Al Ain English Speaking School
Encyclopedia
The Al Ain English Speaking School (A.A.E.S.S.) is a school for expatriate children living in Al Ain
, United Arab Emirates
. As of 27 April 2010, the school had an estimated 1,150 students, 400 in Secondary and 750 in Primary. The school
consists of children and teachers
of many nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, which makes it nationally recognized. It is also Cambridge
certified, and a member of British Schools Middle East. The school is also a member of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools. In recent years, AAESS has developed its professional reputation within the UK by achieving official status. It is currently recognized by the UK Government's Department for Children, Schools and Families
.
The basic curriculum is that of the National Curriculum of England.
curriculum. The school also follows Ministry of Education guidelines and provides compulsory Islamic studies courses for Islamic students.
The children have their own eating and play areas. Although very much part of the whole school, they are able to operate independently. The Nursery children have their own outdoor working area and play area.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children share a building and have classes around a central area. The children have their own outside play areas.
The Key Stage
2 building is identical in design, but houses a study area in the center. This is used for small group work, independent study and one on one activities. There is also a primary ICT laboratory in the building.
examinations. Pupils then continue their studies at AS and A level.
Outside of the academic curriculum, pupils have the opportunity to take part in a small selection of sports and clubs, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award program.
, Thesiger Wilfred Thesiger
and Cousteau Jacques Cousteau.
The houses are names after British writers later when the house system was re-established: Orwell
, Keats, Shakespeare, and Dickens.
Francisco 'Frank' Lobo - High profile Al Ain resident.
Other over-achieving alumni including UK based carpenters, doctors and lawyers can now be found on the newly created AAESS Alumni page on Facebook.
Al Ain
Al Ain |Spring]]), also known as the Garden City due to its greenery, is the second largest city in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the fourth largest city in the United Arab Emirates. With a population of 374,000 , it is located approximately 160 km east of the capital Abu Dhabi and about...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. As of 27 April 2010, the school had an estimated 1,150 students, 400 in Secondary and 750 in Primary. The school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
consists of children and teachers
Teachers
Teachers may refer to:* Teachers, people who provide schooling for pupils and students* Teachers , one of the five Ascension Gift Ministries* Teachers , a British sitcom* Teachers Teachers may refer to:* Teachers, people who provide schooling for pupils and students* Teachers (ministry), one of the...
of many nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, which makes it nationally recognized. It is also Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
certified, and a member of British Schools Middle East. The school is also a member of the Incorporated Association of Preparatory Schools. In recent years, AAESS has developed its professional reputation within the UK by achieving official status. It is currently recognized by the UK Government's Department for Children, Schools and Families
Department for Children, Schools and Families
The Department for Children, Schools and Families was a department of the UK government, between 2007 and 2010, responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education...
.
The basic curriculum is that of the National Curriculum of England.
Primary
The primary school currently provides education for children aged 3 to 11. The students are taught according to the BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
curriculum. The school also follows Ministry of Education guidelines and provides compulsory Islamic studies courses for Islamic students.
The children have their own eating and play areas. Although very much part of the whole school, they are able to operate independently. The Nursery children have their own outdoor working area and play area.
Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children share a building and have classes around a central area. The children have their own outside play areas.
The Key Stage
Key Stage
A Key Stage is a stage of the state education system in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the British Territory of Gibraltar setting the educational knowledge expected of students at various ages...
2 building is identical in design, but houses a study area in the center. This is used for small group work, independent study and one on one activities. There is also a primary ICT laboratory in the building.
Secondary
The curriculum in the Senior School is based on the English National Curriculum for Key Stage 3, with individual department heads. In Key Stage 4, pupils follow two-year courses culminating in the GCSE and IGCSEIGCSE
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education is an internationally recognised qualification for school students, typically in the 14–16 age group. It is similar to the GCSE in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Standard Grade in Scotland or Junior Certificate in the Republic of...
examinations. Pupils then continue their studies at AS and A level.
Outside of the academic curriculum, pupils have the opportunity to take part in a small selection of sports and clubs, including the Duke of Edinburgh Award program.
Staff
The school staff are all trained and certified. Most of the teachers have been trained in England, with the exception of the foreign language teachers who are hired from their own countries.House system
The School has a house system that fosters competition among its students and prepares them for the rigors of Inter School Level Competition. The first established houses were named after famous explorers; Armstrong Neil ArmstrongNeil Armstrong
Neil Alden Armstrong is an American former astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, university professor, United States Naval Aviator, and the first person to set foot upon the Moon....
, Thesiger Wilfred Thesiger
Wilfred Thesiger
Sir Wilfred Patrick Thesiger, CBE, DSO, FRAS, FRGS was a British explorer and travel writer born in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.-Family:...
and Cousteau Jacques Cousteau.
The houses are names after British writers later when the house system was re-established: Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
, Keats, Shakespeare, and Dickens.
Facilities
The school has undergone a major expansion with many remaining facilities opening within 6 months. Current facilities include:- Grass field
- 2 swimming pools
- A large gymnasium
- New basketball court
- New drama and art studios
- Two playground areas for the Primary School
- Multi-purpose hall
- A medium sized library
- 3 separate buildings for the Primary School
- 4 Science laboratories, including 2 chemistry labs, 1 physics lab, and 1 biology lab.
- 3 ICT Labs
- A basketball court
- A small mosque for MuslimMuslimA Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
students with segregated areas for boys and girls - A fenced playground for KS2.
- Cafeteria
- A new mosque for Muslim students
- Tennis and Volleyball courts
Administrative staff
- Chief Executive Officer: Marwan Abu Manneh
- Principal: Adrian May, started September 2010
- Vice Principal: David Cole
- Head of Operations: Sophie Zanoon
Famous Alumni
Sami Alexander Mubarak Safi (a.k.a W.M.G) - German/Syrian chart topping rapperFrancisco 'Frank' Lobo - High profile Al Ain resident.
Other over-achieving alumni including UK based carpenters, doctors and lawyers can now be found on the newly created AAESS Alumni page on Facebook.