Welcome to Primary School

Underpinning all our curriculum delivery is a commitment to developing our WSO Competences within our students.  

Our WSO competences are a set of skills and attributes that we at WSO believe will contribute to our students’ future success. These are not additional things that we learn but how we learn, and the development of these competences is woven through all lessons and reinforced regularly throughout the school day. 

The Core Subjects are the basis for all other learning and are more formally assessed each year. 

English 

The National Curriculum for English develops student’s understanding of the English language. Children develop skills around the four areas: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. In KS1, children will develop a deep understanding of Phonics before applying these in the four areas. We are passionate about developing a love of reading and writing, and we embed this across all areas of learning.  

Maths 

At WSO, we teach Maths Mastery by embedding a variety of elements in lessons which combine to give students the best chances of mastering mathematics. The National Curriculum for Mathematics is used alongside the most up-to-date guidance from maths hubs and the National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics to support children in developing a broad range of skills. Students develop a secure understanding of Maths facts (fluency) and apply this knowledge to reasoning and problem-solving contexts. Mathematics is broken down into the following topics: Number and Place Value; Addition and Subtraction; Multiplication and Division; Geometry; Measurement; Statistics and Algebra.

Science

 The English National Curriculum for Science ensures that all students develop scientific skills, knowledge and conceptual understanding through the specific disciplines of biology, chemistry, and physics. Students will also grasp the processes and methods of science through different types of inquiry that help them to answer scientific questions about the world around them. Lessons ensure all children are equipped with the scientific knowledge required to understand the uses and implications of science, today and for the future.  

Arabic (Specialist)

Our specialist Arabic as a first language curriculum comprises consistent language skills’ development while adhering to the National expectations for Arabic Language. From a young age, children continue developing their native language skills around different areas including Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing, and Syntax. Children attend specialist lessons four times in a week.  

Arabic B (Specialist)

Our rich specialist Arabic curriculum reflects the importance of learning Arabic as an additional language in UAE, with the implementation of best practices of teaching foreign Languages. Children develop Arabic around the four skills: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. Children attend specialist lessons four times in a week. 

Islamic (Specialist)

For our Muslim students, our specialist Islamic curriculum provides children with an opportunity to develop their understanding of their religion, values and beliefs. Children attend specialist lessons two times a week. 

Social Studies

Children will access the Social Study MOE Curriculum which is related to the building of personalities, instilling the values of national identity, the practise of good citizenship which in turn develops a sense of belonging within the school and local community. 

Moral Education

Moral Education Curriculum is divided into four core areas: 

• The Character and Morality curriculum is centred around developing each student as honest, tolerant, resilient and persevering individuals.  
• The Individual and the Community Curriculum ensures that children understand a true citizen is one that takes care of themselves in addition to caring about the good of society and participating actively to make things better.  
• Civil Studies ensures that whether a student was born in the UAE or moved here with their family, it is essential to understand the fundamentals of how the UAE was formed and how it is governed today.  
• Culture is an inherent part of a society and the program wants to highlight UAE’s shared human culture that encapsulates the traditions and symbols that help define who we are. 

Learning Enquiry approach 

Our foundation subjects are explored under the umbrella of Learning Enquiry and through a project-based approach that ensures learning is transferable and rooted in real-life application. 

Geography

WSO’s Geography education inspires pupils’ curiosity and fascination of the world and its people. Teaching equips pupils with knowledge about diverse places, people, resources and natural and human environments, together with a deep understanding of the Earth’s key physical and human processes. Geographical knowledge, understanding and skills provide the frameworks and approaches that explain how the Earth’s features at different scales are shaped, interconnected and change over time. 

History

Our History education helps children gain a coherent knowledge and understanding of Britain’s past and that of the wider world. Teachers inspire pupils’ curiosity to know more about the past. Teaching equips pupils to ask perceptive questions, think critically, weigh evidence, sift arguments, and develop perspective and judgement. Our lessons help pupils to understand the complexity of people’s lives, the process of change, the diversity of societies and relationships between different groups, as well as developing their own identity and identifying challenges of their time. 

Design and Technology

Our Design and Technology Curriculum allows children to use their creativity and imagination to design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts, considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values. Pupils learn how to take risks, becoming resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable citizens. Through the evaluation of past and present design and technology, they develop a critical understanding of its impact on daily life and the wider world.

