british american school of charlotte brochure

British American School of Charlotte

WorldofDifferenceMakinga


1

Our VisionAn ever evolving learning-driven community that takes a broader and deeper world view, and in doing so,

better prepares its children for the next stage of their education and to take their place in a competitive

future world.

Our Mission

Our Core Values and Beliefs

The British American School of Charlotte

Our Mission

Create a dynamic learning environment

that encourages successful, ever

evolving learners.

Develop con�dent, resilient,

esteemed, healthy

individuals.

Promote responsible,

respectful, global citizens that are proud to

belong.

Our Core Values and Beliefs

Partnership& Community

Learning throughEnjoyment

Risk Taking & Challenge

Empathy& Respect

Nurture &Encouragement

Personalization & Independence


3

Learning is a personal pursuit that we do with others. At the British American School of Charlotte we

approach each child’s learning in a manner that is

truly unique, developing a personalized learning

approach for each and every child. We strengthen

the link between learning and teaching by actively

engaging children and parents as partners in the

learning process.

Learning StylesWe understand that children learn in different ways

and have preferred learning styles. Our highly trained

British teachers create varied and interesting learning

opportunities that are active, vibrant, and dynamic.

They make learning fun and engaging while

addressing the learning styles of all of our children.

DifferentiationIn differentiating lessons teachers take into account

the learners’ different motivations, prior experiences

and knowledge, cultural experiences and learning

preferences. They plan multiple paths to stretch

each individual. Through different tasks, expectations,

support and challenges, each child is enabled to

surprise themselves with their own high level of

achievement.

Individualized SuccessTeachers at the British American School of Charlotte

have a deep understanding of each individual

child and as such can wrap the curriculum around

their learning needs. Through careful observation

and assessment, learning goals are set for each

child, regularly reviewed, progress monitored and

achievements celebrated. This process allows

children to take greater responsibility and ownership

for their learning making them active participants

in their own success.

MakingLearning Personal

Thanks to our small class sizes, the teachers are able to teach us depending on how we learn and what we need to learn next.

– Year 8 Student


5

Our innovative and proven curriculum takes a broader

and deeper world view, carefully constructing

meaningful connections between subject disciplines

and the international world in which we live.

We provide rich and varied experiences in which

children acquire, deepen and apply a broad range

of knowledge, skills and understandings that are

interconnected around motivational and purposeful

themes, giving reason to children’s learning.

Our uniquely interconnected curriculum inspires

children to think creatively and critically; to solve

problems with reasoned thought and ingenuity; to

ask questions of the world and through research

find the answers; to be persistent in their learning

and develop the habits that make a lifelong learner.

At the British American School of Charlotte we

draw upon and weave together some of the best

practices in the world. We utilize the distinctive

nature of the English National Curriculum and

the International Primary Curriculum to form the

structure of our academic program.

British American School Year groups, corresponding

ages and US grade equivalents are summarized in

the chart below. Students from British American

School of Charlotte are well prepared for their

transitions into American or International Schools.

Age Before September 1

BSC Year Group (UK System)

United States Equivalent

BSC Stage

3-4 years old Nursery Pre-school Foundation

4-5 years old Reception Pre-school Foundation

5-6 years old Year 1 Kindergarten Key Stage 1

6-7 years old Year 2 Grade 1 Key Stage 1










Connectingthe Curriculum

The Educational Program:


7

Pre-Kindergarten/Foundation Stages 1 and 2Beginning at age 3, the Early Years Foundation Stage

is a 2 year program that enrolls children from the day

they turn 3 to the year in which they are 5.

In these critical years, we focus on providing a

nurturing, creative and stimulating environment

where young children acquire the essential skills

for lifelong learning. The academic development

of speaking articulately and confidently, reading,

writing and working with numbers and mathematics,

runs alongside the playful development of

imagination, reasoned thinking, and social and

emotional skills in an international context.

Children learn through a series of carefully structured

and layered experiences that are teacher-directed

as well as child-initiated. They learn collaboratively

with other children and their teachers through

imaginative play in our carefully planned and

dynamic learning environment, as well as through

more focused, adult lead opportunities that develop

new essential knowledge and skills.

