MARK LEPPARD

Headmaster, The British School Al Khubairat (BSAK)

Q: What is new in the school for the academic year 2021/22?

Despite schools being empty of students and teachers over the summer, the break was used to improve facilities and prepare the school for the next academic year. At BSAK we were extremely busy over the summer creating a new secondary reception area and parent meeting rooms which further improve the parental experience within the school. We relocated the counsellor service to an area where there is a discreet waiting room and larger office for meetings with the school counsellor. This is a really important service for students and we believed that further enhancement would support students. We have also improved primary playground areas as well so that our younger students have a fantastic area for play. We also refurbished our community coffee shop.

Q: How is the school coping with the new challenges presented by the pandemic?

A: I think in general the school community has coped very well, although there will be individual cases where it has been an immense challenge. However, I think the school has implemented a number of initiatives to support the community through the pandemic that we will actually retain indefinitely. Parents meetings moved online last year as parents could not access school buildings, which after positive feedback, we will retain.

Q: What is the importance of having children back in a classroom setting?

A: Academically, I believe students thrive in the classroom environment. However, I think the importance of the return is more about student and staff well-being. Students being able to discuss, share and academically challenge their peers cannot be overstated. Working in isolation or through a computer conference call is nowhere as impactful for the majority of students as face-to-face learning is. I think as well as the academic benefits, there are huge benefits for student well-being as they mix socially with their peers. I also believe this has supported our staff as well. YALLA: ABU DHABI LIFE