Senior School Welcome Handbook 2015-2016

WelcomeSenior School Voorschoten

2015 | 2016Internationally British

2 | SSV Welcome

Welcome from Head Teacher 3 Starting at the BSN 4

Welcome to Senior School 5 Staying in touch 6

Student wellbeing 6 Daily routines 8 What to wear 11

What to bring to school 12 1-to-1 iPad Programme 13

Opportunities outside the classroom 14 Student health 16

Promoting positive behaviour 18 Welcoming new parents to the school 19

Years 7 and 8 – Key Stage 3 20 Year 9 – Key Stage 3 24

Years 10 and 11 – Key Stage 4 26 Years 12 and 13 – Sixth Form 30

Field trips, visits and courses 34

SSV Welcome | 3

Dear parents Welcome to Senior School

We are delighted

to welcome your family

to the BSN Senior

School community. Our

philosophy embraces the

challenges of academic

excellence, responsibility,

leadership, friendship

and participation in a

wide variety of activities while being supportive

and understanding.

Our students and staff come from a wide range

of backgrounds, the UK, The Netherlands and

over eighty other countries. Each member of our

community has experience from which we can all

learn. Whilst we have collective aims, everyone

is treated as an individual, with students being

encouraged to use initiative and develop their

own skills and talents.

There will be many new opportunities and

experiences that lie ahead for students during

their time at the BSN. Whether your family is new

to The Netherlands, or your son or daughter is

new to the BSN or new to the Senior School –

moving from one of our junior schools – our aim

is to help both students and their families, make

the transition as easy and problem free as possible.

To help with this we have produced this guide

to the key things you will need to know as your

son or daughter starts at the BSN – in addition

to this, students will receive a copy of Basics: a student’s guide to Senior School at the start

of term. This is issued to everyone at Senior School

and is designed to provide answers to many

of the questions that students ask. In addition,

students’ Form Tutors and Heads of Year will

ensure that they have all the information they

need when they start and will support students

throughout the year.

We look forward to welcoming you and your

family to our community. For those families

transferring from a different school or country,

we invite you to join us at the new student

induction morning on Friday 4 September, where parents and guardians will have the

opportunity to meet others in the same boat.

In September, shortly after the start of term,

we hold an Open Evening for new Year 7

parents which is a chance to meet the Head of

Year and the Form Tutors as well as other parents

in your child’s form and to hear a little about life

in Year 7. Other year groups have Parents and

Tutor Consultation Evenings throughout the year –

please refer to Gateway for details and timing.

Students join the BSN throughout the school year

and will be warmly welcomed, when they arrive,

by the Head of Year as well as their Form Tutor.

The BSN Family Association holds a regular

Coffee Morning at Senior School where parents

are welcome to drop by to meet other families

and catch up on news of life at the BSN.

We do hope that you are now looking forward

to the prospect of life at the BSN Senior

School – we are certainly looking forward to

welcoming you and your children to our thriving

school community.

Peter Simpson Head of Senior School Voorschoten

Senior School Voorschoten

4 | SSV Welcome

Starting at the BSNWe know that whether you are moving to

a new country, starting a new school – or perhaps

both, this is an exciting time. At the BSN we do

all that we can to help families feel settled and at

home as quickly as possible. We are experienced

in welcoming newcomers; not only in September,

but throughout the whole school year.

You are likely to have lots of questions about

school routines and how things work, and what

day to day life will be like for you and your family

at the BSN. This handbook is designed to help

you answer many of those questions, but please

remember that if you are unsure about anything

at all you just need to ask – we will always do our

best to help.

Term dates

School year 2015 | 2016

Autumn term Term begins | Mon 7 Sep 2015

Half term | Mon 26 Oct to Mon 2 Nov 2015 (incl.)

End of term | Fri 18 Dec 2015

Christmas holidays

Spring term Term begins | Tue 5 Jan 2016

Half term | Mon 15 Feb to Mon 22 Mar 2016 (incl.)

End of term | Thurs 24 Mar 2016

Easter holidays

Summer term Term begins | Tue 12 Apr 2016

Half term | Mon 30 May to Fri 3 Jun 2016 (incl.)

End of term | Fri 15 Jul 2016

Summer holidays

SSV Welcome | 5

Welcome to Senior School

Welcome to the Senior School – if you’re

joining us at the start of the school year, read

on to find out about our induction morning and

welcome procedure. If, however, you are joining

us mid-way through the year, you will have an

accompanying letter to this handbook. This letter

will explain what you need to do on your first

day at the BSN – who will meet you and show

you around, which form you will be in and more

information about which lessons you will have.

New BSN students – induction morning

Students who are new to the BSN at

the start of the school year, are invited to attend

an induction morning, on Friday 4 September between 09:30 and 11:00. New students will

be welcomed in the school hall by Mr Peter

Simpson, Head Teacher, the Heads of Year and

Form Tutors – students will then have a chance

to tour the building and find out where their

classrooms are. Parents are invited to join the

BSN Welcome Team for a cup of coffee and

will also have a chance to have their questions

answered. This induction morning is not designed

for students moving to the Senior School from

our junior schools – the transfer day offered to

BSN students during Year 6 is designed to serve

this purpose.

