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Dear Parents,
Thank you for your interest in the GEMS Wellington Academy Sixth Form. This
is the first Year 12 brochure the academy has produced, as our first cohort
approaches the end of Year 11. The term Sixth Form is widely used in the UK to
denote Years 12 and 13. As a British curriculum school, we have decided to use this
term to describe our post-16 phase. Our Sixth Form offer is underpinned by some
core principles:
» Accessibility: alongside our AS and A level courses we will also be offering
International AS and A levels and BTEC National qualifications. This will
ensure that students of all abilities and interests can select a combination of
qualifications which they will find accessible and give them access to Higher
Education institutions and the workplace.
» A commitment to skills and service alongside the acquisition of knowledge.
Sixth Form students will be expected to develop an awareness of their social
responsibility and contribute to their own community and/or the broader
community in which the academy is situated.
» Greater responsibilities and freedoms for our Sixth Form students. Student
leadership will be an important part of what we expect from our Sixth Form
students, but alongside this will be greater freedoms, so that students are
prepared for the independence they will enjoy at university.
There will be an initial meeting early in the new school year, open to both current
and prospective students and their parents. This will enable them to understand the
differences between the various courses on offer and ask any questions. The Sixth
Form Options Evening will be held later in the year to help guide students in their
choice of subjects. Subject teachers will be available to give more detail about course
requirements and how likely it is that students will be able to successfully complete an
A level course in their subject.
We look forward to talking to you about our exciting plans for our Sixth Form and
seeing you at one of our presentation evenings.
Kind regards,
Colin Callaghan
Principal
AS & A LEVEL
Unlike the other Wellington schools in
the GEMS group, we will be offering AS
& A level rather than the IB Diploma. A
levels have been described as the ‘gold
standard’ of post-16 examinations and
they are accepted as an entry qualification
into all the best universities around the
world. A levels are particularly well suited
to students who have particular strengths
in 2 or 3 areas of the curriculum and wish
to study them further in greater depth.
The A level is examined at the end of
Year 13. The AS level is a standalone
qualification taken at the end of Year 12
and cannot be counted towards the A
level. Assessment is 100% examination at
the end of Year 13.
INTERNATIONAL AS & A LEVEL
International A levels are also
recognized by all the top universities
worldwide. International A levels are
similar to A levels but they have a
more flexible, modular structure than
A level and the syllabus content is
designed to have greater international
relevance. Unlike AS level, international
AS level modules can be retaken to
try to improve a student’s score. The
AS is half the content of the A level
and counts towards the final A level
result. It is taken at the end of Year 12.
Assessment is 100% examination.
BTEC NATIONALS
BTECs are career-based qualifications
designed to give students the skills they
need to move on to higher education
or go straight into employment. They
can be combined with AS and A level
to help develop a range of practical
knowledge and skills which help student
prepare for and progress in their chosen
career. Classroom teaching combined
with project work and practical,
work-related activities help to develop
students’ behavioural skills, which can
include teamwork, creative thinking and
presentation skills, so fit well with the
WEK Learner Profile. More employers
and Higher Education institutions than
ever before are choosing BTEC-qualified
candidates for their academic and
practical knowledge and skills. They are
designed to be taught over two years
and carry UCAS tariff points which are
used for university entry.
The Year 12 timetable for Muslim students includes two compulsory lessons of Islamic Education. Students registered under Arab passports will study Arabic for three lessons per week and complete the Ministry curriculum and subsequent internal assessments.
Deta i ls of
a l l the courses
offered are
provided in
our Sixth
Form Options
Booklet,
which is
produced
during the
winter term.
A summary
of the three
d ifferent
qual ifications
on offer.
INTRODUCTION FROM THE PRINCIPAL THE CURRICULUM
COMPULSORY CORE 1 (SERVICE)
SPORTS LEADERSHIP
ENVIRONMENT
PEER MENTORING
READING SUPPORT FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS
SUBJECT SPECIFIC SUPPORT FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS
PERSONAL CHOICE (WITH SCHOOL AGREEMENT)
SCHOOL NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE
WORLD CHALLENGE/ INTERNATIONAL AWARD
COMPULSORY CORE 2 (SKILLS) YEAR 12
EXTENDED PROJECT QUALIFICATION
GLOBAL FUTURES
MATHS/ENGLISH GCSE RETAKE
WORK EXPERIENCE
FOOTBALL ACADEMY
YEAR 13
UNIVERSITY AND CAREERS
UNIVERSITY APPLICATIONS
In Year 12 students who have not attained a C grade in Maths and English will be
required to retake them. In Year 13 Compulsory Core 1 & 2 will continue until the end
of Term 1.
