Welcome to the Ambassador International Academy official Q and A page. Here we ask the questions, and the school answers directly. It is its chance to have its say on specific areas you have told us you want to know about. If you think there are additional questions we should be asking you may contact us here.

Does your school have a waiting list? In which years?

Not for this year but we anticipate waiting lists for 2022 - 23 admissions.

What are qualities and characteristics that define your school and its students?

Ambassador School's commitment is to operate and manage schools which provide quality education with a focus on development that is in tune with the needs of the individual child in an era of globalisation. One of the key success factors is our challenging curriculum which enables children to start their learning journey with a strong belief that learning is a life-long and enjoyable endeavour.

At Ambassador International Academy, we recognise that to prepare students adequately for our increasingly complex and interconnected world, we must provide them with new ways of thinking and new ways of collaborating in solving our most pressing global issues. As such, our mission goes far beyond preparing students for good universities and prosperous careers; we want to create globally-minded and critical-thinking innovators ready to re-shape the world for the better. We truly believe that education is about preparing students for jobs that don’t exist now. To do this, students need to be in a happy and safe environment.

We make learning exciting, relevant and challenging for students, as we continually draw connections between what they learn in the classroom and the real world. Perhaps most importantly, we encourage our young people to reflect on their learning—and to act on it in the service of others. We believe learning must be for action and impact. We will place a large emphasis on developing students’ mindsets to encourage them to be positive, aspirational and resilient. It is important that they develop self-belief and confidence.

The partnership and collaboration between students, parents and teachers are crucial elements for students to succeed and be the best they can possibly be. Our campus is spectacular and the attention to detail to ensure that students will have the best opportunity of success in their school years is there for all to see in every aspect of the school design, curriculum, planning and staffing.

How many nationalities are represented in your school? How international would you say your school is?

We have a wide range of nationalities as befits an IB school: currently 85 nationalities are represented in the school.

Are there high proportions of a particular nationality?

Not at this stage.

What is the teacher: student ratio in your school?

1:8 in Early Years and 1:12 in Primary and Secondary.

Does your school measure Value Added data? Please provide details of how you measure, and current Value Added benchmark scores.

We use external benchmark testing through tests such as CAT4 and GL along with accurate internal moderated data to ensure that students' progress is carefully monitored. From this, we ensure that interventions are put in place to further stretch and extend students' learning or to support the development of learning in areas of need.

If external examinations and assessments are part of your curriculum, which ones do you offer?

Not yet applicable.

Please provide details of how well your school did in its previous external exams for students at 16 and at 18 years of age? Please provide sufficient detail to allow parents to have a view on how academic your school is?

Not yet applicable.

What percentage of your sixth form that take exams at 18 go to university, and where, in general, do they go?

Not yet applicable.

Describe your school's approach to education and teaching?

The environment is designed to inspire children to become independent thinkers and to develop inter-personal relationships. Through a holistic approach to learning, we offer a personalised approach for students and parents to ensure that all students maximise their full potential and have wide ranging opportunities to ensure that their educational experience is engaging, fulfilling, nurturing and challenging. We believe in developing students' growth mindsets and we nurture them to become aspirational, positive and happy learners. We have a wide range of opportunities for students to accelerate their learning and experiences in a comprehensive ECA programme that includes sports, arts and academics.

Do you develop independent learning through homework and, if so, what are your recommendations regarding this, particularly time spent on homework?

As a PYP school, we want to ensure that the majority of students' learning happens at school, with our extensive curriculum supported by our academic ECA offering where students can further extend their learning in their areas of strength and can have the support needed to reduce learning gaps. We offer a software programme to enable all learners to be able to access outstanding resources that are age appropriate in a range of subject areas and topics to develop further their learning needs with a virtual programme that can be accessed anywhere to support students' study.

Physical education and sport is an important aspect of a healthy lifestyle. How does your school ensure children engage in physical activity?

We firmly believe in developing the well being and health of our students, through a comprehensive physical education and sports programme both within the curriculum and through ECAs. We have teamed up with a number of external sporting academies to offer our children a wide range of opportunities to participate in a number of sports and activities. We also have pathways for elite athletes to have accelerated coaching.

How does your school promote healthy lifestyles?

