Belvedere British School

Belvedere British School (BBS) was developed in 2012. It is a British curriculum school in Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City offering quality education to students aged 4 to 18 years. It is linked to the Belvedere Preparatory School in Liverpool with an experience of over 130 years. This private co-educational school catering to the educational needs of students from FS2 to Year 12.

The educational programme appears to be robust and academically rigorous. Students also have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular activities. The school has limited facilities used smartly for educational and non-educational programmes.

• Location: Mohammed Bin Zayed City (MBZ)
• School fee: AED 30,100 - AED 37,660
• Curriculum: National curriculum of England
• Co-ed or segregate: Co-education
• KHDA rating: Good
• Years offered: FS2 - Year 12

Mohammed Bin Zayed City is a peaceful and quiet residential community located near the edge of Abu Dhabi. Here, one can find spacious apartments and luxurious villas. The communities located close to the BBS are:

• Zone 17, Mohammed Bin Zayed City
• Zone 8, Mohammed Bin Zayed City
• Zone 6, Mohammed Bin Zayed City
• Mussafah

Zone 17 of the Mohammed Bin Zayed City is the nearest residential community to Belvedere British School. Those who want to relocate near the school can check the following options:

• Apartments for rent near Belvedere British School
• Villas for rent near Belvedere British School
• Villas for sale near Belvedere British School

Belvedere British School Abu Dhabi offers various facilities for students. Classrooms have comfortable and age-appropriate furniture. There is an ICT suite for students with updated computers and a high-speed internet connection. The multi-purpose hall at the campus is used for non-academic activities, Physical Education (PE) sessions and sports activities. Other noteworthy facilities at Belvedere British School MBZ City are:

• Library
• Multi-purpose hall
• Music Room
• Art and Design Studio
• Fully equipped computer labs

Belvedere British School Abu Dhabi location is quite convenient. It is located near Mapple Wood International Canadian School in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi.

Belvedere British School has a rich history of the educational experience. It is a part of the Belvedere Preparatory School in the United Kingdom offering quality education to students. This experience is translated into Belvedere British School in Abu Dhabi, where students have access to a quality educational programme built on internationally acclaimed frameworks. Thus, the school prepares internationally minded students to combat modern-day challenges.

It follows the educational programme based on the National Curriculum of England. It is an internationally recognised curriculum that offers updated education based on a global context. Students work their way to attain the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) certificate in the secondary stage and A-levels in the sixth form stage. Top colleges and universities accept students from schools with the A-Level certification. British Schools of Middle East (BSME) and British School Overseas (BSO) accredit the school.

Another attractive feature of this educational institute is its experienced teaching staff. All the teachers at Belvedere British School are experienced and have relevant qualifications. The adequate teaching resources ensure a low teacher to student ratio, allowing teachers to offer individual attention to students. Such a school is ideal for parents looking for an institution offering individual attention and care.

Belvedere private school educates students from the FS2 to Year 12. The following phases of education are at this school:

The school follows the National Curriculum of England for its educational programme. The educational programme is broad and academically rigorous. It covers a wide range of subjects that makes education interesting for all. Belvedere British School uses technology to its benefit to aid in students’ learning. It educates students from the FS2 to Year 12.

Foundation Stage Curriculum

The school follows the Early Year Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework in the foundation stage. It uses this curricular framework for educating children in FS2. EYFS is famous throughout the world for its non-conventional teaching methods. It follows informal teaching strategies to develop students’ understanding of fundamental concepts. Teachers use playing activities to help students understand English, Arabic, Mathematics and other core subjects. EYFS targets students’ development by focusing on the following key areas of learning:

By the end of the FS2, young learners are ready for their next academic endeavour i.e. primary education.

Primary Curriculum

In the primary stage, Belvedere British School follows the formal teaching methods of the National Curriculum of England. Teachers adopt formal teaching strategies involving regular classroom lectures. The primary stage educational programme is split into two stages: KS1 and KS2.

Key Stage 1

Key Stage 1 (KS1) is the legal term for Year 1 and 2 educations. In KS1, the school helps students adapt to the formal learning style. Thus, the school gradually introduces children to formal teaching methodologies in the first two years of the primary stage. Belvedere British School aims to develop students to their full potential. It uses inquiry-based programmes to encourage learning KS1 covers the following aspects of education:

The school uses a stimulating environment to build the literacy and communication building skills of students. For mathematics and Science, it attempts to link the concept with practical life. This helps the students to understand the fundamental principles of mathematics and science with ease. Additionally, Art, Drama and Music are taught to students for extended periods. The progress made by children is annually monitored using different assessment methods. Students completing Year 2 are ready to enter the second stage of primary education.

