The British College of Gava (Pre-School and Primary)

The British College of Gava offers a British and international curriculum, 20 minutes by car from Sitges

EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE

All learning is play-based and teachers observe this play carefully to enhance the learning whenever we spot a ‘teachable’ moment. From an untrained eye, it would appear that children spend all day playing! Yes, they do! Play is the fundamental process for children to learn.

We take a child’s natural curiosity to explore, couple this with a teacher’s solid understanding of early child development, add the right amount of challenge and thought provoking questions and level of play and learning is deepened.

An example would be a child choosing to push a car down a slope. The teacher observing this may provide a range of ramps, of different surfaces and simply pose the question, ‘I wonder what will happen if you use these?’

Our staff constantly reflect and review the teaching curriculum and environment, ensuring that it is purposeful, inviting and provides a balance of adult-led and child-initiated learning.

Our stimulating environment, including a multisensory outdoor garden and green Forest School area, enables the children to spend a large part of their day in the fresh air. The children are active, autonomous and free to follow their own interests using both the indoor classroom and outside learning area.

Each class has a dedicated day in the Forest School within our school grounds. From writing names using sticks and rocks, to planning and building a bug house whilst being taught to use real life tools, these sessions are fast becoming the highlight of the week. No session is complete without stories and hot chocolate amongst the trees.

There is simply no better place to learn!

EYFS SUBJECTS

Art and Design
In Nursery and Reception children begin to use a variety of tools to create drawings that tell a story from retelling or from their imagination. They investigate different lines and textures. These skills fall under the learning area ‘Expressive arts and design’ in the EYFS curriculum.

English

We understand and celebrate the importance of language as both a tool for communication and the first building block for the many successes that the children will achieve during their time in school. Children will be involved with an immersive environment for learning and we pride ourselves on building that nourishing context for them as they grow as English speakers, readers and writers.

We set incredibly high standards for our young linguists at the British College of Gavà and work, fairly strictly, toward having all children access the UK National Curriculum for their age group as quickly as possible. We assess the children against the UK learning goals for Reading and Writing, meaning that children can easily transition to and from British Curriculum Schools in the UK with ease. We have additional EAL support for learners who are beginning their English journey and we work tirelessly to ensure the best levels of Communication, Understanding, Reading and Writing while encouraging the skills of creativity and instilling a self reflective work ethic in the children.

Geography
Pupils develop knowledge about the world. They learn to understand basic subject-specific vocabulary relating to human and physical geography and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their local awareness.

Music
Children develop a love and appreciation for music through singing, playing instruments, and moving to music. Exposing music to children at an early age helps in many areas of development including literacy, numeracy, social-emotional, motor, language, listening, and hand-eye coordination.

Physical education
Physical activity is vital for the all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Using sport and dance activities to explore and develop the child’s agility, balance, coordination, strength and positional awareness will allow them to progress through early years and into primary school with continually improving fine and gross motor skills.

Science
Students discover more about the world around them through focused projects that take place both inside the classroom and outside in the Forest School.
The EYFS curriculum covers science through the learning area ´Knowledge and understanding of the world´. Children learn and explore through playing with different materials such as sand and water and explore the idea of floating and sinking and through cooking they see that materials can change.

Spanish as a foreign language
Learning is through games, experimentation, music and with the help of dynamic activities that are designed taking into account their interests and abilities so that their learning is fun and motivating. At this stage, the most important thing is that they acquire Spanish vocabulary so that they are able to understand what they hear and be able to communicate with other people.

Information and Communication Technology
Children focus on simple skills such as using games and programs aimed at young learners and interactive games they can play as a group and independently.

Upper Primary

The expansion of our school site, coupled with the strength of our fantastic team of teachers, puts us in pole position for ensuring your children are ready and prepared to forge their own successful way through school life and beyond.

