AJA GRADUATION OPTIONS

 AJA’s motto of a Tradition of Excellence reflects HH The Emir’s vision for Qatari education.

 Background

In September 2005, AJA commenced the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The IB Diploma Programme is a demanding two-year, pre-university course of study that leads to examinations. The Diploma Programme is for highly motivated students aged 16 to 19.

Many British institutions and universities champion IB Diploma Programme graduates over those with the British ‘A’ and ‘AS’ Levels. American universities generally grant up to one year’s transfer of credit for students achieving sufficiently high results. Within the Middle East, a high proportion of universities recognises and prefer graduates of the IB Diploma Programme.

Students receive the award of the IB Diploma provided they complete six subjects over the full two years. All students must study one subject from each of the following six groups:

Group 1:    Language A1 (English and its literature)

Group 2:    Additional Language (Arabic, French or Spanish)

  Group 3: Individuals and Society (Geography, Economics, Information Technology in a Global Society, History, and Business and Management)

Group 4:    Experimental Science (Chemistry, Biology and Physics)

 Group 5:    Mathematics (Mathematical Studies and Mathematical Methods)

 Group 6:    Arts (Visual Arts and Music or one, elective from either group 2, 3 and 4)

For the two years, each student chooses three subjects at the Higher Level (240 contact hours) and three at the Standard Level (150 contact hours).

In addition to the six academic subjects, all students are required to study Theory of Knowledge (an interdisciplinary course in critical reflection), to take part in the Creativity, Action and Service programme, and to submit an Extended Essay written on a topic from within one of their chosen academic subjects.

Admission to the IB Diploma Programme is a multi-stage process. The first stage involves the completion of an application form and submission of IGCSE grades or equivalent National Curriculum grades. Students from all educational systems are encouraged to apply. The Head of the Secondary Schools interviews all applicants.

Equivalency & Options

Al Jazeera Academy offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma as the preferred school-exit credential for graduating secondary students in Year 13.  Students who complete Year 13 and who satisfy IB Diploma Programme requirements based on AJA assessment will be awarded the AJA Graduation Diploma.  Students who complete Year 13 and who do not satisfy IB Diploma Programme requirements based on AJA assessment will be awarded the AJA Graduation Certificate.

However, AJA-An IB World School will also offer a minimum requirement program that will allow all students to earn the Al Jazeera Academy Diploma, including students who choose not to complete the full IB Diploma Programme.  This Al Jazeera Academy Diploma represents the completion of 12 years of formal schooling, similar to the Qatari Secondary Diploma.

1.    AJA Graduation Diploma: IB Diploma

Represents:

Completion of 13 years of formal schooling

Requirements:

Completion of 6 courses (3 HL, 3 SL) over 2 years + TOK, EE, & CAS and has been awarded a minimum 24 points

Internal Assessed Award:

AJA Graduation Diploma

External Assessed Award:

IB Diploma

Grading System:

A student’s percentage grade will be added then divided by number of courses  (excluding TOK, EE & CAS).

2.    AJA Graduation Certificate: IB Certificate

Represents:

Completion of 13 years of formal schooling

Requirements:

Completion of 6 courses over 2 years and has been awarded a minimum 12 points.

Internal Assessed Award:

AJA Graduation Certificate

External Assessed Award:

IB Certificate

Grading System:

A student’s percentage grade will be added then divided by number of courses (6).

 3.    AJA Diploma: Completion of 12 Years Formal Education

Represents:

Completion of 12 years of formal schooling

Requirements:

Completion of 6 courses over 1 year and has been awarded a minimum 12 points.

Internal Assessed Award:

AJA Diploma

External Assessed Award:

Nil

Grading System:

A student’s percentage grade will be added then divided by number of courses (6)

Director

25 September, 2007

STUDENT ATTENDANCE & LATE ARRIVERS

Regular attendance at school is essential if students are to maximise their potential.

