FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

TEACHING STAFF

1.       What nationality are the teachers?

96% of our teachers are from the UK.  There are a few staff from North America and New Zealand and the rest are Korean or Chinese.

2.       When will teachers and management staff be appointed for start of academic year?

All teaching staff, with the exception of Korean and Mandarin staff, have already been appointed.  The Senior Leadership Team consisting of the Principal and four Vice Principals have also been appointed.

3.       What are the nationalities of your students?

98% of students in the academic year 2011-2012 are Korean.  The remainder of students are children of staff who come from all over the world but mainly UK.

4.       What are the qualifications of your teachers?

All of the teachers are qualified to University degree standard or equivalent. The majority of the teachers have a degree from a UK University and non-UK staff hold a first degree from either their home country or a recognised International University .  Many of the staff have further degrees and teaching qualifications from UK or their country of origin. Many appointed staff are currently IB teachers and all staff will be provided with IB training during the first year of the school’s operation

5.       What is the contract period for teaching staff?

Three years with one year renewable contracts following completion of initial contract.

6.       Will boarding house staff teach?

Yes. Boarding house staff, masters and mistresses are teachers and will teach a range of subjects in the Junior and Senior School as well as fulfil their boarding requirements.  All boarding staff are on a generously reduced timetable to enable them to fulfil all of their duties.

CURRICULUM

7.       What is the student start and school finish time?

Start time 9.00am and finish time between 8.00pm and 9.00pm depending on age group.

8.       What curriculum and levels do you offer?

We offer the English National Curriculum for pupils in years Reception to Year Nine, International General Certificate for Secondary Education (IGCSE) to Years Ten and Eleven and intend to offer The International Baccalaureate Diploma as a pre-university entrance programme for Year Twelve and Thirteen.  The academic years 2011-2012 will see a preparation for IB programme for students in Years Ten and Eleven.

9.       What is the curriculum for all age groups?

Detailed programmes of Study will be placed on the website in June 2011

Junior School:  Key Stage One. From entry in the Reception classes through to Year 2, the children develop basic skills in reading, writing and number work alongside Art and Design, ICT, Music, Drama, PE, PSHE and Science, History and Geography are taught through Topic Work.

Junior School:  Key Stage Two: Year 3 to Year 6. Teaching is more subject based, including Mathematics, English and Science together with History, Geography, PSHE, PE, ICT, Music, Drama and Art.

Senior School: Key Stage Three: Year 7 – 9: English National Curriculum (numbers of lessons)

English (6)                             Mathematics (6)

Science (6)                             History (3)

Geography (3)                        IT (2)         

Korean    (6)                          Mandarin (2)                   

Physical Education (4)            PSHE (1)

Performing and Expressive Arts (6)

Activities (4)

 

        Senior School:  Pre-IB curriculum for Years 10 & 11   

1.       English and World Literature (9)

2.       Modern and Classical Languages (6)

3.       Humanities and Social Sciences (6)

4.       Experimental Sciences (9)

5.       Mathematics courses (8)

6.       EITHER a creative arts subject OR a second subject from Group 2, Group 3 or Group 4  (6)

7.       Community Action Service & Theory Of Knowledge (5)

Total 49 lessons of 35 minutes

 

10.   Do you teach Korean language and Korean History to Korean students? Do dual citizenship Korean students have to study Korean Language and History?

 Korean language and History is taught to Korean students from Year 4 to Year 13 in line with the requirements and directives of the Local Provincial Office of Education.  Dual citizenship students will have to study Korean language and history.

GRADES	4 - 6	7 - 9	10 – 13
*Time for Korean Language per annum	102 hours	68 hours	As subject choices for IGCSE
*Time for Korean History and Social   Studies per annum	68 hours	34 hours	As subject choices for IGCSE

*based on a 220 day year calendar

      11.   Will the History classes teach Korean History?

Korean history will be taught by Korean teachers during Korean history time in Korean language.  History lessons will follow English National Curriculum in Years Four to Nine and the IGCSE syllabus in Year Ten and Eleven and IB History programme in Year 12 and 13.  All UK History Programmes of Study cover British, European and World History

12.   Do you have an English as a Second Language (ESL) Programme?

Yes.  We will have an ESL department who will support students whose first language is not English.  Pupils will either be withdrawn from lessons for extra tuition in English or will be supported in class. The focus for this support is mainly with the younger pupils as older students will be expected to be reasonably proficient in English when accepted into NLCS Jeju.

