Latest News

German Scholarships

Mon, 20 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

On Wednesday 15 May, Angad Bhatia and Alex White, both from tutor group 9.1, achieved very high marks in the Goethe Institute A1 German examination and were awarded scholarships for a summer study programme in Germany. The scholarships were presented by Mr Roland Stumpf of the Goethe Institute, Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Mrs Alexandra Chambless, Cultural attaché at the German Embassy in Kuwait.

This July, Angad and Alex will spend three weeks in the historic city of Dresden, attending German languages courses, meeting students of German from all over the world and visiting places of historical and cultural interest - all expenses paid! Congratulations to Angad, Alex and to the BSK Foreign Languages Team.

This is the fourth year when BSK students have been offered scholarships to study in Germany and is part of the ongoing link between BSK and the Goethe Institute. In June 2009, BSK was the first school in the Gulf to be awarded the title of German Partner School by the German Government.

For further information about German teaching at BSK and the German Partner School programme, please visit www.bsk.edu.kw/german.

Mentor Foundation

Mon, 13 May 2013 00:00:00 +0100

HM Queen Silvia of Sweden is the founder of the Mentor Foundation, an international non-government organisation, working globally to prevent drug usage. Her recent visit to Kuwait provided the opportunity for students from The British School of Kuwait to attend a presentation and press conference aimed at raising awareness amongst young people that one’s personal health is of paramount importance. Indeed, at BSK the health and safety of students and the youth of Kuwait is always at the core of our philosophy of education.

With the increase worldwide in substance abuse, BSK students and staff firmly believe that this issue can be tackled most effectively through education and greater understanding; highlighting the dangers of substance abuse, promoting the benefits of adopting a healthy lifestyle and making the correct personal choices is a focus of the BSK Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) programme.

Dario Gelevski of Year 12 spoke frankly about the significance of Queen Silvia’s address.

“I was very honoured when I had the chance to attend Queen Silvia's conference about ‘Drug Free Arabia.’ It was my first time in the presence of royalty so it was quite awe-inspiring. However, her presentation was something that I could relate to. She said that most young people who have friends that have started experimenting with drugs will not do anything to help them because they have to 'respect their decision. It is personal choice.’ The problem however is; what happens when it is too late…when they have abused substances to a point where they are on the brink of death. Does their 'personal choice' matter then? This is something that many of us can relate to. By respecting their decision and not listening to other advice they are the people that will hurt themselves most and as friends we will have let them down. The Mentor Foundation is a great way to raise the awareness that is needed in order to encourage young people to help each other so that substance abuse is avoided.”

BSK attendees at this auspicious event included those currently participating in the LoYAC media programme. They too were reflective on the social issues raised and stereotypes challenged and how often the issue of substance abuse is either spoken about in hushed tones or with inappropriate and misguided bravado. It will take imagination, courage and tenacity to gradually educate the young generation to make the correct choices. As Mahatma Gandhi said: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." By reaching out to young people who have confidence and a strong self-image we hope they can be the nucleus for guidance and change... role models for a generation. After all good health is the most valuable gift in life.

FoA 2013

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait celebrated its Jade Anniversary, thirty five years at the forefront of British education, when parents and dignitaries gathered in the magnificent splendour of the Futouh Ballroom at the Regency Hotel to laud the many wonderful achievements which the past academic year has brought.

BSK was privileged to have HE Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Minister of Education and Higher Education, as patron for this most glittering occasion in the school calendar. Guests also included HE Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah, Undersecretary for Protocol Affairs Amiri Diwan, who presented the Creative Arts Award to Savitri Butterworth, Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dahes, Director of Administration at the Ministry of Private Education, who presented the Council of International Schools Award to Osama Salim; HE the British Ambassador Frank Baker as well as a host of ambassadors, diplomats and VIPs.

BSK Chairman, Sadiq Al-Mutawa, welcomed the graduates of the class of 2013 and urged them to continue their great efforts as they set out to take up places in universities and colleges throughout the world.

Following the presentation of Diplomas of Graduation by HE Dr Al Hajraf prizes were awarded to the top students in Years 11, 12 and 13. The much coveted Founder’s Award went to Ankita Handa with sister Ishita Handa receiving the Leadership Award from HE the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Ambassador of Senegal, Abdullahed Mbacke.

Guest Speaker Dr Al Hajraf opened his presentation with a call for a minute’s silence in tribute to the late Baroness Thatcher, former British Prime Minister and great friend to Kuwait. Minister Hajraf referred to the many great traits displayed by Lady Thatcher and what a fine role model she would make for the BSK graduates. He spoke very warmly about the breath and standard of education which their parents had chosen for them by sending them to BSK and he concluded his remarks with three questions for the graduates: Where did they see themselves going? Where would they be in five years’ time and how were they going to get there?

Guest Speaker Ambassador Baker developed this theme by referring to the great courage and leadership shown by Lady Thatcher in all her endeavours. She never gave up but persevered through thick and thin, he stated.

In reply, the BSK Principal, Paul Shropshire, delivered his state of the school address which included the results of the recent accreditation inspection when three teams of inspectors representing the Kuwait Ministry of Education, the British Schools in the Middle East and the British Schools Overseas judged BSK to have the highest rating of any school in Kuwait.

The evening was not just about academic excellence. Achievement in the creative arts was also celebrated. Guests were treated to a series of musical treats from the BSK String Orchestra, ConArco (Palladio by Jenkins) chamber group Moderato (Lady Gaga Fugue) and senior choir, Cantabene (You Raise Me Up).

Head students Holly Shropshire and Fady Assaad brought the evening to a close with a vote of thanks to the Founder, Mme Vera Al-Mutawa and the Festival of Achievement and Graduation Ceremony 2013 came to a rousing finale with a salute to the parents and staff of The British School of Kuwait.

Margaret Thatcher RIP

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Vera Al-Mutawa, Founder of The British School of Kuwait,
reminisces about Margaret Thatcher

Today is a very sad day for me as one of my great heroes, Margaret Thatcher, has died. I first met her when as Minister of Education she came to Kuwait in the mid 1970s. I was very lucky to have met her on many occasions since then, when she became Prime Minister, both here in Kuwait and in the UK. Once you met her you couldn’t but admire her. She was just so special. I felt that I shook hands with greatness.

Margaret Thatcher was a wonderful role model for today’s young women. She studied chemistry at Oxford University and went on to combine a career in politics with raising a family of two young children. She was not only the first female British Prime Minister but she was also the longest serving PM in modern times. She changed Britain from an industrial to a service based economy, tamed the unions and successfully regained the Falkland Islands from Argentina in 1982. She was instrumental in convincing George Bush and other leaders to form a UN coalition to liberate Kuwait.

She stood for what she believed in. She gave pride back to the British people. When she took the reins of Britain as Prime Minister it was torn apart with strikes. She understood that there was pride in ownership. She gave people the opportunity to own their own houses. She believed that large countries had to abide by international law and should not just invade and swallow up smaller countries. She stated that if this was allowed to happen then we would have jungle law. I really admired her. She was simply the best. She behaved in an exemplary manner when Kuwait was invaded. But for her our lovely Kuwait might be a very different place today. So, I am very sad that we have lost a great hero. She was definitely my hero, and may she rest in peace.

Sports Day 2013

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait held their annual sports day for all students in Years 6 to 13 at the excellent venue of Kaifan stadium. A calm, warm, sunny morning greeted the staff and students on arrival – perfect conditions for athletics. The boys and girls in each year group competed in a range of events (high jump, long jump, shot putt, discus and track events from 100m to 800m). In total this meant 92 separate competitions were run, alongside many fun events such as tug of war and basketball knockout!

Excellent organisation and smooth running of each event by the staff resulted in one of BSK’s most successful sports days ever, one that allowed every student to give their very best in the events for which they had qualified.

The school house competition between the four houses (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) could not have been closer and with only the last round of competitions to go – the 4x100m relays – Wales and England were tied for first place. After eight keenly fought races England eventually emerged as the winners with 1085 points, just 24 points ahead of Wales, with Ireland coming in third and Scotland fourth.

There were many outstanding performances on the day, but the top three athletes – who made the biggest contribution to their houses – were: 3rd, Yousef Al-Kasaby, who scored 110 points for Wales; 2nd, Mai Aguib, who scored 180 points for Scotland; and individual athlete of the day, Rodina Jad, who scored a massive 200 points for England! An astonishing 17 school records were broken on the day, four of them by Rodina (Year 8 girls 100m, 400m, 800m and high jump); three by Mai (Year 9 girls 100m, 800m and high jump); and two by Yousef (year 8 boys 800m and long jump). The other record breakers were: Leena Albader (Year 10 girls 400m and 800m); Fatima Aladwani (Year 7 girls long jump); Nathan Gevao (Year 8 boys high jump); Abdulmohsen Alshammari (Year 10 boys 800m); Khaled Alsaiedi (Year 10 boys high jump); Sara Alwagfi and Ghiwa Jebran (Year 10 girls high jump); Mohamad Al-Hussaini (varsity boys high jump).