Our program encourages children to investigate,

discover and harness their abundant natural curiosity,

learning how the world works from hands on

experiences.

Children follow a highly developed, proven process

that cultivates their skills of English and Mathematics,

allowing each child to accelerate in their learning

and become confident and proficient in these critical

foundation skills.

Six Areas of LearningThe Foundation Stage Curriculum is structured

around 6 connected areas of learning, each one

with a set of clearly defined learning outcomes,

which spirals upwards over the 2 years.

1. personal, social and emotional development

2. communication language and literacy

3. reasoning and problem solving numeracy

4. knowledge and understanding of the world

5. physical development

6. creative development

We enhance the Foundation Stage Curriculum with

the Early Years International Primary Curriculum that

focuses the learning around imaginative, playful,

international themes. Learning themes such as:

Treasure and Patterns and Food, places learning in

a fun and meaningful context, inspiring success.

Early YearsAges 3-5

The


9

Kindergarten to Grade 5/Years 1-6The Primary years of learning take children from

age 5 through to age 11.

During these formative years children grow in

confidence at being able to communicate in a

range of mediums, styles and languages. They

develop a more complex understanding of

mathematics and its application in the real world

and they increase their subject knowledge, social,

emotional and learning skills and foster a deeper

and broader understanding of the world.

The structure to the Primary years is built around

the National Curriculum for England and The

International Primary Curriculum. These distinctive,

proven frameworks have been developed over

many years in the United Kingdom and across the

world. These frameworks set out clear expectations

in learning and focus on subject specific knowledge,

skills and understanding, including English,

Mathematics, Languages, and Information and

Communication Technology. At the same time

great importance is placed on developing the social

and emotional aspects of learning together with

an embedded international view that enhances

student’s perspective of the world they live in.

Primary YearsAges 5-11

The

My two kids (6 & 9 years old) have spent the past 3 academic years at the British American School of Charlotte. I am still amazed on a daily basis at the high quality of teaching there along with the amazing atmosphere among students.


11

Great Learning, Great Teaching, Great Fun The International Primary Curriculum is an

internationally renowned curriculum, currently

implemented in over 50 countries around the

world. Through highly motivational themes, science,

technology, art and music, geography and history,

physical education, literacy and numeracy, are

woven together in a holistic approach.

The International Primary Curriculum fuses together

a combination of academic, personal and international

learning goals. Each unit of learning focuses around

a theme that children find interesting and relevant.

Themes such as: Saving the Rain Forest, Different

Places, Different Lives and Fashion, create the context

through which children can explore the world,

celebrating unique differences and identifying

similarities that connect us all. Each International

Primary Curriculum unit of learning starts with a

memorable entry point that brings learning to life.

Each theme allows children to see both the

contribution made by individual subjects, and also

connects together the big ideas and skills that run

through them all. Through lively and engaging entry

points children’s imagination and real interest is

captured. Teacher’s then harvest children’s knowledge

and builds this into the Big Picture of their learning.

Through high quality teaching, independent and

collaborative research and recording, and exciting

events and experiences, children make sense of

the world and see the connections.

Central to the International Primary Curriculum

is the goal that children enjoy learning, develop

enquiring minds, foster the personal qualities they

need to be responsible citizens of the world, and

develop a sense of their own nationality and culture,

while at the same time gaining a respect for the

nationalities and cultures of others. Most of all, it

challenges children to develop into successful,

confident, healthy, individuals that are better

prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

InternationalPrimary Curriculum

The


13

Literacy and NumeracyThe British American School of Charlotte follows the

frameworks of the National Curriculum for England

in Literacy (English) and Numeracy (Mathematics).

This framework provides a rigorous and challenging

program of study that sequentially develops children’s

learning. They carefully build skills and confidence,

step by step, allowing each child to experience

success and reach their potential. While Literacy and

Numeracy are taught in regular dedicated lessons,

the application of these core skills is developed and

celebrated across the whole curriculum.

