An International Curriculum
In a constantly changing world, it is vital that our children are exposed to a very broad array of challenges and learning experiences so that they leave us as confident and self-assured individuals who are well prepared for the next stage of their lives.
BEK offers a uniquely broad curriculum based closely on the National Curriculum in England which covers all stages of learning from 0-18 years.
Our curriculum includes a diverse language programme where each student takes Mandarin from Nursery age upwards. The main emphasis is on providing a secure, fun and nurturing environment for all children to overcome challenge, develop individually and at their own pace.
18 months to Age 5 (Years; Pre-Nursery to Reception)
In the Early Years (2-5 years) BEK follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. This framework is delivered through themes which enable authentic cross curricular links to be made which support young children’s learning.
Young children learn best when they experience choice and connections in their learning. Our skilled early years practitioners create a ‘free-flow’ environment which support these factors.
Age 6-11 (Years 1 to 6)
In Years 1-6, pupils also follow the National Curriculum covering English, Maths, Science, Geography, History, Art & Design and Computing. The curriculum is further complemented by specialist teaching in Mandarin, Sport and Music.
The curriculum is planned in detail using National Curriculum programmes of study and internationally benchmarked learning objectives against which children’s progress is assessed. There is a seamless transition from the EYFS framework to the National Curriculum which ensures that every child progresses according to their individual needs.
From Age 12 (Years 7 to 13)
As students progress, transitions continue to be important and the curriculum is planned taking account increased skills levels and changing interests. Connections between discrete subjects are still important and are made wherever possible.
Students at this stage will continue to collaborate on inquiry based projects and will enjoy increased independence and control over their own learning. The students continue to cover a range of subjects as per the National Curriculum in England.
1A creative curriculum promotes ‘Inquiry’
2Learning is linked to achievement and progress
3Optimum learning environments support excellent progress
4The learning context is the key to individual success
Internationalism & Global Thinking
The thematic design of our curriculum provides unique learning goals that help our youngest children begin the move towards an increasingly sophisticated national and international perspective. We aim for all our students to gain:
- A knowledge and understanding of their own national culture. International is both inter and national.
- An awareness and understanding of the independence of and interdependence between countries.
- A developing ability to be at ease with others who are different from themselves.
- An awareness and understanding of the independence of and the interdependence between peoples.
- An awareness and understanding of the essential similarities between the peoples and countries of the world.
- An understanding of our host country of Korea as well as every child’s own “home” country.
In order for students to develop a clear sense of cultural identity we take account of the host country, Korea, as well as each child’s ‘home’ country when planning learning journeys. This supports our aim of developing and promoting inclusion and tolerance as core values and encourages students to think beyond their own immediate experience.
We educate our children about the world around them through guided inquiry and give them an understanding of other countries and cultures in preparation for life as global citizens.
The learning environments at British Education Korea send clear messages about our ethos, vision and mission. We create a nurturing but stimulating learning environment based around the promotion of specific behaviours and skills: inquiry and curiosity, independence, support and challenge, reflection, and critical thinking.
Where possible, we attempt to connect our internal environment with the natural world through field trips. Learning journeys and children’s achievements are celebrated through well-planned displays and sharing assemblies.
Music is an integral part of our curriculum; it abounds throughout our classes on a daily basis. Music is a unique and universal language and a very important part of every child’s education.
All pupils receive an exciting and varied classroom music programme, based on the National Curriculum programmes of study.
They are taught to:
- Perform, listen and evaluate music across a range of genres and historical periods
- Sing and use their voices to create and compose music, individually and in groups.
- Explore how music is created through the dimensions of pitch, duration, dynamics, timbre, texture, structure and notation.
Additionally all students in Year 1 and 2 learn the violin in class lessons each week.
Our Music Academy enables every child to learn to play an musical instrument through individual and group tuition. The Academy includes opportunities for children to participate in:
Groups and ensembles, Musical Composition, Music Technology, Choir and Chamber Choir, Band Programme and Music Awards Programme.
Our Music Academy, operating at The Prep and Pre-Preps enables every child to learn to play a musical instrument through individual and group tuition. The Academy includes opportunities for children to participate in:.
Groups and ensembles, Musical Composition, Music Technology, Choir and Chamber Choir, Pop Band Programme and Music Awards Programme.
