The architecture of GPS lends itself to being light, spacious, open, and stimulating. At its centre a spacious indoor gym and multi-purpose space, a small theatre/presentation space, IT suite and Library/Resources Centre. Flexible classrooms, including those dedicated to STREAM (Science, Technology/Robotics, Reading/Research, Engineering problems, i.e. using materials to ‘engineer’ solutions, Art & Design and Mathematics), to DART (Directed Activities Related to Text), and Music and an Inclusion (SEND) Unit to allow 1:1 and small group support for those with identified needs, There are small group rooms to support EAL (English as an Additional Language) and a Clinic. Classrooms have access to outside learning areas (OLAs) with sandpit, play equipment and garden. GPS also enjoys access to the sports and leisure facilities at the Muntazah complex.
Through making the learning journey at GPS, parents will feel confident that their children will not only learn to achieve their own personalised, age-appropriate outcome objectives, following a curriculum that is both broad and deep, but that our teachers will track their performance closely against international benchmarks approved by the KHDA, identifying gaps and designing interventions to close them.
We also want our students to voice their own understanding and perspectives with growing confidence and certainty. We also want their learning to be underpinned by a set of learner attitudes and attributes that will make a positive difference to the world they will inherit. The development of character as well as personality is also critical to this purpose.
In addition to academic education, we seek to focus on physical, moral and personal, social and emotional development. Holistic education of the whole child develops Mind, Body and Spirit to be in harmonious balance. Mindfulness will be a feature of students preparing for each day of inquiry and reflection, of being in the right frame of mind to embrace the learning opportunities and challenges they will meet on their learning journey.
At GPS, our values and learner attributes underpin our Code of Behaviour. These are integrated into the curriculum and are reinforced in the daily life of the school through the care and example displayed by our teachers and support staff. We expect parents to help us embed these values through an active partnership with us in supporting their child’s education, not only academically, but in terms of their child’s personal development.
GPS also embraces eastern as well as western approaches to learning and cultivation and nurture of character. This is reflected in the importance of mindfulness and integral to the mental and spiritual wellbeing of students and staff.
GPS refers to the “Black Belt Principles of Life” having its origins in the martial arts of Japan, the Samurai or Bushido code:
We have added an 8th which features strongly in the martial arts:
We believe that:
We would like our parent community to celebrate their children’s teamwork, collaboration, competition and performance. We value parent involvement in the community life of GPS as a cornerstone of our development strategy. Contact us to find out more.
Learning Environments are places in which the pursuit of understanding and the construction of meaning are balanced with the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Our classrooms are busy and characterised by purposeful inquiry.
Students are empowered to do their best and are supported by teachers, support staff and each other in achieving this. GPS is a well-resourced, but we are not textbook driven. We use textbooks and online sources from vetted websites, use digital apps, encourage hands-on use of manipulatives and tools and a variety of media to enrich the learning process.
We encourage the development of international-mindedness in our teachers and students, showing respect, tolerance and empathy towards others of different gender, nationality, culture and levels of academic, linguistic and intellectual development. We model being lifelong learners and support students as contributing thinkers and doers with developing ideas of the world.
The Life Skills programme is evident in every classroom and guides us in our daily practice as we celebrate individual and collaborative achievements, ongoing learning and thinking in progress.