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Empowering Better Futures
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Students at the British School of Houston love learning, achieve more, and are equipped
to participate successfully in an ever-evolving global community. We cultivate a passion
for lifelong learning by involving children in their own education, empowering them to
understand how they learn best in a fun, challenging environment.
Highly-trained UK teachers use an innovative, carefully crafted approach that is used
and recognized around the world. Curriculum at all levels is individually tailored to each
child, enhancing strengths and addressing areas needing improvement. As a result,
British School of Houston students have achieved exceptional results in internationally-
benchmarked exams and have been accepted at leading colleges and universities in
the US and abroad.
With a student body representing more than 45 nationalities, we create opportunities for
children to celebrate diversity, break down cultural barriers, and collaborate. An emphasis
on social responsibility and community involvement creates a lasting commitment to
stewardship. This holistic approach to education shapes young adults who are confident,
resilient leaders, ready to meet the challenges of the future.
Welcome to the British School of Houston
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Everyone connected with the British School of
Houston belongs to our learning community. Every
member of staff is focused on improving learning,
working in partnership with each other, and with
parents, to ensure the success and happiness of the
young people in our care. We never accept second
best, ensuring everyone is constantly striving to be
better so that all our students are able to fulfil their
potential. We are a learning-driven school, which
means we gauge success by the quality of student
learning, not the amount.
Our school site is a safe environment in which
individuals are able to flourish. Visitors entering a
classroom will not only see purposeful learning, but
activities that will genuinely stretch the students,
whether they are designed to acquire or improve
skills, increase knowledge or deepen understanding.
In other words, the focus is on learning. This is made
possible through the dedication, commitment and
selflessness of our staff. They are passionate about
learning and about motivating and inspiring our
young people to be successful. We prepare our
students for life in a rapidly changing world through
the development of independent enquiry, helping
them acquire the necessary skills to facilitate a
life-long love of learning.
What sets our students apart from students at other
schools, is their genuine and enthusiastic desire for
learning. The questions they ask, from Year 1 to Year
13, are about deepening, broadening and enriching
their knowledge and understanding – not just
reiterating it. As a result, they keep their teachers
challenged and stimulated, keeping their teaching
fresh and dynamic, and in the process, they stimulate
their own enjoyment of learning.
World ClassLearning School
Our teachers are simply the best! – Student comment
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At the British School of Houston, every child matters.
We provide every student with the opportunity
to strive for academic excellence within a caring
community, but we recognize that at certain times,
such as when first joining the school, students may
require additional support.
Form tutors work closely with parents and students,
monitoring the academic, personal and social
development of all our students, to ensure they feel
safe, secure and happy, and are able to focus on
their learning without distractions. This student-
centered approach ensures a positive attitude to
school, allowing the students to build on their
strengths and develop their talents. Promoting a
positive attitude toward learning dovetails with
our commitment to excellence in all areas, whether
it is academic or sporting, musical or community
work. Our academic standards are high, and all
our students are challenged to meet them.
A prerequisite for teaching at the British School of
Houston is that staff are passionate and knowledgeable
about their subject and will seek to inspire all our
students to succeed. Through a wide range of high-
quality learning experiences suited to individual
needs, every student is encouraged to develop their
skills, knowledge and understanding in a happy and
caring environment. Our curriculum is relevant and
innovative, creatively engaging students in their
work, challenging and motivating each individual
to look within themselves to discover their passion
for learning. We also expect students to work with
their teachers to develop and improve our learning
programs, which we believe enables them to gain
greater insight into the learning process.
Commitmentto Excellence
I was invited to watch a lesson. Every child was being stretched to achieve something new, something exciting, something that was outside their comfort zone.
– Parent comment
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We are aware that we live in a rapidly changing
world and that we are preparing our students for life
in a world where they may be working in jobs that
do not currently exist, employing technologies
that have not yet been invented. Our curriculum
is therefore not focused on content but on the
development of personal learning and thinking skills
that will result in young people who are flexible and
able to adapt to changing circumstances without
fear or inhibition, enabling and empowering them
to meet the demands of 21st century life.
Throughout the school, at every stage, the curriculum
is designed to meet the individual needs of our
students. We constantly evaluate and adapt our
programs to reflect this commitment.
Curriculum forthe 21st Century
The British School offers a global education in a British environment.