The British Prep offers the additional opportunities below:
Pupils from Years 4 – 8 have the opportunity to be involved in a band programme where they choose to learn a woodwind (clarinet, flute or saxophone), brass (trumpet, trombone or tuba) or un-tuned/tuned percussion (marimba) instrument in a classroom setting.
This is an instructional class where students learn pitches, note values and rhythms together with their classmates. Children enjoy the social aspects of the band ensemble while rehearsing and performing.
All children are encouraged to participate in the vast array of music groups offered such as: choir, band, orchestra, chamber ensembles and rock groups. They will also have the opportunity to perform at Music Festivals, Concerts, Drama Productions, Music Assemblies, Prizegivings, Competitions and other special events throughout the year.
Prep provides highly qualified music tutors for one on one or group lessons (2 students per class) on instruments which include: flute, clarinet, saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, tuba, euphonium, violin, viola, cello, bass, guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, piano, drums, voice and advanced theory. (The Pre-Preps offer this also with reduced instrument choices to suit the age of students). Students also have the chance to sit Royal Schools of Music Examinations, as well as performing as soloists at various musical events.
The British Prep encourages every child to learn an instrument. Playing an instrument is enjoyable, develops children’s confidence and self-discipline, provides a sense of achievement, and allows children to express themselves through their instrument.
House System at the British Prep
Children benefit from being members of mixed age group houses. This helps develop opportunities or year groups to work together, encourages children to support each other, gives them a strong sense of responsibility and provides them with a range of cooperative and competitive activities in which to participate. Being in a house is also great fun!
There are three houses: ELGAR, SHACKLETON and NIGHTINGALE with a balanced number of children from each year group in each house. Children are assigned a house on entry to Prep and siblings also join the same house. Staff are assigned to houses too.
Each house has a captain elected from amongst our older students. There are house captain badges and a house cup and students collect house points each week. Points are awarded as follows:
Every day children may be awarded house points. Also, the house system is used at various events and activities at The British Prep. House activities might include: house song, sports day, inter-house quiz, fund raising, or art competitions.
House points are recorded weekly and announced in assembly. Cumulative totals are calculated each term and the House Cup is awarded to the team with the most points.
Character Education at The British Prep
Character Education is as essential part of developing students who are well rounded. Prep students study a character trait each month and during weekly assemblies the monthly character trait is explored.
Students are actively supported to develop sound character traits and good morals. It is our belief that explicitly teaching children good morals and exposing them to the ideas of good character that they will embrace this as part of their character, and continue with a good understanding of what it takes to be a person, with good character and high moral standards as they move forward in life.
EAL (English as an Additional Language) at The British Prep
EAL teachers provide specialist English support for those students who require focused English lessons within or outside of their classrooms to help ensure they are able to fully access the curriculum. This support ensures students can cope with the language demands of our curriculum and quickly play a full part in everything that is happening within their class and beyond.
In addition, all staff have a duty of care to provide a warm and supportive environment to all pupils that encourages cooperation, community and cohesion.
ICT at The British Prep
Information & Communications Technology
In order to ensure our students are equipped with the skills needed to excel in an ever-changing world we promote ICT/Computing as an integral part of learning. The students follow the National Curriculum programmes of study for Computing which are linked to curriculum content. . The emphasis is on developing the skills needed to use ICT safely and effectively as a tool to support and enrich learning and improve progress across the curriculum. From the earliest possible age our children become confident in:
- Finding things out
- Developing ideas and making things happen
- Exchanging and sharing information
- Reviewing, modifying, and evaluating work as it progresses
They achieve this through:
- Control technology (Blue-Bots)
- Mobile technology (tablets)
- Computing (laptops)
By the end of Year 6 students will be able to:
- Draft and edit skilfully
- Create animations
- Use advanced programming
- Upload and share work
- Search databases to respond to questions
- Write simple to complex computer codes (age dependent)
- Stay safe online
By the end of Year 9 students will be able to:
- Design, use and evaluate computational abstractions understand key algorithms that reflect computational thinking
- Use two or more programming languagesUse advanced programming
- Understand simple logic used in circuits and programming
- Understand the hardware and software components that make up computer systems
- Create, reuse, revise and re-purpose digital artefacts for a given audience
- Understand a range of ways to use technology safely, respectfully, responsibly securely