Pastoral Care
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At BISC, the happiness of our students is paramount. After all, a happy child learns better. To that end, we have a number of pastoral initiatives and processes to maintain the mental health of our children.
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Junior School Pastoral Care
Wake Up, Shake Up
Our mornings begin with a community wake-up shake-up in the Junior Quad. Run by our WUSU Leaders, pupils, teachers and even parents join in with a 2-minute dance routine created to raise energy levels and have a positive start to the day.
Pupil LeadershipWe provide numerous opportunities for our pupils to take on leadership roles:
Pupil Councillors The Pupil Council is an integral part of the Junior School. Democratically elected to represent their classes and year groups at the beginning of the academic year, they meet on several occasions throughout the year to offer their opinions and ideas on a variety of matters, and plan and deliver activities that help fellow pupils and the wider community. Our Pupil Councillors begin developing their leadership skills from Year 1 onwards. Assembly Leaders Pupils from KS2 are selected to regularly organise and run assemblies. This provides opportunities for several skills to be enhanced such as public speaking. The Assembly Leaders use a variety of media to share knowledge, make announcements and give out rewards such as Star Of The Week and Mathematician Of The Week. Eco Committee As we are a school that strives to achieve a sustainable community, our Eco Committee is an essential part of the process. Pupils are encouraged to join and lead by example. As well as raising awareness through campaigns and competitions, they strive to make improvements by setting up new initiatives to support the Sustainable Development Goals. PALS (Playground Activity Leaders) Our breaks and play times are vital for developing relationships and team-building skills. The PALS are a group of pupils selected from classes in KS2 who support inclusivity and lead team activities. They are ambassadors for the IB Learner Profile attributes and display traits which bring about a positive playtime for everyone. |
House System
Air, Earth, Fire and Water are the four houses to which our staff and pupils belong. House competitions are held throughout the year to encourage collegiality and sportsmanship. These range from sports and arts to languages and Maths. The Classdojo points contribute towards the House Points, which are collected by each pupil throughout the year. The winning houses are announced termly, culminating into a final winner at the end of the year.
Breaktime Radio ShowThis initiative was set up to promote positive playtimes as well as provide pupils with the opportunity to build on and learn new skills. Primarily run by staff, the 'BBB' Radio Show not only entertains pupils with music, it also includes segments such as: riddles, fun facts, interviews etc. Pupils never miss an opportunity to engage with the show and have a dance along to their favourite songs.
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Junior School Trips
BISC acknowledges the significant role that a variety of extracurricular activities, such as After School Activities and Educational Visits can play in enhancing pupils' personal, social, and academic education. A well-prepared educational outing is considered a valuable means of enriching and supporting the National Curriculum, while also fostering pupils' knowledge and comprehension of various subjects.
Day Trips
In the previous year, the Junior School has arranged a diverse range of day trips. We recognise that children learn most effectively when actively engaged and involved in firsthand experiences. With this in mind, our objective is to organise trips that bring the children's Topic work to life. Here are some examples of the day trips we arranged last year:
Year 1: Fagnoon
Year 2: Grand Egyptian Museum
Year 3: National Civilisation Museum, Sakkara Pyramids
Year 4: Mango Tree Camp
Year 6: Pharaonic Village
Day Trips
In the previous year, the Junior School has arranged a diverse range of day trips. We recognise that children learn most effectively when actively engaged and involved in firsthand experiences. With this in mind, our objective is to organise trips that bring the children's Topic work to life. Here are some examples of the day trips we arranged last year:
Year 1: Fagnoon
Year 2: Grand Egyptian Museum
Year 3: National Civilisation Museum, Sakkara Pyramids
Year 4: Mango Tree Camp
Year 6: Pharaonic Village
Residentials
In addition to day trips, BISC offers a selection of residential trips. These outings provide an opportunity for students to develop socially and emotionally, enabling them to become more independent and boost their self-confidence. We presently offer three residential trips, tailored to the following year groups:
Year 4: Alexandria
Year 5: Luxor
Year 6: Alamein
Consistent with school policy, we guarantee that the planning and supervision of all Educational Visits undergo thorough risk assessment to ensure safety.
In addition to day trips, BISC offers a selection of residential trips. These outings provide an opportunity for students to develop socially and emotionally, enabling them to become more independent and boost their self-confidence. We presently offer three residential trips, tailored to the following year groups:
Year 4: Alexandria
Year 5: Luxor
Year 6: Alamein
Consistent with school policy, we guarantee that the planning and supervision of all Educational Visits undergo thorough risk assessment to ensure safety.