A great day out was had by all – competitors, staff and spectators – and everyone is looking forward to an even more successful event next year.

Top Biology Student

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait welcomed HE the British Ambassador, Mr Frank Baker, and the Deputy Head of Mission at the Egyptian Embassy, Mr Youssry M.Khalil, to join Mr Sadiq Al-Mutawa, Mme Vera Al-Mutawa, Dr Hanan Al-Mutawa, Mr Paul Shropshire, Mr Andrew Moulden and Mr John Lambert in celebrating the achievement of one of their students, Aly Emam, for his outstanding performance in the June 2012 IGCSE Biology examination.

Aly, now in Year 12, achieved a very respectable 8 A*, 2 A and a B grade in his IGCSE examinations. Obviously he was delighted with these results, but Aly received some further great news when he learned that he had in fact achieved the best result for Cambridge IGCSE Biology in the World, out of tens of thousands of students.

This is a very prestigious award and reflects the enormous talent not only amongst BSK students but also amongst the teaching staff. Aly was joined by his proud parents and his sister Habiba as well as his teacher Mr Edward Salvesen, Biology Coordinator Dr David Williams and then Chair of Science Miss Alya Muflihi.

The photograph shows Aly holding his certificate from Cambridge International Examinations, together with his parents and sister Habiba, who is holding Aly's plaque.

Animal Conservation

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

This year the Year 4 students have been supporting their learning about animals and habitats with trips to the Kuwait Zoo and The IMAX cinema at the Scientific Centre. They were thoroughly enjoyable trips where the students got to see first hand how animals adapt to and live in their habitats and also how orphan elephants and orangutans are affected by human intrusion on their lives. The students studied different man-made habitats provided at the zoo and made sketches of the animals in their habitats to note similarities and differences to their natural habitats. They were extremely interested in the current conservation work in reintroducing orphans back into the wild and were indeed inspired to take a more active part in conserving and thinking about looking after our planet.

On return to BSK, the students followed up the field trips with further research and studies of different environments from all around the world. They made useful observations to support their knowledge and understanding of animal habitats. It was clear to all just how much the children enjoyed the experiences and how it enhanced their schoolwork. Both fieldtrips reinforced for teachers, parents and children that learning takes place everywhere, in and out of the classroom. BSK has a varied programme of trips in Kuwait and overseas to support its rounded education of interactive learning.

WSDC 2013

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Five talented debaters from Kuwait recently joined their contemporaries from across the globe in the World Schools Debating Championships 2013 (WSDC) in Antalya, Turkey.

The team comprised Captain Ishita Handa (BSK), Imran Saleh (NES), Emma Abdullah (NES) and Leena Albader (BSK). They were coached by Grainne McCreevy of New English School and Obada Al Halabi, a former student of New English School and WSDC alumni. The team was managed by Miss Bethan Evans of The British School of Kuwait. The debaters were selected after taking part in a series of selection debates held at BSK. Once selected, they underwent a rigorous round of training and preparation in the months leading up to the tournament. During these intensive preparations they focused upon, amongst other things, honing their skills in research, public speaking and case preparation.

In Turkey Team Kuwait faced a diverse range of prepared motions which required them to research and tackle challenging issues such as ceasing the exploitation of resources in the Arctic region and whether or not important decisions about children’s health should be made by medical professionals and not by their parents. They also participated in debates on whether the US should have greater military presence in East Asia and the use of sovereign debt default as a legitimate strategy for debt-ridden countries. In addition to this, Team Kuwait rose to the challenge of impromptu motions on topics such as whether the media should be prevented by law from intruding in the lives of public figures, allowing prisoners to choose death over the life sentence, requiring government schools to teach religious studies and requiring university students to work in their country of origin for a number of years after graduation. The tournament was eventually won by Team Australia who triumphed over Team Swaziland in a hotly contested final in which they proposed that Turkey would be better off outside the EU.

Team Kuwait improved their debate skills immeasurably during the course of the tournament and thoroughly enjoyed going head to head with teams from Slovakia, The Czech Republic, Turkey, Malaysia, Montenegro, Canada, The Netherlands and Sweden. This was a fantastic opportunity for them to experience a culture very different to their own and to mix with students from around the world. The students debated in a diverse range of schools in Antalya, as well as prestigious venues such as the International University of Antalya. When they were not debating they enjoyed a fantastic tour of the historic Lycian coast of Turkey, visiting the site of the mythical Chimera natural gas fires and the historic ruins of the Roman town of Olympos.

All in all it was a once in a lifetime experience. The team is proud to acknowledge the support and sponsorship of New English School and The British School of Kuwait. The next WSDC will take place in Bangkok, Thailand in August 2014. Any aspiring debaters who would like to find out more about this tournament can email q8debate@hotmail.com for further information.

Team Kuwait pictured at the World Schools Debating Championships held in Turkey. From left to right: Imran Saleh (NES), Captain Ishita Handa (BSK), Emma Abdullah (NES) and Leena Albader (BSK).

U13 Indoor Football 2012

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait has had a long and distinguished reputation in football competitions. Success has come for both boys’ and girls’ teams and the latest trophy to make its way to the burgeoning cabinet was the Under 13 ISACK Indoor Football shield which was won in December. Coached by Kuwait’s number one Glasgow Celtic supporter, Mr Calum Erskine, the trophy was secured after a strong display in the final over The English School. The boys marched through the tournament undefeated and claimed a very sweet victory in the final with a 2-1 victory. Man of the match was Leo Vizitiu who scored both goals as he did in the semifinal over The English Academy. Chris Bonner was the other key player, scoring a total of five goals in the three group games. Congratulations to the entire squad of Mohammed Saleh, Ahmed Abdelhalim, Jad Diab, Adham Chidiac, Chris Bonner, Yousef Al-Kasaby and Leo Vizitiu. Yet another ISACK trophy for BSK!

BSK Founder Mme Vera Al Mutawa joins Mr Calum Erskine and the winning ISACK Under 13 Indoor Football Team for a celebratory photograph.

Awards Evening 2012

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The annual Awards Evening for the Year 6-13 students at The British School of Kuwait (BSK) took place in lavish style at the newly opened Al-Baraka Grand Ballroom at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, as parents and staff celebrated the many and varied achievements of the school year 2011-2012.

The Secondary Head Teacher, Mr Andrew Moulden, welcomed parents, staff and students, before delivering his Annual Report, including recent developments and plans for further improvement.

Mr Moulden reviewed steps that have been taken to develop the range of student rewards, the provision of personal, social, health and economic education and the ‘House system’ that operates at BSK. He explained the school’s clear vision for raising standards ever higher, and in particular how the House system is to be used to develop greater personal and shared responsibility both for positive achievements and minimising those factors which impede to learning.

Parents were delighted to learn that BSK’s June 2012 examination results were again superb, with 93% A*-C at IGCSE and GCSE, a record 98% A-E pass rate at AS Level and, for the third year in a row, 100% A*-E pass rate at A Level, a record 94% of which were at grade C or above.

Mr Moulden informed parents and guests that, once again, more Year 13 students than ever before had decided to pursue their degree courses in Britain, joining such universities as King's College London, the University of Glasgow and the University of Nottingham. The second most popular destination was Canada, where students joined McGill University, Carleton University and the University of Toronto, among others. In the USA, two students gained entry to Cornell University and one each went to Purdue University and Pennsylvania State University.

The prestigious Subject Awards went to the top student in each subject in each year group, many of whom achieved near to 100% in their final examinations. The Roll of Honour for the 90 Subject Award winners was read by the Middle Department Coordinator, Ms Estelle Jones.

The Awards Evening also honoured some 160 students who achieved Excellence Awards in 2011-12. Now in their second year, the Excellence Awards were conceived to celebrate and encourage a high level of success across a broad range of subjects. The Roll of Honour was read by Assistant Head Teacher, Mr John Lambert. The Excellence Award winners were warmly applauded by parents and guests.

Commander Bernard Thompson, representing the British Military Mission, presented Special Awards to students who excelled in Robotics, Sports, Model United Nations, Theatre, Koran Reading and a range of sporting endeavours.

