The British School In Cairo

The British School in Cairo has come a long way since its establishment back in August, 2004. It has grown in so many ways – in physical size, in the facilities on campus, in the number of pupils on roll (which has tripled to more than a thousand), and in reputation in the local community. Many of us who have been honoured to participate in the School’s journey since then are justifiably proud of its various achievements. We have now started to see pupils who spent a decade or so at the School graduate and enter top universities and competitive faculties, either in Egypt or overseas, many of them with full scholarships. It has been gratifying to see how pupils have flourished at the British School in Cairo over the years, not only academically, but also socially, physically and culturally. They have had the opportunity to take part in a rich array of sporting, citizenship and extra-curricular activities, such as trips in Egypt and overseas, camps, musical shows, debates and concerts.

Our pupils continue to be at the heart of our concerns and our decision-making. We are proud of our reputation of having some of the most pleasant and best behaved cohorts of pupils in any school, and wish to remain selective in our intake, and to retain the highest standards of ethics and behaviour at all times. Levels of academic achievement continue to increase over the years, with some year groups having 100 percent of their pupils at or above the year group target in core skills, despite a vast majority of second-language learners.

The Senior Leadership of the school, including many dedicated and long-serving Key Stage Heads, also aims to strengthen relationships with our parent base, including via the new Foundation Parent Workshops and Key Stage One events held this year. It is our passionate belief that our youngsters deserve the very best, fully rounded international education possible; to equip them not only for university and the workplace, but also to shape their characters and build their cultural, sporting and other interests and values, as well as general life skills. It is our aim to ignite their inbuilt passion and thirst for new knowledge and skills, and inspire them with a lifetime love of learning. Only in that way, will they truly face the new and fast-changing demands of coming decades and develop into leaders and pioneers in their own right.

BSC aims to offer a high standard of education to both Egyptian and international students in Cairo, through the adoption of the main principles of teaching and learning reflected in the National Curriculum of England. We aspire to be an outstanding educational organisation by:

• Striving for excellence
• Meeting international standards of best practice in all aspects of the educational process
• Empowering students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes which will enable them to explore hidden talents, and experiment, question, observe and apply what they are learning at their own pace and in their own way
• Establishing and maintaining a school culture in which each and every student and staff member is valued, esteemed and encouraged
• Creating a work environment where teachers are motivated to teach with passion and make continuous improvement in the quality of their teaching.

Students at BSC are constantly challenged to excel and achieve to the best of their potential. Our challenging curriculum is tailored to the individual needs, strengths and interests of each student. Through the recognition and development of their strengths and talents, our students will learn actively through student-centred approaches, and will develop their skills and be encouraged to achieve learner autonomy. Students at BSC become active learners and researchers, who are encouraged to make scholarship and the development of new skills a life-time habit. We are dedicated to the development of the student as an active learner, a collaborator, and as a citizen of his/ her community and the world. Our students will develop a sense of self-worth and self-discipline. We believe that parent involvement is vital to the well-being of students and the school.

A British education differs from other systems of education in some key aspects. A key aim is to develop a deep understanding of the subject matter, rather than relying on a large amount of rote learning of facts. Although tests and assessments do take place regularly, there is no “monthly test” as such and, indeed, teaching excessively to the test, rather than highlighting learning for the sake of learning, is frowned upon.