Our central purpose is to ensure that all students within Al Jazeera Academy Secondary School achieve the highest standards, successfully graduating to Thanawia and on to university or a chosen, aspirational career path. These standards apply to all that students do.

The school aims to reflect the best of UK practice and the largest proportion of our curriculum is based upon the National Curriculum for England and Wales. This curriculum is a planned programme of courses that will lead to IGCSE qualification and later AS level qualifications, which in turn give students access to universities throughout the world. The curriculum is adapted for Qatar, as per Emir Decree, to incorporate the native language, religion and history of the country.

We have a coherent, broad, balanced, relevant, differentiated curriculum that builds on students’ experiences and prior learning, enabling all our young people to become successful learners, confident individuals, and responsible citizens as Qatar’s international standing continues to grow.

Our curriculum aims to:

• Value and appreciate their heritage and place Islamic values at the heart of all we do.
• Support our students in mastering the basics (literacy and numeracy) by making sure that these are taught in every lesson and, where necessary, in small groups.
• Work with our students to develop their resilience and to be reflective; helping them to be great learners by knowing where they are in their learning, how to improve and keep going when it gets tough.
• Ensure that every lesson develops curiosity so that our students are motivated and eager to learn more.
• Seek to equip our students with broad and deep knowledge, while recognising that knowledge is ever changing and they need the skills to respond to this.
• Will aim to ensure every pupil at Al Jazeera Academy will by age 17 meet the requirements for Thanawia (High School graduation certificate) and have real options to go to university and to follow the aspirational career path of their choice.
• Promotes every learning stage and need, including an enrichment programme as part of the core curriculum.
• Enables students to have a personalised learning programme which meets their individual needs, talents and interests: 11-17 years.
• Recognises the pivotal role which advancing technology plays in the lives of our students. We will meet the ICT requirements of the academy curriculum through the introduction of increasingly modern systems and programmes. Every pupil has a specialized ‘tablet’ to support learning both at school and at home.
• Recognises the centrality of Literacy as a crucial part of the core curriculum for all our students. The focus in Literacy will be on the acquisition, development and application of transferable skills, knowledge and understanding through the day to day curriculum. The impact of First Language learning in Arabic will be actively promoted for its significant positive effect on second language English skills. A majority of our students will follow and succeed in a First Language examination in English.
• Develops Numeracy skills across the curriculum.
• Provides differentiated programmes of study for those who have SEN (in our Knowledge Centre) or who are Gifted and Talented.
• Extends and enhances students’ learning experiences through the active promotion of extra-curricular activities.
• Meets MoE Requirements and fully reflects Ta’allum group wide policies.
• Fully integrates the best Islamic values and respect for the Qatari national identity at the heart of the curriculum.
• Recognises and appreciates the role of business and authentic connection with the wider community (both local and global) in the education of our young people.
• Prior to entry to AJA Secondary School all Assessment information regarding new entrants is gathered and data regarding their academic performance is recorded, including End of Primary school Tests, Teacher Assessments, reading age, spelling age.
• In Years 7 and 8 students are placed in groups in some subjects according to ability levels whilst in most subjects academic groups are of mixed ability. There are some small withdrawal groups to support intervention for those with SEN. This provision is planned, implemented and student progress monitored by the Deputy Headteacher (Academic.)
• In Year 9 students begin IGCSE courses in core subjects (English, Maths, Science and Arabic)
• In Year 10 they will opt for up to 4 additional subjects to study at IGCSE level. Personalised pathways allow for some flexibility for those students who require further support with their studies in Key Stage 4.
• In Year 12 students follow AS Level courses. AJA is working with our Ta’allum partner schools to develop full two year A Level courses. This will enable students from Qatar who achieve the required entry qualifications to access the world’s most prestigious universities.

Academic Year

The Academic year is organised around two semesters of learning with examinations and reporting on student progress at the end of each one culminating in an End of Year Report which amalgamates the results throughout the year. It is a rigorous process. Baseline tests with an international relevance are being introduced so that we can see how our pupils are ding in wider comparative terms. The Academy operates an extended school day, with 30 lessons per week. Most lessons are 55 minutes. See the outline of the new school week below.)

Key Stages:

• A shortened Key Stage 3 (Years 7-8)
• Key Stage 4 (Years 9-11)
• Key Stage 5 (Year 12)