The Guest of Honour was Mr Andrew Glass, Director of the British Council, who reminisced about his own school days in England and the opportunities that they had afforded him, but observed the school which he attended, while academically rigorous, could not match the relevance and roundedness of the educational provision at BSK.

The climax of the evening was the Head Teacher's Awards, presented by Mr Andrew Glass and BSK Founder Mme Vera Al-Mutawa. In a further expansion of the student rewards system, seven such awards were conferred, to one student from each of the previous Years 5-12. The winners were Hashem Hashem, Bardya Rezaei, Aikaterini Konstantinidou, Saad Zahoor, Leena Albader, Alice Shaker and Tala El-Roz, whose remarkable achievement of 12 A* grades in the June 2012 I/GCSE examinations set another record achievement for a BSK student.

The evening also served as a launch pad for BSK’s Jade Anniversary, celebrating 35 years at the forefront of British education in Kuwait. Head Girl Holly Shropshire and Head Boy Fady Assaad delivered a heart-warming account of the involvement of BSK Founder Mme Vera Al-Mutawa from the school’s earliest days in 1978 through to the present. The Head Boy and Head Girl then presented Mme Vera with a ceramic jade shoe which had been designed, moulded and glazed by Year 8 Art and Design students.

BSK Principal, Mr Paul Shropshire, rounded off the evening by proposing a vote of thanks to all the participants, congratulating the students on their great successes and looking ahead to another year of hard work and exceptional achievements.

U13 Netball 2012

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0100

After weeks of pre-season training The British School of Kuwait girls U13 netball team got under way with their first game being played away at The English Academy. The team came away with a convincing victory winning the game by a massive 34 goals to 1.

The next game saw BSK host NES and despite it being a tougher match, the girls again achieved a comfortable victory over the visitors by a score of 16 goals to 4. As the end of March approached and the third game to be played against KES was looming, BSK expected to meet a team that could upset their 100% record. Hosting the game, BSK had the home advantage and soon realised that with a half time lead of 17 to 2 that they looked to be well on the way to victory. KES came out much stronger in the last two quarters but were not quite strong enough and the game ended with a BSK victory of 29 goals to 6.

The next game saw BSK hosting The English School and with them as 2010-11 netball title holders they certainly expected to meet the toughest opponents yet. TES lived up to their champions’ status and played some excellent netball. BSK were able to get to half time trailing by just a four goal deficit, however, as TES had brought a squad of 14 girls they were pretty much able to put a new team out for the second half and their fresh legs just proved too much for these seven BSK girls and TES went away winners of the match.

Having had their winning streak upset by TES the BSK girls were keen to train harder to ensure that their next game against ESF resulted in victory and a place in the semi finals. Hosting that game in early April the girls won convincingly in a 16–0 victory proving their hard work and commitment paid off.

The semis saw BSK meet again with NES and the game finished in a comfortable victory for BSK. The result of the other semi-final meant BSK were to play KES in the final after they surprisingly beat the favourites TES.

With NES hosting, the girls were fired up and having beat KES in the league game, were hopeful of bringing the title home. It was by no means an easy game to win but the strength of the BSK girls just proved too much for the KES team and the result of the game at 21–13 meant BSK ended up worthy winners of the U13 ISACK netball championships. This was a triple win for many of these girls, having already claimed the Volleyball and Basketball titles.

Basketball Champions

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0100

The BSK under 13 girls basketball team started their 2012 ISACK campaign on fire with four consecutive victories. The girls enjoyed victories over such ISACK opponents as ESF, NES, KES and TEA. The season was running very smoothly, up until the last regular season match when the girls travelled to the other undefeated ISACK team in The English School (TES). This regular season finale went all the way down to the last seconds, and the outcome was decided by an improbable shot by a TES player in the waning seconds.

After this 18-16 loss, the girls had a decision to make before the playoffs began and that was to forget about the loss and improve their skills and team chemistry in practice or fold and decide that they were the second best team in the ISACK.

The team wisely followed coach Lidija’s leadership and basketball philosophy of training hard and encouragement to build stronger team chemistry after the loss to TES. This was evident in the girl’s semi-final match against KES as all cylinders were clicking on offence and defence and this ultimately led to 42-15 victory. This victory put the girls into the finals against none other than the same TES team that had beaten them in the last seconds during the regular season.

TES had control of the final game for 38 of the 40 minute contest. With two minutes left they led 26-21, and it was at this point that coach Lidija called timeout and implemented a full court press defence. This proved to be a brilliant call as the girls were able to get several steals and easy baskets to tie the score up at 26 and force overtime. In overtime it was the Anja Knjaseva show. Anja scored two huge baskets to seal the ISACK Under 13 girls' Championship 30-28. The trophy is now taking pride of place in the BSK trophy cabinet and the team members have become role models for the future BSK stars.

Year 1 Gardeners

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0100

One of the recent developments at the BSK campus is Q Garden which was opened in Spring 2011. Over the past year the Junior Caterpillar Club of gardening students have been learning the skills of looking after a garden, planting seeds and developing a wormery. It has proven to be an exciting learning environment and its green grass and palm trees are a welcome respite from the heat and a haven for picnics and storytime. Students from Year 1 supported the gardening club by visiting the Plant Souk as part of their exciting ‘I am Alive’ topic. Over the last few weeks the Year 1 students have been finding out about the parts of a plant, how plants grow and what plants need to help them to grow. They carried out a range of investigations putting plants in cold, dark and sunny places, some plants they gave water to while others they left thirsty. Following the results of their investigations and their visit to the Plant Souk the students were able to grow some healthy plants which will now be planted in Q Garden and make Spring 2012 at The British School of Kuwait a season to remember.

Ocean Commotion

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Distinguished guests and the school community were enthralled by recent performances of Ocean Commotion at The British School of Kuwait. Collaboration between Primary staff produced a fantastic show in the Shakespeare Theatre. Ocean Commotion wove a story around themes of animal welfare and environmental protection, winning the hearts of parents and students alike. The underwater scenery and fantastic costume display were a sight to behold as the children of 7-10 years old enacted the story of a dolphin captured and an ocean mistreated by humans. The tale ended happily as the cast relayed their message to all regarding environmental conservation and animal welfare in an hour long showcase of BSK talent! Director Mr Richard McPherson and Producer Ms Lauren Huskings were immensely proud of their team and pleased to affirm the place of the creative arts in the unparalleled opportunities available to students at The British School of Kuwait.

IA Silver Practice

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Students from The British School of Kuwait set out for a challenging 42 kilometre practice trek in the sands of Wafra to prepare for a visit to Nepal. The original Silver International Award practice at the beginning of January had to be abandoned after just one night in the desert due to an electric storm. A second was re-scheduled two weeks later as 46 participating students embarked once again for Wafra’s southern desert. Over two days and two nights, the adventure included hiking in the desert near the Wafra farms. Each team had to carry their own tents and food, walking the routes they had planned themselves. Despite quite a keen breeze, the weather was bright and sunny on both days. All the teams worked hard during the week-end, pushing themselves physically and mentally, walking during the day then setting up camp and cooking for themselves in the evening. The Award is tough but it is about individual challenge, not about reaching specific standards set by someone else. Young people design their own Award Program, set their own goals, and record their own progress. The only person they compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve. Young people who do the Award discover what they are made of, make an impact on their community, develop a set of like skills and, most of all, have fun! Well done to the students who all successfully completed the practice in great style and which was deemed a huge success by everyone involved! Excitement is now brewing for the forthcoming trip to Nepal where the students will be pushed and challenged even further.

WSDC 2012

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Team Kuwait participates in 24th World Schools Debating Championships

Photograph: Opening Ceremony, University of Cape Town (left to right) Roseanna Draghmeh, Ishita Handa, Shouvik Dey, Obada AlHalabi (Captain), Abdulaziz AlOmar

Five talented debaters from across Kuwait recently joined their contemporaries from across the globe in the World Schools Debating Championships 2012 (WSDC) in Cape Town, South Africa.

The team was comprised of Captain, Obada AlHalabi (New English School), Abdulaziz AlOmar (New English School), Ishita Handa (The British School of Kuwait), Roseanna Draghmeh (The British School of Kuwait), and Shouvik Dey (New English School). They were coached by Zaynab Al-Nasser, a former student of The British School of Kuwait and WSDC alumni, and Grainne McCreevy of New English School. The team was managed by Emma Bowie of The British School of Kuwait, who was also the adjudicator for Kuwait.