– Parent comment
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Through the delivery of the Early Years Program
and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), our
teachers ensure our youngest students begin their
educational journey purposefully, developing the
skills and attitudes they will need throughout a
lifetime of learning without artificial boundaries
being imposed between the different aspects of
their development. We nurture these skills through
a curriculum that balances individual subject
experience and integrated learning opportunities.
Learning is planned to be active, in the sense that
children must engage with their own learning,
sharing responsibility for that learning with their
teachers, parents and caregivers. Learning is
constructed in such a way that, by the end of the
primary years, our students have a passion for
enquiry and a thirst for knowledge. These are the
essential ingredients for academic success in the
next phase of their education.
InternationalPrimary Curriculum
The
High-quality, meaningful play is the medium for learning in the early years.
– Teacher comment
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We also recognize that children’s learning must
respond to their current and future personal needs.
Our secondary curriculum is tailored to achieve this,
but also to take advantage of our unique location.
We build upon the strengths of the IPC by utilizing
the best aspects of the new Secondary National
Curriculum, which came into operation in the UK
in September 2008. Students study a broad and
stimulating range of subjects aimed at developing
the academic and high order thinking skills that
will equip them for success in our four year senior
program. Students are encouraged to see links
between subjects and to transfer learning across
traditional subject boundaries so that they see
learning as varied, rich, interconnected and fun.
In Year 9, students are expected to talk knowledgeably
about their own learning and, through high-quality
care, guidance and support, begin the process of
co-constructing their 4 year senior program with
their teachers. They are offered a wide range of
subjects from which to choose using a ‘pathways’
approach, which enables students to focus on their
particular strengths and talents, and work at a pace
which provides the most appropriate individual
challenge. Students entering Year 10 begin their
pre-IB Diploma courses leading to GCSE/IGCSE
qualifications in the following subjects:
• English & English Literature
• Modern Foreign Languages
• Humanities subjects (from History, Geography,
Business Studies)
• Two Sciences (from Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Mathematics, including the option of Statistics
and AS Level Math in Y11
• Arts and Electives (from Art, Drama, Music, Design
Technology, ICT, PE, or a third Science, second
Language or Humanities subject.)
We actively encourage students to begin building
up their personal profile, for university application,
by considering education in its widest sense. We
expect them to participate in a wide range of
extra-curricular enrichment and enhancement
opportunities throughout the four year program
including Work Experience, which is an integral part
of the Year 10 curriculum. This invaluable week
offers our students the opportunity to find out
about the world of work and helps to develop their
skills and talents in preparation for their future
careers. The British School of Houston has a
reputation among companies in Houston of
providing mature, conscientious young adults to
work alongside their full time experienced members
of staff. Teacher supervision helps ensure that work
experience assists students to accept responsibility,
take initiative, develop adult relationships, participate
in decision making and acquire valuable employment
skills. On completion of the week, students receive
a report from their employer, which is an excellent
addition to their personal profile.
SecondaryNational Curriculum
The
for England
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United States Colleges & Universities• Babson College (Massachusetts)• Corcoran College of Art and Design (District of Columbia)• Emerson College (Massachusetts)• Harvard University (Massachusetts)• John Hopkins University (Maryland)• Johnson & Wales University (Rhode Island)• New England College of Communications• New York University (New York)• Oberlin College (Ohio)• Princeton University ( New Jersey)• Sam Houston State University (Texas)• Savannah College of Art and Design (Georgia)• St. Edwards University (California)• Suffolk University (Massachusetts)• Tarlatan State University (Texas)• Temple University (Pennsylvania)• Texas A&M University (Texas)• Trinity University (Texas)• University of California (California)• University of Connecticut (Connecticut) • University of Denver (Colorado)• University of Maryland (Maryland)• University of North Carolina, Charlotte (North Carolina)• University of Notre Dame (Indiana)• University of Oregon (Oregon)• University of San Diego (California)• University of Texas, Austin (Texas)• University of Utah (Utah)• University of Vermont ( Vermont)
International Colleges & Universities • Brunel University (England)• Canterbury Christchurch University (England)• Cardiff University (Wales)• Durham University (England)• Keele University (England)• King’s College London (England)• Lancaster University (England)• London School of Economics• Manchester Metropolitan University (England)• Newcastle University (England)• Nottingham Trent University (England)• Oxford Brookes University (St. Hugh’s College)• Queen Mary, University of London (England)• Royal Holloway, University of London (England)• Royal London, School of Pharmacy (England)• Sheffield Hallam University (England)• St. Andrews University (Scotland)• Swansea University (Wales)• University of College London (England)• University of Aberdeen (Scotland)• University of Bath Spa (England)• University of Birmingham (England)• University of Brighton (England)• University of Bristol (England)• University of East Anglia (England)• University of Edinburgh (Scotland)• University of Exeter (England)• University of Glasgow (Scotland)• University of Leeds (England)• University of Liverpool (England) • University of Manchester (England)• University of Oxford (England)• University of Reading (England)• University of Southampton (England)• University of Stirling (Scotland)• University of Strathclyde (Scotland)• University of Surrey (England)• University of Sussex (England)• University of the Arts of London (England)• University of Toronto (Canada)• University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (Wales)• University of West of England (England)• University of York (England)
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InternationalBaccalaureate Diploma
The
Our GCSE/IGCSE program is designed to lead
seamlessly into the International Baccalaureate (IB)
Diploma. This prestigious qualification is recognized
world-wide as the pre-eminent post-16 program
providing outstanding preparation for higher
education. Our students leave us to study at leading
universities throughout the world.