The first day of termOn Monday 7 September, staff and

student helpers will be ready, from 08:30 in

the school Atrium, to welcome new students

to the BSN. Hopefully most new students will

have attended the induction morning and

will have a good idea of what lies ahead.

Year 7

Students joining Year 7 should go to the

school hall, where Mrs Anna Bradley – the Head

of Year and her Form Tutors will be waiting to

welcome students and take them to their form

rooms and introduce them to their class.

Years 8, 9, 10 and 11

Students joining in these year groups will

be welcomed in the Atrium and then shown to

their new form room. Form Tutors will be able

to answer any questions and will issue timetables,

agenda and locker instructions. Students will be

paired with another student in their class who

will help them settle into the school routine and

guide them around the building.

Years 12 and 13

The Director and Assistant Director of

Sixth Form, along with current Year 12 and 13

students will be in the Atrium to welcome and

guide new students to their forms.


6 | SSV Welcome

Staying in touchDay to day communication

BSN Gateway is the BSN’s password

protected website. It provides direct, personalised

access to Notes Home, the school calendar,

approval forms for trips, the family database,

school news and curriculum information. The

BSN Gateway is our key method of day to day

communication with parents. We do not send

paper notes home in school bags, but rather

use a system of electronic Notes and Messages

sent through this portal.

If your son or daughter is moving from one of

the BSN Junior Schools, your Gateway details

will remain unchanged. Parents who are new

to the BSN will receive a temporary log-in with

their acknowledgement letter and a permanent,

personal log-in within the first couple of days

of their child starting school with us. Please

be sure to log in and check for news and

messages regularly.

BSN Insight BSN Insight Magazine is a termly overview

of some of the many events, activities and work

that has been taking place across the school.

The magazine is delivered by post to each BSN

family towards the end of every term and is

available online via the BSN website.

General enquiriesThe School Office is at the heart of our

busy school – for general questions about the

school or for any messages that you need to pass

on, the School Office will be able to help you.

Feel free to phone, call in at any time or email us.

If you have any general enquiries about the

school, routines or practical issues, then please

direct them to the School Office – if the Office is

not able to help you, you will be put in touch with

someone who can. When no-one is available to

speak to you, there is an ‘out of hours’ messaging

service operating from 16.30 every day – calls

are logged as emails and passed on to the

appropriate member of staff – we do our best

to respond to questions as quickly as possible.

School Office contactsOffice Manager | Christine Turton Receptionist | Sue Harris Office Administrator | Dawn Corringham Office Administrator | Hilary Davidson Office Administrator | Megan Haworth Telephone: 071 560 2222

Fax: 071 560 2200

Email: [email protected]

Larger issues or concernsIf your concerns or questions are more

serious or confidential in nature, you are welcome

to contact the Head of Year, Deputy or Head

Teacher who will help you as quickly as possible.

You can contact the School Office to arrange an

appointment or email them directly.

Student wellbeingParent/teacher communication

The school operates an Open Door Policy

for all parents who want to get in touch with the

school to discuss any issues or problems. Please

refer to the table to establish who is the most

relevant member of staff to contact with a query

or concern. In turn, we will contact families if we

have concerns.

SSV Welcome | 7

We have regular Parents Evenings throughout the

year – but there is no need to wait for this to talk

to us about an urgent matter. Please bear in mind

though, that staff have teaching commitments

and it may be difficult for them to return calls

immediately. When leaving a message with the

office, please leave a number and the times when

it is convenient for a member of staff to call back.

We want to encourage a partnership with parents

particularly in relation to your child’s academic

learning and personal development. For this

reason staff email addresses are open for parents

to communicate with individual staff members.

We ask you to ensure that your message is sent

to the most relevant person – see the table below.

In situations where contacting the Form Tutor

or Head of Year is not appropriate parents are

welcome to contact a member of the Senior

Management Team:

Head Teacher | Peter Simpson Email: [email protected]

Deputy Head, Pastoral | Ian Laycock Email: [email protected]

Deputy Head, Curriculum | James Oxlade Email: [email protected]

Nature of message Relevant member of staff

An academic matter, for instance about a lesson

or homework

The subject teacher or the specialist teacher

in the case of Dutch, PE, Music or EAL

A matter to do with a student’s personal

well-being, for instance friendship issuesThe Form Tutor

If a matter is of a serious nature and

warrants escalation

The Head of Year or Head of Department

Technical examination questions The Exams Office

Medical matters, for instance information

about an allergyThe School Nurse

Administrative matters, for instance to do with

school transport or lost property or sickness absence

The School Office

A strategic or policy matter The Head Teacher or The Principal

The pastoral system The Senior School aims to provide a

safe and caring environment in which students

will thrive, and an important part of this is the

pastoral system. When students join the school

they are placed in form groups – each Form

Tutor has responsibility for up to twenty-four

students and is part of a Tutor team led by the

Head of Year.

The Form Tutor plays an important role in the

students’ pastoral experiences and is the first

point of contact for students.