We believe that young children learn best when they are stimulated, motivated and hooked into learning in their preferred way. Sufficient and appropriate challenge, together with a curriculum designed to inspire, accelerate and encourage active learning will ensure your child is ready for the ever-changing, fast paced world in which we live. We highly value the whole child and strive for our pupils to be emotionally intelligent and emotionally strong. Active encouragement of our pupils to be inquisitive about the world around them lies at the very heart of learning at BCG.

My aim is to ensure our curriculum is rich and rigorous, and designed with our community and pupils in mind. I firmly believe that community cohesion lies at the heart of any successful school. We greatly value the views of the school community and throughout the year provide opportunities for both children and parents to contribute their ideas.

The Parent Forum is now firmly established and I encourage you to become involved as much as you can.

At the British College of Gavà, we excel in nurturing children who leave us bold, resilient and unique. A solid education, in an unrivalled setting – where we celebrate every child’s success – form the bedrock of a future that is brighter beyond imagination

UPPER PRIMARY SUBJECTS

Art and Design

Children observe and draw simple shapes as well as look at the effect of light on an object from different directions. Produce increasingly accurate drawings of people by experimenting with the potential of various tools to show tone and texture.

Children produce increasingly detailed preparatory sketches for painting and other work, the concept of perspective is introduced.

English

We blend the teaching, learning and application of technical reading and writing skills with an ethos that encourages creativity and flair whilst encouraging our children to become self-motivated, independent and reflective learners.

Throughout this Key Stage, the children are guided toward developing their English language skills in a range of different ways and contexts in order to prepare them for their further education as English speakers, readers and writers. As the Key Stage progresses and the children enter Years 5 and 6, we have an eye on their movement into the Secondary School and begin to tailor their lessons, gradually, toward the Secondary methodology meaning that the children are able to access the Secondary Curriculum with ease when they move into Year 7.

We offer intensive additional EAL support for learners who are beginning their English journey, with a view to them being able to securely access the Secondary English curriculum as the children enter Key Stage 3.

We work tirelessly to ensure the best levels of Communication, Understanding, Reading and Writing while encouraging the skills of creativity and instilling a self reflective work ethic in all of the children.

Geography
Pupils extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom, Spain, Europe, North and South America. This includes the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. They develop their use of geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge.

Mathematics
Maths in KS2 is underpinned by key principles that enable pupils to successfully build upon their progress at the end of KS1 that will equip them with key skills such as, calculating, predicting, observing and estimating. These skills will be widely used throughout their lives.
Our KS2 curriculum enables pupils to develop the ability to think, reason and solve. We believe that children learn best through direct experience and through numerous opportunities to develop mathematical language and to discuss mathematical ideas.

Music
In KS2 Music, pupils engage in a variety of styles and genres of music through performing, composing and listening. Music lessons are practical and engaging, aimed at inspiring a love of music as well as encouraging open-mindedness to music of all cultures and historical periods. Children develop self-confidence through creativity, teamwork and performance.

Pupils complete group composition projects and begin to learn how to listen critically to music, leading to enhanced understanding and appreciation of a variety of music. They also develop keyboard skills and by the end of Year 6 they have a basic knowledge of reading treble clef and rhythmic notation.

PE
A high-quality physical education curriculum inspires all pupils to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. It should provide opportunities for pupils to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness.

Opportunities to compete in sport and other activities build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect. Sports covered include gymnastics, football, volleyball, hockey, rugby, rounders, cricket, athletics and basketball.

Science
The principal focus of science teaching is to enable pupils to broaden their scientific view of the world around them. They should do this through exploring, talking about, testing and developing ideas about everyday phenomena and the relationships between living things and familiar environments, and by beginning to develop their ideas about functions, relationships and interactions.

History
Students discover the different ways in which history is recorded and how historians and archaeologists use evidence to reach conclusions about the past. They also explore multiple sources of evidence and question different perspectives on events and historical debates to form their own opinions.

French
Students start learning French in Year 3. The focus is very much on communicating and acquiring the basics through engaging activities, including games and songs. As they grow in confidence, students are exposed to more reading and writing tasks. Lessons are planned and delivered according to students’ abilities and backgrounds.