The debaters were selected after taking part in a series of selection debates. Once selected, they underwent a rigorous round of training and preparation in the months leading up to the tournament. During these intensive preparations they focused upon, amongst other things, honing their skills in research, public speaking and case preparation.

Throughout the tournament Team Kuwait faced a diverse range of prepared motions which required them to research and tackle challenging issues such as the electoral processes in newly democratised Arab nations and whether or not limits should be placed upon rural-urban migration in developing nations. They also participated in debates on feminism and socio-economic rights. In addition to this, the team also rose to the challenge of impromptu motions on topics such as whether or not voting should be made compulsory, the idea of banning alcohol, the use of racial profiling and the place of child labour in the developing world.

The tournament was eventually won by Team Scotland who triumphed over Team Wales in a hotly contested final in which they opposed the idea that South Africa should regret their decision to use the Truth and Reconciliation Commission rather than prosecuting perpetrators of crimes committed under Apartheid.

Team Kuwait improved their debate skills immeasurably during the course of the tournament and thoroughly enjoyed going head to head with teams from Bangladesh, Greece, Pakistan, Qatar, Romania, Slovakia, Swaziland and The Philippines. This was a fantastic opportunity for them to experience a culture very different to their own and to mix with students from around the world. The students debated in a diverse range of schools across Cape Town, as well as prestigious venues such as the University of Cape Town. When they were not debating they enjoyed a fantastic walking tour of historic Cape Town, a excursion to the majestic Table Mountain, and a poignant visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for over 20 years during the apartheid era.

All in all, it was a once in a lifetime experience. The team is proud to acknowledge the support and sponsorship of New English School and The British School of Kuwait. The next WSDC will take place in Antalya, Turkey in February 2013.

Any aspiring debaters who would like to find out more about this tournament can email q8debate@hotmail.com for further information.

Oliver!

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0100

Audiences were in awe of the masterful portrayal of characters in the musical production of Oliver at The British School of Kuwait’s Shakespeare Theatre which ran for three nights to packed houses. Based on the book by Charles Dickens and adapted from the musical by Lionel Bart, Oliver is a story that everybody recognises. It was brought to life by the magical writing skills of Mr David Allcock and the musical interpretations of Mr Philip Smith. Oliver was played by Callum Smith who portrayed the shy and innocent character with masterful skill. Saeef Alam caught both the criminal meanness and the comedic and tragic uncertanties of Fagin with great dexterity. Amber Loutfi played the role of Nancy and gave an evocative performance singing As Long As He Needs Me.

The show had one of the largest and youngest casts that BSK has put on stage for several years and they all performed with great aplomb, much to the delight of their parents and friends. BSK now looks forward to further productions including Ocean Commotion and the Wizard of Oz.

Piano Recital at BSK

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Monday 14 November was a memorable musical occasion for The British School of Kuwait. Guests were welcomed to the Shakespeare Theatre to the unveiling of the new Yamaha Grand Piano. Thanks to the generosity of Executive Chairman, Mme Vera Al-Mutawa, a magnificent instrument has been provided so that BSK students can reach their full potential, compete at the highest level of national and international competitions and grace the stages at many of the music events in Kuwait.

As the premier school for music in the Gulf, BSK prides itself on the level of investment in staffing, rooming and resourcing of which the piano is the latest example. The inaugural recital featured three highly gifted pianists of different levels but all with the same commitment to performing to the best of their ability.

The concert began with Year 6 student Yejin Seo and her performance of the Sonatine by Clementi showed confidence and a musical sensitivity. From Year 7 came Da Eun Yun with her interpretation of Beethoven’s Fur Elise which was most enchanting, played with a good understanding of the dynamics needed to perform this piece with poise and grace. Throughout her playing the audience could feel the emotional warmth of this well-known piano solo.

Charles Fernandes ended the concert with an demanding programme, which would challenge many experienced concert performers. He began with the Prelude & Fugue in D minor (Book 1) by JS Bach. Charles successfully allowed the contrapuntal lines in the Fugue to be clearly discussed showing a mature understanding of this Baroque piece. Beethoven’s Waldstein Sonata (1st movement) was performed with grandiosity and demonstrated mature interpretation of the new heroic style of the late Classical/early Romantic period. His performance of the Scherzo No. 2 by Chopin was magnificent, and he continued his musical journey through the 19th century to the 20th with Ravel’s Sonatine. A work in three movements, the first of which Ravel composed for a competition in Paris, Charles’ interpretation of Ravel was outstanding. The subtle harmonies, the beautiful melodic lines with a delicate and sensitive understanding of this music all captured an enraptured audience. Charles then returned to Chopin with the Revolutionary Etude, a highly dramatic composition which challenges in both scalic and harmonic passages. This piece clearly showed Charles has mastered the demands needed to perform with panache. To conclude the concert, Charles performed Chopin’s Etude Op.10 No.4. A delightful repertoire of piano playing at its very best and a promise of much more to come as the Grand Piano is enjoyed by future BSK musicians.

Yejin Seo

Da Eun Yun

Charles Fernandes

Reception Zoo Trip

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

As part of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, The British School of Kuwait took over 260 eager Reception students to visit Kuwait Zoo. Due to the forecast rain, the trip was almost ‘rained off’ which would have been quite an unusual scenario in Kuwait!

In preparation for their topic “Around the World”, Reception students were exploring the zoo environment in search of different animals. They were not disappointed with what they saw as they had a fantastic range of wild animals to see such as the zebra, giraffe, tiger, bears, lion and so many more. Students completed a variety of activities which included an animal hunt, naming the animals, finding the patterns. The students are able to use this first-hand experience in their learning as it is more meaningful to them.

Upon returning to class the students have been motivated to learn more and have been extending their own learning in the classroom. One student, in particular, was so interested by the visit that he told his teacher that he now wants to be a zookeeper and look after the animals. The teachers have followed up with many cross-curricular activities to improve their English language skills. Their favorite animal stories seem to be “Handa’s Surprise” and “Dear Zoo”. The children have also had opportunities to learn animal songs such as “We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo how about you, you, you …” Students and teachers alike had a fantastic time and the opportunity for learning was vast. We cannot wait to visit again soon.

Year 4 Gym Trip

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Year 4 students recently went to Flex Gym and had a great time. They had been studying how bodies move and the benefits of healthy eating and exercise, and got to put their knowledge into action at the gym. On arrival the students were divided into four groups and got to experience rock climbing, basketball, karate and also had time to play in the soft play area.

Between activities the excitement was palpable as the students were describing their newly learned skills. “I liked karate the most because we learned how to defend ourselves,” Rakan said. Basmil thought that “rock climbing was the most exercise because I would climb a little and then fall. I got so tired and had to try again and again to get to the top.” This was also an opportunity for the students not only to get better at individual activities, but also to practise working as a part of a team. Muaaz “liked basketball the most because you had to pass the ball to someone on your team to win.” The students left the gym feeling enthusiastic about exercise and keeping their bodies healthy and were full of promises to develop their interest in sport.

Movement to Music

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The Shakespeare Theatre at The British School of Kuwait resonated with the sound of music and laughter as the Reception students performed their annual Movement to Music recitals this week. Over five days up to three hundred students performed their carefully choreographed pieces under the watchful eye of specialist performance instructor Ms Norah in front of an appreciative audience of parents and friends. Movement to Music plays an important role within the Reception curriculum. Not only is it great fun and good exercise, it helps children develop their spatial awareness, sense of timing, rhythm and sequencing of movements. The atmosphere was electric with anticipation and the children exceeded all expectations. Lighting and sound were professionally combined by Miss Emily McGregor and all teachers and assistants, led by Miss Heather Matthews, enjoyed a good work out. Parents, grandparents and teachers all left the auditorium swaying to the ‘Wiggly Woo’ and tapping to ‘I’m a little Tea Pot’.

BSK supports Cord UK

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0100

BSK staff recently organised a social event at the British Embassy in Kuwait which raised £2265 (approximately KD1000) for the UK charity Cord, which supports peace-building work with those in Africa and South East Asia who are affected by war and conflict. Attached are Cord's thank you letter and donation certificate.

German Puppet Theatre

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Students were entranced recently with the visit to The British School of Kuwait of the prestigious German puppeteers the Augsburger Puppenkiste. This famous European troupe perform with hand carved marionettes to tell children’s stories yet delight young and old alike. Affiliated with the Goethe Institute in Abu Dhabi, the players gave the only school performances of their Gulf tour in BSK’s Shakespeare Theatre.

The charming puppets gave the children an entirely new experience to form the basis of discussion and writing in literacy classes thereby capitalising on the creative stimulus represented by the show. Goethe Institute Liaison Officer Isabell Achterberg commented on how pleased the crew were with the behaviour exhibited and thoughtful questions posed to the German team by the BSK students.