Art and Design

Art, craft and design embody some of the highest forms of human creativity. WSO’s Art and Design lessons engage, inspire and challenge pupils, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to experiment, invent and create their own works of art, craft and design. As pupils progress, they will be able to think critically and develop a more rigorous understanding of Art and Design. They should also know how Art and Design both reflect and shape our history, and contribute to the culture, creativity and wealth of our nation 

Computing

With deep links in Mathematics, Science and Design and Technology, it provides students with an insight into the many systems we use every day. The core of the programme ensures students become digitally literate and understand how we can use information technology to enhance our learning, express our creativity, and produce a vision or product. By allowing students to become independent learners, computer science develops their principles of information and computation, how digital systems work and how to put this knowledge to use with programming and coding. Building on this knowledge and understanding, pupils are equipped to use information technology safely to create programs, systems and a range of content  

Physical Education (Specialist)

At GEMS Wellington Academy, Silicon Oasis we passionately believe that an expansive and secure curriculum helps children to develop a passion for Physical Education and school sport. Our large department aims to provide all children with outstanding recreational and competitive opportunities. In Key Stage 1, children begin to develop their skills in locomotion, object control and stability. As pupils' transition into Key Stage 2 our curriculum shifts into more activity-based lessons with the emphasis on teamwork and achieving our personal best. In Upper Key Stage 2, we aim to prepare our students for the more sport specific focus of Secondary, as well as entice interest in pursuing different activities outside of lessons. 

Performing Arts (Specialist)

Primary Performing Arts at WSO focuses on cultivating the skills and interests of each student to encompass the three essential elements of the subject: Music, Dance and Drama. Our curriculum aims to develop the self-esteem and self-confidence of our students, while also providing them with communication skills that they can utilise throughout their lives. By giving students a creative outlet to express themselves, the incorporation of Performing Arts has a positive effect on our student's wider academic and personal well-being. 

Outdoor Learning (Specialist)

Outdoor Learning is a truly magical element of our Primary provision and in these sessions, students learn through a sense of wonder, exploration and play. A key benefit of Outdoor Learning is in instilling in our students that learning is not confined to the classroom or certain subjects, but something that is actively and rewardingly acquired in the world around us. Through play and tangible life experiences, students will learn the key concepts that they will proceed to construct their more formal classroom learning on throughout their school career. Students encounter, first-hand the effects of gravity and those forces that influence them through their play. In the natural environment, they can observe and investigate the life processes in action and this experiential discovery-based learning equips them access and engage with the most complex of curriculum content. 

The child-led and collaborative approach taken in our Outdoor Learning sessions, supports students in developing the essential skills and competences required to be successful in later life. Whilst also instilling in them a strong sense of responsibility and citizenship, as students fully engage with the symbiotic relationship that we have with the natural world. 

During this period, our students have necessarily become more aware of the increased risk in the world around us. However, within Outdoor Learning students learn that risk is a natural part of life and explore the actions and processes we can take to assess and manage risk. Through the session's students learn how they can interact with the world in a meaningful way. 

MFL (Specialist)

Modern Foreign Language lessons provide an insight into the language, cultures and customs of three countries: France, Spain and Germany. All pupils from Year 2 study French and pupils in Years 5 and 6 also study Spanish and German, on a rotation basis. Our high-quality language learning sparks children’s curiosity and enthusiasm and deepens their understanding of the countries where these languages are spoken. The Primary MFL Curriculum is broken down into the following areas: Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing and Grammar. Lessons are planned with skill development in mind and pupils are encouraged to use these skills to make deeper connections with all languages. 

The school day begins at 7:40am with classes opening at 7:30am to welcome students before registration and give time for students to settle into class and prepare for the day. 

We offer a sibling club for students in Fs1-Yr4 who have siblings in older year groups. 

WSO Primary is predominantly a packed lunch school, however on specific days for Yrs3-6, we have a school cafeteria where food can be purchased via a ‘Student ID Card’ which is uploaded with money via LearnOS. We offer a range of healthy foods across the week.

All FS to Year 2 students are invited to bring in a healthy snack and lunch each day. 

Years 1 - 6: class capacity is 27 students 

There is one Teacher and one Teaching Assistant in every class from Years 1 to 2. In Years 3 to 6, there is one Teacher and a Teaching Assistant shared between two classes. For our younger students, our Teaching Assistants accompany children to their specialist lessons with specialist Teachers.  

Yes – we live in an increasingly digital world, however at WSO we are committed to a balance between digital and off-screen approaches to learning. Digital learning is integrated into all areas of learning to ensure children can apply their digital literacy in all contexts. However, children’s wellbeing is extremely important and so teach closely monitor and ensure there is a balance between digital and ‘unplugged’ activities. Technology is only used when it will enhance learning and not to replace other learning opportunities. 

E-Safety is at the forefront of all digital learning with regular e-safety lessons and events forming part of our Connected Curriculum lessons. 

Students from Primary have access to the School Transport Service and younger students can travel with their older sibling later in the afternoon if required. Our Teaching Assistants and Bus Conductors accompany children to and from the bus daily, ensuring there is always an adult-to-adult handover. CCTV, GPS tracking, live updates and ‘sleeping child’ checks are some of the key safety features on board our STS buses. For more information about our School Transport Service please click here.