senior school welcome handbook 2014-2015

WelcomeSenior School Voorschoten

2014 | 2015Internationally British

2 | SSV Welcome

Welcome from Headteacher 3 Starting at the BSN 4

Welcome to Senior School 5 Staying in touch 6

Student wellbeing 6 Daily routines 8 What to wear 11

What to bring to school 12 1-to-1 iPad Programme 13

Opportunities for students outside the classroom 14 Student health 16

Promoting positive behaviour 18 Welcoming new parents to the school 19

Years 7 and 8 – Key Stage 3 20 Year 9 – Key Stage 3 24

Years 10 and 11 – Key Stage 4 26 Years 12 and 13 – Sixth Form 30

Field trips, visits and courses 34

SSV Welcome | 3

Dear parents Welcome to Senior School

We are delighted to welcome your family to the BSN Senior School community. Our philosophy embraces the challenges of academic excellence, responsibility, leadership, friendship and participation in a wide variety of activities while being supportive and understanding.

Our students and staff come from a wide range of backgrounds, the UK, the Netherlands and over eighty other countries. Each member of our community has experience from which we can all learn. Whilst we have collective aims, everyone is treated as an individual, with students being encouraged to use initiative and develop their own skills and talents.

There will be many new opportunities and experiences that lie ahead for students during their time at the BSN. Whether your family is new to the Netherlands, or your son or daughter is new to the BSN or new to the Senior School – moving from one of our junior schools – our aim is to help both students and their families, make the transition as easy and problem free as possible.

To help with this we have produced this guide to the key things you will need to know as your son or daughter starts at the BSN – in addition to this, students will receive a copy of Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form at the start of term. This is issued to everyone at Senior School and is designed to provide answers to many of the questions that students ask. In addition, students’ Form Tutors and Heads of Year will ensure that they have all the information they need when they start and will support students throughout the year.

We look forward to welcoming you and your family to our community. For those families transferring from a different school or country, we invite you to join us at the new student induction morning on Friday 5 September, where parents and guardians will have the opportunity to meet others in the same boat.

In September, shortly after the start of term, we hold an Open Evening for new Year 7 parents which is a chance to meet the Head of Year and the Form Tutors as well as other parents in your child’s form and to hear a little about life in Year 7. Other year groups have progress and consultation evenings throughout the year – please refer to Gateway for details and timing.

Students join the BSN throughout the school year and will be warmly welcomed, when they arrive by the Head of Year as well as their Form Tutor.

The BSN Family Association holds a regular Coffee Morning at Senior School where parents are welcome to drop by to meet other families and catch up on news of life at the BSN.

We do hope that you are now looking forward to the prospect of life at the BSN Senior School – we are certainly looking forward to welcoming you and your children to our thriving school community.

Peter Simpson Head of Senior School Voorschoten

Senior School Voorschoten

4 | SSV Welcome

Starting at the BSNWe know that whether you are moving to

a new country, starting a new school – or perhaps both, this is an exciting time. At the BSN we do all that we can to help families feel settled and at home as quickly as possible. We are experienced in welcoming newcomers; not only in September, but throughout the whole school year.

You are likely to have lots of questions about school routines and how things work, and what day to day life will be like for you and your family at the BSN. This handbook is designed to help you answer many of those questions, but please remember that if you are unsure about anything at all you just need to ask – we will always do our best to help.

Useful dates for your calendar

School year 2014 | 2015

Autumn term Term begins | Mon 8 Sep 2014 Half term | Mon 27 Oct to Mon 3 Nov 2014 End of term | Fri 19 Dec 2014

Christmas holidays

Spring term Term begins | Tue 6 Jan 2015 Half term | Mon 23 Feb to Mon 2 Mar 2015 End of term | Fri 27 Mar 2015

Easter holidays

Summer term Term begins | Tue 14 Apr 2015 Half term | Mon 25 May to Fri 29 May 2015 End of term | Wed 15 Jul 2015

Summer holidays

SSV Welcome | 5

Welcome to Senior School

Welcome to the Senior School – if you’re joining us at the start of the school year, read on to find out about our induction morning and welcome procedure. If, however, you are joining us mid-way through the year, you will have an accompanying letter to this handbook. This letter will explain what you need to do on your first day at the BSN – who will meet you and show you around, which form you will be in and more information about which lessons you will have.

New BSN students – induction morning

Students who are new to the BSN at the start of the school year, are invited to attend an induction morning, on Friday 5 September between 09:30 and 11:00. New students will be welcomed in the main school hall by Mr Peter Simpson, Headteacher, the Heads of Year and Form Tutors – students will then have a chance to tour the school, find out where their classrooms are and get more information about the school. Parents are invited to join the BSN Welcome Team for a cup of coffee and will also have a chance to have their questions answered. This induction morning is not designed for students moving to the Senior School from our junior schools – the transfer day offered to BSN students during Year 6 is designed to serve this purpose.

The first day of termOn Monday 8 September, staff and

student helpers will be ready, from 08:30 in the school Atrium, to welcome new students to the BSN. Hopefully most new students will have attended the induction morning and will have a good idea of what lies ahead.

Year 7

Students joining Year 7 should go to the main school hall, where Mrs Suzanne Hallett – the Head of Year 7 and the Year 7 Form Tutors will be waiting to welcome students and take them to their form rooms and introduce them to their class.

Years 8, 9, 10 and 11

Students joining in these year groups will be welcomed in the Atrium and then shown to their new form room. Form Tutors will be able to answer any questions and will issue timetables, agenda and locker instructions. Students will be paired with another student in their class who will help them settle into the school routine and guide them around the building.

Years 12 and 13

The Director and Assistant Director of Sixth Form, along with current Year 12 and 13 students will be in the Atrium to welcome and guide new students to their Forms.


6 | SSV Welcome

Staying in touchDay to day communication

BSN Gateway is the BSN’s password protected website. It provides direct, personalised access to Notes Home, the school calendar, approval forms for trips, the family database, school news and curriculum information. The BSN Gateway is our key method of day to day communication with parents. We do not send paper notes home in school bags, but rather use a system of electronic Notes and Messages sent through this portal.

If your son or daughter is moving from one of the BSN Junior Schools, your Gateway details will remain unchanged. Parents who are new to the BSN will receive a temporary log-in with their acknowledgement letter and a permanent, personal log-in within the first couple of days of your child starting school with us. Please be sure to log in and check for news and messages regularly.

BSN Insight BSN Insight Magazine is a termly overview

of some of the many events, activities and work that has been taking place across the school. The magazine is delivered by post to each BSN family towards the end of every term and is available online via our website.

General enquiriesThe School Office is at the heart of our

busy school – for general questions about the school or for any messages that you need to pass on, the School Office will be able to help you. Feel free to phone, call in at any time or email us.

If you have any general enquiries about the school, routines or practical issues, then please direct them to the School Office – if the Office is not able to help you, you will be put in touch with someone who can. When no-one is available to speak to you, there is an ‘out of hours’ messaging service operating from 16.30 every day – calls are logged as emails and passed on to the appropriate member of staff – we do our best to respond to questions as quickly as possible.