Primary Head Teacher Mark Brisbane saw the children give the puppeteers a standing ovation and is ready to welcome the group back should they return to Kuwait. “To be chosen by the Goethe Institute to host such an event was an honour and further strengthens The British School of Kuwait’s partnership with the German community in Kuwait,” he remarked.

The British School of Kuwait would like to thank the Augsburger Puppenkiste, the Goethe Institute and the German Embassy in Kuwait for its time and effort in bringing such a worthwhile experience to Kuwait’s children.

Remembrance Day

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Remembrance Day – also known as Poppy Day, Armistice Day (the event it commemorates) or Veterans Day – is a day to commemorate the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and of civilians in times of war, but specifically since the First World War of 1914-1918. It is observed on 11 November to recall the end of World War I on that date in 1918. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.

It is traditional to sell red poppies in the two weeks approaching November 11, the first official British Legion Poppy Day being held in Britain on 11 November 1921. The poppy's significance to Remembrance Day is a result of Canadian military physician John McCrae's poem In Flanders Fields.

The British School of Kuwait held a Remembrance Service with Guest of Honour Colonel John Ensor, Defence Attache at the British Embassy. The service included readings from Year 10 Drama students, a poppy display from Year 6 Design and Technology students and the playing of the Last Post and Reveille by Mr Gary Ruston.

The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that blossomed across some of the worst battlefields of the Flanders and Picardy regions of Belgium and Northern France during and after World War I. Their red colour is an appropriate symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare. The money collected is used to provide help and welfare for people in the Military Services and civilians, past and present and their families who have suffered as a result of military conflict.

Students from Year 11 at The British School of Kuwait have been selling the poppies within the school during break times and at other school events over the last two weeks. It is suggested that the poppy is worn on the left lapel, or as near to the heart as possible. Whilst the donations are so important, it is the wearing of the poppy that is most significant, representing the support and empathy that is felt for all those who have made any sacrifice in past or present conflicts in order that future generations might not need to experience the same horrors of war.

Year 8 Recycling Trip

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Year 8 students visited the Metal & Recycling Company (MRC) as part of the environmental component of the Geography curriculum. It proved to be the ideal location to gain a practical insight into some of the processes involved in recycling waste. During the trip students received a tour of the facility, practised some fieldwork techniques and got to participate in recycling old electrical components. They also enjoyed taking plenty of photographs, which they will use to create their own recycling advertisement. Each Year 6-13 Geography student at BSK must complete some type of fieldwork as part of their studies.

World Schools Debating

Sun, 23 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

This August, a team of bright and hopeful students represented Kuwait in the World School Debating Championships 2011 in Dundee, Scotland. The five strong team included Hiba Arshad, Amber-Marie Loutfi and Bandeep Kaur from The British School of Kuwait.

The team triumphed in three debates against Serbia, Slovakia and most notably the USA whilst they lost on a split decision vote against India and Peru. Team member Hiba Arshad received the best speaker ranking of number 18 amongst the English as a Second Language (ESL) countries.

Bandeep Kaur is now studying Medicine at McMaster University in Canada while Amber and Hiba are Senior Prefects at BSK. In October 2011, Amber received a conditional offer to study Politics at the University of Liverpool.

Pictured above: Team Kuwait with Team Peru.

Augsburger Puppenkiste

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

A famous German marionette theatre will be visiting BSK on 25 October 2011.

Full details are in this press release (465kB PDF).

BSK Awards Evening 2011

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The annual Awards Evening for the Middle and Upper Department students at The British School of Kuwait took place in the Shakespeare Theatre at BSK’s Salwa campus, as parents and staff celebrated the many and varied achievements of the school year 2010-2011.

The Secondary Head Teacher, Mr Andrew Moulden, welcomed parents, staff and students, before delivering his Annual Review, including recent developments and plans for further improvement.

Mr Moulden outlined steps being taken to develop further the quality of teaching and learning and to improve BSK’s already high standards of attendance, punctuality and behaviour. He also explained the school’s clear vision for the future, in particular how this is motivating the teaching staff to strive for ever higher educational standards.

Parents were delighted to learn that BSK’s June 2011 examination results were again superb, with 93% A*-C at IGCSE and GCSE, 97% A-E pass rate at AS Level, and 100% A*-E pass rate at A Level, an astonishing 93% of which were at grade C or above. More Year 13 students than ever before decided to pursue their degree courses in Britain, and seven Year 13 graduates were accepted into ‘World Top 100’ universities: Toronto, Washington, Glasgow, two students to the University of Nottingham and one each to Pennsylvania and St Andrews.

The Guest Speaker was Mr Paul Gaskell, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy, who reminisced about his own school days in England and the many opportunities that they had afforded him, before observing that “the opportunities that BSK offers to its students are even greater and more impressive.”

Mr Gaskell encouraged the students to “soak up the international atmosphere, the languages and the lasting friendships that cross continents” and to take full advantage of the many extracurricular opportunities on offer. Noting that “academic standards are very high” at BSK, he expressed his hope that all the students would continue to work hard and, if possible, complete Sixth Form qualifications and attend university in the United Kingdom.

Mr Gaskell then presented certificates for a range of Special Awards, including Injaz business project awards to sisters Ishita and Ankita Handa, ISACK sports awards to Mohammed Feras Kalou, Anja Knjazeva, Dario Gelevski and Fenna Hasche, and Mathematics competition prizes to Jamil Sumaq and Omar Elabd Mohamed.

The Head Teacher's Service Award, presented by BSK Executive Chairman Madame Vera Al Mutawa, went to Ishita Handa for her involvement in an extensive range of school activities and projects, including having been selected to represent Kuwait in the World Schools Debating Championship in Cape Town next January. In a break from tradition, three Head Teacher's Academic Awards were given, to Year 11 students Aly Emam, Fenna Hasche and Tala El-Roz.

The prestigious Subject Awards went to the top student in each subject in each year group, many of whom achieved near to 100% in their final examinations.

The Awards Evening also served as a musical showcase, with a delightful vocal solo from Isabella Loutfi and excellent performances by the BSK Vocal Ensemble and a reformed La Camerata, comprising Halyna Zhmur and Julia Tryzna on violin, and Charles Fernandes, winner of the Kuwait Chopin Competition, on piano.

Charity Swim

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Photograph: BSK Swim Club Coach Ms Sally Wilde and Sixth Form Student Klaudia Sochacka at the launch of the BSK Channel Swim charity event.

The sport of Channel Swimming traces its origins to the latter part of the 19th century when Captain Matthew Webb made the first observed and unassisted swim across the Strait of Dover swimming from England to France on 24-25 August 1875 in 21 hours 45 minutes. The first woman to swim across the Channel was the American Gertrude Ederle on 23 August 1926. Five men had successfully swum the Channel before Ederle, but she beat their best time by two hours. Her record stood until 1950.

During The British School of Kuwait Health Week in October an all-female team of Sixth Form students will swim a distance equivalent to that of the English Channel, between Lyme Bay in England, and St Malo in France: 34 kilometres. The team, who are currently in training three times a week with the BSK Swim Club, are coached by Miss Sally Wilde and Ms Kimberly Cochran. They will swim each day during Health Week, and cover 6.8 kilometres per day. The team of five girls will each swim 1360 metres per day, the equivalent of 68 lengths. All the girls will be sponsored and funds raised will go to Breakthrough Breast Cancer UK which has been BSK’s chosen charity for a number of years.

ISACK/KFSAC Launch

Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +0100

As the 2011/12 academic year has commenced at The British School of Kuwait (BSK), there is a palpable sense of excitement, opportunity, and competitive spirit in the air as the BSK sporting teams begin their quest to exert maximum effort to be the best they can be. The previous academic year saw BSK win several boys and girls ISACK titles. This year the teaching and coaching staff at BSK is once again committed to creating well rounded, motivated individuals who will be empowered to sustain regular, lifelong physical activity. The coaching staff believes this philosophy will lead to immediate and future successes for BSK student/athletes. The Director of PE, James Cochran, launched the ISACK/ KFSAC programme of events with the second BSK Olympic Torch Relay at the campus. This academic year BSK boys and girls sporting teams defend several titles in the International Schools Athletic Conference (ISACK). This includes: boys under 15 volleyball, boys’ basketball under 13 and under 19, girls’ volleyball under 15, girls’ basketball under 13 and under 15, and girls under 15 table tennis. Katerini Konstantinidou, an extremely motivated Year 7 student at BSK has dominated swimming competitions in Kuwait and across the Middle East over the past few years. We plan on pushing Katerini to continue and excel in her excellent talents as a swimmer! The BSK teaching and coaching staff strives to push toward its winning traditions in sporting endeavors and understand that success does not come easy. They value and recognise that success is a by-product of sacrifice, hard work, and teamwork.