Tutors register their form in the morning and

spend the first part of the lunch break with them

in their form room. On Wednesdays and alternate

Fridays, the form meets for a 20 minute Tutor

period after morning break where students are

helped with organisation and planning. As well

as the practicalities of school life, discussions and

tasks are undertaken based on relevant, topical

issues, ranging from information about the trip

to The Kaag for Year 7s to advice about subject

options for Year 9s, and careers and university

advice for Sixth Formers.

Form Tutors and the Head of Year monitor

a large range of issues including: attendance,

punctuality, behaviour and students’ general

well-being in school.

Homework and academic progress will also

be monitored and students will be encouraged

to set their own targets and evaluate their

outcome over the year. Tutors work closely

with other teachers to ensure an enriching and

enjoyable educational experience for the students

in their form.


8 | SSV Welcome

Daily routinesThe start of the day

The school building is open for students

from 08:00 onwards, with most arriving between

08:20 and 08:40. Students arriving at school by

bus will be dropped off in the school grounds.

By 08:45 students are expected to be in their

form rooms for registration. Late arrivals are

required to report to the office and sign in

there – if your child’s school bus appears to

be running late, there is no need to alert us –

the bus company will do this automatically

and your child will not be marked as late or

absent. A student is deemed late for school if

they are not present in their form room by 08:50.

Two-week timetable

The timing of the day and students’

timetables span a two-week period – known

as Week A and Week B. At the start of term,

students receive their timetable and are

encouraged to keep it with their Agenda,

to ensure they remain organised. Students

soon become used to knowing if it’s Week A

or Week B with signs posted around the school

as well as the Home page of Gateway.

Lesson and break times Throughout the day, the school bell

sounds to indicate the start and finish of lessons,

to mark break and lunchtime, and to signal the

end of the day. Please note that finishing times

vary according to which day of the week it is;

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday school ends

at 15:55 and on Wednesday and Friday school

ends at 15:25.

AssemblyStudents at the Senior School meet

regularly for whole year group assembly – this is

an opportunity for the Tutors and Heads of Year

to share important notices and to highlight and

celebrate students’ successes. Once a term,

the school holds a whole school assembly which

is held by Mr Peter Simpson, the Head Teacher.

The rota for assemblies by year group is here:

Monday, Tuesday and Thursday Wednesday and Friday

08:50–08:55 Registration 08:50–08:55 Registration08:55–09:50 Period 1 08:55–09:50 Period 1

09:55–10:50 Period 2 09:55–10:50 Period 2

10:50–11:10 Break 10:50–11:40 Break

Period 311:10–12:05 Period 3

12:10–13:05 Period 4 11:40–12:35 Period 4

13:05–14:00 Lunch 12:35–13:30 Lunch14:00–14:55 Period 5 13:30–14:25 Period 5

15:00–15:55 Period 6 14:30–15:25 Period 6

15:55 End of day 15:25 End of day

Week Day Time Year Group

A Wednesday 10:50–11:15 13

Friday 10:50–11:15 12

Friday 11:15–11:40 8

B Wednesday 10:50–11:15 11

Wednesday 11:15–11:40 9

Friday 10:50–11:15 10

Friday 11:15–11:40 7

SSV Welcome | 9

Breakfast, snack and lunchThe Senior School has its own cafeteria,

which is open from 8:00 and provides hot and

cold meals and snacks which students can

purchase throughout the day. The school has

a well-supported healthy eating programme

which ensures that the food served is balanced

and healthy.

There are also a number of vending machines

which offer drinks and snacks for after school

or when the canteen is not open. Water is freely

available at all times and students are encouraged

to have their own refillable water bottles for use

throughout the day.

Many students bring their own packed lunch and

snack – this is generally eaten in form rooms as a

group under the supervision of a member of staff.

School Bus ServiceThe school operates a comprehensive

bus service for students – various options are

available, including a door-to-door service.

The bus service works independently of the

school and has a strict behaviour policy.

Further information on the school bus service

is on BSN Gateway and the school website.

For more information on the BSN Bus Service,

please refer to your Essentials handbook, or

BSN Gateway. The BSN Transport Department

can be contacted on: 070 315 4083 or

[email protected].


10 | SSV Welcome

The end of the dayAt the end of the day, when the final bell

sounds, students make their way to their lockers

to organise the books and files they need for

homework and then move on – either onto the

school bus, to a co-curricular activity or home.

Students can be collected by car, but access at

this busy time of day, negotiating buses, cars,

cyclists and pedestrians, can be a challenge and

students must take care.

Going home by school busBuses leave promptly, 15 minutes after the

end of the school day. Students must always have

their bus pass with them. If a student accidentally

misses the bus, they will be able to call from

the School Office to make alternative collection

arrangements with parents and guardians.

After school activitiesPlease note that students participating

in after school Co-curricular Activities (CCAs)

need to have made alternative, independent

travel arrangements or be collected from school

at the appropriate time.

Parking and drop offPlease be aware of the legal parking

signs on the roads around the school. Parents

are requested to park sensibly and consider

pedestrians at all times. Parents bringing children

to school should use the drop off zone at the front

of the school building – please do not stop right in

front of the doors to the school.

