Lower School – Primary Curriculum (Grade 5)

In Grade 5 (Year 6) of our Lower School, learning is engaging and fun. We encourage girls to develop new academic interests while ensuring they graduate to Secondary School with the core competencies, they need in order to access more challenging curriculum material. We principally follow the Cambridge Primary Programme influenced by the spirit and outcomes of the Downe House UK curriculum. We ensure that there is sufficient flexibility within our Grade 5 (Year 6) Primary curriculum structure to tailor learning to the individual interests and needs of our girls. Our personalised approach is made possible by our small class sizes. The curriculum is purely led by subject-specialist teachers for all lessons. This model ensures girls progress into Upper School with a greater level of academic independence and deeper subject knowledge.

Lower School Curriculum – Lower Secondary (Grade 6 and 7)

The curriculum in Grades 6 and 7 (Years 7 and 8) is designed to give as much variety of educational experience as possible. Girls are encouraged to collaborate and inject creativity into their work as they explore new subjects and skills.

A grounding in fundamental skills

In Grades 6 and 7, the pupils will begin the Cambridge Lower Secondary programme balanced with the required Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies.

The following subjects are taught:

• English
• Mathematics
• Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Arabic
• Social and Islamic Studies
• Art and Ceramics
• Design and Technology (Food, Product Design, Textiles)
• Information Technology
• Digital Literacy
• Physical Education
• Music
• Global Perspectives
• Spanish
• French
• Drama
• History
• Geography

Sixth Form (Grades 11 – 12)

Sixth Form

The curriculum in the Sixth Form is designed to prepare pupils not only for A Level examination but for life beyond Downe House Muscat.

A Levels are a globally recognised qualification that facilitate entry into the world’s leading universities. Pupils typically select three or four A Level subjects to study at Sixth Form. Our Sixth Form curriculum is academically rigorous and designed to recognise and reward depth in learning.

Our timetables are structured to provide girls a greater level of autonomy with their learning. Having selected subjects that they are passionate about, pupils are afforded the time to read around their subjects and gain a deeper understanding of the subject material that they will be examined on.

All this takes place within a context of substantial support from our staff. Girls are allocated a new academic tutor when they start Sixth Form, who is selected based on their subject choices and career aspirations. In addition, subject teachers and our higher education department ensure students have the academic support network they require to fulfil their potential.

All this takes place within a context of substantial support from our staff. Girls are allocated a new academic tutor when they start Sixth Form, selected based on their subject choices and career aspirations. In addition, subject teachers and our higher education department ensure students have the academic support network they require to fulfil their potential.