The Academy
wi l l offer
two d istinct
pathways
so that a l l
students can
access a
post-16 option .
For both
pathways
there wi l l be
a compulsory
core consisting
of two parts:
GEMS WELLINGTON ACADEMY POST 16 PATHWAYS
YEAR 12
3 OR 4 AS LEVELS OR INTERNATIONAL
AS LEVELS
(18/24 PERIODS)
YEAR 13
3 A LEVELS OR INTERNATIONAL
A LEVELS
(18 PERIODS)
YEAR 12
1 OR 2 AS OR INTERNATIONAL
AS LEVELS
OR 1 BTEC NATIONAL
YEAR 13
1 OR 2 A LEVELS OR INTERNATIONAL A
LEVELS
OR 1 BTEC NATIONAL
BTEC NATIONAL
BTEC NATIONAL
BTEC NATIONAL
BTEC NATIONAL
COMPULSORY CORE 1 & 2
COMPULSORY CORE 1 & 2
YEAR 12
COMPULSORY CORE 1
(2 PERIODS)
YEAR 13
COMPULSORY CORE 1
(2 PERIODS)
YEAR 12
COMPULSORY CORE 2
(2 PERIODS)
YEAR 13
COMPULSORY CORE 2
(2 PERIODS)
Entry Requirements
The standard requirement for entry onto Pathway 1 is 6 GCSEs at grade C (4/5), with B (6) grades in the subjects to be studied
at A level. Students not reaching the minimum requirement will follow Pathway 2. Exceptions may be made, but only after
consultation and agreement with the Secondary Principal.
Students wll study a minimum of three and a maximum of four subjects in both Year 12 and Year 13.
PATHWAY 1 PATHWAY 2
A LEVEL SUBJECT CHOICES
Subject Available if GCSE not studied?
Arabic For fluent speakers
Art and Design Upon consultation with Head of Art
Biology No
Business Studies Upon consultation with Head of Business Studies
Chemistry No
Computing Yes
Drama and Theatre Studies Upon consultation with Head of Drama
Economics Upon consultation with Head of Economics
English Language No
English Literature No
French For fluent speakers
Geography Upon consultation with Head of Geography
History Upon consultation with Head of History
ICT No
Mathematics No
Further Maths No
Media Studies Yes
Music Upon consultation with Head of Music
Physical Education No
Physics No
Product Design No
Psychology Yes
Spanish For fluent speakers
Availability of A level subjects is dependent on sufficient demand.
SELECTING COURSES
» Consider subjects you enjoy and currently do well in. Give some thought to
choosing subjects that you have not studied before but don’t be tempted to
choose them just because they are new. Make sure you have the skills, knowledge
and aptitudes which are suited to the study of those subjects.
» Listen to the advice of your teachers.
» Don’t choose a subject because your friends have. Choose what’s right for you.
» Research which subjects are required or are of benefit for the career you wish
to pursue. You don’t want to discover that you can’t access the career you want
because you don’t have the right A levels.
» Ensure that you do not exclude yourself from any university courses that you
may wish to pursue (for example by having too few full A levels or the wrong
subjects).
EXAMINATIONS
Examinations will take place in January
and/or June, depending on the course
and qualification. There is a fee for each
examination a student takes which is
met by the parents of the student. The
fee varies from subject to subject and
qualification to qualification.
FOOTBALL ACADEMY
In addition to offering PE A level and
BTEC sport and Exercise Science, we
will also be running a football academy,
which will give a minimum of two hours
of additional football coaching from
UEFA qualified coaches. For players, the
objective will be to help them achieve
the highest level possibly attainable
given their footballing ability,
while emphasizing the importance
of scholastic education in their
development as a footballer, student,
and leader in the community. The aim
is to develop an elite football team
capable of competing with the top
schools in the UAE and to give our
academy players the opportunity to be
selected for elite squads outside WEK.