School Office ContactsOffice Manager | Christine Turton Receptionist | Sue Harris Office Administrator | Dawn Corringham Office Administrator | Hilary Davidson Office Administrator | Marloes Smit Telephone: 071 560 2222 Fax: 071 560 2200 Email: [email protected]

Larger issues or concernsIf your concerns or questions are more

serious or confidential in nature, you are welcome to contact the Head of Year, Deputy or Head Teacher who will help you as quickly as possible. You can contact the school office to arrange an appointment or email them directly.

Student wellbeingParent/teacher communication

The school operates an Open Door Policy for all parents who want to get in touch with the school to discuss any issues or problems. Please refer to the table to establish who is the most relevant member of staff to contact with a query or concern. In turn, we will contact families if we have concerns.

SSV Welcome | 7

We have regular Progress Evenings throughout the year – but there is no need to wait for this to talk to us about an urgent matter. Please bear in mind though, that staff have teaching commitments and it may be difficult for them to return calls immediately. When leaving a message with the office, please leave a number and the times when it is convenient for a member of staff to call back.

We want to encourage a partnership with parents particularly in relation to your child’s academic learning and personal development. For this reason staff email addresses are open for parents to communicate with individual staff members.

We ask you to ensure that your message is sent to the most relevant person – see the table below.

In situations where contacting the Form Tutor or Head of Year is not appropriate parents are welcome to contact a member of the Senior Management Team:

Head Teacher | Peter Simpson Email: [email protected]

Deputy Head, Pastoral | Ian Laycock Email: [email protected]

Deputy Head, Curriculum | James Oxlade Email: [email protected]

Nature of message Relevant member of staffAn academic matter, for instance about a lesson or homework

The subject teacher or the specialist teacher in the case of case Dutch, PE, Music or EAL

A matter to do with a student’s personal well-being, for instance friendship issues

The Form Tutor

If a matter is of a serious nature and warrants escalation

The Head of Year or Head of Department

Technical examination questions The Exams OfficeMedical matters, for instance information about an allergy

The School Nurse

Administrative matters, for instance to do with school transport or lost property or sickness absence

The School Office

A strategic or policy matter The Headteacher or The Principal

The pastoral system The Senior School aims to provide a

safe and caring environment in which students will thrive, and an important part of this is the pastoral system. When students join the school they are placed in form groups – each Form Tutor has responsibility for up to twenty-four students and is part of a tutor team led by the Head of Year.

The Form Tutor plays an important role in the students’ pastoral experiences and is the first point of contact for students.

Tutors register their form in the morning and spend the first part of the lunch break with them in their form room. On Wednesdays and alternate Fridays, the form meets for a 20 minute tutor period after morning break where students are helped with organisation and planning. As well

as the practicalities of school life, discussions and tasks are undertaken based on relevant, topical issues, ranging from information about the trip to The Kaag for Year 7s to advice about subject options for Year 9s, and careers and university advice for Sixth Formers.

Form Tutors and the Head of Year monitor a large range of issues including: attendance, punctuality, behaviour and students’ general well-being in school.

Homework and academic progress will also be monitored and students will be encouraged to set their own targets and evaluate their outcome over the year. Tutors also organise grade cards and progress reports and work closely with other teachers to ensure an enriching and enjoyable educational experience for the students in their form.


8 | SSV Welcome

Daily routinesThe start of the day

The school building is open for students from 08:00 onwards, with most arriving between 08:20 and 08:40. Students arriving at school by bus will be dropped off in the school grounds.

By 08:45 students are expected to be in their form rooms for registration. Late arrivals are required to report to the office and sign in there – if your child’s school bus appears to be running late, there is no need to alert us – the bus company will do this automatically and your child will not be marked as late or absent. A student is deemed late for school if they are not present in their form room by 08:50.

Two-week timetable

The timing of the day and students’ timetables span a two-week period – known as Week A and Week B. At the start of term, students receive their timetable and are encouraged to keep it with their Agenda, to ensure they remain organised. Students soon become used to knowing if its Week A or Week B with signs posted around the school as well as the Home page of Gateway.

Lesson and break times Throughout the day, the school bell

sounds to indicate the start and finish of lessons, to mark break and lunchtime, and to signal the end of the day. Please note that finishing times vary according to which day of the week it is; Monday, Tuesday and Thursday school ends at 15:55 and on Wednesday and Friday school ends at 15:25.

AssemblyStudents at the Senior School meet

regularly for whole year group assembly – this is an opportunity for the Tutors and Heads of Year to share important notices and to highlight and celebrate students’ successes. Once a term, the school holds a whole school assembly which is held by Mr Peter Simpson, the Headteacher. The rota for assemblies by year group is here:

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Wednesday and Friday08:50–08:55 Registration 08:50–08:55 Registration08:55–09:50 Period 1 08:55–09:50 Period 109:55–10:50 Period 2 09:55–10:50 Period 210:50–11:10 Break 10:50–11:40 Break

Period 311:10–12:05 Period 312:10–13:05 Period 4 11:40–12:35 Period 413:05–14:00 Lunch 12:35–13:30 Lunch14:00–14:55 Period 5 13:30–14:25 Period 515:00–15:55 Period 6 14:30–15:25 Period 615:55 End of day 15:25 End of day

Week Day Time Year GroupA Wednesday 10:50–11:15 13

Wednesday 11:15–11:40 FreeFriday 10:50–11:15 12Friday 11:15–11:40 8

B Wednesday 10:50–11:15 11Wednesday 11:15–11:40 9Friday 10:50–11:15 10Friday 11:15–11:40 7

SSV Welcome | 9

Breakfast, snack and lunchThe Senior School has its own cafeteria,

which is open from 8:00 and provides hot and cold meals and snacks which students can purchase throughout the day. The school has a well-supported healthy eating programme which ensures that the food served is balanced and healthy.

There are also a number of vending machines which offer drinks and snacks for after school or when the canteen is not open. Water is freely available at all times and students are encouraged to have their own refillable water bottles for use throughout the day.

Many students bring their own packed lunch and snack – this is generally eaten in form rooms as a group under the supervision of a member of staff.

School Bus ServiceThe school operates a comprehensive

bus service for students – various options are available, including a door-to-door service. The bus service works independently of the school and has a strict behaviour policy. Further information on the school bus service is on BSN Gateway and the school website. For more information on the BSN Bus Service, please refer to your Essentials handbook, or BSN Gateway. The BSN Transport Department can be contacted on: 070 315 4083 or [email protected].

Building work – 2014-15Due to the social spaces building project

taking place at the Senior School this year, there may be some changes to regular daily routines. We will do our best to minimise these and will communicate any changes as they arise.


10 | SSV Welcome

The end of the dayAt the end of the day, when the final bell

sounds, students make their way to their lockers to organise the books and files they need for homework and then move on – either onto the school bus, to an extra-curricular activity or home. Students can be collected by car, but access at this busy time of day, negotiating buses, cars, cyclists and pedestrians, can be a challenge and students must take care.

