FAQs

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is a set of exams taken in UK state and independent schools. It is available to international schools around the world.

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (iGCSE) is a set of exams taken in UK independent schools only. It is available to international schools around the world.

GCSEs and iGCSEs are very similar. The main difference between GCSEs and iGCSES is that some iGCSEs have an option to take coursework. At BSS, students take a combination of GCSEs and iGCSEs.

Students begin studying for their GCSEs/iGCSEs in Y10. This is the year a student turns 14 years of age before 1st September in any given academic year.

Exams are taken at the end of Y11 (15-16 years of age) after two years of study. Subjects are graded 1 - 9, with grade 5 being considered a good pass and grade 9 being the highest.

All students are required to study English, mathematics and science until they are 15-16 years old.

GCSEs/iGCSEs: (6)

Science:

• Biology

• Physics

• Chemistry

• English Language

• Maths

• Computer Science

Possible further GCSE options:

• Arabic

• French (new for 2021)

Enrichment subjects include:

• Music

• Art & DT

• Drama

• PE

• Global Citizenship

The monitoring, assessment, reporting and design of the Science, French and Computing curriculum will be led and overseen by staff in the Science, French and Computing Departments at BSM. See individual teacher profiles to learn more about the team.

The monitoring, assessment, reporting and design of the English and Maths curriculum will be led and overseen by staff at BSS. See individual teacher profiles to learn more about the team.

All lab experiments take place under the instruction, guidance and tutelage of BSM Science staff.

Science staff from BSM visit BSS at least twice a term to teach students, this includes conducting Science experiments. In particular, those experiments considered high risk are delivered by BSM staff during these visits.

Some lab experiments are supervised by a BSS member of staff who has degree level knowledge of the subject and a teaching qualification. Any BSS member of staff supervising an experiment will have received the necessary training and guidance by BSM staff and will be familiar with the risk assessment.

The health and safety of students is carefully considered at all times and a full risk assessment will be in place and available to parents.

Some experiments will be viewed and taught through Century.

On average, out of 25 sessions, children will experience approximately:

• 45% face to face teaching at BSS (English, Maths, PE, Arabic, Enrichment subjects)

• 40% live video lessons with BSM staff (Biology, Physics, Chemistry & Computing, French up to Year 10 in 2021 - 2022)

• 15% independent study (Science, English, Maths & Computing)

Experienced teaching staff at both BSS and BSM. BSS students will benefit from the expertise and knowledge of a large Science Department as well as the the Modern Foreign Languages department and Business, Computing and Economics Department at BSM.

Each villa at BSS has been configured to allow for the best use of space. Villas include a dedicated classroom/homeroom as well as comfortable and flexible learning pods in which students are supervised in carrying out their independent study, e.g. Century tasks. In addition, one of our villas has a well equipped Science Laboratory.

Classrooms have a large wall mounted monitor and speakers to allow live lessons to take place effectively.

All students will have a clearly structured timetable, 25 teaching sessions a week. Students will use a range of resources, including Century, to independently access online learning that enhances live lessons and face to face teaching.

BSS is well under way to secure a high speed fibre optic internet connection. We are committed to ensuring this is in place as soon as possible. In the meantime, the school has 5G point to point wireless which ensures FlexEd is supported by a fast internet connection.

Students are given a brand new Chromebook. This is the student's property and there is no expectation that the device is returned when the student leaves the school, providing they have completed a full academic year at the school.

All resources will be accessible outside of school hours.

Century is an award-winning tool used by thousands of schools across the world that combines the latest AI technology and neuroscience to build individual student programmes of study in GCSE courses to support:

• Identifying gaps

• Addressing misconceptions

• Supporting teacher instruction

It supports English, Maths and Science learning.

Find out more information here: www.century.tech

Students in Years 10 and 11 will take part in Global Citizenship modules overseen by the Head of School. A global citizen is someone who is aware of and understands the wider world - and their place in it. As part of this, students will explore future academic options and career possibilities. This will be supported by an online tool called UniFrog. This is a paid for subscription used by BSO schools.

UK and international universities require that students have 5 or more GCSEs or iGCSEs.

Having completed 5 or more GCSEs/iGCSEs, students can take Advanced Level (A-Level) qualifications (Y12 & 13) or the International Baccalaureate Diploma. If a student wishes to proceed to degree level education, A-Levels/IB Diplomas and GCSEs/iGCSEs are a requirement for most UK universities. These qualifications are also recognised by leading international universities around the world, including Europe, North and South America, Africa and the Middle East.

Students who have begun their GCSEs/iGCSEs at BSS are able to transfer to BSM and other international schools.

BSS will become an accredited exam centre in the academic year 2021 - 2022, ready for our first GCSE/iGCSE candidates.

Fees in Y10 are set at 3605 OMR. These are paid in 3 termly installments.

The cost of this programme is funded by BSS school fees

Head of School (Primary and Senior): Jenny Maslen

British School Salalah and British School Muscat are both independently financed not-for-profit schools. Together they form British Schools Oman (BSO). Expertise is shared across both schools. Students and teachers alike benefit from this collaboration and connection.

We have discussed the program with the Ministry of Education and have received positive feedback.

Our admissions policy states that the school caters for students who meet the following criteria:

• An age-appropriate fluency in English language (speaking, reading, writing and comprehension)

• Attitudes and values that match the BSS Learning Ethos

• The ability to thrive in a high-achieving environment

• A supportive family who will engage with the school in promoting their child’s education, personal development and English language development

• Individual learning needs which can be largely met within the mainstream classroom and without significant additional adult support

• Willingness to participate fully in all aspects of the curriculum

In Y10 we also require that your child has the ability to work independently and to take responsibility for managing the demands of their learning.

Whilst BSS is able to provide support for English language acquisition and for children with certain special education needs, capacity for this support is limited.