alexandria and very well matched to the best practice in similarly very good schools world-wide.

In The Prep School classes are small and teachers, together with their teaching assistants, focus on learning well matched to individual needs. The children are taught in a ‘home-room’ with specialist teachers and lessons for Arabic language, music, physical education and French. The core curriculum is very well supported with a wide range of after school activities, trips and visitors all designed to develop in the students a love for learning based on the firm foundations of literacy and numeracy skills.

The Senior School begins in Year 7 and includes the GCSE programmes and AS / A level studies in the Sixth Form.

Years 7 to 9

Head of Lower School, Mr Paul Ford

The Lower School begins in Year 7 at which point the curriculum is organised into a range of subject disciplines each taught by subject specialists. English, Maths and Science are the core curriculum with Computing, Arabic, French, Art, History, Geography, Physical Education, Music, Drama, Personal Social and Education, Citizenship lessons throughout the academic year. There are also very good links across the curriculum so that learning builds on the student’s experiences in the Prep School.

Teaching groups are small and mostly supported by a learning support assistant so that learning is personalised to support students in making outstanding progress. Lower School facilities and shared with the Upper school although all students benefit from access to specialist facilities or well appointed classrooms for all their lessons. The after school activity programme affords students opportunities creative arts, academic, and hobby activities as well as regular sporting competitions in-school and between other schools.

Years 10 and 11

Years 12 and 13 - Sixth Form – Sixth Form Tutor: Mr Niall Morris

Head of Upper School, Mr Stuart Dennis

During Year 9 students are guided in their selection of GCSEs and IGCSEs that they begin to study throughout Years 10 and 11. These examination courses demand high levels of personal organisation, commitment to study and perseverance. Examination courses are studied over 2 years as they are in similar schools in England. Students usually selected 8 or 9 GCSEs/IGCSE and take their final examinations in May/June of their Year 11.

During Year 11 students may apply for further study in the Sixth Form. Students usually select four AS levels in subjects for which they will achieve at least grade B at GCSE/IGCSE.

Examinations for AS level are taken in May / June. Sixth Formers have a high degree of autonomy in the school and only those with the maturity and higher order study skills are selected. Head Boy and Head Girl are selected from the Sixth Form. The British School also offers study in Year 13 to A level.

Teaching groups are small so that learning is personalised to support students in making outstanding progress. Mock examinations in early January of Year 11 help confirm the students progress and predicted grades so that they can focus on doing even better in their final examinations. Expectations are very high and students develop excellent study skills that are very well supported by frequent revision coaching and opportunities for tutorials with teachers. Upper School facilities and shared with the Lower School although all students benefit from access to specialist facilities or well appointed classrooms for all their lessons. The after school activity programme affords students opportunities creative arts, academic, and hobby activities as well as regular sporting competitions in-school and between other schools.

I’ve lived and worked in Alexandria since August 2011, having holidayed here in July 2010. For a city of 4 million+ (the entire population of my native New Zealand), Alexandria has a small town feel. The staff here are active socially and there are parties and events to go to most weekends.

My typical weekend starts on Thursday night – this weekend a group of us are going to the local Chinese restaurant, with its spectacular views over the harbour.  Another favourite spot is Farag’s; a fish restaurant where you select your fish and they cook it to order. Fridays usually finds me brunching at one of the local cafes within walking distance.  When its warmer (it gets surprisingly cold in Egypt) I may go to Fratelli’s, which is a small health club with a nice pool and decent food.   If I want to go further afield, the Africana is a resort about 45 minutes out of town where staff can go for the day or stay overnight at really reasonable rates. There are plenty of others of course.  The Bibliotheca run a number of activities and the Sayed Darwish Theatre also does a great night out – from opera to concerts to the odd swing band. As a school, we frequently receive offers for tours and trips both locally and throughout Egypt which we then pass onto staff.

Cairo is only 3 hours away, either by car or by train.  I generally go a couple of times a year mainly for the big British functions, where we can dress up and dance the night away on the banks of the Nile. 

There are western style malls for the shopper, but I often go down to the local markets to shop for incredibly fresh (and cheap) fruit and vegetables.  My dog loves going to the local butcher for the weekly meat becuase there’s bones involved. I’ve also enjoyed hunting out antiques and local arts and crafts.

While the number of ex-pats have reduced lately, we do have close links with the British Council teachers, who teach English classes in Euclid and the UN staff who have recently moved into town to work with the Syrian population as well as some of the other international schools in town. 