Going home by school busBuses leave promptly, 15 minutes after the

end of the school day. Students must always have their bus pass with them. If a student accidentally misses the bus, they will be able to call from the School Office to make alternative collection arrangements with parents and guardians.

After school activitiesPlease note that students participating

in after school Co-curricular Activities (CCAs) need to have made alternative, independent travel arrangements or collected from school at the appropriate time.

Parking and drop offPlease be aware of the legal parking

signs on the roads around the school. Parents are requested to park sensibly and consider

pedestrians at all times. Parents bringing children to school should use the drop off zone at the front of the school building – please do not stop right in front of the doors to the school. There may be alternative drop and pick-up arrangements during the building project, please keep an eye on Gateway for details of any changes.

Arriving by bicycleStudents cycling to school use the rear

gate and must not use the main front entrance, which is very busy at the start and end of the day. Once inside the school grounds, bikes should be pushed, not ridden. There is covered bicycle storage inside school grounds. Bicycles must be locked during the day and are the sole responsibility of the owners.

Security informationThe security of our students and staff

is important to us, and a closed circuit monitoring system is in place. All visitors, including parents, are requested to sign in at Reception and wear the appropriate badge issued upon sign-in.

In an emergency, such as fire or evacuation of the school, parents will be sent an emergency text message. For this reason, it is vital that the school has up to date mobile phone details for all parents and guardians. Further information and our policy for use of the Emergency Text System can be found on BSN Gateway.

SSV Welcome | 11

What to wearThe Senior School uniform helps to

promote a shared feeling of equality amongst our students – a particularly important consideration as we welcome students from a wide range of countries and work to provide them with a sense of belonging. The uniform changes as students move through the Senior School and everyone in Years 7-11 must wear it. Please take particular note of the regulations regarding footwear. Details of the uniform required can be found on the website, in the separate School Uniform leaflet and on BSN Gateway.

The BSN Uniform Shop is open for new students to visit before the start of each term. New arrivals are strongly advised to attend the shop with their son or daughter to allow fitting – always make an appointment in advance by calling: 070 315 4087 or 071 315 4080.

If your son or daughter is due to start part-way through a term and you are concerned about organising school uniform, you can also speak to the Admissions Department: 070 315 4077, who would be happy to help you.

Sixth Form dress codeStudents should be dressed appropriately

for study – this means that clothing should be smart, clean, respectable and appropriate.

Students may not wear vests, shorts, cropped tops or mini skirts.

Sixth Form students’ dress should not cause offence to staff or other students.

Jewellery Students with pierced ears are permitted

to wear small stud earrings, but these must be removed or covered during PE lessons. Piercings are not allowed on any other part of the body. Jewellery should not be worn in school.

Marking and labelling All items of clothing and equipment

should be clearly marked with your child’s name. The Uniform Shop can recommend companies providing labels and name tapes.

Where to buy uniformThe main Uniform Shop is in the Sports

and Community building on Junior School Leidschenveen (JSL) campus. Uniform can also be ordered via BSN Gateway and delivered to the school offices for collection by students.

Main shop (JSL) opening times

Mondays | 08:45–10:30

Thursdays | 08:45–10:30

Thursday afternoon | 15:00–16:00 (first Thursday of month only)


12 | SSV Welcome

What to bring to school

One of the best ways to ensure that your son or daughter feels happy, confident and settled when they start school is to make sure that they have with them all the equipment that they need – your assistance in getting them organised helps greatly. Please make sure that all items are clearly named and labelled.

Equipment● pencil case● blue/black pen● pencils● pencil sharpener● ruler● eraser● English dictionary● pack of colouring pens/pencils ● scissors● glue stick● highlighter pen● iPad ● memory stick

Mathematics ● protractor● pair of compasses● HB or harder pencil● scientific calculator

(we recommend Casio fx-82MS)

Art● coloured pencils ● small set of watercolours● apron or art shirt

Design Technology● blue DT apron – available from

the Uniform Shop● hair band to tie back long hair● 2B, HB and 2H pencils● set of coloured pencils ● geometry set including 30cm ruler,

pair of compasses, 45° set square and a 20°/60° set square

PE bagStudents may use any suitable sports bag.

However, PE bags are available from the Uniform Shop. PE kit is generally brought into school on the appropriate day and then taken home again for washing on the same day.

Water bottleIn line with the school environmental

policy, no paper cups are provided at school. New students are provided with a water bottle at the start of the school year which they are encouraged to use within lessons. Proper hydration helps to improve concentration levels and water is freely available within the Senior School.

SSV Welcome | 13

1-to-1 iPad programme

All Senior School students require an iPad which parents are asked to purchase, at a significantly subsidised rate, via the school’s secure online shop on BSN Gateway – further information on how to go about this has been sent to you in the e-newsletter from our Admissions Team. Information is also available on our website.

To help protect students and their iPads, the school runs regular information sessions with students and strict rules relating to the use of iPads apply. These are detailed in the Responsible Use Agreement which students and parents must sign when iPads are issued and a copy is included in Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form and is given to every student at the start of the year. The most important things for students to remember are:

● iPads may only be used in classrooms or under the supervision of a member of staff.

● before school and at lunch/break, iPads should be in students’ lockers or stored safely in school bags.

● students are reminded to never leave iPads unattended.

● iPads are not allowed in changing rooms at any time.

● students must make their iPads password secure – and never share this password with other students.

● coin operated lockers are available to allow students to safely store and recharge iPads.

● students are given lots of advice about personal safety, in particular they are encouraged to keep iPads (and other valuable items) out of sight when travelling outside school premises.

Strict sanctions are in place to ensure iPads are used appropriately and responsibly by students. These will be imposed for the following reasons and full details are given in Basics.

● students should not use the iPad outside designated areas – the classroom, an ‘iPad zone’ or without the supervision of staff

● students must not use iPads in an inappropriate way in lesson time

Students are reminded that it is important to always remember the BSN’s school values when using the iPad.


14 | SSV Welcome

Opportunities outside the

classroomThroughout the year there are many

events and activities that go on outside the classroom at the BSN. These vary from year to year and according to the age group and provide chances to take on more responsibility, learn new skills, or develop existing ones as well as helping students get to know new people and have fun. We encourage all students to take advantage of what is on offer at the school.

Extra-curricular Activities At the start of the school year in

September, the Senior School holds an Extra-Curricular Activities Fair. This event takes place during the school day and students will have the opportunity to visit various information stands where they can find out more about the range of activities on offer at the school.

We have a wide range of activities available, run during lunchtime and after school. The exact programme of extra-curricular activities varies from term to term but includes choirs, instrumental groups, drama, debating, creative clubs, numerous sporting opportunities and much more.

And if there is nothing that takes your fancy, it is also possible for new activities to be set up and run if demand from students is great enough.

Student CouncilDuring the school year, each tutor group

elects two representatives to serve on the School Council. This is a great chance to represent the views of the tutor group and discuss ideas about how to make the school better. The representatives gather ideas and suggestions from their class to take to the meeting, debate these and then feedback to their classmates.