Arriving by bicycleStudents cycling to school use the rear

gate and must not use the main front entrance,

which is very busy at the start and end of the

day. Once inside the school grounds, bikes

should be pushed, not ridden. There is covered

bicycle storage inside school grounds. Bicycles

must be locked during the day and are the sole

responsibility of the owners.

Security informationThe security of our students and staff

is important to us, and a closed circuit

monitoring system is in place. All visitors,

including parents, are requested to sign in at

Reception and wear the appropriate badge

issued upon sign-in.

In an emergency, such as fire or evacuation of

the school, parents will be sent an emergency

text message. For this reason, it is vital that the

school has up to date mobile phone details for

all parents and guardians. Further information

and our policy for use of the Emergency Text

System can be found on BSN Gateway.

SSV Welcome | 11

What to wearThe Senior School uniform helps to

promote a shared feeling of equality amongst our

students – a particularly important consideration

as we welcome students from a wide range of

countries and work to provide them with a sense

of belonging. The uniform changes as students

move through the Senior School and everyone in

Years 7-11 must wear it. Please take particular note

of the regulations regarding footwear. Details of

the uniform required can be found on the website,

in the separate School Uniform leaflet and on

BSN Gateway.

The BSN Uniform Shop is open for new students

to visit before the start of each term. New arrivals

are strongly advised to attend the shop with their

son or daughter to allow fitting – always make an

appointment in advance by calling: 070 315 4087

or 071 315 4080.

If your son or daughter is due to start part-way

through a term and you are concerned about

organising school uniform, you can also speak

to the Admissions Department: 070 315 4077,

who would be happy to help you.

Sixth Form dress codeStudents should be dressed appropriately

for study – this means that clothing should be

smart, clean, respectable and appropriate.

Students may not wear vests, shorts, cropped

tops or mini skirts.

Sixth Form students’ dress should not cause

offence to staff or other students.

Jewellery Students with pierced ears are permitted

to wear small stud earrings, but these must be

removed or covered during PE lessons. Piercings

are not allowed on any other part of the body.

Jewellery should not be worn in school.

Marking and labelling All items of clothing and equipment

should be clearly marked with your child’s name.

The Uniform Shop can recommend companies

providing labels and name tapes.

Where to buy uniform The main Uniform Shop is in the Sports

and Community building on Junior School

Leidschenveen (JSL) campus and there is a

smaller one at Senior School, Room 59. Uniform

can also be ordered via BSN Gateway and

delivered to the School Offices for collection

by students.

Main shop (JSL) opening times

Thursdays | 08:45–10:30

Thursday | 15:00–16:00

(first Thursday of the month only)

Senior School shop opening times

Thursdays | 12:30–14:30

(priority for students from 13:05 to 14:00)

Thursday | 15:30–16:30

(second Thursday of the month only)


12 | SSV Welcome

What to bring to school

One of the best ways to ensure that

your son or daughter feels happy, confident and

settled when they start school is to make sure

that they have with them all the equipment that

they need – your assistance in getting them

organised helps greatly. Please make sure that

all items are clearly named and labelled.

Equipment● pencil case

● blue/black pen

● pencils

● pencil sharpener

● ruler

● eraser

● English dictionary

● pack of colouring pens/pencils

● scissors

● glue stick

● highlighter pen

● iPad

● memory stick

Mathematics ● protractor

● pair of compasses

● HB or harder pencil

● scientific calculator

(we recommend Casio fx-82MS)

Art● coloured pencils

● small set of watercolours

● apron or art shirt

Design Technology● blue DT apron – available from

the Uniform Shop

● hair band to tie back long hair

● 2B, HB and 2H pencils

● set of coloured pencils

● geometry set including 30cm ruler,

pair of compasses, 45° set square

and a 20°/60° set square

PE bagStudents may use any suitable sports bag.

However, PE bags are available from the Uniform

Shop. PE kit is generally brought into school on

the appropriate day and then taken home again

for washing on the same day.

Water bottleIn line with the school environmental

policy, no paper cups are provided at school.

Proper hydration helps to improve concentration

levels and water is freely available within the

Senior School.

SSV Welcome | 13

1-to-1 iPad programme

All Senior School students require an

iPad which parents are asked to purchase, at

a significantly subsidised rate, via the school’s

secure online shop on BSN Gateway – further

information on how to go about this has

been sent to you in the e-newsletter from our

Admissions Team. Information is also available on

our website.

To help protect students and their iPads, the

school runs regular information sessions

with students and strict rules relating to the

use of iPads apply. These are detailed in the

Responsible Use Agreement which students and

parents must sign when iPads are issued and a

copy is included in Basics: a student’s guide to Senior School and is given to every student at

the start of the year. The most important things

for students to remember are:

● iPads may only be used in classrooms or

under the supervision of a member of staff.

● before school and at lunch/break, iPads

should be in students’ lockers or stored safely

in school bags.

● students are reminded to never leave

iPads unattended.

● iPads are not allowed in changing rooms

at any time.

● students must make their iPads password

secure – and never share this password with

other students.

● coin operated lockers are available to allow

students to safely store and recharge iPads.

● students are given lots of advice about

personal safety, in particular they are

encouraged to keep iPads (and other

valuable items) out of sight when travelling

outside school premises.

