Welcome to
2020/21
OUR DEVELOPMENT PLA FOR THE NEXT 3 YEA
A message from the
Thank you for considering Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) as an option for the next phase of your education. This is a vitally important time as it acts as the transition between Secondary School and University. We have one of the most extensive ranges of courses for you to choose from in the Middle East that is designed to meet the needs of all students and provide you with the very best opportunity to progress on to University.
The development of the Sixth Form at DESC has been based on our ethos of providing exceptional teaching supported by discrete facilities for our senior students. Our Sixth Form students are treated differently, given extra responsibilities and privileges, whilst still being made to feel a part of the College and act as role models to our younger students. We place great emphasis on supporting the students through this phase and preparing them for University. Our guidance, information and advice services are exceptional and we have strong links with many Universities around the world. We have a track record of students gaining places at the best Universities in the UK, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia, the Far East and Europe. Our Sixth Form facilities are truly exceptional, I am sure that when you see these for yourself, you will agree and want to be a part of our Sixth Form at DESC. These facilities include study areas, dining, social and leisure facilities, which all combine to provide an ambient place to relax and study independently. The Sixth Form facilities also include state of the art areas throughout the College including Science, Sport, Performing Arts, ICT and Design. This is an exciting time to be a Sixth Form student at DESC and I know that our Sixth Form Team will ensure you have the best possible experience during this phase. You will be challenged to achieve the best you can in order to make the next step, whatever or wherever that might be. You will be supported and guided academically, emotionally and throughout the University application process to help you gain places at the best Universities around the world. You will also experience exceptional enrichment opportunities in areas such as Sport and Performing Arts. I hope you find the information provided useful. We look forward to receiving your application and discussing your future with us.
Chris Vizzard Headteacher
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Welcome to Sixth Form at
The College believes that it is a strong, honest working relationship between parents, students and teachers that will help guide them through their formative years
As Assistant Head Teacher, with responsibility for KS5, it is my absolute privilege to lead DESC students through the two most important years of their education so far.
with extensive communal social areas, a large food court and a Zen garden. The Sixth Form Centre has been created to provide our students with a university style experience.
The College believes that it is a strong, honest working relationship between parents, students and teachers that will help guide them through their formative years and as such we place their mental, social and emotional wellbeing at the very heart of our provision.
We offer a comprehensive range of Advanced Level courses, the opportunity to follow a more vocational pathway with a range of BTEC qualifications and a Foundation Year course for students who need to consolidate their Level 2 qualifications.
Dubai English Speaking College (DESC) is an exceptional place to study and work. We have developed a highly regarded reputation for the quality of our teaching and learning and have chosen to place ourselves at the forefront of educational development, whilst maintaining traditional values.
Studying in the Sixth Form is very different from the experience students have had previously. Sixth Formers take a much smaller range of subjects, yet the depth of study required is much more than at GCSE.
Thank you for taking the time to explore our provision.
Students often find the first few months a challenging yet rewarding time as they adjust to the pace and demands of their Level 3 courses. It is important that students are prepared to work hard and prepare themselves fully for their assessments.
Louise Ford Assistant Headteacher
For the first time in their academic careers, Sixth Formers are given non-contact periods timetabled into their working week, which provide them with time to undertake independent study to meet the requirements of their courses. This encourages them to become independent, life-long learners and prepares them for further study at university or the world of work. We have created a range of different study spaces designed to inspire our students to use their non-contact time productively.
Our vision is to nurture independent, confident and resilient learners who respond to challenge and aspire to reach their full potential. DESC is committed to developing self-worth, mutual respect and the intrinsic enjoyment of learning. We aim to give every young person at DESC an education fit for the challenges of the 21st century. Our Sixth Form students have the benefit of a purpose built Sixth Form Centre, which provides various independent learning spaces for private and collaborative study, together
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What makes
We offer booster sessions in all subject areas to help students to develop their subject knowledge further. Our students take part in various debating competitions, maths challenges, and the World Scholars Cup. We also offer the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) for those students who are interested in extending their knowledge of a specific subject. The EPQ provides an opportunity for students to extend their abilities beyond the A level syllabus, stand out and prepare for university or their future career.
exceptional?
