Our Curriculum

Kindergarten and Primary School Curriculum

Our school curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England. The processes and content are reviewed and adapted, where necessary, to be more responsive to the broader needs of our international students. The curriculum is delivered in English with Mandarin being a compulsory specialist subject for all students from Nursery to Year 7.

In all classes, programmes are designed to meet the needs of individual students. We set high expectations for all students, assessing and evaluating progress throughout the year in order to plan effectively for successful learning.

A diverse range of extra curricular activities is available for our students to participate in, both during and out of school hours. These include team sports, musical activities, music lessons, drama, dance, art, writing and games. Most extra curricular activities target students in Year 3 and beyond. Many of our students represent our school in tournaments around Hong Kong in various sporting codes. 

Our Targeted Support department provides a range of additional learning opportunities for identified students including specialist work in the areas of reading and special education support.

We also provide a value added programme of learning for all students known as our Enrichment Programme, this programme is designed to further meet the needs and interests of our Primary School students by way of intensive study modules. Involvement in an Enrichment Programme offers students exposure to an extended range of learning opportunities in a wide a variety of specialised fields of interest.

Recent external reviews of our curriculum design and application emphasised the excellent standard of student achievement, quality planning and assessment strategies, creative and meaningful programmes of learning within a secure yet challenging learning environment. We continue to build on these high standards, extending and diversifying whilst ensuring that those core curriculum areas continue to receive the time and application required. 

International Primary Curriculum Resource 

We complement teaching and learning in geography, history, science, art and design technology through the implementation of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) resource units of work.  IPC provides an investigative approach to learning and promotes the importance of learning how to learn rather than learning facts.  It is a resource tool which helps to prepare students for their future by ensuring that they develop their international understanding, leadership skills, personal skills, ICT skills and environmental awareness through a fun but rigorous curriculum. To read more about this resource please refer to the link below.

Secondary Curriculum

Beyond Primary School our students move into Key Stage 3. This comprises the first three years of secondary education, Years 7 - 9. Our Secondary School curriculum adheres to the secondary school guidelines and the standards established within the National Curriculum of England, whilst responding to our location within Hong Kong and Asia.

Our qualified and experienced teaching staff will cover a wide range of curriculum subject areas. We want to ensure that the international standards of a quality secondary education are provided for within a student centred, enquiry based and challenging yet supportive learning environment.

Along side our strong focus on curriculum content and delivery, we believe it is essential that our secondary school programmes of learning relate to and reflects the values of our society today and of our future. To achieve this a broad set of common purposes, learning aims and values underpin our secondary school curriculum enabling all young people to become:

• Successful learners who enjoy learning, make progress and achieve

• Confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives

• Responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society

Our goal is to be at the forefront of developments in innovative teaching and learning to produce enterprising and creative students. We will help our students to understand the world in which we live, to recognise the interdependence of groups and nations, and to become full participants in a democratic society. Education enables us to respond positively to the opportunities and challenges of the rapidly changing world in which we live and work. We need to be prepared to engage as individuals, parents, workers and citizens with economic, social and cultural change, including the continued globalisation of the economy and society, with new work and leisure patterns and with the rapid expansion of communication technologies.

Discovery Bay International Secondary School is committed to building upon the successes, experiences and adventures of our very successful Kindergarten and Primary School.