It is, of course, fascinating from a political perspective and there is never any shortage of conversation around the staffroom.  Egyptians are warm, friendly and fiercely patriotic.  I've often heard it said that there is nothing like an Egyptian smile!

I have worked in Alexandria for over 8 years and can say it is a fantastic experience. The students at the school are eager to learn, want to do well and rarely present any serious discipline problems. Students have a high standard of English and we aim for native speaker level – all students leaving the school will have achieved IGCSE First Language English. Small class sizes enable teachers to personalise learning and to get to know their students extremely well. In addition, in the English department we have the flexibility to formulate our own curriculum and to expand our creativity.

Life in Egypt can be challenging at times but it presents wonderful opportunities. As Alexandria is a much more manageable city than Cairo, one can really get to know the place well. There are many sightseeing opportunities, together with excellent fish restaurants and a number of bars. The school holidays enable teachers to travel to other parts of Egypt such as the archaeological sites of Luxor and Aswan, the oases of the Western Desert and the Sinai peninsula. In addition, Cairo is only a 2½ hour train ride away and is a host to far too many sights to mention!

Although Egypt is not for the faint-hearted, I would thoroughly recommend coming to live in Alexandria and to join our friendly and professional staff.

[The school has appointed another Senior School English teacher who joins us from England in January 2015. Also the school has recently established it English Language Development Programme – ELDP – with additional learning support assistants to ensure that every student has the personalised support they need to develop 1st language English.]

Alexandria is a lovely place, which is very different from Britain. Alexandria is made up of different areas, which differ to shopping places, eating places or "ghettos" (the poorer parts). I live in the same area as the school which is Kafr Abdou, and it is considered the nicest, richest part, and is really nice in comparison to others. Life here is good, I don't feel like I miss out on anything major from home as there are cafés, shops, restraints, bars and hotels to fill your free time, as well as the people you meet through the school. You have too many social gatherings to choose from! The place is busy, always full of people working and enjoying! There are certain things to follow when walking around Alex such as clothing but you are well informed and supported by the school in knowing this. There is a great support to help with the language differences too! I'm learning Arabic slowly on my own and am currently booking Arabic lessons through the school!

Arriving here was so easy. I was really nervous on the flight to be honest, but the school and agencies helped me a lot in this as they made sure I was travelling with someone else from the school, and it turned out 4 more people were on the flight and 2 existing teachers too! They talked us through arriving at the airport with our visas and customs and the Principal, Mr Dennis actually met us at the airport. The people are so nice and as they have been through the exact same thing as you previously and you are in a group of like-minded people, it makes things so much easier.

As I said, the social gatherings are great, however usually you need to make the effort and arrange them yourselves. It's been pretty easy for us as people here know the areas and what to do and we have used this info to explore ourselves. So far in the 6 weeks we have been here we have visited 2 hotels in the north coast weekly, had half term in Cairo, gone to bars and hotels in Alex, and been shopping down town! We also go locally to Kafr Abdou for food where there is lots to choose from - Thai, Lebanese, cafés and French!

I am teaching a reception class, called FS2 here, and they follow the same curriculum called Foundation Stage and in England. This is because it is a British school. It is very much the same, but honestly you need to adapt and make do with the resources you have as with any school you are in. It is difficult to receive post and deliveries here.

It was hard to leave my family and sister but as I had no other ties in Britain and am young, so I thought, "It's only 2 years and when am I going to have this experience again?" I found it the same as loving away for University really. The school are very supportive in ensuring you have WIFI or access to internet to Skype friends and family so you don't really lose contact!

Honestly, there are some things that are difficult but the people and the kids in the school amongst other things make it worthwhile. I don't regret my decision to move here and never have, don’t think I ever will!

Alexandria like most big cities is a mixture of the very old, the very new and everything else in between. There is something for everyone in Alexandria, historic sites, beaches, sporting facilities, a wide range of restaurants and shopping malls. When we arrived to take up our positions at the British School we were stunned by the shear amount of traffic on the roads. It was the total opposite of the desert environment of the Red Sea where we had lived and worked for 7 years. Everywhere we looked there were people and vehicles: cars, taxis, busses, coaches, bikes, lorries, trams, tuk-tuks and donkeys. All the drivers seemed to have one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the horn. People weaved themselves skilfully between stationary cars and favoured walking in the road to the pavement. It was a relief to pull up outside the consulate gardens and the relative calm of Kafr Abdu. We instantly knew that we would feel at home here amidst the trees and gardens. Kafr Abdu has a charm all of its own and we quickly settled in and felt safe, secure and part of the community.

