Braeside School

BRAESIDE SCHOOL

Braeside School’s ethos reads: “At Braeside School [http://www.braeburn.com/braesideschool/index.htm] , every child has a place. It is our responsibility to provide opportunities for all children to excel academically and socially, from Early Years to Year 6. We believe that self-esteem and confidence are essential ingredients in encouraging children to become motivated and active learners. We emphasise the academic side of school life, but also encourage children to become involved in a range of sporting and extra-curricular activities too. Our school is a community in which children, parents and staff work together to provide a stimulating, happy and caring environment.”

One of the Braeburn Schools Kenya Limited [http://www.braeburn.com] schools, Braeside School is a co-educational international day school open to students of all religions, races and nationalities. The school opened in 1994 as a primary school and has now developed into a full-fledged learning institution offering academic programs based on the British National Curriculum. Classes cover Early Years and Primary School, with a Braeside High School leading to IGCSE examinations located on the same campus.

The Braeside campus is located in the up-market area of Lavington, Nairobi, near Lavington Green shopping centre along Muthangari Road.

The School’s classrooms are attractive and stimulating, well-resourced and designed to facilitate the school’s aims. In addition there are a number of excellent facilities within the school enabling the staff to effectively deliver the curriculum and a wide range of extra-curricular activities. Braeside School has a well-equipped music room; a well-stocked library; a 25-m swimming pool and a training pool; large playing fields; a modern kitchen; a large dining hall which also caters for indoor games; fully-equipped classrooms for each teaching group; a new assembly hall able to fit 300 people seated and a sick bay. Text books and stationery are provided.

The school is divided into the Early Years Unit, catering for children aged 2 - 5 years, and the Primary School.

In the Early Years Unit, children aged 2 years may start school part-time and build up to staying for lunch and afternoon sessions, using school transport if required.. Children encounter additional activities such as music; ICT; PE and Swimming; library time; pet-keeping; role play and cooking.

In Braeside Primary School, lessons are divided into core subjects - English, Mathematics and Science - and foundation subjects - History, Geography, Physical Education (PE), Art, Music, Foreign Languages. Information Communication Technology (ICT), Religious Education (RE) and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE). Teaching is a combination of whole class, group and individual teaching with more specialised teaching in the subject areas of I.C.T., French or Kiswahili, R.E., Swimming, P.E. and Music / Drama.

There are adopted a continuous assessment system which assists the teachers / students to identify any problem areas. Each year, Years 1 to 6 are tested at the middle and end of each term, and also at the end of the academic year. Years 2 and 6 sit Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in May. Homework is set and checked regularly. At the end of every term, performance and conduct reports are given to parents or guardians.

All children experience team games, athletics and swimming, and play a variety of sports. There are a number of teams that play competitively with other Nairobi Schools during the academic year (currently the school has teams in soccer, basketball, netball, rounders, hockey and swimming). Sports Days and Swimming Galas are also key events in the school year, as are Inter-House competitions and Inter-School competitions. Braeside School teaches teamwork and co-operation, and encourage healthy competition.

All students are expected to observe school regulations, and there are a well-established pastoral system - in which School Prefects are an integral part - to teach responsibility and respect. All teachers provide for a range of differing needs within each individual class; there is a learning support programme that works with individual students or small groups within a class or year group.

Braeside School offers a wide range of activities either as a lunchtime or after-school activity. These vary each term and cover a wide range of sporting, musical and creative activities. Some activities involve weekend commitments such as Sports, Swimming fixtures and Outdoor Education. Braeside School has a fully-recognised Scout movement boasting a large established membership which has represented both the School and country in international Jamborees. School clubs include Creative Arts, Needlework, Indoor Games, Dancing, Karate, Ballet, Horse Riding, Debating and Wildlife.

At Braeside School students are taken out on educational visits as part and parcel of their learning. These are not optional, but are an integral part of the student's learning. An Outdoor Education programme, for students from Year 3 to Year 6, has been specifically designed to encourage independence and teamwork. The programme builds on student's experiences and provides opportunities for fieldwork too. Educational visits are reviewed annually and these may change depending on the teaching focus for each year group within a term. In addition to local tours, the school organizes an international trip each year. So far students have had the opportunity to visit South Africa, France, Great Britain and The Netherlands.

As well as parent-teacher interviews, curriculum evenings are arranged throughout the year to explain aspects of the curriculum. As and when curriculum and school-based policies are developed, parents are encouraged to read these.

Students travel to school by car or may take advantage of the school’s Safety Buses. Each bus has a particular route to school, which allows the majority of Nairobi to be covered by a convenient bus route. The routes the buses take and transport costs are available from the school office.

The qualified School Nurse provides first aid for minor injuries and takes responsibility for administering prescribed medicines.

Students may start at Braeside School in the Early Years Unit, from 2 to 5 years of age. Year 1 starts the September following a child's 5th birthday. Entry is preferred at the start of the academic year, but students may enrol throughout the academic year.