Senior School Pastoral Care
Tutor GroupsUpon entering Secondary School each student is welcomed into a Tutor Group. This comprises a small number of students, approximately 12, and a Form Tutor who is a member of our teaching staff. They meet at the start of each day and discuss wellbeing topics and participate in activities linked to our school’s pastoral care. The Form Tutor is the first point of contact when addressing pastoral aspects of a student's development.
Heads of YearEach year group in the Secondary School has a Head of Year that helps further student wellbeing and tracks and monitors student progress in this area. They work closely with the pupils and Form Tutors to organise activities and assemblies as well as help oversee our Secondary PSHE programme. The Heads of Year regularly recognise student achievement, both academic and extra-curricular, through termly Celebration Assemblies.
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Pupil LeadershipWe provide numerous opportunities for our pupils to take on leadership roles:
Student Leaders Student Leaders are chosen in each year group to help drive initiatives in three separate areas of the school community. We have Academic, Community and Enrichment Leaders who work together, along with other members of our school community, to help create positive change. They meet throughout the year to discuss ideas on a variety of matters, and plan and deliver activities that help fellow pupils and the wider community. Wellbeing Ambassadors Our Wellbeing Ambassadors are a group of students who come together on a weekly basis to help further emotional wellbeing in our school community. They do this by running assemblies and raising awareness about issues linked to wellbeing such as good mental health and anti-bullying. They are also being trained to become student mentors to offer peer support to other students. Other Extra-Curricular Leaders We also provided numerous other leadership opportunities through our extra-curricular programmes. Clubs such as MUN, You Go Girl and Hopeful Youth encourage students to organise and lead on initiatives across the school. 
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House System
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Each student is a member of our school’s House System. Along with their siblings, they are allocated to Air, Earth, Fire or Water and participate in activities throughout the year.
Each House competes to earn House Points by participating in sport, and other extracurricular activities, as well as academic tasks. Students also accumulate Positives, by making worthwhile contributions to their lessons or the greater school community. These Positives are reviewed on a weekly basis by the Heads of Year and are incorporated into the House System. This also provides further student leadership opportunities in the form of House Captains. |
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Counselling
At BISC we recognise that counselling fits with a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. Counselling is an intervention that children and young people can voluntarily enter into if they need emotional support. The counsellor will help them explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. Our counselling department offers a safe and confidential space for students to access one-to-one counselling sessions with a trained professional. We have two experienced Counsellors, with experience from both Egypt and the UK. Staff and parents can make referrals and students may also self-refer.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility.
BISC has a team of Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) for Foundation Stage, Junior School and Senior School, as well as Deputy DSLs.
You can see our team and their contact details here. Our DSLs collaborate with the school’s counsellors to maintain thorough and rigorous practices. BISC has an appointed member of the governing board to act as a Safeguarding representative.
We are committed to providing regular, professional training and awareness sessions to all staff and the community; if required the training is provided in accessible languages. The safety of our students is of the utmost importance and we believe that everyone who comes in contact with our students and their families has a role to play. Moreover, our Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are reviewed annually to ensure that updated information from the 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' document is included.
At BISC we have a Safer Recruitment Policy to ensure that all staff are vetted and suitable for employment. We insist that all staff and volunteers have enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This comprehensive process is obvious and transparent from the outset.
Our PSHE curriculum incorporates safeguarding and aspects are covered in areas that promote anti-bullying, online safety and healthy relationship education. Parents and the wider school community are also supported in updates about Safeguarding through parent workshops.
BISC has a team of Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) for Foundation Stage, Junior School and Senior School, as well as Deputy DSLs.
You can see our team and their contact details here. Our DSLs collaborate with the school’s counsellors to maintain thorough and rigorous practices. BISC has an appointed member of the governing board to act as a Safeguarding representative.
We are committed to providing regular, professional training and awareness sessions to all staff and the community; if required the training is provided in accessible languages. The safety of our students is of the utmost importance and we believe that everyone who comes in contact with our students and their families has a role to play. Moreover, our Safeguarding and Child Protection policies are reviewed annually to ensure that updated information from the 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' document is included.
At BISC we have a Safer Recruitment Policy to ensure that all staff are vetted and suitable for employment. We insist that all staff and volunteers have enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This comprehensive process is obvious and transparent from the outset.
Our PSHE curriculum incorporates safeguarding and aspects are covered in areas that promote anti-bullying, online safety and healthy relationship education. Parents and the wider school community are also supported in updates about Safeguarding through parent workshops.