Our IB offer is rich, diverse, and individually tailored
every year to meet the needs of each cohort of
students. We believe personalizing learning is
essential, and we place great emphasis on critical
thinking and the Theory of Knowledge Program.
Classes are small, and the teaching is outstanding.
Students are able to specialize in the sciences,
languages, humanities or the arts, and we make
full use of new trans-disciplinary subjects in our
curriculum in order to gain maximum flexibility in
creating our students’ individual programs. Our
Creative, Action, Service (CAS) element is high
profile, because we believe it ensures the develop-
ment of young people who are able to offer not
only outstanding levels of academic excellence, but
also that dynamic combination of knowledge, skills,
independent, critical and creative thought and
international-mindedness that are crucial for entry
into the top universities around the world.
Graduating students from The British Schools of
America have been accepted to some of the world’s
most prestigious colleges and universities. The British
School of Washington celebrated its first class of
graduating students in 2005, and the British School
of Houston in 2007. The British School of Boston will
have its first graduating class in 2010, and the British
School of Chicago will celebrate its first graduation
class in 2011. The opposite page has a selection of
just some of the fine Colleges and Universities to
which BSA students have been accepted.
The CAS Program my teachers encouraged me to put together was outstanding, and what I learned from it helped me get into my first choice university. – Student comment
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The learning environment for our students is not
confined to the classroom. We offer a wide range of
extra-curricular activities that enhance and enrich
student experience, extending to them opportunities
to develop individual interests, skills and talents.
We encourage our students to participate in
competitions, both internally and with other
schools, in fields as diverse as sport, music, maths
and public speaking.
Many trips and visits are organized as part of
the curriculum offer. These include day trips to
complete fieldwork for geography and science in
and around the Houston area, visits to zoos and
museums, and even a trip to a chocolate factory!
There are also many residential and cultural visits
to other parts of the United States, including
Washington, New York, Florida and Philadelphia,
as well as trips to a variety of locations in Texas,
including visits to a working ranch, and camping
in the Texas State Park as part of the Duke of
Edinburgh Award Scheme. This long established
program is designed to stretch the students’ abilities
to cope with difficult scenarios and develop their
commitment to community service. Students
attend camp craft and map reading lessons, and
experience expeditions where they have to hike for
up to 15 miles per day, camp for several nights,
carrying all of their equipment and cooking for
themselves. They also undertake a personal project
within the Houston local community.
We promote socially responsive programs so that
the whole school community is aware that we can
affect positive change in the lives of others and the
wider community. Students are also encouraged to
take responsibility for organizing and participating
in many charitable activities. We want our students
to have character, be well rounded, reflective,
caring young people.
Learning Beyondthe Classroom
Children have so many opportunities to test out their moral and physical boundaries.
– Parent comment
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The size of our site and range of our facilities means
we are able to offer a wide variety of sporting
activities, from football to basketball, from ‘free-
running’ to athletics. Alongside our nationally
recognized sports such as netball and soccer, we
also run less-traditional activities such as Boxercise,
Body Combat and Parkour as part of our Lunchtime
Club Program, recognizing the importance of
offering activities that are relevant and engaging for
all students, activities they are more likely to pursue
as part of an active lifestyle in later life. Dance is an
integral part of the Physical Education curriculum,
offering students the chance to link physical ability
and creative performance. We seek to offer this wide
range of sporting activities so that we cater to those
exceling at competitive sport, while promoting
healthy and active lifestyles for all from an early
age using a holistic approach.