Parents are responsible for the regular attendance of their children.  AJA staff, in partnership with parents, promotes the regular attendance of students as a part of their duty of care.  AJA staff achieves this through monitoring part and whole day absences in support of parents and students. 

    ·        Students are to attend, at minimum, 90% of the enrolled school days each academic year.  Parents should restrict their children’s absence, where possible, to 10% or less of the enrolled school days.  In a typical academic year, for a student enrolled from day one, this equates to 18 days or less.

 ·               It is likely that a student who is absent for 10% or more of the enrolled school days, will not receive grades on their report and be asked to repeat their current year.

 ·               In the event a student is repeatedly absent and their total number of absences reaches 5% of their enrolled school days, parents will receive a letter reminding them of this attendance policy and a request to arrange a meeting.  At this time, parents will also receive a phone call from the school to confirm receipt of the letter.

 ·               After each day of absence, the student must present a note that is signed by the parent (written in either the English or Arabic language) to the class teacher/tutor.

 ·               Parents must phone their school by 7.15am if their child is absent.  A note in advance of a planned absence is preferred.  Absence due to health concerns or medical reasons requires a ‘Medical Certificate’ from a qualified and registered medical professional.

 ·               Parents of students with unexplained absences will be phoned by the School Secretary on the second day of an unexplained absence.

·               Students arriving after 7.15am are regarded as ‘Late’.

 ·               Three ‘late arrivals’ are recognised as the equivalent of one day’s absence.

·               A student who arrives late on four days in one month is classified as a ‘Regular Late Arriver’.  At this time, parents receive a letter reminding them of this attendance policy and a request to arrange a meeting.  These students, if they continue to arrive late, do not gain entry to AJA.

TUTORING

Parents who are seeking tutors for their children may request advice from their Head of School who may provide the details of staff who are available for tutoring. If you are seeking a tutor, please download a request form. 

UNIFORM SHOP

From 1  –  19 May, the operating hours for the Uniform Shop will be (unless notified otherwise):

 
Sunday: 12.00noon – 1.30pm

Wednesday: 1.00pm – 2.30pm

 
Emergency requests can be made with Mr Abdul-Hamid, our Accounts Manager.

PLEASE NOTE:  We are still waiting for supplies of PE uniforms, trousers and boys’ ties to arrive.  We have not been provided with an estimated date for these deliveries.

A range of black shoes are available from the Uniform Shop.  Parents must note that school shoes must be BLACK conventional school shoes.

Girls must wear white socks and boys must wear black or grey socks with their trousers.

Parents should note that certain sizes are out of stock. Replacements (new supplies) were expected to arrive at the end of Ramadan.  A new estimated delivery date is end of March. Parents will be advised when these supplies finally arrive.  I appreciate everyone’s patience.

Returns Policy

Uniform items must be returned in original packaging (with tags) and original condition, along with the original invoice for purchasers to receive a refund. 

Items will not be refunded if they have been purchased without children trying them on first at the Uniform Shop.

STAFF TRAINING DAYS

Parents are asked to please note that the Primary School will be closed on Sunday, 4 May, for staff training.

The Secondary Schools will operate as normal on these days.

23 April, 2008

 EMERGENCY ENTRANCE TO AJA

Activity outside the entrance and exit gates to AJA suggest that road and drainage works may block these areas over the next few weeks.  If this occurs, entry to AJA will be by the back gate adjacent to Park House School and opposite the Pakistan Education Centre.

 To date, AJA has not been advised of any interruptions to traffic flow.

27 March, 2008

FEES FOR REPORT COPIES

All parents receive copies of their child’s term or semester progress reports at the relevant time.

 AJA receives many requests for copies from families.  This is redundant as families have the original copies.

 AJA stores its reports electronically and archives them.

 As from 1 April, 2008, any request for a copy of a student’s report must be accompanies by a QR300 processing fee, otherwise the request will be denied.

 Copies of other documentation will incur a QR200 processing fee.

23 March, 2008