Native speakers study the same topics but complete more advanced tasks, using authentic resources.

Spanish and Catalan as a foreign language
Students focus on oral communication, reading comprehension, written expression, literary dimension and multilingual and intercultural dimension. The methodology combines theory and practice, encouraging meaningful learning, enhances personal autonomy and favors working collaboratively.

Information and Communication Technology
Students use ICT to research, plan and present work in a variety of programs such as Google Docs and slides. They access their Google Classroom to work in school and at home. The use of IT programmes are used to ensure students have the relevant knowledge and skills to be more independent learners as they move into secondary school.

Internet safety is very important and we focus on using equipment carefully and safely, both in school and at home.

WIDER CURRICULUM

Music
Music plays an important part in the lives of all our children in both primary and secondary school. In addition to our school choirs, who come together to perform in concerts twice a year, two orchestras and a popular music group, we have a large team of professional peripatetic teachers offering individual and group lessons in a wide range of instruments, voice and dance.

Drama & Dance
BCG promotes performance in a wide range of contexts, both inside and outside of the classroom: these include full-scale musicals, plays, class productions, assemblies, instrumental recitals, choir and orchestra concerts, monologue competitions and poetry recitals.

ESD
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at BCG is aimed at developing among our students the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable tomorrow, today.

ESD includes key sustainability issues into teaching and learning, like climate resilience, biodiversity, reducing inequalities, and sustainable consumption. It also promotes competencies like critical thinking, futures thinking, cross-cultural collaboration and responsible leadership.

Together with MOTI Foundation we have developed a transversal program that combines workshops, learning journeys, future-building exercises and an engaging curriculum focused on the key themes of the 21st century.

Enrichment ECAP & Clubs
At the British College of Gava an extensive program of after school activities are planned every term to truly enrich and extend the curriculum for every student.

Activities range from sports to robotics, cooking to computer programming and offer the opportunity to experience new things whilst encouraging them to mix with other students around the school and work with different coaches and teachers.

Sports
We offer a wide range of sports here at BCG that follow the English curriculum. These sports include football, basketball, volleyball, rugby, cricket, rounders, field hockey, table tennis, athletics, futsal and health related fitness. We are extremely proud about our outstanding facilities which include a 3G all weather football pitch, a sand volleyball court, an outdoor basketball court, a multipurpose sports hall which houses a full size basketball court, volleyball court and football sala court, a multipurpose fitness centre which has a wide variety of fitness machines (treadmills, rowing machines and a cross trainer), weights machines and free weights. BCG plays fixtures through the Primary and Secondary Schools in all the sports mentioned above against other international schools in the Barcelona area. We always welcome parents to come and support their children during these sporting events.

Enrichment Day Trips
AT BCG, we encourage our students to interact with their environment and explore the world from an early age. Our trips and excursions are linked to the curriculum’s topics, enhancing learning through first-hand experience. Trips are an exciting, involving, and valuable experience for all our students, both academically and socially.

Surf & Ocean Safety
BCG is the only British/International School offering surfing as part of the curriculum in Catalonia. Our goal is to use our local environment to the best of our ability allowing our students to make the most out of the incredible resources we have at our disposal.

Duke of Edinburgh Award
We are proud to offer the Duke of Edinburgh Award. Our students are currently working toward completing the bronze award. As the years progress we will be offering the Silver and Gold awards.

The international Award is an exciting self-development programme available to our IBDP students, although we will be offering the Award to students that have 14 years and above in the near future. The award was launched in the UK in 1956 as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the programme has now spread to 126 countries. Over 6 million young people worldwide have taken up the Award challenge.

The Award is tough, but is about individual challenge, not about reaching specific standards set by someone else. Young people design their own Award Programme, set their own goals, and record their own progress. The only person they compete against is themselves, by challenging their own beliefs about what they can achieve.