MusicIf students are interested in taking

music lessons in any of the following, we can arrange it:

● Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone, Baritone, Euphonium, French Horn, Tenor Horn, Tuba

● Guitar: Classical, Folk, Electric, Bass● Piano● Singing: Classical, Pop, Jazz ● Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass ● Woodwind: Oboe, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet

It is possible for music students to take ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall exams; the Senior School is a regional centre for ABRSM exams and Junior School Diamanthorst is a regional centre for Trinity Guildhall exams.

In addition to taking lessons, there are many different ensembles to join. These include: Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Concert Band, Orchestra, Progress Band, Showstoppers (a performing arts group), Swing Band, Recorder Group, String Group, Senior Performance Choir, various chamber groups and small ensembles. Just get in touch with Dr Alex Jarrett in the music department email: [email protected].

SSV Welcome | 15

Sports tournamentsStudents of all ages have the opportunity to

participate in competitive sport and represent the school at both local and international tournaments. Girls hockey, boys and girls basketball, golf, swimming, girls gymnastics, football and rugby are among the sports regularly participating at this level. As students progress through the school the number of such opportunities increases as athletes from a wide range of sports travel to other international schools around Europe to compete for the BSN. The school has an excellent reputation for its sporting success and is an active member school of both ISST and GISGA tournaments.

School tripsThere are a number of trips and visits

arranged with a variety of aims, throughout the year – in Year 7, students experience a short residential trip at the beginning of the academic year in order to encourage team building. Other year groups benefit from a range of experiences which are allied to different subject areas. A summary of all the trips run by the BSN can be found at the back of this handbook as well as on Gateway.

Charity eventsDuring the year students are encouraged to

spend time organising and supporting fund-raising events to raise money for a charity. These events include bake sales, sponsored events and a variety of performances. Some of this money goes towards supporting a junior school in Ndege, Kenya and other projects in Africa.

Community Action Service (CAS)Although this is a component of the

IB Diploma Programme run in our Sixth Form, all students in Years 12 and 13 are encouraged to volunteer and contribute in many different ways to give something back to our community.


16 | SSV Welcome

Student healthGood health is vital to enable children

and young people to fulfil their potential.

Each of the BSN’s school campuses has a School Nurse on site during the day. The nurse’s primary role is to look after the health of our students during the school day, and is responsible for the provision of first aid, health promotion, and administration of necessary medication. For general medical advice, parents should contact their family doctor (Huisarts).

The School Nurse also provides support to students with chronic or complex medical needs. When such issues are identified, they will ensure that procedures are promptly put in place to ensure that the child is not disadvantaged by their condition. This enables those students to develop and flourish, along with their peers, to achieve their full potential in all aspects of school life.

The nurses officeOur school nursing office is open from

08:30–16:00 each school day and is accessible for students who sustain an injury, become ill or need a listening ear whilst in school.

However, consultation with the nurse is not appropriate if an injury or illness has occurred outside of school. A medical examination and advice should then be obtained from your doctor in the first instance. If you wish to consult with the nurse about a medical issue which may be having an impact on your child’s health and schooling you are welcome to ring to arrange an appointment.

SSV Welcome | 17

Health recordAs soon as a new student joins the BSN,

it is vital that the School Nurse is notified of all health-related issues such as asthma, epilepsy, diabetes and allergies – especially if these are related to foods eg; peanuts or milk etc.

All parents are asked to complete a Student Health Record Form on behalf of their son or daughter – it is really important that we have an accurate understanding of the health of all our students and in particular of any specific medical issues. All health information given to the school on this form is treated with the strictest confidentiality and only shared on a need-to-know basis.

What to do if your son or daughter is ill

To help us ensure that the school is a healthy environment in which your child can thrive it is essential to follow these guidelines:

● students should not attend school if they are unwell or not fully recovered from an illness.

● in the case of vomiting or diarrhoea, students must be kept at home for 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped.

● it is important that any change in medical information is given to nursing staff, who will discuss more complex situations with parents.

● notify the school if your child is diagnosed with an infectious disease e.g. scarlet fever, impetigo, whooping cough etc. The information will remain confidential whilst allowing us to notify others and minimise further spread of infection.

● collect your child promptly, once the school has contacted you. Refusal to collect a pupil who has been assessed by the nurse to be unfit for school will be passed on to the Head of School.

● if your child is unable to take part in sports lessons because of injury or illness a letter must be sent to the Sports Department detailing the reasons. The school nurse cannot supply this letter on the request of the student.

● it is vital that any change of address or telephone number is given to the school office – enabling the school to contact parents promptly in times of illness or injury during the school day.

● in the event of your child being taken ill at school, we will telephone the primary contact on our student information system. If this person is unreachable, we will contact the secondary contact.

Use of crutchesIt is important to notify the nurse if your

child has to move with the aid of crutches – they will then ensure that procedures are put in place to assist the student to move safely around the school. This is also very important in the event of any incident which may require the building to be evacuated.

School counsellingIn the Senior School we also provide

students with access to a counsellor who can provide emotional support and advice. Students can make appointments through the nursing office, by talking to a teacher, by asking parents to make an appointment or by contacting the counsellor directly themselves.

Let us know ... Please inform the school office before

09:00 if a student is absent due to sickness. If no notice is received, the school is required to contact you and, if unsuccessful, to record the absence as unauthorised. Requests for absence due to personal reasons, must be made to the Headteacher in writing in advance. Please refer to the school policy on absence during term time on BSN Gateway.


18 | SSV Welcome

Promoting positive behaviour

At the start of the year all Senior School students are issued with Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form – this handy booklet contains everything students need to know about life at the BSN Senior School.

Among other things, Basics contains the BSN’s school rules, to which all students are expected to adhere – time is set aside at the start of the school year for all students to read and understand this document.

The BSN has developed a Behavioural Code by combining ideas from staff and students – this can be found on BSN Gateway and is the responsibility of us all to ensure that it is carried out. Our Senior School rules are intended to promote self-discipline and a develop a proper regard for everyone in our community. We expect good behaviour and respect for others.

Around School we expect students to:

● treat all members of our school community with respect and courtesy at all times.

● contribute to the high quality of the learning experience by ensuring that you are punctual, correctly dressed, well-equipped and behave appropriately.

● be responsible for your own safety and that of others by behaving calmly and sensibly when moving around the school building and grounds.

● respect the environment of the school and the property of others.

In the Corridors, remember the following:

● as we live in the Netherlands – we drive on the right so we walk on the right.

● only go to your lockers after the bell rings at 08:30 before school, at break time, lunchtime or after school.

● respect the school building and keep it clean and tidy; do not drop litter.

● walk quietly without running and remember good manners and hold open doors for staff and visitors coming the other way.

In the Classroom

● arrive on time with the correct equipment.● be attentive and follow instructions as they are

given.● enjoy your work and complete it to the best of

your ability.● hand in all homework punctually.● verify anything you are uncertain of or need

making clearer.● enter each lesson on a positive note.

