Bringing education to life
Visitors to the School often comment on the degree of engagement the teachers achieve with the students. The commitment and energy of the well-qualified and experienced teaching staff ensure that student enthusiasm is maintained, even when assessments and exams are looming. All teachers are kept up to date with educational developments in the UK through DfE publications, various educational organisations, and liaison with British and International schools. Fostering teamwork and close links between all departments means supportive professional conditions for the staff – resulting, of course, in a lively and positive learning environment for the students.
The youngest Heritage students are from age 2½. In the Kindergarten, they learn through play to develop dexterity and social skills, as well as letter and number recognition. The staff ensure that there is a wide variety and balance of activities available within a happy, enjoyable and stimulating setting.
As children move through the Primary School, the work becomes more academic whilst every effort is made to retain that sense of fun and freshness. New subjects are introduced to ensure that pupils study a broad, relevant and differentiated curriculum which meets the needs of each child. They are encouraged to explore and make sense of the world around them, and to develop their initiative and research skills through project work. Through practical activities and experiments they learn to acquire the skills of observation and develop their powers of deduction.
On joining the Secondary School in Year 7, students take a broad range of subjects, providing them with a balanced curriculum in preparation for their IGCSE choices. A key objective is to provide students with the attitudes and aptitudes that will maximise their employment potential in a fast-changing technological society. Opportunities are created for students to express themselves confidently, and skills are nurtured which enable them to communicate with clarity through speech and in writing. Educational trips are regularly planned to extend the students’ appreciation of various topics. In addition to visiting educational sites within Cyprus, students are given opportunities to visit various other countries. Inspiring speakers are often invited to the School, including recently Mr Peter Millett, the British High Commissioner to Cyprus. Students take the IGCSEs best suited to their abilities and interests, and many achieve exceptionally well. Each year, there are always students of The Heritage Private School amongst those who receive Cambridge or Edexcel High Achiever Awards for the highest examination marks in Cyprus and/or internationally.
Three bright and confident Heritage students receiving their Cambridge IGCSE High Achiever Awards
including the 2009 Award for the Best Overall IGCSEs in Cyprus.
The Heritage Private School is justifiably proud of its high academic standards and the attainments of its students, but it is also very aware that students have different learning styles, capabilities and ambitions. Students who want to stay on at the School in Years 12 and 13 are invariably allowed to do so, regardless of the number or kind of courses they wish to follow. The School feels that it is vital to offer continuity in academic and other educational experiences to all who desire it, and not just the top achievers!
Careers guidance is an essential aspect of Secondary School life. Students have wide access to essential careers and university-related information, are given presentations from visiting higher education establishments, and are fully supported through the higher education application process, regardless of where they are applying in the world to continue their studies – and typically all of the Year 13 leavers do go on to study at a UK university or elsewhere. Advice and guidance is always available from staff, and the Headteacher personally discusses education and career choices with students. Those who desire work experience are helped through the rigorous selection process involved in securing relevant, quality placements. Year 13 students graduate from the School not only with their external examination certificates and other evidence of achievements, but they are also issued with a formal Leaving Certificate (Apolytirion).