13.   What sports do we offer?     

Football, rugby, netball, lacrosse, handball, badminton, gymnastics, cheer leading, athletics, table tennis, tennis, volleyball, swimming, softball and baseball.

14.   What instrumental music options will you offer?

We will offer instrumental tuition in strings, wind, brass, choral and keyboards.  This will be charged extra to the fees.  Students will take examinations with Trinity College or Associated Board of the Royal Society of Music (ABRSM) to achieve different grade levels in their chosen instrument.

15.   What languages do you offer?

English, Korean and Mandarin 2011-2012 from Yea 4 – Year 13.  French, Spanish and Japanese (if there is a demand for these subjects) 2012-2013 for Year 10 – Year 13

16.   What are the class sizes?

22-24 pupils per class in Key Stage One, Two and Three and Four, Years Reception to Year Ten.  12-15 students per class in Key Stage Four, pre-university entry IB Years, Years 12 and 13.

17.   Are students in sets or streamed classes?

There is no streaming.  For some subject areas there will be some setting such as languages and Mathematics.  More classes will be set as the students move up the school.

18.   What textbooks will be used?

Most textbooks are linked to the UK curriculum and are purchased from UK publishing companies.  Subject Departments will provide book lists on request.

19.   Will there be form (homeroom) teachers?

All students will have a form tutor who will be their first point of contact on pastoral matters. They will meet with the tutor at the start and end of the day.

20.   Will students move classrooms or teachers?

In the Junior school classes, pupils will be taught most subjects in the same classroom except for music, art, drama, ICT and sport.  Senior school students will move classrooms for all subjects.

21.   Will students be taught mixed or separately?

Junior school students will be mixed, Reception to Year Six: Senior School students will be taught in separate classes of boys and girls and in Years Twelve and Thirteen they will be mixed.

22.   Who will assist with university entrance requirements?

There will be two members of staff who will be available to give expert advice on UK, US, Korean and other university entrance programme.  They will also be available to give careers advice to students.  Staff will assist in preparing students for university entrance exams and interviews but will not be able to provide assistance with Scholastic Aptitude Tests for entry into US universities.

23.   Who will participate in Creativity , Action and Service?

All students involved in the pre-IB preparation programme.  This will be organised by the school but parents can arrange extra community service outside of the school programme such as internships during the holidays.

24.   Has the school been approved for IB candidacy?

Application for IB candidacy has been approved.  Following visits from the IB representative in the first term of the new school year we would hope to be approved for IB candidacy early next year.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

25.   What activities and extra-curricular programme will be offered?

All pupils, both day and boarding, will be required to participate in activities after school and on a Saturday morning.  Before we start the year in September all students will be provided with the activities programme and will sign up before term begins. Activities will include: sailing, kayaking,  scuba diving, kite-boarding and paragliding, hiking, walking, orienteering, mountain climbing, biking (there will be free bikes available), running/triathlon, International Award, Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, debating, public speaking, THIMUN (Model United Nations), Art/ceramics/textiles club,  Drama productions, International Schools Theatre Association, Senior Societies, film club, chess club, board games, cooking, charity groups, English clubs, Carnegie book club, martial arts, horse riding, polo, IT club/web based activities, robotics, data programming/Java based/VLE, mini-Enterprise.

26.   What extra-curricular activities are chargeable?

Any visits to museums or places of interest with an entrance fee; sports that require hire of equipment and professional coaching; overseas trips and trips to concerts and plays.

27.   Will there be school trips on Jeju and overseas?

There will be a range of trips around Jeju Island for pupils to museums and the many places of natural beauty as Jeju Island is a World Heritage Site approved by Unesco.  There will be a range of overseas trips arranged every year for students.  These will be notified in the annual calendar and will range from Ski trips, International Award, Biology, Geography and History field trips, sports trips for competition purposes and trips to countries of interest.  It is recommended that parents allow their children to participate in only one overseas trip per academic year.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

28.   How is the academic calendar organised and how long is each term?

A three term year as in UK independent schools.  See calendar on website for details.  Pupil days are 176 and staff days are 190.

29.   How long is the school day?

For boarding students the day will start with wake up at 7.30am followed by breakfast.  Day students will start school at 9.00am.  Classes finish at 4.00pm followed by activities and supper. 

30.   Do you observe Korean holidays?

Most, but not all Korean holidays are observed.  See calendar for details.  We include most UK public holidays in the school holidays.