SSV Welcome | 19

Drop in coffee mornings

These take place every Tuesday morning at Senior School, between 09:00 – 10:30. Run by the Family Association, these regular events are the perfect place to meet other parents and learn more about both the school and the wider expatriate community in The Hague. Please register with the school office – everyone is welcome!

Welcoming new parents to the school

We understand that moving to a new country and culture can be an overwhelming experience – whether you are an experienced expat or this is the first time you have left your home. For many parents, school provides a vital community link, offering a chance to quickly make friends and establish an important support network.

Our Family Association is the backbone of our community and is run by parents for parents and made up of a series of Teams whose focus is to support BSN families in a variety of ways.

The Welcome Team helps to smooth the process of joining a new school and moving to a new country. Over the course of the school year, the Welcome Team holds a series of coffee mornings specifically designed to welcome newcomers and provide support and advice about how things work at the BSN and in the Netherlands.

The Summer Fair and Winter Fair Teams run the school’s two biggest annual events, requiring the involvement and support of students, staff and parents from across the entire school.

Our Social Team organises smaller, informal events which involve people across the BSN community. These range from museum visits to quiz nights and tries to offer something for all BSN families and friends.

The Sessions Team organises talks and workshops on topics of parental interest.

The Bring and Buy and Second Hand Uniform Teams set up sales in the various schools throughout the year.

The International Team also plays an important role within the BSN community. The team organises the International Festival to celebrate the cultural diversity of the BSN. Members of the International Team aim to make contact with new parents from their own country or nationality. A contact list of the International Team can be found on BSN Gateway.

If you are interested in finding out more about The Family Association please contact them via [email protected].


20 | SSV Welcome

Native Speaker Language Programme in Year 7

If your mother tongue is French, German or Spanish then your son or daughter will be offered one lesson a week with a foreign language assistant during normal timetabled lessons.

In these lessons the assistant will give you special attention to your particular needs and will provide tasks that assess your current level in each skill. These tasks will help you to prepare for our Mother Tongue Enrichment programme that will start in September 2015 and will allow you to sit a GCSE in Year 11.

If your mother tongue is Dutch, then you will normally be placed in the top Dutch set. This will prepare you for the GCSE in the summer of Year 8.

Native Speaker Language Programme in Year 8

If your mother tongue is French, Spanish or German and you are entering Year 8 in September 2014, then you will also be offered support from the foreign language assistant during timetabled lessons. In these lessons, you will prepare for the controlled assessments so that you can sit a GCSE in the language. The final listening and reading exams will take place in the summer of Year 8 so that you can achieve the GCSE qualification in Summer 2015.

If your mother tongue is Dutch, the you will normally be placed in the top Dutch set. The work that you do in class will prepare you to sit your Dutch GCSE this summer.

In both Year 7 and Year 8 we also provide special foreign language assistants in Italian, Chinese, and Russian. We can also help students in Year 8 to sit GCSEs in other languages. In the past we have offered Japanese, Arabic, Afrikaans, Urdu, Portuguese, Modern Greek, Hindi and more.

Please take a look on Gateway or contact the Languages faculty via [email protected] for more information.

Years 7 and 8 These are the first two years of Senior

School and set the tone for progress. When students join in Year 7, they will receive Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form, and here we have outlined the key points for these year groups.

Students will have the same Form Tutor and Head of Year for the first two years of their Senior School lives. They are there to help students through problems which may arise, as well as sharing successes and achievements. Tutors meet their classes first thing every morning for registration and again at the beginning of lunchtime for a further fifteen minutes.

The first day of termStudents joining Year 7 should go to the

main school hall, where Mrs Hallett – the Head of Year and all the Year 7 Form Tutors will be waiting to welcome students and take them to their form rooms and introduce them to their class.

Students joining in Year 8 will be welcomed in the Atrium and then shown to their new form room. Form Tutors will be able to answer any questions and will issue timetables, agenda and locker instructions. Newcomers will be paired with a student in their class who will help new students to settle into the school routines and guide them around the building.

Years 7 and 8 – Key Stage 3

SSV Welcome | 21


Year 7

Head of Year 7 Suzanne Hallett

email Mrs Hallett at: [email protected]

Welcome to Year 7 – a really exciting

and busy year at the BSN. You will soon learn that the Senior School is a very busy place and being organised is a good way to help you settle in quickly. You will make new friends and tackle new subjects delivered by a number of different teachers.

We have lots of new experiences to offer students; ranging from our trip to De Kaag in September and our visit to nearby Duivenvoorde as well as activities week at the end of the year.

I know you will have a good time in Year 7 – remember that your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year. However, please also remember that I am here to help you and you are welcome to pop in to the Year 7/8 Office (Room 174) if you want to have a chat.

Reporting and progress – Year 7

An overview of what you can expect for every Senior School year group can be found in the Curriculum Information handbook which accompanies this Welcome handbook.

Open eveningFor Year 7 parents, we hold a welcoming

Open Evening on 29 September. This gives parents and teachers a chance to meet each other. It is especially important here to make contact with the Form Tutor and the Head of Year.

Settling-in During the first term in Year 7 we issue

a Settling-in card which gives parents an early indication of how their son/daughter has managed the first few weeks. This is followed by a Tutor Consultation evening when parents have a chance to meet and talk to their son or daughter’s tutor about any issues or concerns arising from the Settling-in card.

ReportsA Grade Card will be sent out at the end

of the first term which will be followed by a Progress Evening early in the Spring term which we expect students to attend. This is a formal opportunity for parents/guardians to discuss their child’s progress with their teacher.

Progress Reports are issued early in the Summer Term – this is a longer, written report with comments from teachers. Another (Invitational) Progress Evening is held early in the summer term. Parents and students are only invited to attend if there are specific issues arising allied to key subject areas – if parents do not receive an invitation to attend, there should be no cause for concern.

A final Grade Card summarising progress throughout the academic year is sent at the end of the Summer Term.

22 | SSV Welcome

End of year celebration During the Summer Term, we hold our

Year 7 Celebration Evening where we showcase the successes of our Year 7 students at the end of their first year in secondary school.

MidYis TestingDuring September, Year 7 students will

take part in MidYis Tests. The purpose of these tests is threefold:

● to help us assess a student’s potential more effectively.

● to provide data for the school to monitor student progress.

● to provide a reliable, objective and realistic way of measuring our school’s performance by looking at what ‘value’ we have added during a given period of education.

The tests take approximately one hour and are made up of seven elements: mathematics, vocabulary, perceptual speed and accuracy, cross-sections, proof reading, block counting and picture tests. As they are not related specifically to the curriculum, there is no need for revision and no need to be unduly concerned about them. The results are used internally and are not published. More information regarding MidYis Testing can be found in the Curriculum Information for Year 7 handbook.

Field trips During the first half of the Autumn Term,

Year 7 enjoy a residential trip to De Kaag. This action-packed trip is designed to help them bond as a year group, meet new friends and gain confidence by participating in a range of group activities. These are specifically designed to encourage cooperative working and most importantly, to be fun.

Throughout the year, students experience visits and trips to a number of places that support different parts of the curriculum eg; the visit to Duivenvoorde to support the Dutch curriculum.

