Our teachers are native English speakers, and the majority are from the UK.

Excellent support is provided for those who speak English as an additional language and any children facing problems or difficulties.

Thai and Spanish

20 is the maximum number in each class.

10 - 15 students

Yes, we employ English speaking fully qualified teaching assistants.

The use of technology is integrated very effectively into teaching and learning and children also use individual learning programmes and internet investigations to strengthen their skills in reading, writing and mathematics throughout the school. Children's knowledge, skills and understanding of ICT and computer systems are well developed and the children are skilled at using a variety of exciting applications, including those that introduce them to the language of programming. In KS3, students use a wide range of multi-media presentation skills and use their programming skills to create mobile applications and complex video presentations.

The school is fully equipped to use virtual classroom technologies and as a Google school, we use Google Suite and Google Classroom to provide online teaching and learning for our students in times of emergencies.

No.

The following standardised tests - Progress in Reading Assessment, PiRA; New Group Reading Test, NGRT; Progress in Maths, PIM.

Children and students make outstanding progress throughout the school in ICT and computing, science, mathematics and English and many are well above average.

Starting at Year 2, children take part in Samakee SMARTs tasks (Self Motivated, Ambitious, Reflective Tasks). SMARTs are homework activities that cover a wide range of academic and vocational abilities whilst promoting our school ethos of developing life-long independent learners. Starting in Year 6 children have weekly homework tasks in the following subjects English, Maths, Science, Spanish and Thai.

Children in primary are expected to complete four SMARTs tasks over a half-term period, these tasks are then presented to the whole school and parents in a SMARTs showcase. In Upper School, Y6-9, it is expected that children will receive between 5 - 7 hours per week (dependent on Year group).

100%

Yes, we provide sensitive and thorough identification of students who have special educational needs and/or disabilities and students receive excellent support from highly qualified staff and through very strong links with outside agencies.

Our graduated approach recognises that children and young people learn in different ways and can have different kinds or levels of SEN. So, increasingly, step-by-step, specialist expertise is brought in to help our school with the difficulties that a child may have. This approach may include an individually designed learning programme; extra help from a learning support assistant who may be assigned to the child; being taught individually or in a small group for regular short periods;
drawing up a personal plan in liaison with an outside provider (Merak Clinic) and or our Inclusion Leader and Specialist Inclusion Teacher, including setting targets for improvement and regular review of progress before setting new targets; Merak Home School meetings with parents, carers, Merak therapists and teachers who work with the child. The therapists available include speech and language, occupational therapy and play therapy.

The support for children who have been identified as highly able and are on the Gifted and Talented register will vary depending on the area of skill with which they are highly able. This may include differentiated lessons and content for the child to ensure that their needs are being met in the lesson and that they are being challenged; planned opportunities for independent learning; where possible, the child will be put forward for special events or programmes linked to the skill or subject they are able in; high expectations are set for these children; homework will be differentiated to match up with the child's work in class and ability; where children’s talents or gifts lie outside of school activities, staff will celebrate and share stories from home, competitions and events which the child has taken part and/or succeeded in.

Access to an educational psychologist is available through our Merak Home School Programme.

A trial visit or Taster Day to the school is an important part of the assessment process at Samakee as it enables us to get to know children/students in a very child-centred way. There are no formal entry exams.

Staff observe visiting children informally as the child interacts with children and adults and responds to the environment and lessons attended during the visit. This, in turn, helps us to understand their needs and informs any discussions we may have regarding development, class placement, etc.

Currently, there is no waiting list to attend our school.

There is no deadline provided we have places.

Yes, provided we have places.

The teaching day starts at 7:40 am for Upper School, 8:00 am for Middle School and 8:15 am for First School. We provide flexible attendance times in EYFS, and our youngest children may attend for a minimum of three sessions per week, increasing as required, subject to consultation with the class teacher and the availability of places.

The teaching day ends at 14:30 and is followed by our ECA/Club Programme 2:40 - 3:30 pm. Our youngest children in EYFS may attend a part-time programme ending at noon.