In addition, the extended campus with the purpose built Sixth Form Centre is devoted to our Sixth Form students; they have their own indoor and outdoor communal social spaces, together with a food court and café area.
At DESC we seek to appoint the best teachers available across the world. All of our teachers are UK-trained and have extensive experience of teaching the A level and BTEC curricula. Our teaching staff are highly skilled teaching practitioners with a proven track record in the classroom. We pride ourselves on our caring and friendly staff that know how to engage and motivate students. We offer innovative teaching and learning strategies, which take place in small, intimate classes. This means our students receive personalised learning, allowing them to be challenged appropriately and their progress to be monitored accurately against international targets, thereby enabling us to maximise their academic potential.
The Sixth Form Centre is designed to provide a balance between social interaction and independent learning.
We have visits from universities throughout the year and we encourage Year 12 students to begin thinking about university right from the start of the academic year. A range of guest speakers from a variety of professions are invited in to talk to our students about their career pathways. We appreciate that students make decisions about their futures at different speeds, but we want everyone to have their mind set upon their future careers as early as possible.
We are very proud of our physical environment at DESC. The College boasts excellent facilities for all its students, with the Sixth Form students having access to all the main College areas such as the library, swimming pool and gym.
The application process formally begins in Year 12 (Term 2). Parents will be invited to a presentation clarifying the University application process to allow them to support their children at home. 6
At DESC, we strive to provide support for our students creating a safe and supportive learning environment. The pressure of success ways heavy on some of our young people and it is essential that we ensure that our students are supported with a comprehensive network of care and protection. Sixth Form students have access to a fully qualified student advisor and all aspects of a students’ welfare are consistently monitored. We have even created a Zen garden within our Sixth Form Centre to provide a quiet area for our students to reflect.
Every teacher contributes a different extra curricular activity to the College, leading to a wide variety of ECAs for students to get involved with or even lead.
DESC provides wonderful sports facilities and opportunities for the Sixth Form to participate in a variety of sports activities – including rugby, football, netball, basketball, tennis and watersports. As well as competitive sport, we have a clear emphasis on promoting the benefits of keeping fit, with fitness for all, futsal, swimming and yoga.
The Performing Arts Faculty at DESC brings together the subjects of Music, Drama and Dance. At A level, we offer Drama and Theatre Studies, RSL CAPA Drama, Music, RSL MUSPRA and Music Technology as subjects for study within the Sixth Form. We perform a whole College production every year at DESC and Sixth Form students often take the lead parts. 7
Sixth Form
Message from our Head Girl and Head Boy Jessica Cullen and Alex Ferro
A typical Sixth Form student will select 3 subjects. This will be either 3 separate A level subjects, 2 A level subjects and one BTEC (equivalent to 1 A level), or one BTEC (equivalent to 2 A levels) and an A level subject. Students can then decide whether to select an optional academic enrichment programme to supplement their 3 subjects. This equates to 18 taught lessons per week (6 lessons per subject). Muslim students and students holding Arabic passports will also be required to study Islamic Education and Arabic A respectively. Students will then have a number of non-contact or free periods, other than those just mentioned. Generally, students will have a proportion of those free periods in a supervised classroom where they are encouraged to use the time productively on private study.