Towards the end of the Summer Term, Year 7 have Activities Week – a fantastic opportunity for students to participate in many different activities during school time. The normal timetable is collapsed and a special programme of events is scheduled, which in the past, have included ‘forensic science’ and ‘making short, animated films.’

SSV Welcome | 23


Year 8

Head of Year 8 Anna Bradley

email Mrs Bradley at: [email protected]

In Year 8, the routines and day to day life at Senior School will quickly become familiar and students will develop their social relationships, academic progress and become even more involved in the life of the school. Year 8 is packed with events, trips and activities, culminating in the ‘big one’ to Ahrweiler or Luxembourg at the end of the year.

I look forward to welcoming you to Year 8 – your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year but please also remember that I am here to help you and you are welcome to pop into the Year 7/8 Office (Room 174) if you want to have a chat.

The first day of term Students joining in this year group will

be welcomed in the Atrium and then shown to their new form room. Form Tutors will be able to answer any questions and will issue timetables, agenda and locker instructions. Newcomers will be paired with a student in their class who will help new students to settle into the school routines and guide them around the building.


The Senior School, along with each of the junior schools, operates an Open Door policy. Parents are encouraged to contact the school with any concerns or questions through the year – please don’t wait for a Progress Evening. An overview of what you can expect for every Senior

School year group can be found in the Curriculum Information handbook which accompanies this Welcome handbook.

Tutor consultation evening This opportunity to meet your son or

daughter’s Form Tutor will take place on 16 October and is chance to discuss any concerns or worries you may have. If you are new to the BSN, this is a perfect way to get to know your child’s tutor.

ReportsStudents are assessed continuously whilst

at Senior School and we aim to talk to parents about their progress, regularly. Students will talk to their Form Tutors and subject teachers and, at certain times, we send home reports and invite parents to school, with students, to discuss how they are doing.

Grade cards are a short overview of a student’s effort and attainment during the term and are issued in the second half of the Autumn Term and again towards the end of the Spring Term.

Between the issuing of these Grade cards, we hold a Progress Evening early in the Spring Term, which we expect students to attend. A more detailed Progress Report, with comments from teachers is issued in the second half of the Summer Term.

Our Invitational Progress Evening is held early in the summer term parents and students are invited to attend and discuss specific issues allied to key subject areas – if you do not receive an invitation to attend, there should be no cause for concern.

MidYis TestingDuring September, Year 8 students who

have not been tested at the BSN before, will take part in MidYis Testing. Please refer to more detail about MidYis Testing on the opposite page, and in the Curriculum Information for Year 8 handbook.

Field trips In Year 8, students look forward to a field

trip to either Germany or Luxembourg – the year group is split in two and each group heads for one of these destinations for a combination of team-building and educational activities.

24 | SSV Welcome

Year 9

Head of Year 9 Duncan Crawford

email Mr Crawford at: [email protected]

Year 9 is an important year; it is a preparatory year when students are getting ready to choose their GCSE options early in 2015. The Tutors and I aim to make sure this year goes well for you and that you enter Year 10, confident in your choices and prepared with good study skills to do well in your GCSE courses.

I know you will have a good time in Year 9 – remember that your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year. However, please also remember that I am here to help you and you are welcome to come and see me in the Year 9 Office (Room 276) if you want to talk.

The first day of term

Students joining in this year group will be welcomed in the Atrium and then shown to their new form room. Form Tutors will be able to answer any questions and will issue timetables, agenda and locker instructions. Newcomers will be paired with a student in their class who will help you settle into the school routines and guide them around the building.


The Senior School, along with each of the junior schools, operates an Open Door policy. Parents are encouraged to contact the school with any concerns or questions through the year – please don’t wait for a progress evening. An overview of what you can expect for every Senior School year group can be found in the Curriculum Information handbook which accompanies this Welcome handbook.

Year 9 – Key Stage 3

Native speaker language programme (Year 9)

If your mother tongue is French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian or Russian, and your son or daughter takes their GCSE in Year 8, our language department can offer a two year course to bridge the gap between GCSE and further studies in Year 12. These courses are taught by native language assistants and will be held at lunchtime or after school and can lead to an examination if required.

Please look on Gateway or contact the languages department via [email protected] for more information.

SSV Welcome | 25


Options eveningThis will take place on 27 January, and

takes the form of a presentation on how to make wise GCSE subject choices. This will be followed by the opportunity to talk to specialist GCSE teachers about the content of their course to help students make the right decisions. Students will have some time to consider their options before advising us of their subject choices in February – this allows us to make appropriate timetable and staffing plans for the following September.

Tutor consultation evening This opportunity to meet your son or

daughters’ Form Tutor arises early in the Summer Term and is chance to discuss any concerns or worries you may have.

ReportsStudents are assessed continuously whilst

at Senior School and we aim to regularly talk to parents and students about their progress. Students will talk to their Form Tutors and subject teachers and, at certain times, we send home reports and invite parents to school, with students, to discuss how they are doing.

Progress Reports, with comments from teachers are issued twice in Year 9 – the first is in the second half of the Autumn Term, and is followed by a Progress Evening in early March, which we expect students to attend – the second is towards the end of the Summer Term. Our Invitational Progress Evening is held early in the Summer Term parents and students are invited to attend and discuss specific issues allied to key subject areas – if you do not receive an invitation to attend, there should be no cause for concern.

MidYis TestingDuring September, Year 9 students

who have not been tested at the BSN before, will take part in MidYis Testing. Please refer to more detail about MidYis Testing under the Year 7 information on page 22 of this handbook or Gateway.

More information regarding MidYis Testing can be found in the Curriculum Information for Year 9 handbook.

Field trips Year 9 is an exciting year and includes trips to Ypres in November and Amsterdam in March. The year culminates in a week-long outward-bound sailing course held in Europe’s largest natural harbour in Poole, England where the long, sandy beaches and waist-deep waters make it the perfect place to learn.

26 | SSV Welcome

Years 10 and 11 Students will have the same Form Tutor

and Head of Year for these important two years as students tackle their GCSEs. The tutors and Heads of Year are there to help students through problems which may arise, as well as sharing successes and achievements. Tutors meet their classes first thing every morning for registration.

The first day of term Students joining in these year groups will

be welcomed in the Atrium and then shown to their new form room. Form Tutors will be able to answer any questions and will issue timetables, agenda and locker instructions. Newcomers will be paired with a student in their class who will help you settle into the school routines and guide them around the building.

Careers As students work on their GCSEs, it is

important to maintain a focus on further and higher education and careers options. In Year 11 students are given the opportunity to take part in the Morrisby Futurewise Profiling service. Futurewise membership forms an essential part of Careers Education and Guidance at the BSN from the beginning of Year 11 to the end of Year 13. Futurewise provides a comprehensive and ongoing service which includes a full psychometric profile with follow-up guidance interview as well as offering a range of resources and a series of taster courses to understand what different careers may involve. More information and a parental consent form will be sent to you at the start of term and additional information can be found in the Careers section of Gateway and our website.