In the first few weeks we enjoyed exploring our surroundings on foot. We realized that the corniche was only a 15 minute walk away and spent many a weekend having leisurely walks along the sea front. To venture further afield we used the tram system which runs an excellent service in Alex. A favourite outing is to walk to St. Stefano along the sea front, have lunch at Starbucks and then take the tram back home to Kafr Abdu. Before we break up for the winter holidays we plan to drive out to Mamoura and find the fish restaurant we visited back in 1990 on our first visit to Alex. There is always something to do.

Working at the BSA has been an exciting opportunity for both of us. We work hard and enjoy doing so. We are blessed with very good resources and a quality workforce that is professional and supportive. We are also encouraged by the evident determination amongst the staff to keep improving and developing.

Lastly but by no means least, the children at the school are very special. They are well behaved and supported by parents that are keen to be involved in their children’s education.

[Christine joined the school as a Year 1 teacher and was promoted to Pre-Prep Senior Teacher in September as well as moving to FS2]

I currently live in Kafr Abdou, Alexandria, and I am in my second year at The British School. My apartment is close to school and I literally have a 5 minute commute to work in the morning. My daughter Ruby goes to Pre-Prep which is also en-route to work. For working mums and dads at the school there is the added advantage of Breakfast club for staff children and with the range of ASAs and after school snack club, the usual drop off's and pick-ups are not such a worry as they might have been at home in London. All of this allows for some much needed quality time with family that for me, wasn’t possible elsewhere.

Whilst it can take a while to adjust for children (and parents) the extra-curricular activities on offer and the welcoming staff body, have eased that adjustment.

In terms of activities for children outside of school, when it is hot there are local hotels with lovely beaches and swimming facilities. There is a local sports club for more competitive activities. The local malls also have entertainment zones which can make for a good afternoon of fun.

The school community, although small is welcoming; parents and teachers alike. The close proximity of the school means that everyone lives close by and you are never short of having someone to hang out with or call if you need some help.

[In 2013 the school opened its second IT suite which is primarily for music technology and composition although classes can book the facility. The GCSE / IGCSE syllabus has shifted over to Computer Science rather than ICT although some students still ask for ICT at GCSE.]

On my initial arrival to Alexandria I found it to be a slight culture shock! Although I felt I had researched the area well and knew where I was going, you do not realise what Alexandria is like until you are here, in the flesh. The city is quite busy as expected but generally easy to get around with public and private taxi companies. With the price of taxis being inexpensive it means you can use them frequently unlike at home.

The social life in Alexandria is nice as there are many different restaurants and bars to try and lots of different cuisines to sample. Most weekends are spent by the beach which is a nice luxury and again it doesn't cost a lot for luxuries like these you wouldn't get at home. There are also many shopping centres around Alexandria meaning you are never stuck for some retail therapy, especially in Carrefour where you can find all your traditional European clothes shops, a cinema and a great food court.

School life is good as the children are eager to learn and because of the smaller class sizes you learn so much more about individual children and their abilities. This gives you the ability to focus your teaching on certain children each day and on certain areas children need to develop in order to ensure clear progression each term. There is a friendly atmosphere around the school and nobody is afraid to help you no matter how big or small your problem is.

With being a girl I find I sometimes get unwanted attention on the streets from males. This can be frustrating but again this is something you get used to and once you know the area you will not find this to be a big problem. In terms of housing the flats are lovely once you take out all the Egyptian furnishings that tend to me slightly over the top. Then you can make it your home away from home.

[Lisa has been supported by her NQT mentor and the NQT Coordinator through this term and has made excellent progress. Early in the next term Buckinghamshire Learning Trust trainers will be in school for NQT workshops and to offer further professional development.]

Life in Alexandria

Since my arrival I have often reflected whether coming to Alexandria was the right decision. After all, moving to a new place, with no experience of it, meant that the decision was more of a risk. But since taking the plunge, I truly believe that nothing ventured means nothing gained. Making the move to Alexandria and becoming part of the BSA family, is indeed a whole-life change. Let’s start with those first crucial moments of landing in Egypt. For me, leaving the airport was the most calming experiences. As I stepped out, a private driver was stood waiting, holding a sign for me. This was followed by a relatively calm drive to my apartment, while the driver made small talk. Once we got to the apartment (about an hour later), the Principal and Assistant Campus Manager were waiting for me. I was presented with a welcome pack, an induction timetable and most importantly an advanced cash payment to buy some necessities. It’s important to mention that many items were pre-purchased, and the transition was made very easy indeed.

