Featured School
these challenges. Although much of
the curriculum appears traditional at
first glance, the enriched curriculum
on offer helps students to recognise
that learning is not confined to the
classroom or even a school.
Jumeirah
College
provides
a
considerable range of additional
activities, which help to develop the
vital skills students need to function
in an increasingly global society: from
leadership to reflection, teamwork to
critical thinking. As a consequence,
Jumeirah College’s students leave with
not only qualifications demonstrating
their academic achievement, but also
the confidence and skills needed
to ensure that they are able to lead
successful lives.
Admittedly, the advances in technology
will be the nucleus of many of the jobs
that are not yet created. Adequate
preparation and mastery of 21 st century
skills are crucial to accomplishing the
desired outcomes for students.
Mr O’Connor shared a few of the ways
in which JC promotes 21 st Century Skills:
• 21 st century skills are at the very
core of the college’s rewards’ policy
– helping students to triangulate
their achievements to this important
range of abilities.
• The ‘JC Skills Set’ encourages the
celebration of skill development. For
example, their Sixth Form ‘Thinking
Ladder’ encourages independence
and creativity.
• Their PSE programme develops
emotional intelligence skills including
resilience and empathy.
• Members of staff are encouraged
to develop higher order thinking
skills through the use of effective
questioning. This practice has
been supported by the internally
run College PD and supporting
resources.
• Teachers are encouraged to adapt
the use of the JC Skill Set and
Learning Ladder to suit their own
subject areas.
• A high standard of independent
learning
and
engagement
is
evidenced by a culture of target
setting and mastery. Students
understand through teacher and
peer feedback how to improve,
generating an aspirational culture of
success.
• Collaborative technologies e.g.
Edmodo and Google Classroom
enhance group work in lessons,
developing C21 learning skills.
• Student leadership roles and
enrichment encourage collaboration
across key stages and beyond the
College. These include opportunities
at all levels of the school, that are led
by their Student Executive.
• They also have student leaders
for the arts, sports, charity and
environmental work. These students
write and lead assemblies, as well as
organising and promoting their areas
of interest.
• Senior students also lead the student
councils, helping to ensure the
student voice is always included in
the work of the College.
To further engage the use of
technology across the various subject
areas, JC employs the use of online
learning platforms like Kerboodle,
Google Classroom, Socrative, and
Exam Pro, which gives them the ability
to challenge, support and assess all
students on their progress.
Science is usually one of the core
subjects that usually does not receive
the spotlight it rightly deserves.
However, with the afore mentioned
online platforms, students at JC have
access to a vast array of questions,
quizzes, animations, podcasts and
online textbooks which provide them
with constant access whether they are
in the classroom or on the other side of
the world.
“Practical Science is a key part of our
philosophy and therefore, we aim to
have the most up to date pieces of
equipment for our students to use,”
said Mr O’Connor.
One of their latest additions is their
Wi-Fi enabled data loggers, which are
used across all age groups.
“Through these, we can track pH
changes, assess lung capacity and plot
temperature and motion gradients.
The data created can then be instantly
uploaded for further advanced analysis
using additional online programmes
such as Google Sheets or Excel,” he
explained.
“Our use of social media allows both
teachers and students to be part of
a worldwide scientific community,
which gives both parties access to all
the latest and current topical issues
that can then be incorporated into our
lessons. It also provides a wonderful
platform for sharing the students’ work
with parents.”
In addition to academic success,
Jumeirah
College
has
enjoyed
numerous successes over the years in
sports, arts, and other extra-curricular
activities. Among their notable success
stories are, the Sheikh Hamdan
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for
Distinguished Academic Performance
2016, which was awarded to Devina
Kalwani and H. H. Sheikha Fatima Bint
Mubarak Award for Excellence, which
was awarded to Sasha Nanda in 2015
and Sanjanda Bahadur in 2016.
Mr O’Connor shared just a few of the
programmes that have contributed
to success at Jumeirah College. In
his message to visitors, he stated that
Jumeirah College is a ‘challenging, yet
exhilarating place to learn, develop and
explore.’
The successes of the College are
a testament to his commitment to
outstanding leadership, celebrating
and
rewarding
excellence
and
acknowledging the people who help
to make it a vibrant place to teach and
learn.
Mr Simon O’Connor,
Principal at Jumeirah College.