Strict sanctions are in place to ensure iPads

are used appropriately and responsibly by

students. These will be imposed for the

following reasons and full details are given

in Basics.

● students should not use the iPad outside

designated areas – the classroom, an ‘iPad

zone’ or without the supervision of staff.

● students must not use iPads in an

inappropriate way in lesson time.

Students are reminded that it is important

to always remember the BSN’s school values

when using the iPad.


14 | SSV Welcome

Opportunities outside the

classroomThroughout the year there are many

events and activities that go on outside the

classroom at the BSN. These vary from year to

year and according to the age group and provide

chances to take on more responsibility, learn new

skills, or develop existing ones as well as helping

students get to know new people and have fun.

We encourage all students to take advantage of

what is on offer at the school.

Co-curricular Activities At the start of the school year in

September, the Senior School holds an

Co-curricular Activities Fair. This event takes

place during the school day and students will

have the opportunity to visit various information

stands where they can find out more about the

range of activities on offer at the school.

We have a wide range of activities available,

run during lunchtime and after school. The exact

programme of co-curricular activities varies from

term to term but includes choirs, instrumental

groups, drama, debating, creative clubs,

numerous sporting opportunities and much more.

And if there is nothing that takes your fancy, it is

also possible for new activities to be set up and

run if demand from students is great enough.

Student CouncilDuring the school year, each form group

elects two representatives to serve on the School

Council. This is a great chance to represent

the views of the form group and discuss ideas

about how to make the school better. The

representatives gather ideas and suggestions

from their class to take to the meeting, debate

these and then feedback to their classmates.

MusicIf students are interested in taking

music lessons in any of the following, we can

arrange it:

● Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, Saxophone,

Baritone, Euphonium, French Horn, Tenor

Horn, Tuba

● Guitar: Classical, Folk, Electric, Bass

● Piano

● Singing: Classical, Pop, Jazz

● Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass

● Woodwind: Oboe, Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet

It is possible for music students to take

ABRSM and Trinity Guildhall exams; the Senior

School is a regional centre for ABRSM exams

and Junior School Diamanthorst is a regional

centre for Trinity Guildhall exams.

In addition to taking lessons, there are many

different ensembles to join. These include:

Junior Choir, Senior Choir, Concert Band,

Orchestra, Progress Band, Showstoppers

(a performing arts group), Swing Band,

Recorder Group, String Group, Senior

Performance Choir, various chamber groups

and small ensembles. Just get in touch with

Dr Alex Jarrett in the music department email:

[email protected]

SSV Welcome | 15

Sports tournamentsStudents of all ages have the opportunity to

participate in competitive sport and represent the

school at both local and international tournaments.

Girls hockey, basketball, golf, swimming, girls

gymnastics, football and boys rugby are among

the sports regularly participating at this level. As

students progress through the school the number

of such opportunities increases as athletes from a

wide range of sports travel to other international

schools around Europe to compete for the BSN.

The school has an excellent reputation for its

sporting success and is an active member school of

both ISST and I.S.G.A tournaments.

School tripsThere are a number of trips and visits

arranged with a variety of aims, throughout

the year – in Year 7, students experience a short

residential trip at the beginning of the academic

year in order to encourage team building.

Other year groups benefit from a range of

experiences which are allied to different subject

areas. A summary of all the trips run by the

BSN can be found at the back of this handbook

as well as on Gateway.

Charity eventsDuring the year students are encouraged to

spend time organising and supporting fund-raising

events to raise money for a charity. These events

include bake sales, sponsored events and a variety

of performances. Some of this money goes towards

supporting a junior school in Ndege, Kenya and

other projects in Africa.

Community Action Service (CAS)Although this is a component of the

IB Diploma Programme run in our Sixth Form,

all students in Years 12 and 13 are encouraged

to volunteer and contribute in many different

ways to give something back to our community.


16 | SSV Welcome

Student healthGood health is vital to enable children

and young people to fulfil their potential.

Each of the BSN’s school campuses has a School

Nurse on site during the day. The nurse’s primary

role is to look after the health of our students

during the school day, and is responsible for

the provision of first aid, health promotion, and

administration of necessary medication. For

general medical advice, parents should contact

their family doctor (Huisarts).

The School Nurse also provides support to

students with chronic or complex medical needs.

When such issues are identified, they will ensure

that procedures are promptly put in place to

ensure that the child is not disadvantaged by their

condition. This enables those students to develop

and flourish, along with their peers, to achieve

their full potential in all aspects of school life.

The nurses officeOur school nursing office is open from

08:30–16:00 each school day and is accessible

for students who sustain an injury, become ill

or need a listening ear whilst in school.

However, consultation with the nurse is not

appropriate if an injury or illness has occurred

outside of school. A medical examination and

advice should then be obtained from your doctor

in the first instance. If you wish to consult with

the nurse about a medical issue which may be

having an impact on your child’s health and

schooling you are welcome to ring to arrange

an appointment.

SSV Welcome | 17

Health recordAs soon as a new student joins the BSN,

it is vital that the School Nurse is notified of all

health-related issues such as asthma, epilepsy,

diabetes and allergies – especially if these are

related to foods eg; peanuts or milk etc.