Both of us have had the privilege of attending DESC since Year 7, and we still remember our first day vividly. We were greeted with a warm welcome and smile from the staff at the gate, immediately feeling the sense community that belonging that DESC entails. Although a first day is always daunting, especially for a Year 7, DESC felt safe yet also a place in which we could explore the world around us in all its rich diversity. Over these past 7 years DESC has not only made us more inquisitive and enthusiastic students but has also helped to shape us as people and prepare us for the next stage of our lives. Throughout our time we have participated in the many opportunities the school has offered, from sports to musicals, charitable events to the numerous extra-curricular clubs. Our triumphant teams consistently achieve glory on the sports field, but competitiveness is carefully balanced by camaraderie. Likewise, house competition inspire considerable excitement, especially during in Sports Days and Swim Galas, but at all times there is the goal of ensuring that all students participate. Alongside this, the College has had numerous charitable fundraisers which are student led; one such example being the Australian Wildfires Charity Event where we both took great pride in raising funds to help the relief. These events give students the opportunity to present assemblies in which they discuss matters that are deeply important to them. Such moments not only encourage altruism and awareness but also nurture confidence and public speaking skills. 10
If coming into Year 7 was thrilling, then coming to the Sixth Form Centre was positively exhilarating. This was not only due to the magnificent facilities that constitute the Sixth Form but also because it is such an important rite of passage: entering we felt older, more mature and responsible. The superb private study rooms and comfortable social areas are such a pleasure to be him that study is easy. In addition, the state of the art gym and weights room is a wonderful place to unwind and keep fit. In addition to the facilities, we are inspired by student-led dynamic learning which links learning to the wider world. Societies such as Philosophy, Politics, Economics, MedSoc and others, allow students to become experts in certain areas and to explore their ideas through stimulating discussion and debate. In fact, sometimes debates spill out into the canteen and you can hear students arguing about feminism, vegetarianism and libertarianism. Moreover, the societies nurture leadership by appointing Presidents and other administrative positions that permit students to led events and choose the topics that will be covered.
sure College continues to thrive, diligently following the social distancing constraints and working together to ensure that everyone has a positive experience. To summarise, DESC has prepared us for our futures as well allowing us to become well-rounded individuals who are prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. The inclusive nature of DESC creates an environment where every member is equally important and given the opportunity to excel in both the classroom and beyond. We both feel immense pride in attending DESC and are delighted to represent the students this year.
The past year has only solidified the DESC attitude and motivation to learn. 2020 has been an exceptionally challenging year; however, the ability of students and staff to persevere and adapt is testament to the character of the College. The teachers at the college are simply fantastic, always ready to adapt to any changes and help students when they need a little extra advice. Whether at home or at the College, they have continued to provide us with excellent education and support. As we write, we are all working together to make 11
Student Leadership
Empowering students to make a difference
Sixth Form Leadership We encourage our Sixth Form students to play an active role in our community by making various positions of responsibility available only to Year 12 and Year 13 students. With a range of positions available, they can help shape the future of our College, along with teaching staff and the Senior Leadership Team.
Student leadership is arguably the most beneficial extracurricular activity a student can perform whilst in school. Though there are no grades, yet the experience gained from a leadership role will be valuable for a lifetime. A DESC student leader is thrown into a learning environment that encourages hands-on experience.
The development of leadership skills is a real strength of our Sixth Form. We expect all students to develop such skills during their time here. Such roles are highly respected and very sought after; our Sixth Formers develop into vital role models for younger students and are expected to liaise with staff and visitors to the College on a daily basis.
Planning, decision making, communicating, and working as part of a team are all essential skills that are developed and enhanced during their experiences. In doing so, students are in the unique position to make a difference.
The most prestigious roles are Head Boy and Girl, as well as their deputies. They have an important role in ensuring the student voice is heard by the Senior Leadership Team. They are expected to be role models for all other students and have to be proficient in public speaking to a variety of audiences. In addition to House Leadership opportunities and Head Girl and Head Boy roles, students also have the opportunity to become a Prefect.
Involvement, Empowerment & Opportunity Student leadership at DESC continues to be a major focus for development this year. The aims have been threefold: • To involve and empower students to identify issues at DESC and the wider world. • To provide students with the opportunity to plan strategies and take action to address and resolve the issues they have identified. • To be a forum for active and constructive student input.
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We encourage our Sixth Form students to play an active role in our community by making various positions of responsibility available
Dubai English Speaking College PO Box 125814, Dubai, UAE Phone +971 04 - 3604866 Fax +971 04 - 3604864 sixthformpastoral@dessc.sch.ae
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DESCDubai
@DESCDubai
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