The School aims to promote the progress and achievement of all its pupils by:
These objectives are achieved by monitoring progress through regular observation, communication and assessment.
It is the class teacher in the primary department and the tutor in the secondary department, who are primarily responsible for ensuring that all the needs, whether academic, physical, social or emotional, of all children in their care, are met.
They are supported in this task by:
The school believes that the education process extends far beyond the purely academic.
The acquisition of personal qualities and values must be an integral part of this process.
Qualities of honesty, kindness and respect are constantly encouraged. Pupils are expected to be fair, polite, thoughtful and cooperative.
Primary Department
The Primary Department follows the “Primary National Strategy -Excellence and Enjoyment: Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning” (SEAL), to ensure that every child develops skills in the following areas:
This approach is cross-curricular and fully integrated into all aspects of the Primary curriculum.
Secondary Department
In the Secondary Department, all students follow a personal, social and health education programme (PSHE). This programme deals with the many real issues young people face as they grow up and gives them the knowledge and skills to lead healthy and responsible lives as confident individuals and members of society. Students also have a weekly tutorial during which they continue the work commenced in the primary SEAL programme.
Great importance is given to how pupils behave as this affects the effective day to day operation of the school and the well being of each of its members.
Within a firm yet fair framework, pupils are expected to develop a high degree of self discipline and control and to conform to the school’s rules which stress the safety and well-being of the school community. Breaches of the rules are met with a range of appropriate sanctions. In extreme cases the Headteacher may ask for the suspension or subsequent withdrawal of any pupil found to be unsuited to the work or ethics of the school.
Throughout the school, exemplary behaviour and good work habits are praised. At the annual, end of year celebration prizes and diplomas are awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement, effort and improvement.
In recognition of good work and behaviour, primary children are given stickers, “pupil of the week” awards, verbal praise or notes home to parents. At monthly merit assemblies, certificates for improved work or behaviour, excellent behaviour, consistent hard work and outstanding achievement are awarded.
In the secondary department, good work and behaviour are recognized, on a daily basis, in a variety of ways ranging from verbal praise and comments written in exercise books to the awarding of house points.
All pupils in Year 1 to Year 13 are assigned to one of four houses, Earth, Fire, Air or Water. These houses compete against each other in many and varied activities in the course of each school year. At the end of year celebration, the winning house is announced and its captains are presented with the coveted trophy.
Apart from the points awarded for success in competitions, pupils may collect points on a daily basis, not only for high standards of work and behaviour, but also for demonstrating generosity of spirit.
It is vital that communication between home and school, which leads to the building of a strong, positive relationship between the two, is fluid. It is only through regular communication that we may ensure that the welfare and progress of children are closely monitored.
Primary parents are invited to meet their child’s new class teacher in September and this is followed up with Parents’ Afternoons which take place in October and March. Reports are issued in December and June.
Secondary reports are issued three times a year and Parent / Teacher consultations are held in terms one and two.
Parents are informed immediately if, for whatever reason, a teacher or tutor is concerned about their child.
Parents are also encouraged to contact their child’s class teacher or tutor should they have any concern or query.
The Head of the Primary Department, and the school’s Headteacher are always informed of concerns expressed by teaching staff and / or parents and are happy to see parents to help resolve these concerns.
A caring community not only respects and cares for all its members but also has the capacity to look outside itself and recognize the needs of others.
This ability to empathize with others is one of the personal qualities that we wish to see each of our pupils develop and, to this end, we take advantage of every opportunity to make them aware of those in need and to encourage them to take action to help meet these needs.
Our main fund raising event is the annual Christmas Fair and this, together with various sponsored activities, enables us to support many worthy causes both locally and abroad.
The Queen’s College Sisu Award is presented annually to Year 13 students, in recognition of effort and perseverance. The award is based on specific results-based criteria. There is no limit to the number of awards available each year which means that all students who achieve the established objectives are rewarded.
The award, apart from public recognition of qualities such as sustained effort and achievement consists of a monetary prize: the refund of 50% of the final year’s annual school fee (see below: Sisu Award Criteria).
The origin of the award’s name: ‘Sisu’ is a Finnish term which, when loosely translated into English, means ‘strength of will, determination, perseverance, and acting rationally in the face of adversity’. Sisu does not imply momentary courage, but the ability to sustain an action against all odds.
We believe that the concept of SISU is particularly appropriate to the spirit and philosophy of Queen’s College. It is also a perfect example of how each culture and language is unique. The diversity which stems from the coming together of different cultures and languages is responsible for the richness of the international school experience. Presentation video
Sisu Award Criteria
This award is presented to students who achieve the equivalent of 4 “A” grades at GCE “A” level and who have demonstrated the academic and personal qualities which make them excellent role models for younger students.
The award comes with a percentage refund of Year 13 fees as specified below.