PARENTS

31.   Are parents allowed in the classrooms?

Only in the Junior School at the start and end of the day.  Parents are advised to make appointments with teachers or the house team through the school office if they would like to meet to discuss any aspect of their child’s education with the teacher or house staff.

32.   Will there be a parents/friends of the school association?

Yes.  The school will establish a Parents Guild of NLCS Jeju whose membership will be mainly parents of children who attend the school.  They will organise events for the school community and raise funds for the school, participate in special events and other school or community related activities.  This organisation will be regulated by the school with formal constitution and election procedures.

33.   Will I receive regular updates on my child’s progress in school?

There will be fixed opportunities each term to either meet with the teaching and boarding staff and parents will also receive short and more detailed reports every term. 

ADMISSIONS

34.   How will your school pupil numbers increase over the next few years?

We will start this year with between 400-550 students in all year groups Reception to Year 11.  Next year we shall increase to 1,122 students and in the third year of existence to 1,420 students. However, places will only be offered to pupils who are of a suitable ability level and as with the current intake, if only a small proportion of those applying are of the required ability levels then lesser numbers will be admitted.

35.   How do I apply for the school and how are students selected for entry to NLCS Jeju?

Complete the application form on the website and send to the admissions office with payments with other documents that are listed.  All students will take a series of entrance examinations that are based on non-verbal, quantitative and verbal tests.  Students will be selected based on aptitude and level of written and spoken English and ability in Mathematics.  Students applying for Key Stage Four, Year 10 and 11, will complete an unseen essay question and will be involved in an interview with a member of NLCS staff.  School reports from existing and previous schools will also be taken into consideration.

36.   How do I pay my tuition fees?

We encourage fees to be paid by electronic transfer:

Due Dates for School Fees 2011-2012

Lump Sum:

Annual tuition fees are due on the 30th June. For details of how to make this payment, please refer to the website or admissions office.

Instalments:

Tuition fees can be paid in three instalments with an additional 2% charged if you choose this method of payment.  For the first term, tuition fees are due by 30^th June 2011.  The first term fees are 50% of the total fees.  The instalments for the second and third term fees will be due on 1^st December 2011 and 1^st March 2012 respectively.  Payments for second and third terms are both 25% of the total fees.  Boarding fees will also be charged in three equal instalments.  The due dates for payment will be notified shortly.   Methods of payment of other school fees and due dates will be notified shortly.

 

37.   What is the currency for payment of fees?

Payment of tuition fees is divided into KRW and British Pounds Sterling.  All other fees, including boarding fees, are to be paid in KRW.

38.   What is the policy on school refunds?

See terms and conditions on website regarding payment and refunds of school fees.

BOARDING HOUSE

39.   How will my child be cared for in the boarding house?

 Within the boarding environment the aims of NLCS Jeju are the framework within which the boarding houses will operate.  Each pupil is valued within the house community that will provide a secure and safe environment where pupils learn toleration and an appreciation of living within a community.  Pupils are discouraged from having the mentality that expects others will serve them.  Courtesy is required from pupils towards everybody who will be working within the boarding house.  Rudeness or disrespect towards any member of the house, pupil, teacher or support staff is not tolerated.  Each house fosters an ethos of learning and living together and the opportunity to grow up alongside and learn from younger and older members of the house family.  It is always expected that younger pupils are looked after by older pupils but it is our belief that all members of a house look after each other regardless of age or maturity.    Through a shared experience members of each house will develop socially, personally and understand the benefits of living, working and building relationships within a supportive and vibrant environment.

40.   What are the punishments for having illegal drugs or alcohol in school or the boarding house?

Any student who brings alcohol or illegal drugs into school will be asked to leave the school or will be expelled.

41.   How many students are in each boarding house?

Forty eight (48) students in each boarding house Years 5 – 11 with slightly higher numbers  in the Sixth Form boarding houses.

42.   How is each boarding house organised?

Each house is separated into houses for girls and boys.   Junior school houses will house year Five and Six pupils in dormitories of four pupils.  The senior school houses will be a mixture of students from Years Seven to Eleven, approximately ten students from each year group, three students to each dormitory.  The sixth form houses will be Year Twelve and Thirteen students in dormitories of two per room.

