AIS delivers the Australian Curriculum, a curriculum which seeks to support our children in becoming successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed citizens. The Australian Curriculum develops capability in students in developing literacy, numeracy and ICT skills, as well as focusing on critical and creative thinking, personal and social capabilities and ethical and intercultural understanding.
Our goal at AIS is to support our students in becoming well equipped contributors to a global context in the 21st Century.
Children entering AIS in Pre-ELC begin their two-year program based on the Australian Early Years Learning Framework, which offers a vision where 'all children experience learning that is engaging and builds success for life'. Children work toward five outcomes:
- Children have a strong sense of identity.
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
- Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
- Children are confident and involved learners.
- Children are effective communicators.
On entry to Prep, AIS children commence the Australian Curriculum at the Foundation level, where disciplinary knowledge, skills and understanding are described in eight learning areas: English, Mathematics, Science, Health and Physical Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, The Arts, Technologies and Languages. The latter four learning areas include multiple subjects, reflecting custom and practice in the discipline. This curriculum forms the basis of all stages of our Primary School through to Grade 6, continuing in the Secondary School from Grade 7 to 10.
In addition to these subjects, our children also study Arabic (from ELC), Social Studies and Moral Education from Grade 1. Islamic Studies is also offered for our Muslim students from Grade 1.
Assessment
Assessment provides an important function within the teaching and learning cycle. It is an ongoing process of gathering, analysing and reflecting on evidence collected from students to make informed judgments about their achievement and capabilities.
Assessment facilitates feedback to teachers about students’ learning progress and can also allow students to monitor and evaluate their own learning. Assessment feeds information to teachers about what students know and can do, as well as their strengths, learning needs and achievements.
At AIS we utilise a range of assessment types that provide different information to teachers and students at different points throughout the teaching and learning cycle. Formative assessment is used for ‘feed forward’ information for students (what do I need to do to improve?) and is an important phase of the teaching and learning process. In contrast, summative assessment is used to evaluate student performance against standards to ‘feedback’ information to students (how did I do?).
Students at AIS receive 4 report cards across the school year - interim reports in Terms 1 and 2 and end of semester report cards at the end of Terms 1 and 3.
Standardised assessment is also used at AIS from Grade 1 through to the Secondary School. As part of the Ministry of Education requirements, AIS students participate in international standardised benchmark testing, TIMSS and GL.
