At GBA, all subjects (with the exception of Arabic and Islamic studies) are taught in English, and as one of the foremost international languages, our English programme of study in particular has been carefully constructed to provide our students with everything they need to succeed, both in school and in later life.

Based on the English National Curriculum, and adapted to suit Kuwait, our provision at Key Stage 3 aims to introduce and embed the key skills required later at IGCSE. We hope to encourage a love of learning through literature, to inspire our students, fire their imaginations, and provide them with the powerful tools of language and communication. English has never been more important than it is now; it enables us to create new worlds in our imaginations, to question and challenge injustice and ignorance, and it empowers our students to persuade and shape the world around them.

Across Years 7 , 8 and 9 we have put together a stimulating curriculum to consolidate prior learning and to develop more advanced skills such as analysis and evaluation.  Where some modules are centred on a single text from the English literary canon, others are extract-based to expose students to the widest possible range of literature.

Mathematics is a creative and highly inter-connected discipline that has been developed over centuries, providing the solution to some of history’s most intriguing problems. It is essential to everyday life, critical to science, technology and engineering, and necessary for financial literacy and most forms of employment. A high-quality mathematics education therefore provides a foundation for understanding the world, the ability to reason mathematically, an appreciation of the beauty and power of mathematics, and a sense of enjoyment and curiosity about the subject. Aims GBA follows the national curriculum for mathematics aims to ensure that all pupils: become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately. We are fortunate to have a home-learning tool subscription to mathswatch where the students have the ability to watch videos,

Welcome to KS3 Science at GBA. Here we give you an overview of what is taught in preparation for GCSE. KS3 is an important period of progression during which we strive to help our students to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

Our high-quality science education provides the foundations for understanding the world through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Science has changed our lives and it is vital that all students be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes, and uses of science, and most importantly; develop a sense of excitement and curiosity for the subject.

Aims

The national curriculum for science aims to ensure that all pupils:  

• Develop scientific knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  
• Develop understanding of the nature, processes and methods of science through different types of science enquiries that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them.  
• Students are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.

History

History encourages pupils to engage critically with the lifestyles, choices and beliefs of the people of the past. The study of history assists pupils in developing their own identities through an understanding of history at national and international levels. It helps them to ask and answer questions of the present by engaging with the past.

Pupils at GBA will develop a clear chronological understanding of British and world history to the present day. We begin with life in England under Anglo-Saxon rule, continuing with the impact of the Norman Conquest on every aspect of life in the British Isles. Pupils will then progress to studying the medieval world up to and including the early modern period, including the English Civil War. In Year 9, pupils will focus in depth on the 20th century looking at World Wars I and II and how these cataclysmic events shaped the world we live in today.

As pupils develop a chronological overview, they will be encouraged to make connections within and across different periods and societies. Pupils will learn key skills in the study of history, such as evaluating evidence and analysing interpretations of the past. They will learn to develop their own theories – and know how to justify them – about why change or continuity occurs between different historical periods.

Geography

Geography at GBA takes pupils on a guided tour of our planet, including its countries, continents and people. Pupils will examine the physical and human processes which shape our world and the lives of its people. The topics studied will allow pupils to learn and address global issues, such as climate change, population growth and the environmental impact of human activity. Furthermore, pupils will acquire a variety of skills including presentation work, data interpretation, fieldwork and drawing diagrams. Geography inspires pupils to become global citizens by exploring their own place in the world, their values and their responsibilities to other people, to the environment and to the sustainability of the planet.

Kuwait Social Studies

Kuwait Social Studies complements – and complemented by – the other two humanities subjects: history and geography. It is vital that young people have a sound understanding of their own culture, history and geography as they grow up and form their own identity. Kuwait Social Studies allows pupils to develop detailed knowledge of their own country and the wider Arab world. In progressive levels of detail and sophistication, pupils will study:

• the physical characteristics of Kuwait and wider Arab world
• the history of the Arab world’s civilizations
• the natural and economic resources of the Arab World
• the successes and challenges facing the Arab world today
• Kuwait’s place in the Arab world

These studies will lead pupils to a greater appreciation for and better understanding of one of the world’s most culturally rich and strategically important areas.

Welcome to Core PE here at GBA.

We follow the UK National Curriculum Guidelines to provide a PE curriculum that offers breadth and depth in a variety of activities and experiences. We also follow the UK recommendations where pupils have two hours of timetabled PE lessons a week. At GBA, we build on the National Curriculum foundations, incorporating key holistic elements that the PE Team believe are vital for success in our subject and beyond. We include one of our 6 Pillars of PE in each lesson, which are:

Competency: providing opportunities for pupils to develop PE-specific skills such as throwing, catching and running.
Health & Fitness: providing opportunities for pupils to develop their own health & fitness for today as well as an appreciation of its importance throughout life.
Responsibility: providing opportunities for pupils to develop their levels of responsibility for their own learning and, therefore, performance.
Empathy: providing opportunities for pupils to develop their levels of empathy, trying to not only acknowledge the feelings of others (teammates and opponents) but also how to adapt their own behaviour to best help others.
Teamwork: providing opportunities for pupils to develop their ability to work as a team, which includes elements such as communication and leadership.
Enjoyment: providing opportunities for pupils to have fun in PE!