Social Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEALs)Social and emotional aspects of learning are the

underpinning qualities and skills that help us to

manage life and learning effectively. They underlie

almost every aspect of our lives and enable us to get

on with other people and lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

There are 5 outcomes to the SEALs program and

these are carefully integrated with the International

Primary Curriculum:

1. Self-awareness

2. Managing feelings

3. Motivation

4. Empathy

5. Social skills

SEALs outcomes are achieved through a structured

approach in classrooms and assemblies, as well as

being an integral part of all aspects of school life.

Children learn to:

• understand one another’s point of view

• work and play successfully in groups

• value the contribution of others

• persevere with challenges when they get difficult

• learn about learning and themselves as learners

• resolve conflict

• manage emotions and feelings

SEALs establishes vocabulary to facilitate children in

being able to articulate and identify their feelings.

NationalCurriculum for England

The

An especially successful feature of the teaching is the close match between the learning needs of individual students and the work they are given to do.


15

Grades 6-9/Years 7-10The Middle School equips learners from age 11

through age 14 with the necessary academic skills

and personal learning attributes that prepares

them well for the next stage of their education,

the senior years.

In the Middle School, the English National Curriculum

forms the basis for the content of our challenging

program of study. It builds on prior learning and

prepares our students to explore in greater depth

the concepts, processes and skills of specific subjects,

while still engaging in a lively, motivational, cross

curricula, thematic approach.

The Middle school curriculum extends students

knowledge, skills and understanding in:

• English

• Mathematics

• Foreign Languages including French, Spanish

and Latin

• World History and Geography

• The Sciences

• The Arts – Visual Art, Music, Drama

• Design Technology and Computer Technology

• Physical Education – Sport, Gym, Dance and

Fitness

The curriculum is designed to enable each student

to become inquiring, knowledgeable, expressive,

reasoned thinkers that communicate well their

ideas, thoughts and opinions. It encourages students

to be open-minded and to see themselves in the

context of a richly diverse global society.

Students are expected to be reflective, critical

learners; taking a proactive role in their own

achievements. By setting challenging goals and

becoming increasingly independent, managing

time and resources efficiently, they develop the

habits of a successful lifelong learner.

The Middle School years are a particularly important

time in a young person‘s life as they grow from

child to adolescent. These are important time for

influencing the crucial decisions students make

about their lives and their futures. We work closely

with each student and their families, to provide the

personal guidance and support needed to ensure a

successful transition at the end of their education

with us.

As students transition out of The British American

School of Charlotte into a range of educational

settings, we consistently hear feedback from other

schools about how highly regarded our students

are, how well-prepared they are for the challenges

they face, and the positive, internationally minded

approach they bring to all aspects of their learning.

Middle YearsAges 11-14

The

The coursework is challenging, but he is more than keeping pace – and we are gaining confidence right along with him in his ability to learn, grasp difficult concepts and succeed in a learning environment.


17

There can be little doubt that hands-on, eventful

experience reaps many benefits, both academically

and in terms of personal development. Add the

‘wow’ factor and you have the making of memories

that will remain with children for the rest of their lives.

We place great value on experiential learning: field

trips, visiting speakers, community service projects,

outdoor adventures and immersion in real life

experiences. From Foundation stage to the Middle

School, children participate in a number of such

activities throughout the course of the year ranging

from Whitewater rafting, turning classrooms into a

Rainforest, to performing in their very own Circus.

Each class from 8 year olds and up takes part in a

residential experience. In Years 3 to 5 children spend

varying nights away at Camp Thunderbird, learning

to tackle high wire walking, paddle a canoe, learning

to collaborate as a team, while fostering a sense of

independence. In Year 6 and 7 children spend a

week in Washington, D.C. or Boston, learning about

American history, democracy and scientific and

artistic achievements. In Years 8 and 9 our students

engage in an international visit, where they get to

practice a language first-hand and learn through

real life experience about different cultures and

customs.

Strengthening our sense of community and making

us proud to belong is the participation our children

and families have in our school fairs, learning

assemblies and whole school productions. We

celebrate each other’s successes and the role of

giving to others.

