Principal of Haileybury School, Jane Knight, tells us all we need to know about this new educational establishment.
Is this new school in Cairo the first offshoot of Haileybury in the UK?
Haileybury opened in the UK almost 150 years ago, but 12 years ago we opened our first international branch in Kazakhstan. Haileybury Cairo is the youngest member of the family but it comes with a rich heritage from the UK.
What prompted the decision to open a new school in Egypt?
We have people contacting us from all around the world to partner with Haileybury but we are not just a franchise and we don’t sell our name. We are a branch, meaning that Haileybury UK is actively involved in running things.
What ages does the curriculum cover?
Children have to be 3 years old by the end of August before they can enter foundation stage 1. We will be having a year 13 for students who are almost 18 years old.
Will the system be aligned with the British educational system?
We are accredited by Cambridge International and the British Council and we will be following the Cambridge International primary program for children from year 1 upwards. However, our programs are adapted to be culturally suitable for Egyptian and international students as well.
Which local and British qualifying examinations will be covered within the curriculum?
We will be following the Cambridge board IGCSE examinations.
What can you tell us about the campus here in Giza in terms of design, layout, amenities and sports facilities?
Our campus here is truly outstanding. We have an indoor sports hall that is simply enormous. Upstairs there are three additional spaces that can be used for gymnastics, drama, karate, or training, one will be a gym. The outdoor facilities include a full-size football pitch, 5 courts, a 25-meter pool, and currently under construction an Olympic size pool.
We really hope that Haileybury Cairo becomes a hub for the community so that everyone can use our facilities after school hours. We also have a theater that could be a great resource for the local community.
How will you be covering classes and tuition under the new Covid 19 social distancing restrictions?
We have already successfully opened 2 schools in Kazakhstan following protocols for Covid 19. We are constantly looking at the best international standards and regulations and updating our protocols in line. We are confident that we will be able to open in September 2021 following any guidelines set by the Egyptian government.
What do you consider to be Haileybury’s outstanding points, in terms of ethos and educational approach?
Haileybury is a holistic school, which means that academics are important but so is the focus on the development of the child. Every child is unique so we make sure that our curriculum is rich and broad enough to allow children the chance to excel in their own gifts, talents and desires.
We also provide a huge range of activities after school called CCAs (Core Curricular Activities) allowing children to explore different areas of learning. Speech therapists and occupational therapists will come in and work with children who need any additional help. To make sure that all barriers to learning are removed so every child can achieve their potential. Our CCAs are optional, however, we would expect children to participate in some of those because they are enrichment activities.
Although children spend a lot of time at school it is important to remember that you, the parent, are still the primary educator in your child’s life. That is why it is vital that you are involved in your child’s learning journey. At Haileybury Cairo, we work alongside our parents as Partners in Learning to make sure that you are fully aware of what and how your child is learning, their achievements and their progress through Parent Teacher Conferences, termly target reports, Open Mornings, Celebrations of Learning and other special events.
We expect our parents to be an active part of the Haileybury community and our Haileybury Parents Associate is a great way for parents to get together and support each other as well as the school. Our weekly Coffee Mornings are parent workshops so you can have a deeper understanding of what and how we teach, because learning in the 21st century classroom might be a bit different from your memory of school!
At Haileybury Cairo, we have Arabic Language lessons for all our children, even in FS1. All children also have other specialist lessons such as music, swimming, sports and art as part of their curriculum.
How can parents be a part of their children’s academic life?
It is vital that parents are involved in their child’s learning journey. At Haileybury Cairo, we work alongside parents as Partners in Learning to make sure that you are fully aware of what and how your child is learning, their achievements and their progress through Parent Teacher Conferences, termly target reports, Open Mornings, Celebrations of Learning and other special events.
We expect parents to be an active part of the Haileybury community, our weekly Coffee Mornings are parent workshops so you can have a deeper understanding of what and how we teach.
What percentage of the teachers are expatriate native English speakers?
All of our class teachers are UK trained and qualified and native English speakers. Assistant teachers are fluent in both Arabic and English.
When are your Open Days?
Every Wednesday. I will give you a tour of the campus and share more of who we are and why Haileybury is the right choice for you.
When do you expect the school to be fully operational?
We will be opening for the next academic year.
How can applications be submitted?
Fill out an application through our website Haileyburycairo.com or call us and we will happily guide you through the process. Or come visit at any time for a tour.