All parents are asked to complete a Student

Health Record Form on behalf of their son or

daughter – it is really important that we have

an accurate understanding of the health of all

our students and in particular of any specific

medical issues. All health information given to the

school on this form is treated with the strictest

confidentiality and only shared on a need-to-

know basis.

What to do if your son or daughter is ill

To help us ensure that the school is a

healthy environment in which your child can

thrive it is essential to follow these guidelines:

● students should not attend school if they are

unwell or not fully recovered from an illness.

● in the case of vomiting or diarrhoea, students

must be kept at home for 48 hours after the

symptoms have stopped.

● it is important that any change in medical

information is given to nursing staff, who will

discuss more complex situations with parents.

● notify the school if your child is diagnosed with

an infectious disease e.g. scarlet fever, impetigo,

whooping cough etc. The information will

remain confidential whilst allowing us to notify

others and minimise further spread of infection.

● collect your child promptly, once the school

has contacted you. Refusal to collect a pupil

who has been assessed by the nurse to be

unfit for school will be passed on to the Head

of School.

● if your child is unable to take part in sports

lessons because of injury or illness, a letter

must be sent to the PE Department detailing

the reasons. The School Nurse cannot supply

this letter on the request of the student.

● it is vital that any change of address or

telephone number is given to the School

Office – enabling the school to contact parents

promptly in times of illness or injury during

the school day.

● in the event of your child being taken ill at

school, we will telephone the primary contact

on our student information system. If this

person is unreachable, we will contact the

secondary contact.

Use of crutchesIt is important to notify the nurse if your

child has to move with the aid of crutches – they

will then ensure that procedures are put in place

to assist the student to move safely around the

school. This is also very important in the event

of any incident which may require the building

to be evacuated.

School counsellingIn the Senior School we also provide

students with access to a counsellor who can

provide emotional support and advice. Students

can make appointments through the nursing

office, by talking to a teacher, by asking parents

to make an appointment or by contacting the

counsellor directly themselves.

Let us know ... Please inform the School Office before

09:00 if a student is absent due to sickness.

If no notice is received, the school is required

to contact you and, if unsuccessful, to record

the absence as unauthorised. Requests

for absence due to personal reasons, must

be made to the Head Teacher in writing in

advance. Please refer to the school policy on

absence during term time on BSN Gateway.


18 | SSV Welcome

Promoting positive behaviour

At the start of the year all Senior School

students are issued with Basics: a student’s guide to Senior School – this handy booklet contains

everything students need to know about life at

the BSN Senior School.

Among other things, Basics contains the BSN’s

school rules, to which all students are expected

to adhere – time is set aside at the start of

the school year for all students to read and

understand this document.

The BSN has developed a Behavioural Code

by combining ideas from staff and students –

this can be found on BSN Gateway and is the

responsibility of us all to ensure that it is carried

out. Our Senior School rules are intended to

promote self-discipline and develop a proper

regard for everyone in our community. We expect

good behaviour and respect for others.

Around School we expect students to:

● treat all members of our school community

with respect and courtesy at all times.

● contribute to the high quality of the learning

experience by ensuring that you are punctual,

correctly dressed, well-equipped and

behave appropriately.

● be responsible for your own safety and that

of others by behaving calmly and sensibly

when moving around the school building

and grounds.

● respect the environment of the school and the

property of others.

In the Corridors, remember the following:

● as we live in The Netherlands – we drive on the

right so we walk on the right.

● only go to your lockers after the bell rings at

08:30, at break time, lunchtime or after school.

● respect the school building and keep it clean

and tidy; do not drop litter.

● walk quietly without running and remember

good manners and hold open doors for staff

and visitors coming the other way.

In the Classroom

● arrive on time with the correct equipment.

● be attentive and follow instructions as they

are given.

● enjoy your work and complete it to the best

of your ability.

● hand in all homework punctually.

● verify anything you are uncertain of or need

making clearer.

● enter each lesson on a positive note.

SSV Welcome | 19

Drop in coffee mornings

These take place every Tuesday morning

at Senior School, between 09:30 – 10:40.

Run by the Family Association, these

regular events are the perfect place to

meet other parents and learn more

about both the school and the wider

expatriate community in The Hague.

Everyone is welcome!

Welcoming new parents to the school

We understand that moving to a new

country and culture can be an overwhelming

experience – whether you are an experienced

expat or this is the first time you have left your

home. For many parents, school provides

a vital community link, offering a chance to

quickly make friends and establish an important

support network.

Our Family Association is the backbone of our

community and is run by parents for parents

and made up of a series of Teams whose focus

is to support BSN families in a variety of ways.

The Welcome Team helps to smooth the process

of joining a new school and moving to a new

country. Over the course of the school year, the

Welcome Team holds a series of coffee mornings

specifically designed to welcome newcomers

and provide support and advice about how

things work at the BSN and in The Netherlands.

The Summer Fair and Winter Fair Teams run the

school’s two biggest annual events, requiring

the involvement and support of students, staff

and parents from across the entire school.

Our Social Team organises smaller, informal

events which involve people across the BSN

community. These range from museum visits

to quiz nights and tries to offer something for

all BSN families.

