18-02-2025
Acadia British School securing outstanding education judgement
Arcadia British School (ABS) was delighted to have been awarded an outstanding judgement in all eight areas of the British School Overseas (BSO) Inspection in October 2024. The visiting team was keen to point out the exceptional relationships that students had between each other and their teachers and emphasised that the curriculum design of the school programme was remarkable, robust and rich. This unique curriculum has been meticulously crafted over the last five years, taking into consideration both student and parent feedback, developments in educational pedagogy and the need to reflect on changes to the world of work, changes in behaviour and the needs of both universities and employers.
ABS was one of the first schools in the region to create a Junior MBA programme for primary students, which now links to the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CEL) for secondary-age students (11-16) a co-constructed curriculum with Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, where students collaborate in teams to work on project-based entrepreneurial learning, such as building digital presentations, app building and coding whilst preparing them for future-focussed work.
The curriculum support doesn't stop with entrepreneurship. The ABS games and pull-out programme allows elite athletes from the age of 10 to experience individual coaching and training relevant to their focus sports and this is supported by curriculum enhancements with the introduction of BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) Sports Studies post-16, which runs alongside the A Level option.
The Performing Arts Academy also supports the curriculum with LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) tuition and exams, focussed drama sessions for talented performers and a range of artistic endeavours, including, junior and senior choir, concert band and a dance academy. The Duke of Edinburgh's Bronze and Silver programmes are also woven into the tapestry of learning by giving students the chance to grow a portfolio of skills relevant to the outside world whilst planning and executing overnight expeditions as part of a team. Such programmes grow resilience, grit and determination, one of the school's core values.
We are also delighted to introduce two new members of the ABS Leadership Team for 2024-25 and beyond. Lisa Davage is an experienced Early-years leader and proponent of the Froebellian approach to learning. Lisa has joined our team as Assistant Head for the EYFS and KS1 division of the school.
Lisa has been joined by Sarah Gray, as Head of the Primary School. Sarah was previously AHT at Deira International School, Dubai, and prior to this, a cluster Deputy Head lead for an academy group in the UK. Both leaders have already made a significant impact on the primary community and continue to take the school from strength to strength.