Key Stage 2

Key Stage 2 (KS2) is the legal term for the Year 3 to Year 6 education in the British curriculum. In this stage, the school adopts the National Curriculum of England to its true sense. The school fully adopts formal learning strategies to teach core subjects.

Belvedere British School ensures a happy, friendly, stimulating and creative environment for students in KS2. This environment results in effective learning and building self-discipline. Students in KS2 are aware of their surroundings, understand the environment and respect others. The inquisitive nature of children is used to ignite their interest in learning. In the KS2, the school focuses on English spelling, grammar and punctuation, English reading and mental mathematics.

Middle School Curriculum

Key Stage 3

In the middle school stage, Belvedere British School continues to follow Key Stage 3 (KS3) of the National Curriculum of England and Wales. The KS3 curriculum is for students in Year 7 and Year 8. Through the academically rigorous KS3 curriculum, the school prepares students for the subsequent phase of education. From Year 7, lessons are taught in a series of specialist subjects. The class tutor plays the role of a pastoral for students, equipping them with skills and expertise to complete middle school education. The subjects taught to students are:

Secondary Curriculum

Students entering Year 9 study the Key Stage 4 (KS4) dedicated for the secondary stage. It is a part of the British national curriculum that prepares students for the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) certification. Students start their GCSE studies with the following core subjects in Year 9:

Belvedere British School has an effective pastoral care system. The tutor, assistant head of upper school and head of upper school, gives pastoral care to the secondary students. The school counsellors and inclusion team, whenever required, support them. In the last year of the KS4, students sit the external GCSE examinations. Successful students are awarded the GCSE certificate.

Sixth Form Curriculum

The sixth form stage is the last phase of education at Belvedere British School. In the sixth form stage, students prepare for A-Levels. With recent changes, A-levels is separated from the AS programme meaning that A-Levels is now a freestanding qualification. However, the sixth form is still for two years. By the end of Year 13, students are assessed for all the subjects for A-Levels. The subjects taught in Year 12 and Year 13 are:

Usually, students study four subjects in Year 12 and three subjects in Year 13. However, the number of subjects may vary. To be eligible for A-Levels, a student must have Grade 5 (equivalent to B and C Grade) in all subjects and at least Grade 4 (equivalent to C grade) in Mathematics and English. For more information, view the requirements for sixth form education at Belvedere British School.

Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) is a governmental entity for regulating the education sector of Abu Dhabi, Al Dhafra and the Al Ain region. Established in 2005, it aims to improve the quality of education offered by the public and private schools in the aforementioned regions.

It rates the performance of the school based on the specifically designed six-point scale. The scale ranges from outstanding (best) to very weak (worst) rating. A brief explanation of the ADEK’s six-point rating scale is as follows:

Belvedere British School ADEK report rated the performance as good.

The academic year at Belvedere British School starts in August and ends in July. There are three terms in the academic calendar of this school. The important dates of each of these terms are as follows:

• The first term starts in the last week of August and ends in the second week of December. The midterm break for the first term is expected in the third week of October. The winter break starts right after the end of the first term.
• The second term starts in the first week of January and ends in the fourth week of March. This is followed by a spring break that ends in the first week of April. Mid-term break is expected in the third week of February.
• The third term starts in the second week of April and ends in the first week of June. There is no planned mid-term break for this term as there will Eid-Al-Fitr Holidays.

Besides the aforementioned, the school observes holidays on numerous religious, national and international events. The exact dates of these events are subjected to moon sightings or announcements by the government. For more information, view the academic calendar.

The admission process at Belvedere British School is similar to most schools in the UAE. To apply, download and submit the completed admission form available on the website. The documents required with the admission form are:

• Birth Certificate of the candidate
• Passport of the candidate
• Latest school report
• Passport of the parents or guardians

Please ensure all the information in the completed admission form is authentic. Failure to provide authentic information may lead to the cancellation of admission requests.

The school understands that picking a school for your child is a daunting task. Therefore, after receiving your admission request, the school will contact you to book a school tour. This is an opportunity for you to ask your questions and see the school facilities.

