Swans School Website

General Information

Values and Aims | Curriculum | About Our School
Spanish At Swans | French At Swans | Admissions Policy

This is the cornerstone of the educational policy at Swans and, since its opening in 1971, the school has striven to provide a friendly, caring environment aimed at giving each child a sense of security and confidence in his or her own worth.

Whilst the school adheres to a firm academic framework, no effort is spared to instil in the child a solid foundation of inner resources and to develop in each pupil a wide range of interests so that, no matter what their academic achievement, each and every child may take his / her rightful place in today's society.

VALUES AND AIMS

We aim to provide a quality education that is relevant to children’s lives today but will also prepare them for the future in an ever-changing world. We set high standards across all aspects of school life and have high expectations of all our children. As an International school we encourage our children to take an interest in other communities and cultures whilst actively promoting each child’s independence, self-respect and self-motivation.

The following statements encompass the aims of our school.

To create a stimulating child centred environment which promotes the highest levels of achievement.
To enable all children to reach their full potential through the provision of a broad and balanced curriculum encompassing a variety of teaching and learning strategies.
To develop a love of learning.
To promote an ethos whereby all members of the school community know that they are valued and are actively encouraged to show care, respect and tolerance in their relationships with each other.

CURRICULUM

The school offers a broad and balanced curriculum that is delivered in English and based on the National Curriculum in the United Kingdom. We utilise a combination of teaching individual subjects alongside some projects / topics which involve more than one subject. This way of organising learning supports our ethos of developing independence and creativity and involves our children in making considered choices and developing their learning in context.

The curriculum is designed to motivate each child to adopt an open, enquiring approach to learning. Many extra curricular activities are available and the children are encouraged to have a full and rewarding day.

In addition, we also offer a Spanish curriculum as follows:

Educación Infantil ( 3 –6 yrs)
Primaria (6 – 12 yrs)

We offer a S.F.L. course for those children who are not Spanish speakers.

If a child is seen to have needs that are different from their peers, steps are immediately taken to see that these needs are fulfilled. There is no danger of any child at Swans being overlooked by the system.

ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

School Organisation: The school is mainly organised into year groups in accordance with the British system. Our first class is Early Years from which children progress to our Reception classes. We then have two classes at each year of Key Stage One (Early Years to 2) and two classes at each year of Key Stage 2 (years 3 to 6).

We provide a well-balanced timetable, concentrating on the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. Other subjects taught are History and Geography (Humanities}, Information Communication and Technology, Art, Craft and Design, Music and Physical Education. French is taught within the timetable for Years 4, 5 and 6 and both German and Arabic classes are available on request.

In addition, the school has a fully authorised Spanish section run by qualified Spanish national primary teachers who are fully cognisant of the current changes in the Spanish educational system (LOGSE). The children are taught the equivalent levels from the earliest age. In Year 2, First Year Primary Spanish is commenced and from that year onwards children are given the official courses in Spanish language and Social Studies (Geography, Science and History). Thus children can transfer over to the Spanish system at any point. A T.E.F.L. course is also available.

School Hours: The school day starts promptly at 9.00am and children should be on site by 08.50 am. Short assemblies are held for different age groups on different days and there are breaks at mid morning and lunchtime for all classes and mid afternoon for EY to Year 1. School finishes at 4.00pm.

Extra Activities: These play very important part in school life and take place from 16.15 to 17.00 on Monday to Friday. These are available on request.

Attendance: Periods of non-attendance are proven reasons for low levels of achievement! Parents are expected to ensure their child attends school EVERY day, not arrange holidays during the school terms and to explain absences from school.

Uniform: The school uniform consists of blue trousers, shorts, plaid skirt, a yellow "polo" T -shirt, navy blue jumper or cardigan and yellow or navy blue socks with blue or black leather shoes. Track suits, P.E. shorts and a house T -shirt in the appropriatecolour(see below} and trainers are obligatory for P.E. A girl's summer dress/skirt is also available and can be worn from the beginning of the summer term until the autumn half term.

House System: From Year 1 upwards, children are in houses: Doves (white P.E. T -Shirt}, Canaries (green} and Pigeons (red}. Inter-house competitions are held and house points awarded throughout the term for good work or behaviour. A Good Work Assembly is held fortnightly and, each week, the children can earn individual awards (bronze, silver and gold} with their contributions counting towards the end of year house trophy. From Year 2 onwards, children have an individual Award Book which is an ongoing record of achievement.

Lunches: Well-balanced and nutritious lunches are cooked on the school premises. Menus are given out at the start of each term. If children cannot eat a particular food oh health grounds, an alternative can be substituted if the office is notified. Lunches are obligatory.

Discipline:The school fosters the principal that effective discipline comes from within. For this reason there is. no rigid set of school rules other than those necessary for people living in a community. Children are expected to behave thoughtfully towards one another and respectfully towards their teachers and parents.

Assessments: Ongoing teacher assessment is implemented at all stages. More formal assessments are held throughout the year in both English and Spanish with N.E.F.R. testing taking place in May. External examinations for entry into schools in other countries can normally be sat at Swans.

Reports: End of Year reports are given in June with an Interim report in December. Parents are also invited to a class talk or individual parents' meetings in February.

Summer School: This is a three to four week course of activities (sports, swimming, art, videos, trips etc.,) run annually in July. Information on the activities to be included is circulated in May/June. The course is open to children from 4 to 11 years of age from Swans or elsewhere.

Staff: The teachers and learning support assistants at Swans are handpicked for their dedication to educational ideas as well as a natural ability to form happy relationships with the children in their charge. Every member of staff puts in time and effort beyond the normal call of duty as is borne out by the school's strong extra curricular programme and end of term productions.

All class teachers at the school are British trained, fully qualified and experienced whilst the Spanish and French teachers, natives of the countries concerned, possess the appropriate national qualifications.

In addition, we are fortunate enough to have a part-time Educational psychologist as a member of staff and access to other professional support.

SPANISH AT SWANS

In the Early Years and Reception, Spanish develops alongside English with a Spanish assistant as part of the general everyday life of the class. In addition to this, Reception children receive 3 weekly sessions with their Spanish teacher.

As an International School operating in Spain, we follow a full Spanish curriculum and we are aware that, from Year 1 onwards, the pressures on our timetable are enormous. Therefore, if a non Spanish speaking child is to become fluent THERE MUST BE INPUT OUTSIDE SCHOOL.

We offer twice weekly extra Spanish (activities, games, songs, video etc) as part of our After School Activities. Non Spanish speakers from Reception to Year 3 should be inscribed for this activity.

FRENCH AT SWANS

From Year 4 upwards, Swans school offers a timetabled programme of French, based on the Jolie Ronde scheme, which has been found to be very effective with the non-native speaker. The course allows the children the opportunity to study through structured books and tapes in order to become proficient.

When the children progress into Year 5, they continue the scheme at a higher level and are given supportive homework although the most fluent speakers do not follow the Jolie Ronde but study at their own level and are extended at an individual rate.