The school’s efforts in making staff feel relaxed at once are outstanding. They arranged everything from a local tour of our area to a cultural tour of the city and other points on interests. We were given a crash course in Arabic and introduced to key members of staff.

The suburban community of Kafr Abdou, which is where the school is located, are quite adjusted to seeing ex-pats strolling the streets, and actually quite enjoy it. This means making local friends is a lot easier than you might expect. English is spoken relatively well in the area of the school, people smile, greet and are ready to help at an instant. The warmth of the community certainly makes it easier to settle into life immediately.

The school employs a diverse staff, with teachers from many different countries and areas. There is a strong sense of bonding and community between members of staff, regardless of teaching phase. I have mingled with secondary and foundation stage staff, despite being a KS1 teacher. There are regular opportunities to meet each other, go out for food, the cinema, to clubs and weekends away. A favourite getaway spot for staff here is the Iberotel. This is a private beach with stunning azure waters and diamond white sand, reminiscent of somewhere like The Maldives.

Exploring the city yourself is also something worth doing. It is fairly safe and everywhere is accessible by taxis. Taxis are very inexpensive to use to commute around the city but the tram is also an interesting way to travel. Although they are quite slow, the tram runs parallel to the coastline and the cost of a ticket is 25 piestres (about 2p).

Of course, the experience of living in Alexandria is also shaped by life at work. The main difference is that Egyptian cultural values influence the job in lots of ways. It is a real challenge meeting parental expectations, enabling EAL children to thrive and make outstanding progress and dealing with cultural values that may not overlap with the British Curriculum. However, all of these issues act as continuous professional development. Teaching in Alexandria, is very much learning to teach. There is also a large support system in place here at BSA. Even the most experienced teacher will benefit from having access to specialist subject teachers and those with significant experience in international teaching.

[Adil has cemented his role in Year 2 and begun his training as an NQT mentor. He is also teaching in Year 9 English lessons to gain experience and offer support.]

I am just beginning my fourth year living and working in Alexandria. Stuart asked me to write about my personal and professional life here to give new teachers an idea of what to expect when they arrive. Let me start by saying that I am biased. I love Alex (why else would I have stayed here for three years already)! However, I am well aware of the challenges that I have faced living here and I hope to give a relatively balanced account.

As I write this, I am sitting in one of the 4 or 5 cafe's that I visit often. It is located in Kafr Abdou, the area of Alex where the school and most of our apartments are located. I feel very safe and at home in this area. Most of the boabs (door men on the various apartments) recognise me as I walk around the area and nod and smile at me. I can buy most groceries within walking distance of my apartment and many shops and restaurants offer delivery services. Outside of the immediate area, there are larger shops and almost anything can be found if you know where to look in the market area of Manshea. I get hopelessly lost every time! There are 3 or 4 swimming pools (some attached to hotels) within Alex and sporting opportunities available. Taxis are cheap and the journeys sometimes more of an adventure than the destination!

While Alex is nothing like Dubai for shopping or night life, there are several options available. Egypt comes alive in the evenings. Alcohol is available here at quite reasonable prices. There are several bars which I visit and two off licences who also deliver to your door. Shopping for clothes in an international shop (like Zara or Debenhams) can be expensive, which is why most of us take advantage of the 46kg allowance on EgyptAir for flights to the UK! It can be difficult to get hold of certain brands of foods and sanitary items for women. Therefore, my suitcase always contains an interesting mix of things when I return to Egypt.

Living here means that flights to other African countries and the Middle East are frequent and not too expensive so I have spent many of my holidays exploring other countries. I visit my sister in Dubai quite often and have travelled to Malaysia, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa since living in Egypt. Inside the country, Hurghada on the Red Sea coast is lovely and I hope to visit Luxor/Aswan and Siwa this year in holiday times.

I have worked at the BSA for one year now and am excited to be returning to work soon. The pupils here are generally very well behaved and they try very hard. The existing staff members are a friendly and welcoming bunch, with regularly scheduled social events to attend. While at times the workload is quite heavy, I still have a better work/life balance in Alex than I did when I worked in the UK. I rarely take work home at evening and weekends, which gives me more time to meet up with friends and go out. The salary is more than enough to live comfortably and be able to save.

It can be difficult to get things done, as the levels of bureaucracy here are crazy, but the challenge is part of the reason I love living here and school will help with anything that is too hard. Egyptians in general are lovely people who care about their neighbours and foreigners living here. I am looking forward to meeting all the new staff and I hope this has given you an idea of what to expect.