The school runs a Higher Education and Careers Fair in February, to which students in Years 10, 11 and 12 are encouraged to attend. Last year, not only did we have universities attending from the United Kingdom, but also The Netherlands, Spain and the US.


Native speaker language programme (Years 10 and 11)

If your mother tongue is French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian or Russian, and your son or daughter takes their GCSE in Year 8, our language department can offer a two year course to bridge the gap between GCSE and further studies in Year 12. These courses are taught by native language assistants and will be held at lunchtime or after school and can lead to an examination if required.

If you have not taken the GCSE in your mother tongue, we can also arrange for that in Years 10 and 11.

In the past, we have offered courses by the Instituto Cervantes, The Goëthe Institute, the NT2 exams and the DELF exams. Sign up for these can be done at the start of the year via Gateway or contact the languages department via [email protected] for more information.

SSV Welcome | 27


Year 10

Head of Year 10 Nicola Laycock

email Mrs Laycock at: [email protected]

Welcome to Year 10 – a year of new challenges, fresh opportunities and the start of GCSEs! This is a time when you will complete a lot of work towards your GCSEs and build a foundation for success in future exams. You will also have the opportunity to become involved with many more activities beyond the classroom – from the International Award and Young Enterprise, to representing the school in sport, music and speech and debate. There is something for everyone.

Try to stay on top of your work, be organised, focused and remember to ask for help, either from your subject teacher, from me or from your tutor. Remember that your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year but I am also here to help you and you are welcome to come and see me in the Year 10/11 Office (Room 169) if you want to talk.

Reporting and progress – Year 10Parents are encouraged to contact the

school with any concerns or questions through the year – please don’t wait for a progress evening. An overview of what you can expect for every Senior School year group can be found in the Curriculum Information handbook which accompanies this Welcome handbook

ReportsAs with other years, students are assessed

continuously whilst at Senior School and we aim to talk to parents and students about their progress, regularly – this is particularly important in Years 10

and 11, critical exam years. Students will talk to their Form Tutors and subject teachers and we send home reports and invite parents to school, with students, to discuss how they are doing.

In Year 10, students receive a Progress Report in November which is followed in January by a Progress Evening, which we expect students to attend.

A Grade Card is issued in March and this is followed by our Invitational Progress Evening in the summer term. Parents and students are invited to attend if there are specific issues arising allied to key subject areas – if parents do not receive an invitation to attend, there should be no cause for concern.

A final Exam Grade Card is sent out in June.

ExamsIn Year 10, the results of the end of year

exams are sent home in the form of an Exam Grade Card and give a good indication of the progress made by students in their GCSE subjects.

28 | SSV Welcome

Yellis TestingDuring September, Year 10 students will

take part in Yellis Testing. The purpose of these tests is threefold:

● to provide extra data to monitor student progress more effectively and ensure students are fulfilling their potential.

● to add further objective information to help us assess students’ GCSE chances more accurately.


The tests take approximately one hour and consist of both a numerical and verbal section. As they are not related specifically to the curriculum, there is no need for revision and no need to be unduly concerned about them. The results are used internally and are not published. More information regarding Yellis Testing can be found in the Curriculum Information – Year 10 handbook.

Year 11

Head of Year 11 Elizabeth Bourne

email Mrs Bourne at: [email protected]

Year 11 is an important year, full of challenges – the year of your GCSEs. We will support you and encourage you to be really organised, give you strategies for revision and remind you to continue to balance your academic life activities beyond the classroom – from the International Award and Young Enterprise, to representing the school in sport, music and speech and debate. There is something for everyone.

The key to a successful exam year is to stay on top of your work, be organised, focused and remember to ask for help, either from your subject teacher, from me or from your Tutor. Your Form Tutor is your main contact if you have any issues or concerns at any point during the year. I am also here to help you and would encourage you to come and see me in the Year 10/11 Office (Room 169) if you want to talk.


SSV Welcome | 29



Parents are encouraged to contact the school with any concerns or questions through the year – please don’t wait for a progress evening. An overview of what you can expect for every Senior School year group can be found in the Curriculum Information handbook which accompanies this Welcome handbook.

ReportsReporting this year is quite different

from other years and has a keen focus on exams. In November, students will be given a Progress Report, with comments from teachers and designed to keep students on track for their Mock exams and of course, their GCSEs.

A Progress Evening quickly follows the Report and is designed for parents and students to attend together. In February, students can expect their Mock Exam Results in the form of a Grade Card – this is followed by another Progress Evening to address specific areas highlighted by the mock exams.

ExamsAfter the Christmas holiday in Year 11,

students hit the ground running and sit their Mock Exams in January in preparation for the real thing – GCSEs during May and June.

Sixth Form Options Students wishing to continue into the

BSN Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13), or are planning to move on to further education elsewhere in the world are invited to attend the Sixth Form Options Evening in October. The event starts with a presentation to outline the process and to explain the benefits of A Levels, the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) or IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC), all options for our Sixth Formers. After that, students are invited to talk to Sixth Form subject teachers to help them reach informed decisions about what to do after GCSEs.

30 | SSV Welcome

Year 12 and 13 – Sixth Form

Director of Sixth Form Kevin Sandeman

email Mr Sandeman at: [email protected] Assistant Director of Sixth Form Helen Andrews-Wouters

email Mrs Andrews-Wouters at: [email protected]

The two years spent in the Sixth Form are an exciting and challenging time when students are able to concentrate on subjects which they truly enjoy, whilst developing their own ideas and opinions. The Sixth Form at the BSN has a lot to offer – both academically and in terms of music, drama, sport and many other co-curricular activities.

Students are encouraged to participate in a range of activities whilst achieving a balance with their academic studies. The Sixth Form team will help students make the transition from GCSE to the Sixth Form by providing a clear academic structure, while encouraging an openness between tutors and students. Students are treated as the young adults they are becoming, and we expect high standards in return.

If you or your son or daughter has any issues or concerns throughout the year, their Form Tutor will support and advise, and students are welcome to come and see us in the Sixth Form Office.

The first day of termNew students should meet in the Sixth

Form Common Room, situated on the second floor, and there will be staff and students on hand in the Atrium to welcome and guide the way. Form Tutors and the Head of Year will help with any concerns.

On the first day a student joins the Sixth Form, they will be shown to their registration room and their Form Tutors will explain in more detail, how the Sixth Form operates.

All Sixth Formers are given a copy of Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form – which contains extensive detail about the school and daily routines. More detail about the range of support offered to Sixth Form students is available on Gateway.

The Sixth Form offers students a wide range of opportunities to get involved in Leadership roles and contributing to the BSN and wider Dutch community in a really positive way.

University preparation Consolidating and developing students

personal and academic profiles prior to university application is a key element in careers education and guidance in the two Sixth Form years. The programme is designed to ensure that students fully understand all the options open to them and are confident in the decisions they make.