BSK’s Four Musketeers

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Many students from The British School of Kuwait are preparing for their first year at university and they have the tough task of saying goodbye to friends and peers. Solid friendships are formed at school and given the close-knit community that is featured in The British School Of Kuwait’s Sixth Form, it is even more difficult leaving friends.

However, thanks to a fortuitous coincidence, BSK’s 2010-11 Head Boy and Head Girl, as well as Deputy Head Girl and Deputy Head Boy, find that they are heading to universities very close to each other.

BSK’s Head Girl, Yara Al-Wazir and Deputy Head Boy, Mohamed Ali Abdelhak are both going to Loughborough University. Well known for being the creator of The Green Initiative – a highly successful organisation that raises awareness about climate change – Yara is continuing to pursue her passion for protecting the environment by studying Chemical Engineering and Environment Protection, after obtaining 3 A’s and a B in her A Levels. Mohamed is also pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering but of a completely different type; Automotive engineering and has achieved 2 A’s and a C. Studying a degree he would enjoy was very important to him and his fascination with cars prompted him to choose this degree course. Also, given Loughborough’s renowned reputation in the field of sports, Mohamed will be taking full advantage of their sports facilities having been Captain of BSK’s football team since the age of 15 in addition to being a member of numerous other sports teams.

Cyrus Moosavinia, BSK’s Head Boy and Jacqueline Lewinton, Deputy Head Girl are heading to the University of Nottingham, which is only 15 kilometres from Loughborough. With a deep interest in international relations and politics, Cyrus has decided to study Global Issues and Contemporary Chinese Studies after attaining a B and 2 C’s in his A-levels. With an A* and 2 A’s as her A-level results, Jacqueline is studying an undergraduate degree in Law. Her interest in the affect of the justice system upon society and her hopes to work with people on a daily basis prompted her to take-up Law.

It was a welcome surprise when the Four Musketeers discovered that they would be in such close contact and it is highly likely that they will be using the 15-minute train ride between Nottingham and Loughborough to their full advantage! At times like these, when friends must bid each other farewell as they go their separate ways, the Charles Lamb poem “The Old Familiar Faces” comes to mind. But luckily for these four, the poem’s refrain “All, all are gone, the old familiar faces,” does not have to become a reality once they leave Kuwait for University life in the UK.

Summer Message

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

At The British School of Kuwait (BSK) we are looking forward to the new academic year 2011-2012 with confidence. Our enhanced facilities include three new, fully equipped, science laboratories to supplement our already excellent provision as BSK remains committed to the teaching and learning of experimental science. Business Subjects move into new accommodation and, in the Main Building, seven new classrooms will provide space for the expansion of the Lower and Junior Departments. Art & Design, Music and the Britannia Sixth Form Centre each move into superb new buildings.

Our dedicated team of well-qualified teachers will be joined by new colleagues, all trained to the highest standards. The use of this website and the linked Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) strengthens further the communication between students, parents and the School, a partnership that is the foundation of our success.

I look forward to welcoming all our new and returning students to BSK on Wednesday, 07 September, for the start of the new year at BSK, Kuwait’s premier school.

Mr Paul Shropshire
Principal

Summer Fun at BSK

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The 2011 BSK Summer Camp, sponsored by Crown Relocation, began very successfully on 21 June at both the TSK and BSK campuses in Salwa. Children aged from one year old to thirteen years old have been welcomed by the fully qualified staff team who will be looking after them until mid July. As can be seen from the photograph, there was much excitement amongst the children, and why not! They can look forward to swimming and snorkelling, making music, creating Art and Design pieces, performing in Drama classes, forming new friendships with children from many schools across Kuwait, taking part in different sports, having cooking lessons (and enjoy eating what they make!) with a qualified chef, going on trips with their friends to places such as Magic Planet, the Scientific Center, and much, much more.

The British School of Kuwait has been conducting Summer Camps for twenty years and so know what children want in a Summer Camp. All programmes are conducted in English and the staff have a wealth of experience in working with children who have English as a second language. Many children leave the Camp having greatly improved their English without realizing it! It is no surprise then that most places have been taken, with room for any late starters on a first come, first served basis. To find out if there any places left, call 2562 1701 or email roj@bsk.edu.kw.

Music Exam Success

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait community extends warm congratulations to students who recently passed their Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) instrumental examinations. The British School of Kuwait has been the examination centre for these esteemed music examinations, operated by the British Council, for all the students in Kuwait.

A total of 53 BSK students took examinations which were held in the new BSK Instrumental Suite. It was a delight to see eight of our youngest students entering for the preparatory level test – a less formal exam designed to introduce young students to the examination process. Forty five students took examinations ranging from Grade 1 through to Grade 8 and achieved excellent results, with 34% gaining Distinctions and 33% gaining Merits. Notable mentions go to Marti Vernis (Grade 8 Cello with Merit), Sumati Butterworth (Grade 5 Violin with Merit), Wenxuan Zhang (Grade 4 Violin with Distinction and Grade 4 Piano with Merit) and Dana Moukhaiber (Grade 4 Violin with Distinction).

The ABRSM examinations provide an internationally recognised benchmark of student performance and, at the higher grades, can be converted into UCAS points in support of entry to prestigious UK and international universities. They are an integral part of the instrumental programme at BSK. For further information about music at the school and the opportunity for music scholarships, please email Mr John Talbot.

IAYP 2010-11

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait offers many opportunities to its students, and we’re proud to say that one of these opportunities that we’ve been given is to participate in the International Award for Young People (IAYP). This year 135 students in BSK have participated in this adventurous journey where we have had to strive to complete the goal that we have set. No matter how hard it was to achieve, we were ready, devoted and enthusiastic. Along with an adventure-filled trek, we students tried to discover our own potential to make even the smallest difference in society. We also wanted to physically enhance ourselves, and to learn a new skill for our own benefit. The International Award gives us a feeling of independence; it encouraged us to develop ourselves and our social responsibility to others.

The first step, which is often referred to as the most ‘important step’ on our journey of solidarity, motivation and self determination is the Bronze Award. We visited the Al Hamra Mountain range, Oman, where we had to face unbearably cold temperatures at night as well as sweltering heat conditions during the day. It gave us the opportunity to find out how teamwork is the essential key to success and this will truly benefit us in the years to come.

The Silver Award takes the Bronze Award onto a slightly higher level. The Silver practice trek consisted of a 42 km trek to Mutla Ridge, Kuwait, spread over 3 days and 3 nights in order to prepare us for the final expedition in the National Park of Mai Fang, situated in Northern Thailand. We had to complete this trek in 5 days and successfully achieved this goal when we reached the second highest peak in Thailand. “It was the best week of my life, although it was hard. I got the chance to spend this time with my friends and learned so much in just this one week,” said Charles Fernandes, a Silver Award recipient.

The Gold Award students had to undertake a residential project where they worked at the El-Shaddai Child Rescue Centre in Goa, India. Here we spent our time caring for orphaned and underprivileged children. We spent our mornings understanding, teaching, and learning from them too. Although we taught the children basic skills such as how to read and write, we had a lot to learn from the children themselves. The children taught us that even the simplest things in life can provide happiness as well as being grateful for everything you have. “The children showed us that there’s so much more to life than materialistic items,” said Saeef Abdullah Alam, a Gold Award participant.

Along with that, the Gold International Award students had their final expedition in the Annapurna region in Nepal this year. It was certainly a very exciting challenge for the students themselves. A group of 13 students and staff set out to walk the famous Jomson trek in Annapurna. For the first two days, they had time to relax before they set out for this incredible yet challenging journey. Finally, on the third day, they covered 122 km in just six days at altitudes up to 3000 metres. The students described the first three days of the trek as “the warm-up for the killer day” and even though Zara Baker described this as “the hardest day of her life”, by the end of it, seeing the excitement and enthusiasm of everyone, the entire element of pain they had to go through seemed to be worth it. It was priceless. To these thirteen students it was the ten days they would remember for the rest of their lives.