Throughout the year we plan a series of themed

weeks in which children spend quality time

investigating and engaging in activities that

deepen their knowledge and understanding in

that subject area.

International week focuses the school on the

culture, traditions, arts and heritage of a chosen

country and is sponsored by the Arts Council of

Charlotte. Eco Week stresses the importance of

protecting our planet, while Healthy Action Week

promotes healthy habits that encourage children

to lead healthy lives.

We create these school events with the intention

that these will influence and create children’s

memories for a lifetime.

MakingLearning Eventful

Much of the teaching is lively and enthusiastic, and some is highly imaginative.


19

After School OpportunitiesClubs and Sports

At the British American School of Charlotte we place

a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities and

believe that participation in these provide strong

learning opportunities and benefits, enriching the

lives of children. We offer a range of clubs and

activities run by our teachers and outside specialists.

The wide range of activities includes soccer,

basketball, lacrosse, mandarin and other language

instruction, singing and instrumental lessons, board

games, computers, art, crafts, tennis, baking and

more. These activities take place after school hours.

A new variety of choices is offered each term, with

a full list available on the website or through our

admissions office.

After School Care

Our after school care club runs from 3:30 pm to 6:00

pm five days a week and provides quality care and fun

activities, along with a snack. We offer flexibility in the

scheduling with options to enroll your child every day,

specific days, or on a drop-in basis.

Making Community ConnectionsStudents at British American School of Charlotte

participate in a range of charitable fundraising

events and activities.

We believe it is important for charitable fundraising

activities to involve our children from start to finish.

Each year the Student Council selects three charities,

an international, national and Charlotte-based charity

to work with. Children take part in activities to collect

money, books and other resources for those in need.

Children have many opportunities to make a leadership

contribution, both in and out of school. The Student

Council is a place for children to represent the views

of others and to influence change around school. As

an offshoot to the Council, there is an Eco Team and a

Healthy Action team, each taking the lead in bringing

about change. Our older students are encouraged

to take part in community service projects that help

develop a sense of civic duty and participation.

Each year we select a Head Boy and Girl and two

school Ambassadors who take a leading role in whole

school events and represent the school in the wider

community. These are high profile positions that

encourage responsibility and leadership of others.

ExpandingHorizons


21

At The British American School of Charlotte, we

believe that tuition fees alone should cover the full

cost of providing the high standard of education. We

do not ask for any other financial contribution to the

running of the school or the capital development of

our facilities.

We value the unique contribution each family makes,

through their participation and partnership in the life

of the school, its community and the learning of our

children.

Working in PartnershipsParents are valued as a vital partner in the education

of their child and in creating the supportive, vibrant

school community, where children, families and staff

are proud to belong.

Throughout the year we hold Partnership Meetings

with the child, their parents, and their teachers to

discuss the individual child’s progress, establish

targets and celebrate successes. Detailed, written

reports are prepared three times a year; ensuring

parents are kept fully informed about their child’s

progress throughout the school year.

On Fridays at the British American School, we

celebrate and acknowledge children’s learning

through whole class assemblies and the Head

Teachers Celebration assemblies.

Participation in SchoolWe encourage our families to be as involved as

possible in all aspects of school life. From taking

part in school field trips and school productions, to

helping out in classrooms and leading whole school

community events.

School Consultative Group

The School Consultative Group is a committee made

up of school parents, voted for by the staff and parent

body at large. The SCG team work in collaboration

and support of the Headmaster and the school’s

leadership team. The SCG’s role is to provide advice,

feedback and guidance on the current and future

practices of the school.

Community Parents

Each class elects a Community Parent who forms a

part of a larger team that arranges social events,

welcomes new families and seeks to further develop

the strong sense of community that is a key feature

of the British American School of Charlotte.

Room Parents

Acting in collaboration with the teachers, Room Parents

assist the classroom teacher in communications,

support, coordination and arrangements for class

events and offers general help in and around the

classroom.