Supervised care is available for 30 minutes before the start and at the end of the school day.

The school provides a reliable, efficient and safe bus service - Metro. With Metrobus, we have a team of highly trained professionals organising, monitoring using the latest technology and taking immediate action to safeguard our children. They ensure that our children are safe and comfortable at all times, while at the same time using systems such as, GPS tracking and Parental SMS alerts to keep parents informed.

There is a strong emphasis on healthy eating and this is evident in the food provided in the canteen. The school kitchen provides a selection of healthy snacks and lunches with a choice of Western and Asian dishes. The weekly menu is shared with parents and displayed in the dining hall and on LINE. Children are encouraged to eat a variety of different fruits and vegetables so multiple fruits and vegetables are offered daily on the menu.

Our menus provide details of the ingredients for children requiring a special diet - vegetarian, fish, gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free and wheat-free.

All children attending St Andrews Samakee are expected to wear school uniform, which is available at the Samakee Uniform Shop.

Our after school club programme (ECAs) provide an extensive range of activities which are always popular and well attended. The selection of clubs varies term by term and reflects the children’s interest and parent requests. Favourite ECAs/clubs include Eco-Warriors, Taekwondo, Art Design and Technology, Drawing, Techno Farm, Band, Private Studies, Drama, Thai, Chinese, Cooking, Science and Maths, Ballet, Swimming, Football and Basketball.

Children benefit from various physical activities as part of the curriculum, during break times and in extracurricular activities. These include - track and field, football, swimming, basketball, volleyball, baseball, cricket, kingpin, badminton and gymnastics.

The school is very successful in local and national tournaments, and children may join teams to take part in swim meets, cricket, basketball and football competitions.

The school has an extensive library, a music room and adjoining practice rooms, a drama studio and a science lab.

Two swimming pools, 12 and 25 metres, basketball court, beach volleyball court, playing fields, multi-use games sports arena and fitness room.

At Samakee we pride ourselves on being a unique international school due to our strong sense of community in which everyone’s name is known, and children collaborate and care for one another regardless of age. The self-confidence and academic grounding that our children develop at St Andrews Samakee is the perfect platform from which to continue their educational journey into high school and beyond. We promise independent, confident learners. This is the commitment we make to our parents and we, therefore, ensure that it is lived through the dailyexperiences of their children in school.

Our school is organised into three units, the First School walkers (Little Learners) through 6 years, Middle School ages 6+ through 10 years and Upper School ages 10+ through 14 years. First and Middle children have specialist teaching in PE, Swimming, Thai, Spanish, Music, Makerspace (STEM) and Environmental Science at our onsite farm. In Upper School, Years 6-9, children are taught by specialist teachers for all subjects, with History, Geography, Design Technology, Spanish, Thai, Music, Drama, Makerspace (STEAM) and Environmental Science at our onsite farm being taught as discrete subjects.

The facilities are outstanding. They include playing fields, sports fields, covered basketball court, air-conditioned playrooms, sandpits, bike track, playhouse, purpose-built play equipment, two swimming pools, a children’s farm and various pets. Four teaching blocks provide spacious, well-equipped classrooms as well as art rooms, a Makerspace, a library and media centre, language rooms, music and practice rooms, a dance and drama studio, a science lab, a fitness room and multi-use games and sports arena.

Our school’s ethos is deeply rooted in a child-centred approach to learning and teaching and a comprehensive understanding of the needs of each child. Our imaginative and innovative curriculum, based on the UK National Curriculum, has been created to promote high achievement and every day it captures children’s interest and enthusiasm for learning. You will find a range of teaching methods being used to ensure that each child is given the best opportunity to achieve maximum efficiency in English, mathematics, science, computer science and a wide range of subjects.

Our inclusive school's teaching and learning policies are structured around eight key values and our intention to develop these attributes - Inquisitiveness, Individuality, International, Imaginative, Inspired, Innovative, Intrepid and Inclusive.

The children's learning is significantly enhanced by the school farm. At the farm, the children experience many aspects of nature first-hand, including the opportunity to care for a range of animals and to grow and nurture a range of different plants.