43.   What is the staff structure in the boarding house?

The house structure in each house is a Boarding Housemaster/mistress (BHM) to oversee approximately forty eight pupils supported by an assistant housemaster/mistress (ABHM), a house matron and five tutors from the teaching staff to assist with the academic and pastoral development of the pupils.  There will be one gap year student to assist in the house.   BHM and ABHM are classroom practitioners and are part of the academic staff of the school and therefore have real experience of what is happening in the classroom.  All the house staff will know all pupils within their house in both a pastoral and academic overview.  They will be available to discuss with the pupils their academic progress, help identify where they may need support and be aware when there are difficulties or pressures.    There will be domestic staff in the house to do the cleaning and laundry for the pupils.

44.   Can the parents remove their child every weekend from the boarding house?

We encourage parents to leave their children in the boarding house during term time so that they experience all of the positive aspects of a boarding education. 

45.   Can students stay in the boarding houses during the holidays?

No.  Students must vacate the boarding houses during all holidays.

46.   Will there be a pick up and drop off service boarders at the end of terms to the airport on Jeju?

There will be a bus ‘ferry ‘service from and to the airport operating all day on the day prior to the start of term and on the last day of each term.

 GENERAL

47.   Is there a bus for day students?

Yes, we will offer a bus service for day students on Jeju Island.  There will be designated pick up and drop off points on the island.  We will not do door to door drop offs.  Details on bus service will be available in August.

48.   Do you provide healthy lunches for students?

Yes.  Boarding students meals are included in the fees.  Day students will pay either on a monthly basis or bring their own ‘packed lunch’.  Meals will be monitored for healthy options. The daily menu will be broadly international with a significant Korean influence. 

49.   Is the school a safe environment?

Yes. We apply strict health and safety procedures on site to ensure all children are safe and secure within the school environment. All students in the boarding house are registered each morning and after the doors are locked in the evenings.  Registers to check on pupils’ attendance are taken throughout the day by all staff and by the form tutor at the start and end of the day.  There are regular fire drills.  Security guards are employed at all entrances and exits to the school and the grounds are ringed by a fence and wall to keep out intruders and to prevent students leaving the campus during the day.  Students can only leave the school with parents’ permission.

50.   Is there a school uniform?

We will have a school uniform with similar colours and designs to NLCS UK. Students in all year groups will be required to wear shoes. In the boarding houses students can wear casual clothes.  There are currently two Korean uniform providers tendering for the uniform contract.  Details of the uniform and suppliers and outlets from where it can be purchased will be sent to parents in early July 2011.

51.   How do you deal with bullying?

Bullying in any form, whether it is verbal or physical, is unacceptable and bullies will be dealt with severely.   The school anti-bullying policy clearly defines bullying, sets down what parents should do if they suspect their child is being bullied, clearly states the initiatives that will be put in place by the school to prevent bullying and the disciplinary procedures for dealing with bullies and support for those who have been bullied.

52.   Are their scholarships or bursaries to NLCS Jeju?

Scholarships and bursaries will be available for the 2012-2013 academic year.  Details will be announced next academic year.

53.   Will there be exchange programmes between NLCS Jeju and NLCS UK?

The programme for exchange students will start in academic 2012. Numbers of students involved will be limited in the first few years and only older students will be involved.  To minimise disruption to exam courses exchanges will be limited to one term or less.  NLCS UK students will be able to stay in the boarding houses during an exchange.  NLCS Jeju students will stay with a homestay family to be arranged by the student’s family.

54.   How does the school regulate computer usage?

The school will have their own firewalls and sophisticated software to prevent students accessing inappropriate material from the internet.  We will be able to monitor the school usage of individual pupils’ use of the internet for both desktop Pc’s and laptop computers. Students will be able to watch TV in the evening and at weekends in the dormitories.  DVD use will be monitored so that only age appropriate material will be available for viewing.

55.   Can students bring cell phones to school and when can they use them?

Day students must keep mobile phones in lockers and they must be switched off at all times.  Only before and after school can students use their cell phones or any other personal electronic equipment. Boarders will be given a specific time to use phones to call parents and friends in the evening in the boarding house.  Borders phones will be looked after by house staff during the day and overnight as they cannot be used in dormitories after lights out.

56.   Are their medical facilities on the school site?

There is a fully equipped medical centre on the school site with a full time nurse and a visiting doctor.

57.   Will students be able to attend places of worship at the weekends?

A bus service will be provided on a Sunday to places of worship on Jeju Island.

58.   Can students transfer from NLCS Jeju to NLCS UK and from NLCS UK to NLCS Jeju?

No. The entrance examination for each school must be taken and other criteria relevant to each school applied before entry is granted to either school.