Helping Out

There are many opportunities for parents to make an

active contribution to school across the year. Book

Fairs, International, Environment, and Healthy Action

weeks are some of the high profile events that

parents play a central role in. In addition parents

volunteer in the Library, reading with children and act

as special visitors in school, giving talks and sharing

special skills and interests.

Partnershipand Community


23

The British American School of Charlotte is a member of the British Schools of America, a division of World Class Learning Group (WCL).

World Class Learning Schools offer the highest standards of education through a learning-driven philosophy where opportunities are created for personalized learning for each and every child. Our challenging curricula have a unique global focus that promotes a world wide perspective preparing our students for a changing world. Our high caliber, British trained teachers provide the support students need to achieve their all-round potential and produce outcomes well beyond expectations, equipping our students with the skills, confidence and resilience they need to become confident, responsible learners, ready to meet the challenges of the future.

Success-proven, World Class Learning Schools are currently located in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Doha (Qatar).

World Class TeachersOutstanding teachers make a world of difference in the lives of children. Time after time research shows that the single biggest influence in a child’s education is the quality of the teacher.

At the British Schools of America, we are proud to have outstanding, exceptionally talented, highly-qualified, skilled and caring teachers. All of our class teachers are British; trained in British Universities and are experienced in teaching in British schools. These qualifications ensure that they all have a proven ability to deliver engaging, differentiated, learning-driven lessons that ensure every child excels.

What sets our teachers apart, besides their education and experience, is their passion for learning, their deep understanding of how children learn and their ability to make learning a personal experience through which every child succeeds.

Our teachers are skilled at making accurate assessments of children, identifying next steps in their learning and planning engaging, interconnected lessons, that not only see children grow academically, but socially and

emotionally, with a broader and deeper international understanding. They have high expectations of every child and support each in fulfilling their true potential.

Great teachers understand the importance of creating a dynamic learning environment that fosters a positive climate of achievement. They know how to give powerful feedback that encourages and guides future learning. They are skilled in bringing learning to life, making learning fun and meaningful.

Accreditations, Reviews and Professional AssociationQuality assurance procedures at the British American School of Charlotte are designed to provide confirmation that the educational provision supports, encourages and enables high standards of learning. This is accomplished through both internal and external reviews and external accreditation.

Accreditation – A Learning-Focused SchoolThe British American School of Charlotte is accredited by Fieldwork Education as a Learning-Focused School. This comes as a part of the whole school review carried out by Fieldwork Education Services. The established standards for the Fieldwork Education accreditation is based on the quality and quantity of learning taking place at the school.

ReviewsAs part of the British Schools of America and the World Class Learning Group internal quality assurance, BASC is required to have a school-wide internal self review. The British American School of Charlotte undergoes a review every two years. Internal reviews are conducted by a team from a group consisting of a sister school organization, Fieldwork Education Services, and independent consultants.

Professional AssociationsThe British American School of Charlotte is proud to be an active member of the:

• European Council of International Schools (ECIS) • Council for International Schools in the Americas

(CISTA)• British American Business Council

World ClassLearning School

This is a fantastic school with a caring environment, but one that challenges and expects excellence from its pupils. We are in our 2nd year there. Individualized curriculum, amazing teachers, and no capital campaigns! My children are so happy and have truly developed a love for learning.

24

The British American School of Charlotte is a proud supporter of: Save the Children

UNICEF

Half The Sky Foundation

Big Brother Big Sister

Ronald McDonald House

Alexander Youth Network

Santa’s Link

Make A Wish Foundation

Feed the Children

Photos courtesy of Dawn Kjeldsen Freeland

of DKF Photography.

7000 Endhaven LaneCharlotte, North Carolina 28277 Phone: 704.341.3236 • Fax: 704.341.3258www.britishschool.org/charlotte

25 Buckingham GateLondon, SW1E 6LD, United KingdomPhone: +44 (0)20 7821 4898 • Fax: +44 (0)20 7821 4899www.wclgroup.com

British American School of CharlotteInspiring World Class Learning

World Class Learning Group

british american school of charlotte brochure

Documents

learning process

learning preferences

childs learning

learning styleswe

learning needs

learning fun

dynamic learning environment

preferred learning styles