There are opportunities for everyone to shine. – Parent comment
Athleticsand Sports
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The British School of Houston has a fast growing
reputation for excellence in performing and creative
arts. Art, Drama and Music are popular curriculum
subjects. Orchestras, groups and choirs engage in
a wide spectrum of musical performance from
a cappella singing to rock bands, from jazz to
hip-hop. Our dedicated teachers are all professional
musicians who are passionately committed to
inspiring and developing the musicians of tomorrow.
Drama and performance opportunities, both within
and beyond the curriculum, involve students in all
aspects of production, which range from classic
musicals to contemporary theater. These subjects
are critical elements throughout our curriculum,
allowing our young people the opportunity to
develop their emotional intelligence and confidence,
and providing the opportunities for creative
expression that foster and nurture individuality.
The Creative Arts Faculty is particularly strong,
offering students the opportunity to experience the
use of a wide range of media, materials, techniques
and processes. Students are given challenging
and stimulating activities designed to ensure they
fulfil their potential. Our Visual Arts and Design
Technology teachers work closely together to offer
students tremendous scope for creativity, and to
foster the development of skill, innovation and
inventiveness. The Art Faculty teaches the funda-
mentals of drawing, with students developing these
skills alongside painting, sculpture, printmaking
and 3D work. In Design and Technology, students
attempt problem solving activities which develop
their design, presentation and practical skills.
Students then ‘manufacture’ their ideas using
appropriate materials, tools and techniques as well
as learning about design principles and processes.
The benefits of learning to play a musical instrument have helped me in all my subjects by giving me self-discipline. – Student comment
Performingand Creative Arts
The
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Students at the British School of Houston have a
voice in their school community through the School
Council. Students from all year groups meet
regularly to discuss issues of importance, sharing
and acting upon the results with the school
Leadership Team and other members of our school
community.
Our students are open minded and principled. They
reflect upon issues and, after ensuring they have all
the facts, act accordingly. They are enterprising,
seeking opportunities to realize their own potential
to fulfil their dreams. Our students have won many
awards in competitions such as Young Inventors and
in Public Debating. They organize their own charity
work to aid the local community as well as our
global community, taking part, for example, in
model United Nations Conferences. Our students
have led the school’s involvement with a wide range
of charitable institutions, including the United
Methodist Church, helping disadvantaged families
in Houston, The Salvation Army and the Make-a-Wish
Foundation.
As a learning community, we believe that learning
should not be a passive experience; therefore, we
encourage action and independent thinking. We
want our students to express their own opinions,
which they do in a confident, articulate manner.
We value communication with all members of our
community and we have both a school newsletter
and a student initiated one through which our
young people are able to showcase their skills and
express their views.
Leadersof Tomorrow
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OurCommunity
Our school is not a building: it is a community of
people with a shared vision, working together to
achieve excellence in every field. We recognize the
importance of interdependence – that we cannot
operate in isolation. Therefore we have developed
close links with our sister schools within the British
Schools of America, with local schools throughout
Houston and its surrounding area, and with other
organizations such as the British American Business
Council and the Houston Mayor’s Office.
All members of the school community work together
in close collaboration. Parental contribution is
valued, and we expect our parents to take a keen
interest in their children’s education, welcoming
them into the school regularly to discuss progress.
We are committed to working closely with parents
to provide high-quality education for our students,
confident in our ability to develop in our young
people a true foundation for life-long learning,
the desire to pursue excellence, and a recognition
and appreciation of the importance of quality in
every aspect of their lives.
At the end of her first day, my daughter felt welcomed and valued. – Parent comment
We feel a valued part of our school community. – Parent comment
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The British School of Houston is a proud supporter of: American Red Cross
Citizens for Animal Protection
The Manna Project
Operation Smile
Race for the Cure
Salvation Army
Star of Hope
Texas Children’s Hospital
World Wildlife Fund
International25 Buckingham GateLondon, SW1E 6LD, United Kingdomwww.wclgroup.com
North America4211 Watonga Blvd. Houston, Texas 77092Phone: 713.290.9041www.wclgroup.com
4211 Watonga Blvd. Houston, Texas 77092Phone: 713.290.9025Fax: 713.290.9014www.britishschoolofhouston.org
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