The Sessions Team organises talks and

workshops on topics of parental interest.

The Bring and Buy and Second Hand Uniform

Teams set up sales in the various schools

throughout the year.

The International Team also plays an important

role within the BSN community. The team

organises the International Festival to celebrate

the cultural diversity of the BSN. Members of the

International Team aim to make contact with new

parents from their own country or nationality.

A contact list of the International Team can be

found on BSN Gateway.

If you are interested in finding out more about

The Family Association please contact them via

[email protected].


20 | SSV Welcome

Native Speaker Language Programme in Year 7 If your mother tongue is French,

German or Spanish then your son or daughter

will be offered one lesson a week with a

foreign language assistant during normal

timetabled lessons.

In these lessons the assistant will give special

attention to your particular needs and will

provide tasks that assess your current level in

each skill. These tasks will help you to prepare

for our Mother Tongue enrichment programme

that will start in September 2015 and will allow

you to sit a GCSE in Year 11.

If your mother tongue is Dutch, then you will

normally be placed in the top Dutch set. This

will prepare you for the GCSE in the summer

of Year 8.

Native Speaker Language Programme in Year 8 If your mother tongue is French, Spanish

or German then we provide a special bridging

course for you. This course is taught by native

speaker foreign language assistants and is

normally taught at lunchtime or after school.

The course will allow you to keep the current

level of your mother tongue so that you can

join our Enrichment groups in Year 10 that will

allow you to prepare for your GCSE in Year 11.

If your mother tongue is Dutch, then you will

normally be placed in the top Dutch set. The

work that you do in class will prepare you to

sit your Dutch GCSE in the summer of Year 9.

Please take a look on Gateway or contact

the Languages faculty via

[email protected] for more information.

Years 7 and 8 These are the first two years of Senior

School and set the tone for progress. When

students join in Year 7, they will receive Basics: a student’s guide to Senior School, and here we

have outlined the key points for these year groups.

Students will have the same Form Tutor and

Head of Year for the first two years of their Senior

School lives. They are there to help students

through problems which may arise, as well as

sharing successes and achievements. Tutors

meet their classes first thing every morning

for registration and again at the beginning of

lunchtime for a further twenty minutes.

The first day of termStudents joining Year 7 should go to the

school hall, where Mrs Bradley – the Head of Year

and all the Year 7 Form Tutors will be waiting to

welcome students and take them to their form

rooms and introduce them to their class.

Students joining in Year 8 will be welcomed in

the Atrium and then shown to their new form

room. Form Tutors will be able to answer any

questions and will issue timetables, agenda and

locker instructions. Newcomers will be paired

with a student in their class who will help new

students to settle into the school routines and

guide them around the building.

Years 7 and 8 – Key Stage 3

SSV Welcome | 21


Year 7

Head of Year 7 Anna Bradley

email Mrs Bradley at:

[email protected]

Assistant Head of Year Liz Stammers [email protected]

Welcome to Year 7 – a really exciting and busy year at the BSN. You will soon learn that the Senior School is a very busy place and being organised is a good way to help you settle in quickly. You will make new friends and tackle new subjects delivered by a number of different teachers.

We have lots of new experiences to offer students; ranging from our trip to De Kaag in September and our visit to nearby Duivenvoorde as well as an activities week at the end of the year.

I know you will have a good time in Year 7 – remember that your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year. However, please also remember that I am here to help you and you are welcome to pop in to the Year 7/8 Office (Room 174) if you want to have a chat.

Reporting and progress – Year 7

An overview of what you can expect for

every Senior School year group can be found

in the Curriculum Information handbook which

accompanies this Welcome handbook.

Open eveningFor Year 7 parents, we hold a welcoming

Open Evening on 1 October. This gives parents

and teachers a chance to meet each other. This

is a particularly important evening as it gives you

the opportunity to make contact with the Form

Tutors and the Head of Year.

Settling-in

During the first term in Year 7 we issue a

Settling-in card which gives parents an early

indication of how their son/daughter has

managed the first few weeks. This is followed

by a Tutor Consultation evening on 14 October when parents have a chance to meet and talk to

their son or daughter’s Tutor about any issues or

concerns arising from the Settling-in card.

ReportsAn Internal Report will be sent out at the

end of the first term which will be followed by a

Parents Evening early in the Spring term which

we expect students to attend. This is a formal

opportunity for parents/guardians to discuss their

child’s progress with their teacher.

Progress Reports are issued in the Summer

Term – this is a longer, written report with

comments from teachers. Another (Invitational)

Parents Evening is held early in the summer term.

Parents and students are only invited to attend if

there are specific issues arising allied to subject

areas – if parents do not receive an invitation to

attend, there should be no cause for concern.

22 | SSV Welcome

End of year celebration During the Summer Term, we hold our

Year 7 Celebration Evening where we showcase

the successes of our Year 7 students at the end

of their first year in secondary school.

MidYis TestingDuring September, Year 7 students will

take part in MidYis Tests. The purpose of these

tests is threefold:

● to help us assess a student’s potential

more effectively.

● to provide data for the school to monitor

student progress.