PE at GBA teaches a variety of sports and activities in order for pupils to develop and demonstrate the above. Whilst boys and girls continue to be taught separately, GBA is moving away from a traditional model of sport-specific units of work, where a class would spend 6 weeks doing football, then 6 weeks doing basketball etc. This model means that pupils only have one window of opportunity during the year to develop their skills which are PE-specific.

The holistic approach to PE here at GBA allows our 6 Pillars of PE are taught each term; revisited each term; developed each term, and an opportunity for pupils to access a curriculum that looks to develop a pupils confidence and key-skills that give them a head-start in life beyond PE. Moreover it also allows pupils to access sport through a variety of pathways such as officiating, organising and coaching.

Each pupil at GBA also has one term of swimming where pupils can not only continue to develop their competency and confidence in the water but the more-able will also begin to explore alternative water-based activities such as water-polo and synchronised swimming.

Pupils at GBA also have the opportunity to extend their skills through 3 pathways beyond core PE:

Interhouse and extracurricular activities run after-school, normally 2.30pm – 3.45pm.
Inter School Athletic Conference Kuwait (ISACK): inter-school competitions, normally 2.30pm – 4.00pm.
Sports & Arts Academy: Afternoon sports sessions, normally 4.30pm – 6.30pm.

We hope that this mixture of curricular and extracurricular activities encourages pupils at GBA to embrace PE, physical activity and school sport whilst they are at school and for a lifetime to come.

During French lessons at GBA, students will receive a broad exposure to the culture of France and other French-speaking countries. Lessons will provide a variety of resources to model the language, use games and songs to maximise enjoyment, and make as many connections to real life situations as possible.

Lessons will focus on speaking and listening. However, where appropriate, students will record written work in books. Student progress will be shown across the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The development of grammar in the foreign language is also important, with a focus on phonology and vocabulary to lay down the foundation before transitioning into Key Stage 4.

At GBA we follow the Ministry of Education in teaching Arabic. All subjects taught in it are determined by the Ministry. In general, students are trained to practice some skills such as grammar from the book of the eighth, ninth and tenth year (the ministry system). We also cover topics in prose and poetry that must be understood, interpreted, and learned. We train students to write so that they have a good self-expression. We also teach students Arabic calligraphy by hand. We also develop their correct spelling skills by giving them spelling. We encourage students to read freely and provide them with books that suit their interests and abilities.

In GBA we follow the Ministry of Education in teaching Islamic studies and the Holy Quran, and the curriculum that is taught in it is determined by the Ministry of Education. In general, students are taught different areas of religion; jurisprudence, creed, biography, behaviour and discipline, all of this within the limits of what the Ministry decides in terms of curriculum, as well as in the subject of the Noble Quran.

Music follows the National Curriculum for England and all tasks focus on the three main components of Performing, Listening and Composing. Students have the opportunity to work individually on keyboards, ukuleles and djembes (African drums). They are also taught how to play together in bands, and the ensemble skills needed to be successful. Students will sing and play instruments in a variety of styles, including music from different cultures around the world, pop and Western classical music. All will learn the keywords used to describe music, as well as the context and historical background. Students have the opportunity to create their own pieces of music within a given framework. The course is varied and leads to further study at IGCSE level. Learning is regularly assessed.

Drama follows the English National Curriculum for England with the course being split into three main components; devising, performing and evaluating. Students will have the opportunity to analyse a variety of scripts, focusing on their structure in preparation for creating their own. They will be developing a variety of performance skills, specifically focusing on characterisation and other elements of drama such as body language, facial expressions, voice and movement to name a few. The students will also have the opportunity to critically analyse pieces of drama using a variety of success criteria. They will develop their evaluating skills by thinking critically and caringly. Developing social skills such as communication and teamwork are also big parts of the course. Further study at iGCSE level is also available and learning is regularly assessed throughout the year. 

Key Stage 3 Art and Design, is aligned with the English National Curriculum. Students delve into the world of art, establishing a robust foundation in skills such as drawing, painting, and basic sculpture. The curriculum explores the fundamental elements of art, encompassing line, shape, form, colour, texture, and space, while also delving into the principles of design. Students are introduced to art history, immersing themselves in diverse art movements and the works of artists spanning various periods. Cultural exploration forms a key component, fostering an appreciation for art’s diversity across different traditions. Encouraging experimentation with an array of materials and techniques, students are empowered to express and develop their artistic voices through both guided projects and personal artworks. The Key Stage 3 Art and Design program also instils critical thinking by introducing students to the analysis and critique of their own work and that of others. They learn to provide and receive constructive feedback, fostering a culture of reflection and growth at GBA.