Life in the Senior School

The Senior School runs a two week timetable (weeks A and B) with 25 lessons in each week. Attendance throughout the whole day is compulsory for all pupils including pupils in our Sixth Form who have timetabled study sessions.

The school timetable is designed to allow teachers and pupils a significant amount of curriculum time together and to give time for pupils to meet, work and socialise outside of curriculum lesson time. The school day always starts promptly in registration forms at 8.40 and ends at 3.40.

Sports and activities

All pupils have physical education (PE) each week which covers a broad curriculum of team sports, gymnastics, dance, outdoor activities, athletics and swimming.

In Key Stage 3 and 4, the programme aims to enable pupils to realise their full potential in a variety of physical activities and stimulate a lasting interest in physical exercise and sport. The pupils’ physical fitness, movement, co-ordination and motor skills are developed as is the ability to work with others, developing the qualities and values of leadership, respect, teamwork and fair play.

After school each day and as part of the clubs programme, the pupils have the opportunity to take part in many sports, from individual activities such as karate, kayaking and dance, to team sports like football, basketball and rowing. Through these activities pupils learn the value of being physically active and develop positive personal and social attitudes.

The Senior School offers a wide range of morning, lunchtime and after school clubs. Our dedicated staff lead clubs and activities which provide pupils with the opportunity to pursue and develop their own interests, to experience new ventures, and to compete as individuals or as a member of a team in various settings.

Homework Club runs most afternoons after school finishes. This can be attended as a drop-in activity. There may be some pupils who are asked to go to homework club on a more regular basis if it is felt this will be beneficial. Homework Club is monitored by teachers who can support the pupils in their study methods, not necessarily the content of the homework.

The Sixth Form

In the Sixth Form (Year 13) all students have the opportunity to succeed to their fullest potential. They will enter the Sixth Form, following their Key Stage 4 studies either with us or from a range of other countries and curricular background with the aim of being able to progress into higher education.

We ensure that resilience, aspiration, leadership and well-being are nurtured in all of our Sixth Formers. A Levels remain the gold standard in education and students who are successful will hear university doors and career opportunities opening around the world.

As such, we have a culture of collaboration and collegiality in the Sixth Form that creates an environment for them to flourish as fully as their talent and hard work will allow.

Creative Arts

The creative arts are an integral part of a broad British education. From technical challenges of leading a school production to the confidence needed to perform in drama, these activities have an important role to play in your child’s education.

Whilst drama, music and art are a part of our curriculum, there are also opportunities for our pupils to excel outside the classroom. Our popular school production club puts on an annual musical show, and pupils are encouraged to participate in stage design, costume, lighting and sound in addition to the acting and singing.

One of our school choirs is a parents, staff and pupil choir, collaborating with our pupils studying music at higher levels to perform West End style shows such as Sweeney Todd.

The Art Department houses a kiln room for the firing of superb ceramic art and work showcased in our creative arts exhibition each year. Large collaborative pieces of art from our pupils have also been on display at locations in the city of Amsterdam.

Residentials

The school year starts in September with a whole school (Years 7 to 13) residential week within the Netherlands. Our older pupils focus on leadership training, working with younger pupils to plan team building activities for a day. The residential week usually takes place in the second or third week of the term and is a compulsory part of our curriculum, the costs of which are included in the school fees.

Other residential opportunities include an annual ski or snowboarding week on the slopes in either Italy or France, language weeks in Spain and France spending time with host families immersed in a foreign language, an English and Drama trip to London taking in highlights such as a West End show and a Shakespeare workshop at the Globe Theatre, and a Geography field trip to Cologne.

Languages

English, Dutch, German, French and Spanish are taught within the Senior School curriculum. Dutch is also taught at native level. Pupils are able to take external examinations in other languages as part of our GCSE and A level provision. Native lessons in other languages are offered as after school clubs.

If you have questions about the teaching and learning of languages in the Senior School please contact our Head of the English and Language Faculty, Mrs Jessica Lamberth j.lamberth@britams.nl.