Afterwards, the school will contact you to bring your child for an assessment. In the first stage, candidates are assessed through formal assessment. They then contact the successful candidates for the interview sessions. Candidates facing both the formal assessment and interview session, and who have an outstanding academic record, are given admission offers. The school will ask you to sign the acceptance form and terms and conditions form. You also need to pay a required deposit to secure the seat for your child. Once your child is accepted at Belvedere British School, the school will ask for the following original documents:

• Birth certificate
• Student’s passport with residence visa
• Student’s Emirates ID
• Four recent coloured passport-size photographs of the students
• Guardian’s or parents’ passport with residence visa
• School report for the last academic year
• Transfer letter
• Electricity bill or tenancy agreements

If any of the aforementioned documents are not in English and Arabic, get them translated by the official translators in the UAE. Furthermore, ask the admission team for the requirements for the transfer certificate. Below is the age-grade guideline set by the ADEK:

This is based on the age of the students on 31st August (for schools beginning in September). Source: ADEK

* This is to cater to students transferring from systems that admit students of a younger age)

Once all the documents are submitted, the school contacts parents to bring their child for an assessment. Students clearing the assessment test are invited for an interview. Afterwards, the admission committee decided to grant admission. Parents accepting the admission offer will have to sign an agreement and fill out consent forms as per the requirements of ADEK.

For more information, read the admission process at Belvedere British School.

The Belvedere British School fee is as follows:

The school accepts payment in cash, card and cheques. For more information, view the fees structure of Belvedere British School.

Belvedere British School has a canteen where students can buy fresh snacks and lunch items during breaks. The school has outsourced its canteen-related operations to Raptors Catering.

Those living far from the school need not worry as Belvedere British School offers a safe and efficient transport service to its students. It owns a fleet of buses equipped with modern safety and security features, including video surveillance and GPS tracking service. They regularly perform the maintenance of their buses to ensure that all the features are operational at all times. Please note that the school bus picks and drops children at designated points.

The routes at which the Belvedere British School transportation service is available are:

• Route 1 – Al Bateen, Khalidiya
• Route 2 – Al Khalidiya
• Route 3 – Mina Street, Tourist Club
• Route 4 – Corniche, Al Hamdan, Electra Street
• Route 5 – Al Reem, Al Nahyan
• Route 6 – Al Muroor, Bin Al Jeserain
• Route 7 – Al Shahama, Hydra Village
• Route 8 – Al Falah, Al Reef
• Route 9 – Baniyas East
• Route 10 – Khalifa City
• Route 11 – Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City (Zone 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, 22, 21 and 20)
• Route 12 – Mussafah 12, Al Dafrah, Mussafah Garden
• Route 13 – Mussafah 9, 10 and 11
• Route 14 -MBZ (Mazyed region: Zone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8)
• Route 15 – MBZ (Mahawl region: Zone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
• Route 16 – Airport Route, Al Karamah

For more information, read the transport service policy for Belvedere British School.

There is an outdoor play area at the campus used extensively for sports such as tennis and football. Other than that, the school has a playground equipped with slides and other playing equipment for students in the foundation and primary stages.

Besides limited school facilities, the school offers a broad extra-curricular programme to its students. They can take part in numerous activities ranging from creative arts to visual arts and from academic to life skills. The clubs managed by teachers offer most extra-curricular activities. Some noteworthy activities and clubs at Belvedere British School are:

Field Trips are an important part of the extra-curricular activity at this school. Belvedere British School believes that excursion activities allow students to understand the world around them. For students, it serves as an opportunity to relax and have a good time. The school is planning to begin an international excursion for students.

There is a school clinic that provides medical assistance to students and staff in emergencies. The medical staff is trained to handle minor to moderate injuries and illnesses.

Several modes of communication are available at Belvedere British School including parent-teacher meetings, official school website and social media platforms. The school has WhatsApp groups where teachers and parents of students in the same years are added. It is an excellent source for urgent enquiries.

• Telephone: +971 2 509 0000
• Email: enquiries@belvederebritishschool.com

GENERAL INFORMATION

• BBS Official Website
• BBS Facebook
• BBS Instagram

HOW MANY GRADES/YEARS ARE AT BELVEDERE BRITISH SCHOOL?

Belvedere British School provides education from FS2 to Year 12.

DOES BELVEDERE BRITISH SCHOOL FOLLOW A CO-EDUCATION MODEL?

Yes, Belvedere British School follows a co-ed model.

WHAT IS THE ACADEMIC CALENDAR OF BELVEDERE BRITISH SCHOOL?

The academic calendar of Belvedere British School starts in August and ends in July.

WHAT’S THE TUITION FEE CHARGED AT BELVEDERE BRITISH SCHOOL?

The tuition fee at Belvedere British School ranges between AED 30,100 and AED 37,660.

Note that the cover image belongs to Belvedere British School