Tutors and Sixth Form staff are a key component in offering support here. In Year 12, the Head of Careers will give students the opportunity for practice interviews as well as support through the Life Skills programme which involves careers preparation. In Year 13, students are given practical help in the final preparation of their application for university. Formal practice interviews with a specialist in a student’s chosen field of study can be arranged if needed. Those students wishing to pursue their tertiary education in the UK make full use of the UCAS online application system. Students wishing to apply outside of the UK are able to make use of the expertise provided to those applying to universities worldwide. In practice, the most popular non-UK destinations for our students are the USA and the Netherlands. Students are given individual advice, if required, following public examination results in the summer.

Years 12 and 13 – Sixth Form

SSV Welcome | 31


Dress codeAs a Sixth Former, students are not required to wear a school uniform. This privilege is balanced by a responsibility to wear clothes which are smart, clean, respectable and appropriate for a working environment. Skirts and dresses should be of an acceptable length and shorts are not acceptable for boys or girls. Detailed guidance for Sixth Form dress code can be found in Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form – given to students on the first day of term.

Signing in and out of schoolSixth Form students must sign out when

they leave the school premises, for whatever reason. If a student has a medical appointment which means they are late for school, or has to leave during the day – a note or phone call from their parents is essential. Without this confirmation, the student will be marked down with an unauthorised absence.

Home studyIn the Sixth Form, students are expected

to continue to develop as independent learners and once they reach half term and their grades are on track, Sixth Form students will be offered the option to have Home Study periods. The amount, and time varies according to the Year group. Please note: students must stick to the Home Study period agreed and always sign in and out of school.

Students in Year 12 will be entitled to one home study period a week dependent on their timetable. In Year 13, students may be able to have two Home Study periods per week. Students must earn their entitlement to Home Study periods and the time, once set and agreed, does not vary – permission for Home Study leave can be retracted if necessary.

Careers Students have access to the ISCO

Careers service which offers advice and guidance to students, please refer to Gateway for more information.

The school runs a Higher Education Fair in November and Careers evening in February, to which students in Year 12 are encouraged to attend. Last year, not only did we have universities attending from the United Kingdom, but also The Netherlands, Spain, Germany and the US.

32 | SSV Welcome

Years 12 and 13 – Sixth Form


and 13Parents are encouraged to contact the

school with any concerns or questions through the year – please don’t wait for a progress evening. An overview of what you can expect for every Senior School year group can be found in the Curriculum Information handbook.

ReportsAs with other years, students are

continuously assessed whilst at Senior School and we aim to talk to parents and students about their progress regularly – this is particularly important in the Sixth Form with students facing their exams.

In Year 12, students receive a Grade Card in November which is followed by a more detailed Progress Report in March, with comments from teachers. Progress Evenings are held in Year 12, the first in December and the second, an invitational Progress Evening, in March.

In Year 13, a Grade Card is sent in October and is followed by a Progress Evening in November. A final Progress Report and evening occurs in February.

ExamsNew students to the BSN need to bring

a copy of the results of any exams taken prior to entry to the Sixth Form. The AS, A2 and external exams for Year 13 IB students take place in May and June, with IB internal exams taking place in June.

Have you got a UCI number?If students have been registered to take

exams at their previous school, they will have been issued with a Unique Candidate Identifier (UCI) number. If this is the case, please inform the Exams Office and bring a copy of your GCSE statement of results which contains this information. If you have any queries regarding Exams, please contact Exam Co-ordinator: Erina Hosokawa or Exams Officer: Tadhg Naughton at [email protected].

SSV Welcome | 33


ALIS TestingDuring September, Year 12 students will

take part in ALIS Testing. The purpose of these tests is threefold:

● to provide extra data to monitor student progress more effectively and ensure students are fulfilling their potential.

● to add further objective information to help us assess students’ examination chances.


The tests take approximately one hour – as they are not related specifically to the curriculum, there is no need for revision and no need to be unduly concerned about them. The results are used internally and are not published. More information regarding ALIS Testing can be found in the Curriculum Information handbook.

34 | SSV Welcome

Field trips, visits and courses The programme of field trips below is intended as a guide to help you plan and to enable

you to select the visits you would like your son or daughter to attend. This programme is subject to change and full detail and costs can be found on Gateway under the Co-curricular tab > Trips and visits. More information about trips involving your son or daughter will be issued via a Note Home on Gateway from the organiser.

Field trips, visits and courses

Date Year Group Name of Field Trip DepartmentsSeptember 7 Duivenvoorde Dutch13 September 10–13 Drama Workshops Drama18–19 and 25–26 September 7 De Kaag, Netherlands13–14, 20–21 and 27–28 September and 4–5 October

11 Bronze International Award Expedition

–

11 October 10–13 MiniMUN English12–17 October 13 Spain Biology17 October 9 Ypres, Belgium History18–24 October 10–13 Provence, France French19–24 October 10–13 Berlin, Germany German19–24 October 10–13 Valencia, Spain Spanish20–24 October 12 AS

and IBDorset, UK Geography

22–29 October 10–12 Beijing Exchange Visit31 October–2 November 10–13 MUNISH English5–8 November 10–13 ISST Hockey (BSB) PE5–8 November 11–13 ISST Football (London) PE6 November 13 Den Haag Geography11–14 December 12–13 Theatre Trip Drama and English13–16 December 10–11 Italy Food TechDecember 12–13 Rotterdam or Den Haag Art

SSV Welcome | 35


Date Year Group Name of Field Trip Departments26–31 January 12 THIMUN30 January–1 February 13 Senior Maths Competition, London Maths5–8 February 9–10 ISTA Drama6–9 February 10–13 COBIS World Debate

Competition – BucharestEnglish

20–28 February 7–9 Ski Trip11–14 March 10–13 ISST Boys Basketball – Brussels

Girls Basketball – Bonn Rugby – Paris

PE

12–13 March 8–13 ISST Swimming, hosted by BSN PE13 March 9 Amsterdam Geographylate March 12 Art Galleries – Dusseldorf, Cologne

and Essen Art

March 10–11 Junior Maths Competition – Spain Maths25 March 8 Verzetsmuseum, NEMO,

Tropenmuseum – Amsterdam English and Science

26–30 March 10–11 Berlin History26 March–2 April 10–13 Moscow and St Petersburg History

27–29 March 9 Middle School Maths Competition – France

Maths

21 April 7 Rotterdam Geography4 May 8 Keukenhof/Noordwijk Geography14–17 May 7–8 COBIS Games 2015 – Greece PE28–29 May 9–13 ISST Golf – Vienna PE29 June–3 July 7 Netherlands residential trip

(one night) 28 June–3 July 8 Ahrweiler/Luxembourg28 June–4 July 9 Poole PE28 June–3 July 10 Switzerland Biology/Geography29 June–3 July 11 Silver International Award

Expedition to the ArdennesJuly 11 Morocco July 12 Expedition Kenya

Senior School VoorschotenJan van Hooflaan 3

2252 BG VoorschotenTelephone: +31 (0)71 560 222

Fax: +31 (0)71 560 2200 Email: [email protected]

www.britishschool.nl

senior school welcome handbook 2014-2015

Documents

school year

new year

bsn senior school community

head of year

different school

year groups

heads of year

welcoming new parents