Healthy lifestyles are promoted through encouraging regular exercise and sports facilities. Children are encouraged to participate and explore various areas of physical education. Awareness for healthy lifestyle is initiated right from Early Years so that staying healthy becomes a part of daily life.

How do you promote healthy eating?

Awareness of nutrients in healthy food and their benefits are shared with children throughout their school life. Our school nurse helps by advising parents on healthy choices for lunchboxes. Our cafeteria offers healthy choices for snacks and lunch.

Does the school have cafeteria facilities for the students? How does it promote a balanced diet?

Yes, there is a cafeteria in the school.

What is the approximate average cost of a lunchtime meal?

Hot school lunches cost AED 30 per day.

What is the starting and finishing time of your school day?

School starts at 07.40 am. Early Years finish at 1.30 pm and KG2 - Grade 9 finish at 3.00. We have Extra Curricular Activities and an Academic Enrichment Programme for one hour after school, four days each week.

Is there a school uniform?

Yes. Available through school.

Please advise on your discipline policy?

Discipline is firm but fair. We have a Behaviour for Learning policy and an Anti Bullying policy. We are school with a strong kind and caring ethos. We actively promote the importance of tolerance and respecting the differences in cultures of each other. We are a school that works very closely with parents. We have strong communications links to enable students to be happy and safe which will then ensure that they enjoy their school experience and maximise their potential.

How do you feedback progress and attainment to students and parents?

Through a variety of means; we have apps and a parent portal to ensure that progress and attainment can be monitored all of the time by parents. Most importantly, we ensure that teachers are accessible for parents to meet on a regular basis to discuss progress and what the school is doing to ensure that the children are making progress. These opportunities exist both formally and informally. We have an open door policy. We ensure on a daily basis that our teachers communicate what the children have been doing that day in school to assist learning conversations within the family home and we provide parents with a weekly schedule for the forthcoming week. We use external and internal data to ensure that our students have the most effective opportunities to accelerate their progress through our academic enrichment programme.

How often is the more formal feedback such as reports and parent/teacher meetings?

We issue formal reports thrice each year, in December, March and June. We have parent/teacher meetings every month.

Which languages are taught at your school - please detail any as a first as well as second language?

French and Spanish as a second language.

Do you offer EAL or TEFL support for those students where English is not their first language?

Yes.

Do you offer a dedicated prayer room/s for students? For which faiths?

Yes.

How do you support gifted, able and talented students?

With differentiation in the classroom and also through our academic enrichment programme which enables students to accelerate their learning.

Do you have a learning support team in your school?

Yes.

Not all schools are staffed or resourced to offer learning support to those children with either moderate or significant learning needs. To what level can you offer support for those with learning differences?

We are an inclusive school and have an Inclusion Team that supports those students who have identified needs.

We are, however, a young school and our team is still quite small. As we grow , our Inclusion Team will also grow and we will be able to offer greater support to those students who require it.

Does your school have particular expertise in dealing with a specific learning need such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, aspergers syndrome and so forth?

We are an inclusive school but, as a new school, we have a small team. As we grow, we will increase our team and bring in more staff with specialist expertise.

Does your school have an educational psychologist or access to one to assess and support those youngsters with more challenging learning and emotional needs?

We have a counsellor who is able to refer students to an educational psychologist, if required.

Do you have a parents’ group supporting the school?

Yes, we have class representatives for each class. They meet with the Leadership Team on a regular basis and are able to bring forward concerns and feedback.

Are there opportunities for parents to support the learning, activities and events within the school or on trips other than through the parent group?

Yes, we involve parents where it is appropriate to do so.

Is there an opportunity for parental representation on your school Board of Governors?

Ambassador International Academy has a parent support group that works with the school governing body to enhance the learning environment for our students.

Do you offer specific activities, events or information sessions for those parents new to the school and/or area?

At the beginning of the academic year there is an orientation programme for parents where the Principal and staff give information on curriculum delivery, how the school communicates with parents, calendar information, sports, wellness for students and the academic programme. This is repeated in January and April for new joiners. Each term, the school holds Parent Information Meetings (some on Saturdays for working parents) which are designed to help parents understand aspects of their child's education. Topics include Assessment, SEN, Parental Learning Walks, CAT4 and Phonics.