The academy will have use of our two
full size astro football pitches, two large
sports halls and fully equipped fitness
suite as necessary. The academy will
be run by Dubai City Football Club and
selection for the academy programme
will be made by DCFC coaches working
with our own specialist PE staff. Dubai
City Football Club is an elite high-
performance football club and academy
whose mission is to deliver first-
class market leading pro football club
programming for aspiring and gifted
football players. GEMS Wellington Al
Khail will be the first and only GEMS
School to have a Licensed Professional
Football Club partnering, supporting and
operating in their school.
BTEC NATIONAL SUBJECT CHOICES
We wi l l be
offering these
in a range of
curricu lum
areas includ ing
Art & Design,
Computing, Med ia,
Enterprise and
Entrepreneursh ip,
Performing Arts
and Sport.
FACILITIES
Sixth Form students will have access to
the full range of facilities the academy
has to offer. This will encompass all
ICT facilities, including the Apple Mac
suites; the library; the fitness suite
and a dedicated quiet room for study.
They will also enjoy sole use of the
Sixth Form Centre, a large space which
is equipped with a range of facilities,
chosen by the students themselves,
where Sixth Form students can enjoy
their free time. This area has a kitchen
area with microwave, fridge and tea and
coffee making facilities.
PRIVATE STUDY
One of the major differences between
the Sixth Form and other Key Stages is
that private study time is built into each
student’s timetable. This means that
not all tasks set by Sixth Form teachers
need to be completed at home. Students
who organise their time well can often
get much done during the school day.
The WEK Learner profile has become
an established part of the academy’s
teaching and learning process. Its aim
is to encourage students to become
independent learners, who can find
out things for themselves and engage
critically with information to make
informed judgments. These skills
become particularly important in the
Sixth Form, where both the volume
and quality of the work a student does
outside the classroom has a direct
bearing on the outcome of the course
they are studying. Working hard is
important, but working effectively
is equally important, otherwise
students may put in long hours without
necessarily getting the greatest benefit.
The degree of flexibility a student
enjoys as to when and where (s)he
studies in school will be dependent on
attitude to work and on demonstrating
the ability to make efficient use of time
outside the classroom.
SUPPORT
Sixth Form study is quite different from
that in other parts of the school and
the transition from Year 11 to Year 12
can be challenging for many students.
Here at WEK, we will have in place a
strong system of pastoral support and
counselling to ensure that students
have someone to turn to if they are
having difficulties with their work, need
university of careers advice or if things
happening outside school are having
an impact on their ability to do their
best work in school. A senior member
of staff will have responsibility for the
oversight of all areas of the Sixth Form
and each student will be part of a small
tutor group. The tutor will be a member
of staff with experience of teaching in
the Sixth Form. This member of staff
will be the first point of contact for both
parents and students and will aim to get
to know them well over the two years
of the Sixth Form.
At the start of Year 12 students will go
through a Study Skills course to prepare
them for the differences between Year
11 and Year 12.
CRITICALTHINKERS
• RE
SIL IE
NT • LEARNERS •
R
ESPONSIBLE • RESPEC
TFUL
REFLECTIVELEARNERS
INDEPENDENTINQUIRERS
RISK TAKERS
TEAMWORKERS
The WEK Learner Profile drives
everything we do in the Academy. It
tells our students how we want them to
develop as learners and it informs the
teaching and planning of our staff. Its
influence does not stop at the classroom
door. We want and expect our students
and staff to apply the principles of the
WEK Learner Profile to everything they
do in the school.
The three words at the centre
of the WEK ‘flower’ remind the
members of our community of our
basic expectations: to be respectful,
responsible and resilient. This applies
to teachers, parents and support staff
as well as students. When students
understand these expectations, they
know how to behave appropriately in
different situations, so there is no need
for a long list of school rules.
“Relationships in school and pupils’
respect for each other’s culture are
outstanding. Behaviour is excellent
throughout the school.”
(BSO Inspection report 2017.)
The petals of the WEK flower,
developed with our students, highlight
the five key learner attributes we
want our students to develop. These
are widely regarded as necessary
for students when they move on to
university and the workplace, where
they will be expected to make informed
decisions independently. These are
introduced to students from FS1 so that
they become fully engrained as students
move through the school.
THE WEK LEARNER PROFILE
+971 4 512 9100 [email protected] gemswellingtonacademy-alkhail.com
Al Khail Road, Exit No.18, Dubai, UAE Established 2013