Al Waha International School

It is said that great things have small beginnings. In a modest villa, on the 4th of July 1992, we established a small nursery school by the name of Jeddah Montessori. We never ever dreamed that one day it would become an accredited international school of repute. Today Al Waha International School stands tall as a symbol of humility and dedicated service to the community.

Al Waha International School is an international, licensed, accredited private school, providing a broad-based education, through the medium of the English language to students in classes from KG1 to Grade 12. The school aims to develop as a community with teachers, children and parents going forward hand in hand, while fostering in students high moral values and total integrity of character as taught by Islam. All efforts are made to develop in children the concepts, knowledge, attitudes and skills required in key learning areas in the setting of a warm, caring and safe learning environment. The stimulation of intellectual curiosity, freedom of expression, fairness and respect for others are seen as major target areas of achievement.

The vision of Al Waha International School is to foster a holistic development of its students in a progressive environment so that they desire and enjoy the pursuit of knowledge and a life consistent with Islamic teachings.

The school aspires to provide a unique combination of a comprehensive quality education and Islamic teachings to a varied expatriate student body, irrespective of their nationality and religion. This will be achieved in a secure, caring and disciplined environment by means of a challenging curriculum that is delivered by a dedicated and qualified teaching body. This faculty will also endeavour to help each student to realize his or her full intellectual, social, moral and physical potential while developing critical thinking skills.

The school draws its philosophy from its motto ‘O Lord, Increase My Knowledge’, a quote from the Holy Quran. The Al Waha International School is dedicated to serving a diverse student body and promoting the realization of each student’s full intellectual potential in line with its mission. From the Holy Quran and the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (P.B.U.H.) we take the values we are committed to imparting: respect for each person’s dignity, truthfulness, the habit of prayer and the quest for knowledge. We strive to teach values and morals that will help students grow into caring and compassionate adults and become responsible members of society. Our aim is to be teachers of integrity, helping students to discern moral truths and guiding them through careful moral reasoning in making decisions. We strive to instill in ourselves, and in the children entrusted in our care, a commitment towards justice, courage, love for our fellow beings, humility and service to others. Al Waha International School is aware of its social responsibilities. To serve a broader spectrum of the expatriate community, the school keeps fees at affordable levels, yet continues to aspire to high standards. Our Beliefs are:

• All decisions must be based on what is in the larger interest of students.
• Islamic teachings are a sound guide to aid the development of an ethical character.
• A safe, positive climate is necessary for social, moral, and academic growth.
• Students, educators, support staff, and the community must be partners in the educational process.
• Care and compassion must be a part of the educator’s character in order to respond to a child’s needs.
• A nurturing home environment plays a critical role in the student’s development.
• Effective support must be extended to parents in order to assist the process.
• Close communication with parents plays a vital role in optimising student learning.
• Excellence in education can be achieved for all students through planning instructional strategies and resources and by tapping higher order thinking to accomplish results.
• Professional development of the staff is critical to our effectiveness.
• The worth, talents and dignity of each student and employee must be respected.

A large part of the curriculum offered at Al Waha is adapted from the National Curriculum of England and Wales. The school follows this scholastic system in the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, and the foundation subjects of History and Geography. A challenging curriculum, designed to encourage academic excellence and responsible study habits, while developing analytical and critical thinking skills across the grade level, has continuously been targeted in line with the vision of the school.

To ensure students of KG 1 and KG 2 are equipped with skills that help them meet with challenges of the Cambridge Primary course of study, the Kindergarten provides a curriculum that is a fusion of elements of Montessori education, and the conventional schooling system, based on the guidelines provided by Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) of the Cambridge Curriculum. This specially designed curriculum integrates traditional teaching with Montessori learning, targeting skill development through a range of objectives drawn from both systems. Mathematics, Language and Culture (Science, Geography, History, General Knowledge) studies work in tandem with the development of life skills through lessons in Practical Life, and Grace and Courtesy. Sensorial exploration is an essential part of learning. Children enhance knowledge firmly through movement, manipulation and self-realisation.

Addressing the needs that are typical of the formative years of a child’s growth, where information is swiftly absorbed and further built upon as maturity develops, the school incorporates into its syllabus, exercises that enhance higher order thinking abilities and provide a basis for reasoning.

With gradual progression in the acquisition of skills closely monitored, as one grade forms the foundation for subsequent grades, the syllabus includes all developmental objectives that prepare students for the scholastic challenges that lie ahead.

From Grades 4 – 8, a comprehensive academic programme leads students to target the world-recognised, Cambridge University-administered International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations in Grade 10 and the General Certificate of Education, Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced Level (GCE AS and ‘A’ Level) examinations in Grades 10, 11 and 12. The IGCSE subject options have been designed to provide each student with a Subject Portfolio that aims to deliver a broad-based, balanced and diversified curriculum including subjects drawn from each of the disciplines, i.e. Languages, Mathematics, Sciences, Humanities and Technical and Vocational. Efforts have been made to ensure that, by choosing the right combination of subjects, all students are eligible for the ICE (International Certificate of Education), a group award conferred by the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). Senior students who have been obtaining outstanding grades in English, Mathematics and the Sciences in their IGCSE examinations and have been graduating with ICE distinction and merit awards have successively done the school proud over the last several years.

Beginning with a rigorous and challenging two year GCE Advanced Level (‘A’ Level) Programme in September 2005 in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, the school has subsequently widened the scope and breadth of this academic offering. It is now possible for students to offer a combination of Advanced/Advanced Subsidiary Levels (A/AS Level) in Science as well as Commerce-based subjects with English, Advanced Information and Communication Technology, Business Studies, Accounting and Economics having been added to the subjects menu.

Founded partly on its mission of providing a modern curriculum to students in combination with Islamic teachings, and, based on the firm belief that all Muslim students need a deeper insight into the History of Islam, a suitable curriculum for History from Grades 3 – 8 has been developed. This curriculum aims to integrate crucial elements of Islamic History with essential components of ancient civilizations, Roman, British and World history that form the basis for developing the target knowledge and skills in the subject (factual recall of knowledge, critical analysis of historical events and facts, interpretation of sources etc).

Due importance is given to the subject of Information Technology and the course is designed to teach students the basic skills of computing from an early age. All students must study a second language and they are offered an option between Arabic, Urdu, Hindi and French (available from Grade 6 upwards).

Religious instruction is an integral part of the curriculum and is delivered through lessons in Quran, Hadith and Islamic Studies for Muslim students. Non-Muslim children are offered instruction in Values Education, drawing upon the virtues and ethical guidelines advocated by the major religions of the world. Religious tolerance and the development of moral values are actively inculcated at all levels.

The study of the culture, history and geography of Saudi Arabia is taken up at all levels and special general knowledge quizzes and field trips are conducted to further familiarise the students with the heritage of their host country. In compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia, Arabic is a compulsory subject for all students across the grade level and all other regulations in this area, i.e curriculum, books etc. are adhered to.