Lower Secondary School

YOUR CHILD IN FOCUS – THE BEST START IN Lower Secondary School

With the transition from primary school to Lower Secondary School, a new and exciting phase of your child’s educational journey begins. At GISAD, we place great emphasis on making this transition as smooth and supportive as possible. We consider the individual strengths and needs of each child and promote both academic and personal development. Our differentiated and versatile timetable provides a solid foundation for advanced learning and opens up diverse future opportunities.

An important question for many parents is the composition of the new classes. For social and educational reasons, we strive to largely maintain the existing structures. This facilitates building on established relationships and the quick integration of new students.

At GISAD, Grade 5 serves as an orientation stage. In the middle of Grade 5, a recommendation is made, and at the end of the school year, the teachers’ conference decides on the final placement. Parents are informed and can file an objection. In the case of an objection, the final decision is made in the first half of Grade 6.

At the end of Grade 8, a request can be made to reassess the placement. Criteria include performance, subject knowledge, concentration, curiosity, interest in learning, memory performance, and perseverance.

In Grades 6 to 10, main and secondary school students are taught together with high school students in a differentiated manner. From Grade 6, French is mandatory as the second foreign language.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: In November and April, parents can get information about their children’s grades. The class teacher provides the performance status of all subjects. Class tests and performance assessments are announced one week in advance and must be signed by parents until Grade 9.

Core Subjects: In German, Mathematics, English, French, and Arabic, four class tests are written annually, accounting for 50% of the report card grade. The oral component, including participation and tests, makes up the remaining 50%. The overall grade is at the discretion of the subject teacher.

Minor Subjects: In minor subjects (except for Physical Education, Art, and Computer Science), two tests are written annually. At least four other grades are included in the evaluation. The report card grade consists of one-third from the written grade and two-thirds from other grades.

More Infos

 

Entry into Lower Secondary School

Foreign Languages

FAQs

ENTRY INTO Lower Secondary School

ENTRY INTO Lower Secondary School

The transition from primary school to Lower Secondary School, as well as the entry into higher grades, represent significant steps in your child’s educational journey. At GISAD, we place great emphasis on making this transition as smooth as possible by largely maintaining existing class structures and quickly integrating new students.

Our educational concept in Lower Secondary School prepares your child specifically for the challenges of Upper Secondary School. This includes not only expanding subject knowledge but also promoting social and personal skills. Parents will be particularly interested to know that our differentiated teaching offerings and individual support cater to the needs of all students, preparing them optimally for their further educational path.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES
IN Lower Secondary School

English

English is taught 3-4 hours weekly as the first foreign language in Lower Secondary School.

French

French is mandatory starting from Grade 6. Students without prior knowledge receive intensified French lessons to quickly reach the class level. The cost is 700 AED per month or 3500 AED per semester for two support lessons per week. Sessions are scheduled individually during school hours.

Arabic

Arabic is mandatory for native speakers in the UAE. Non-native speakers can enroll in a voluntary two-hour afternoon club starting from Grade 6, which is certified on the report card and focuses on communication and writing skills.

Optimal Support

The support is individually coordinated by the French department and the responsible teacher.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The transition is managed smoothly by largely maintaining existing class structures. We conduct information sessions for parents and students and offer introductory weeks to familiarize them with the new school routine.

In addition to familiar subjects like German, English, Mathematics, Art, Arabic, Religion, and Physical Education, new subjects such as History, Geography, Biology, and French (starting from Grade 6) are introduced.

The timetable becomes more extensive and, depending on the grade level, can extend to the 7th or 8th period. This allows for a deeper engagement with the various subjects.

Performances are assessed through class tests, quizzes, and oral contributions. Parents can learn about their children’s grades during the parent-teacher conferences in November and April.

We offer individualized support programs, tutoring, and specialized assistance from our qualified teachers to address learning difficulties effectively.

There is a comprehensive program of extracurricular activities (ECAs) that includes sports, music, arts, technology, and social ventures to support the holistic development of students.

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