The International Award Scheme fosters personal achievement making it an individual challenge. It encourages personal discovery, growth, self-reliance, perseverance and the responsibility for self and service to the community. The development of personal interests and practical skills has also taught us how to believe in ourselves and has boosted our confidence levels, teaching us a lesson which we will cherish for our life time. We have also developed a sense of service to the community and a feeling of responsibility towards others. The Expedition section challenged all of us to undertake a venture with a specific purpose in an unfamiliar environment. Above all, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. On the 15 May the glorious Awards Ceremony took place. We celebrated the achievement of every individual who was involved in the International Award at The British School of Kuwait. It was like a token of congratulations for all the obstacles we had to face! We would like to thank the Director of the International Award, Mr Oliver Millar, for his endless dedication and commitment to making this award run smoothly and memorable for us young adults. The highly devoted team of teaching and support staff has also contributed towards the success of the award. It truly has been a successful year. As individuals, we have learnt to reach specific standards set by ourselves; we have had to achieve our own goals and record our own progress. This has helped immensely to enhance our personalities as well as contributing to our future by making us better global citizens.

Year 6 Geography trip

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Year 6 Geography students from The British School of Kuwait visited Kuwait Towers as part of their settlement curriculum. It proved to be the ideal location to gain a sound visual of the entire central business district of Kuwait City and the surrounding area. During the trip students drew an urban transect of the city, completed a simple traffic count and drew field sketches. They also took as many photos as possible to relish the excellent visibility. “I have never been to Kuwait Towers and had such good views,” said Ashwan Sirish. The fieldwork marks the end of a busy year for Year 6 students before their examinations begin. It also enhances the Geography fieldwork opportunities on offer at BSK as each Year 6-13 student must complete some type of fieldwork as part of their studies.

Staff Charity Ball

Mon, 30 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

British International (BSK, TSK, BAIA, BAS and BIVT) staff enjoyed an evening of fun and frolics at the British Embassy when they organised a sellout Charity Ball entitled A Touch of GB. 250 staff and guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and participated in a raffle and games extravaganza with a British theme which raised KD 3,500 for charity. The money was divided between Cord, a UK based charity which supports developments projects in Africa and Bayt Abdullah, a Kuwaiti charity which supports the development of the first children’s hospice in the Middle East.

Photograph: Sixth Form students selling Bayt Abdullah pins during Parent Consultation Day. All monies raised from the pins went to fund the first children’s hospice in the Middle East.

Attachment: Letter of appreciation from Cord (156kB PDF)

BSK Visits Nepal

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait Gold International Award final expedition to the Annapurna region in Nepal this year was an exciting challenge of determination. A group of thirteen students and staff arrived at Kathmandu International Airport full of enthusiasm and hunger for the adventure ahead. After spending a day in Thamel, Kathmandu, all were given some time to get over jet lag and do some final preparation for the trek.

The next day was spent traveling by bus to Pokhara, an epic 8 hour drive! On arrival to Pokhara, students were instructed to relax that evening in order to prepare themselves mentally for the next six challenging days ahead. Early next morning the small plane flew to Jomsom, high in the Himalayan Mountains so that the students could start their expedition.

‘The view from the plane was fascinating, the Annapurna mountain range looked stunning,’ said Abdulahad Aslam Pervez.

The first three days of the expedition were just a warm-up for the killer day. It was mainly flat and downhill trekking. After setting off earlier than usual, the arduous day four began. An epic 2000 metre ascent!

‘It was by far the hardest day of my life!’ said Zara Baker, a Gold participant at BSK.

But after just a few hours of sleep the students were woken at the crack of dawn for a short walk to a peak called Poon Hill II. Here everyone witnessed one of the best sunrises in the world, watching as the sun cascaded onto the Himalayan peaks.

On the last day, an exhausted yet triumphant group of young adults walked to the finish line and tucked into a massive dinner back in Pokhara. Seeing all those happy faces, listening to the excitement all had faced and the pain everyone went through to achieve this level of the Award was certainly worth it! During dinner praise was given, highlighting how hard the young adults had pushed themselves throughout the expedition.

International School Award

Tue, 24 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The International School Award (ISA) was established by the British Council in 1999. The aim was to ensure that a benchmark existed that identified schools in the UK and overseas who valued the importance of globally focussed education, and could demonstrate that this international ethos was embedded throughout the school. Think local, act global is essentially the message communicated.

Schools eligible for the award could say that the majority of lessons had an international focus and that the majority of students were impacted by and involved in international work. For the British Council, raising the profile of internationally focused education in the Middle East, where schools like The British School of Kuwait (BSK) have 70 nationalities, was a natural development, with Kuwait becoming a partner in the programme in 2009. BSK documented a wide variety of lessons from all subject areas, including those with Partner Schools in the UK and Germany. In addition, a profile of extracurricular activities such as The International Award for Young People, the Model United Nations and Debating, as well as volunteer and charity work under the auspices of the British Council’s Young Changemakers programme was included. Testimonials from students, staff and parents completed the portfolio.

Experience gained through the Connecting Classrooms initiative was great preparation for the International School Award. The award was presented to Mr John Lambert, the BSK Co-ordinator of the project, by Mr Michael White, Acting Director of the British Council at a lively ceremony where students entertained the assembled guests with performances of music and dance, all with an international dimension, emphasising the vision and quality that is synonymous with education at the The British School of Kuwait. The International School Award is indicative of a school that fully prepares its students as global citizens and BSK is proud to join the ranks of this elite group.

BSK Summer Camp

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Parents – Are you looking for a summer camp which...?

takes place in a secure environment
has a proven activities programme
is staffed by qualified, quality personnel
happens in a caring, friendly, safe atmosphere
is held in an institution with an excellent reputation and established credentials over the past 20 years of conducting Summer Camps
enables positive gains to be made by all students?

The BSK Summer Camp provides all this and much, much more. All programmes are conducted in English and our teachers have a wealth of experience in working with children who have English as a second language.

Students – Maybe this summer you would like to...?

dive into Scuba and Snorkelling
make Music and learn to be a DJ
enjoy Sports and Swimming
perform in Drama and Talent Shows
move into Dance Workshops
cook and create healthy snacks
create Art and Design items which you take home
go on fun trips with your friends.

If so, then the BSK Summer Camp is the place to be this summer. Book your place at the BSK reception desk. Transport to and from Summer Camp is available.

Dates: 21 June – 14 July 2011, 09.00 – 13.00 from Sunday – Thursday

Director: Mr Robert Jones. Tel: 2562 1701 x200. Email: roj@bsk.edu.kw.

Year 4 Aquarium Trip

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

In their Science and Humanities lessons, the Year 4 students at The British School of Kuwait have been learning about environments and making suggestions about how they can improve them. They have been paying special attention to the different habitats that exist within certain environments and the animals that live in these habitats.

Recently the students and teachers from BSK went on a trip to the aquarium at the Scientific Centre. The trip helped the children to identify a major, local environment, ie the sea, and identify and name some of the fish, animals and organisms that live there. The children looked at, and distinguished between mammals and fish that eat plants, and those which eat other animals.

One of the most spectacular sights for the students was seeing the sharks at feeding time. They were amazed to see the smaller fish darting about amongst the feeding frenzy and a whole line of discussion was opened up about investigating feeding relationships within habitats. The aquarium boasts a varied and exciting range of fish and mammals and as the photos show, the students from BSK had a really great time.

New York Theatre Trip

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Following on from The British School of Kuwait's theatre trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and London, England in April 2010, thirty BSK students and staff recently travelled to the only other place in the world where people can see extraordinary theatrical productions: Manhattan, New York.

Students were very excited to see 'The Big Apple' and they had a real New York experience. Opting to see four Broadway shows, Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins and War Horse, they enjoyed each one for different reasons. The first show they saw was Phantom of the Opera, the longest running show on Broadway, and it didn't disappoint. With beautiful singing and an impressive set, students were mesmerized. The next show, Mamma Mia! had a personal touch: one of the actors in the show, Ian Paget, came to give the group a talk about working in Broadway theatre and he incorporated some dance moves into the show that very evening which Omar Khalil, a student in Year 9, showed him! BSK students certainly cheered when they saw it. The other two shows were Mary Poppins, a wonderful piece of theatre; finally students were treated to the magnificence of War Horse - a production so engrossing you almost believed the horse was real.

Students were also put through their paces in four drama workshops run by experienced Broadway directors and choreographers. The first was run by Holly Anne Ruggiero who has directed fourteen Broadway shows, her most recent being Jersey Boys which is still running on Broadway. She encouraged students to be creative in ways they had never experienced before and made them perform their own musical.

Another session was taken by Alison Carr who was a backing dancer for Britney Spears and Pink and can be seen on a number of their music videos. She coached the students through a dance and song routine from Mamma Mia! Along with Geoff Shade, a professional choreographer on Broadway who put the students through a rigorous dancing class and Canedy Knowles who taught them how to perform a monologue, the workshops were a great success.

