British Curriculum
A Distinctive British Education Tailored for Success
At Downe House Riyadh, we provide an exceptional education that nurtures intellectual curiosity, creativity, and independent thinking. Our seamless learning journey from Nursery to Year 13 combines the rigour of the UK National Curriculum with the proven excellence of Downe House UK, offering personalised learning pathways tailored to each pupil’s strengths and aspirations.
Pupils benefit from a structured yet dynamic curriculum, enriched by the creativity and track record of the Downe House UK academic programme. We recognise the importance of Arabic Language, Islamic Studies, and Social Studies, ensuring these subjects are embedded within our core curriculum for a well-rounded and culturally enriching education.
With a strong focus on academic achievement, our curriculum prepares girls for IGCSE, BTEC and A-Level examinations, taken in Year 11 and Year 13, opening doors to exciting and ambitious futures. Equipped with the skills and confidence to excel, our pupils are prepared for success in higher education and beyond.
Nursery (Age 2 – 3 Years)
Discover a world of wonder at Downe House Riyadh Nursery.
As Riyadh’s only British International Nursery, we offer a unique and exceptional start to your child’s educational journey. In our safe, nurturing environment, little ones explore and learn through engaging play, building strong foundations for future success.
We believe in cultivating essential values from the earliest years, empowering children to become confident, curious, and compassionate individuals. Our dedicated team creates a stimulating atmosphere where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.
Pre-Prep (Pre-School –Year 2)
Learning in Pre-Prep begins with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, centred around skillfully crafted purposeful play-based learning, where our youngest children develop important cognitive, communication and social skills. These years help lay the important foundations, which will serve pupils through their education and beyond.
Pupils develop basic skills in numeracy and literacy, developed through active, hands-on learning basic, and begin to apply their learning to real-world experiences.
In Year 1, pupils commence the Key Stage 1 curriculum, designed to enhance their creativity and interest in learning, while developing core skills. Pupils learn through varied and interactive activities and enjoy the excitement that each new day brings.
In these years, pupils begin to develop all-important skills in reading and writing and start to work with numbers to complete basic calculations. Beyond this, the curriculum enables pupils to explore new subjects for the first time, developing their breadth of knowledge.
The curriculum in Years 3–6
In Prep School, learning is engaging and creative. The enhanced Key Stage 2 curriculum is designed to ensure that pupils develop skills across a range of subject areas and feel inspired to challenge themselves further through a system that personalises pace and challenge.
We encourage pupils to develop new academic interests, through the broad curriculum on offer, while ensuring that they develop the core competencies needed to access more challenging curriculum material in later years.
From Year 5 onward, subject-specialist teachers lead across the curriculum, with all lessons taught by specialists by Year 6, yet within a carefully designed, age-appropriate transition. This model ensures that girls progress to the Key Stage 3 curriculum with greater academic independence and deeper subject knowledge.
The curriculum in Years 7 and 8
The curriculum in Years 7 and 8 is designed to give as much variety of educational experience as possible, while also advancing core skills. Girls are encouraged to collaborate and integrate creativity into their work as they explore new topics and ideas.
In Years 7 and 8, the programme is underpinned by an enhanced UK Key Stage 3 curriculum balanced with Arabic, Islamic and Social Studies.
The curriculum offers intellectual challenge and balance with a view to providing as broad of a range of future opportunities as possible. It also lays the foundation for the IGCSE programmes that will start in Year 9.
The curriculum in Years 9-11
Years 9 to 11 are the IGCSE years, allowing pupils to tailor their academic program to their interests and talents. These internationally recognized qualifications are externally set and moderated, a hallmark of the British education system’s commitment to rigor and high standards. This approach ensures depth and breadth of knowledge, skill, and understanding before further specialization in Year 12.
In selecting their IGCSE options, pupils craft a broad and balanced curriculum with the support of their form tutor and subject teachers. All pupils will complete examinations in core subjects including English, Mathematics and the Sciences, alongside optional subjects, which will pave the way for their A Level choices or BTEC qualifications. Arabic, Islamic Studies, and Social Studies continue to have dedicated time within the curriculum, ensuring these subjects remain strong, integral components of each pupil's education.