Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
Nationalities
| Number of students |
750 |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
65 |
| Most common nationality |
Qatari |
| Ratio of local students to international students |
35 percentage locals - 65 percentage other nationalities |
Languages
| Native English speaking teachers |
Some of them - All class teachers come from Finland and they have Masters degree in Education. |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
Extra language support is available. |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
Arabic, French, Spanish |
Classroom
| Max. number of students per class |
24 |
| Average number of students per class |
22 |
| Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes - At the moment the school employs 22 Learning Assistants. |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
Technology is integrated in other subjects and is being used as a tool for learning. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
The school follows the local Ministry standards in Islamic Studies (only for muslim students). |
| How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion? |
The other students have Social Studies during the Islamic lessons. |
Academics
| External examinations or assessments available |
The Finnish education system does not recognize exams, however the school is aiming for a Matriculation Examination after grade 12 as it is done in Finland. |
| Results in these examinations |
No graduating students yet. |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes they do - The homework serves two purpose 1) Homework is a review process for the things that has been learnt during the school day and it strengthens the new neurosynaptics 2) Homework teaches students responsibility for their own education and learning. |
| Approximate hours of homework given |
In grades 0-6 the students should be able to finish their homework within 30 minutes. Grades 7-9 within one hour. Grades 10-12 more :-) |
| Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
We are still a reasonably new school and as such haven't had graduating students yet. |
Student support
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
The student support is very strong in the Finnish education system. The school has five SEN teachers, three School Counsellors and one career guidance counsellor to support the students. |
| Learning support offered |
The focus is on early intervention in order to prevent the emergence and growth of problems. Support for growth, learning and school attendance is shaped into three categories: general support, intensified support and special support. Everyone is entitled to general support. It is a natural part of everyday teaching and the learning process. Intensified and special support categories are based on careful assessment and long-span planning in multi-professional teams and on individual learning plans for students. |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
All teaching staff is trained in differentiation. Some teaching sessions are done in skills groups. There are elective courses for high achieving students. |
| Student access to education psychologist |
All three school counsellors has degrees in psychology. |
Admissions
| Entry evaluation for students |
Yes |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
The assessment looks at the holistic development stage of a child including social, motoric and academic skills. |
| Waiting list |
Yes |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
The deadlines are determined by the local Ministry. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes |
School day
| School start time |
Grades 0-9: 07:30 am
|
| School finish time |
Grades 0-2: 1 pm
|
| Supervised care before/after school |
The school gates open 06:30 after which the parents can bring their children to school.
|
| School bus service available |
The school is collaborating with an outsourced company that provides this service. |
| School provided lunches |
The school has its own canteen with an outsourced operator. The canteen uses a wristband no-cash payment method. |
| Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Yes |
| Uniform required |
Yes |
Extracurricular activities
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
The school offers more than 50 different Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) for different age groups. These include sports, arts and academic options. Also our ECA providers camps during the school holidays. |
| Sports activities included |
The school follows the Finnish National Core Curriculum (excluding winter sports :-)) in PE. |
| Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
The school has its own sports team which competes against other international schools in various tournaments. |
Facilities
| Sports facilities at the school |
An olympic size gym, outside soccer field (artificial grass), outside handball, basketball and volleyball fields. |
About the school
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
We are a learning community dedicated to inspiring success and nurturing well-being. Finnish education excellence is at the heart of all we do, because we believe that everyone deserves the best possible future. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
The school is following the best pedagogical practices from Finland. |