Students also had fabulous weather in which to see the main tourist sites of New York. From the heights of the Empire State Building and The Rockefeller Center, students also went up the Statue of Liberty, Ellis island, walked around Central Park, made a news and weather broadcast in the NBC Studios tour and stared at the thousands of lights and billboards in Times Square as well as sitting in on a live debate at the General Assembly at the United Nations. They also had time to shop at Macy's, the Apple store and one teacher saw an episode of Glee being made on 5th Avenue.

All of the Americans were amazed at how motivated, interested and polite The British School of Kuwait students were during all of the workshops or tours. It was the trip of a lifetime for both BSK staff and students and the return trip is already in the planning stages.

Festival of Achievement

Thu, 12 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait celebrated its 33rd year at the forefront of British style education when parents and dignitaries gathered in the magnificent splendour of the Futouh Ballroom at the Regency Hotel to laud the many wonderful achievements which the past academic year has brought.

BSK was privileged to have HH Sheikh Ahmed Hamoud Al-Sabah as patron for this most glittering occasion in the school calendar. Guests also included Lieutenant General Ghazi Abdulrahman Al-Omar, Undersecretary at the Ministry of the Interior and the Director of Private Education, Mr Mohammed Abdullah Al-Dahes.

BSK Chairman, Sadiq Al-Mutawa, welcomed the 96 graduates of the class of 2011 and urged them to continue their great efforts as they set out to take up places in universities and colleges throughout the world.

Following the presentation of Diplomas of Graduation by General Ghazi Al-Omar, prizes were awarded to the top 30 students in Year 11, 12 and 13. The top academic award, the CIS award was presented to Hiba Arshad, the Leadership Award went to Abrar Al-Husseini. The much coveted Director’s Award went to Yara Al-Wazir.

Guest Speaker General Ghazi Al-Omar gave a very incisive speech on the efforts of BSK in the fields of science and in the use of communication technology to support science and scientists. In reply the BSK Principal, Paul Shropshire, spoke of the evidence for academic excellence which is formed in the outstanding public examination results at GCSE, IGCSE, AS and A Levels.

The evening was not just about academic excellence. Achievement in the arts and sporting excellence were also celebrated. Charles Fernandes, best pianist at the Young Musicians of the Gulf in Bahrain, captivated the audience with his rendition of the Revolutionary Study by Chopin.

Language prizes were presented by the Ambassadors of Egypt, France, Germany, India, Switzerland, Bangladesh and UK. Guests were treated to a musical treat from BSK String Orchestra as well as a comic cameo from Arabic poets Ali Al-Omar and Abdulaziz Alobeid. Head students Yara Al-Wazir and Cyrus Moosavinia brought the evening to a close with a vote of thanks to the Director, Madame Vera Al-Mutawa and the Festival of Achievement and Graduation Ceremony came to a rousing finale with a salute to the parents and staff of The British School of Kuwait.

German Ambassador’s Visit

Wed, 04 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

On Thursday 31 March The British School of Kuwait was delighted to welcome The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, HE Mr. Frank Mann, who visited the school to congratulate BSK student Halyna Zhmur on winning the international German Essay Competition ‘How Sport changed my Life’ in the recent Gulf wide event organised by the Goethe Institute in Abu Dhabi.

The prize for this competition was a trip to Germany to attend the Women’s Football World Cup later this year. During his tour of the school the Ambassador visited a German lesson, where students presented a programme of poetry and music and discussed their recent scholarship visits to Germany.

BSK is privileged to be a Partner School of the German Government, and our students are involved in a wide range of language activities with other Partner Schools in Germany, North Africa and the Middle East. The visit coincided with Book Week and the Ambassador enjoyed the costume parade and reading activities which were taking place throughout the school.

50/20 Celebrations

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait was honoured to receive Mrs Tamader Al Sdeirawi, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Education, HE the British Ambassador Mr Frank Baker, Mr Fahad Al Ghais, Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Private Education and Mr Mohammed Al Dahes, General Manager of Administration at the Ministry of Private Education to inaugurate the BSK 50/20 programme of events which are scheduled to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the Liberation of Kuwait and the fiftieth anniversary of Independence.

A special ceremony was held at the Marble Arch Sports Arena at the BSK campus on Wednesday 26 January because during this week in January 1991 Qaruh Island became the first part of Kuwaiti soil to be liberated from the Iraqi occupation. In celebration of this event BSK held a special flag raising ceremony where the VIP group joined BSK Chairman Mr Sadiq Al-Mutawa, BSK Director Mme Vera Al-Mutawa, BSK Executive Director Dr Hanan Al-Mutawa and1500 students and staff to sing all seven verses of the Kuwaiti National Anthem. There was a wonderful carnival atmosphere of excitement as the voices of young and old rang out around Salwa 1.

The event was led by BSK Principal Paul Shropshire, BSK Concert Orchestra, under the baton of Mr Preslav Petkov, and BSK Choir under the baton of Mr John Talbot. Speeches were delivered by Mr Mohammed Al Dahes on behalf of the Ministry of Private Education, HE Mr Frank Baker on behalf of the British Embassy and BSK student Isaac Al-Saleh on behalf of the student body.

Sporting Dominance

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

After last year's unheralded success in the sporting arena, The British School of Kuwait has started 2010/11 in an equally impressive fashion, picking up three winners' trophies in the International Schools and Colleges of Kuwait sporting competitions.

Under 19 Boys Basketball

For four of the last five years, BSK's Under 19 Boys Basketball team have been the envy of other schools, winning the ISACK championship under the guidance of Mr Georgi Knjasev. After an uncharacteristic slow start, the boys from the Salwa school began to play in their customary dominant style, stretching to comfortable wins over The English School Fahaheel, the English Academy and New English School.

Meeting their counterparts from The English Academy again in the semi-final, BSK showed their dominance with a comfortable win and again faced rivals and close neighbours Kuwait English School in the final in a repeat of last year's win. KES started slowly and before they knew it BSK had stretched to an unassailable half time lead which became even more comfortable in the second half as BSK stretched out to 44-23 to win the ISACK Under 19 title for the fifth time in six years.

Under 13 Boys Basketball

Trying to live in the footsteps of their far bigger peers were the boys from the Under 13 BSK team who since the season began in September had been unbeaten, winning against all-comers in close, exciting games which showed the standard of the sport in the British and International schools in Kuwait is continuing to rise.

Top seeded into the semi-finals, the BSK boys overcame a large and talented New English School team 27-14 and took their place in the finals against The English School, Salmiya. After an unbelievably tense opening half with nothing to choose between the two sets of players, BSK's superior shooting and disciplined defence ultimately proved the difference. A 33-23 scoreline was flattering to BSK but again the Salwa school had proved that they continue to provide the best of British education on the sporting arena as well as in the classroom.

Under 15 Girls Volleyball

While the boys were dominating the hoops of the international schools circuit, the BSK girls were leading the way in the volleyball competition. The Under 15 girls, dominant last year in both this sport as well as during their Basketball and Soccer seasons, were out to prove that regardless of the sport, they are the school to beat. After a great start to the season, showing even more control and determination in their play than last year, they controlled the tournament, beating The English School Fahaheel in the semi-final to again face Kuwait English School in the final for the second consecutive year. As last year, the girls in green from KES were no match for the BSK girls who triumphed in a close and high quality game, 2 sets to 0.

Commenting on these three wonderful and very different victories, BSK Director of Sport Mr Adam Gibson was elated:

“All the students have shown wonderful discipline and great hard work in achieving these outstanding results. To win in different sports means that BSK is succeeding in its commitment to give all students a chance to perform at their highest level, whatever the sport. Winning is the icing on the cake of course, and hopefully there are many more exciting games to come. Congratulations to all the players and of course to their coaches and teachers who continue to push sport at BSK to further successes.”

Visions 2011

Tue, 03 May 2011 00:00:00 +0100

The British School of Kuwait (BSK) presented its fourth annual arts exhibition Visions 2011 in the Lowry Gallery on Sunday evening. It was opened by Dr Naif Al Mutawa, the creator of 99, the world acclaimed comic.

The exhibition showcased over 100 individual pieces of artwork created by the 6 to 18 year old students of BSK from Fine Art, Textiles, Photography, Graphic Design and Design & Technology.

This is a wonderful display of the role Art and Design plays in all of our lives. This is a not to be missed exhibit highlighting the considerable artistic talent to be found amongst the students at BSK. A central focus was the 50/20 theme.

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