● to provide a reliable, objective and realistic

way of measuring our school’s performance

by looking at what ‘value’ we have added

during a given period of education.

The tests take approximately one hour and

are made up of seven elements: mathematics,

vocabulary, perceptual speed and accuracy,

cross-sections, proof reading, block counting

and picture tests. As they are not related

specifically to the curriculum, there is no need

for revision and no need to be unduly concerned

about them. The results are used internally and

are not published. More information regarding

MidYis Testing can be found in the Curriculum

Information for Year 7 handbook.

Field trips During the first half of the Autumn Term,

Year 7 enjoy a residential trip to De Kaag. This

action-packed trip is designed to help them

bond as a year group, meet new friends and

gain confidence by participating in a range of

group activities. These are specifically designed

to encourage cooperative working and most

importantly, to be fun.

Throughout the year, students experience visits

and trips to a number of places that support

different parts of the curriculum eg; the visit to

Duivenvoorde to support the Dutch curriculum.

Towards the end of the Summer Term, Year 7

have Activities Week – a fantastic opportunity

for students to participate in many different

activities during school time. The normal

timetable is collapsed and a special programme

of events is scheduled, which in the past, have

included ‘forensic science’ and ‘making short,

animated films.’

SSV Welcome | 23


Year 8

Head of Year 8 Suzanne Hallett

email Mrs Hallett at:

[email protected]

In Year 8, the routines and day to day life at Senior School will quickly become familiar and students will develop their social relationships, academic progress and become even more involved in the life of the school. Year 8 is packed with events, trips and activities, culminating in the ‘big one’ to Germany or Luxembourg at the end of the year.

I look forward to welcoming you to Year 8 – your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year but please also remember that I am here to help you and you are welcome to pop into the Year 7/8 Office (Room 174) if you want to have a chat.

The first day of term Students joining in this year group will


their new form room. Form Tutors will be able to

answer any questions and will issue timetables,

agenda and locker instructions. Newcomers

will be paired with a student in their class who

will help new students to settle into the school

routines and guide them around the building.


The Senior School, along with each of

the junior schools, operates an Open Door Policy.

Parents are encouraged to contact the school

with any concerns or questions through the year –

please don’t wait for a Parents Evenings. An

overview of what you can expect for every Senior

School year group can be found in the Curriculum

Information handbook which accompanies this

Welcome handbook.

Tutor consultation evening This opportunity to meet your son or

daughter’s Form Tutor will take place on 14 October and is a chance to discuss any concerns or worries

you may have. If you are new to the BSN, this is a

perfect way to get to know your child’s Tutor.

ReportsStudents are assessed continuously whilst

at the Senior School and we aim to talk to parents

about their progress, regularly. Students will talk

to their Form Tutors and subject teachers and, at

certain times, we send home reports and invite

parents to school, with students, to discuss how

they are doing.

Internal Reports are a short overview of a student’s

effort and attainment during the term and are

issued in the second half of the Autumn Term.

We hold a Parents Evening early in the Spring

Term, which we expect students to attend. A

more detailed Progress Report, with comments

from teachers is issued in the second half of the

Summer Term.

Our Invitational Parents Evening is held early in

the summer term parents and students are invited

to attend and discuss specific issues allied to key

subject areas – if you do not receive an invitation

to attend, there should be no cause for concern.

MidYis TestingDuring September, Year 8 students

who have not been tested at the BSN before,

will take part in MidYis Testing. For more details

about MidYis Testing please refer to the opposite

page, and in the Curriculum Information for

Year 8 handbook.

Field trips In Year 8, students look forward to a field

trip to either Germany or Luxembourg – the year

group is split in two and each group heads for

one of these destinations for a combination of

team-building and educational activities.

24 | SSV Welcome

Native speaker language programme (Year 9) If your mother tongue is French, German,

Dutch, Spanish, Italian or Russian, and your

son or daughter sat their GCSE in Year 8, our

language department can offer a course to

bridge the gap between GCSE and further

studies in Year 10 or beyond. These courses are

taught by native language assistants and will

be held at lunchtime or after school and can

lead to an examination if required.

Please look on Gateway or contact the

languages department via

[email protected] for more information

Year 9

Head of Year 9 Duncan Crawford

email Mr Crawford at:

[email protected]

Year 9 is an important year; it is a preparatory year when students are getting ready to choose their GCSE options early in 2016. The Tutors and I aim to make sure this year goes well for you and that you enter Year 10, confident in your choices and prepared with good study skills to do well in your GCSE courses.

I know you will have a good time in Year 9 – remember that your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year. However, please also remember that I am here to help you and you are welcome to come and see me in the Year 9 Office (Room 276) if you want to talk.

The first day of term

Students joining in this year group will




agenda and locker instructions. Newcomers will

be paired with a student in their class who will

help you settle into the school routines and guide

you around the building.


The Senior School, along with each of the

junior schools, operates an Open Door Policy.

Parents are encouraged to contact the school

with any concerns or questions through the year –

please don’t wait for a Parents Evenings. An

overview of what you can expect for every Senior

School year group can be found in the Curriculum

Information handbook which accompanies this

Welcome handbook.

Year 9 – Key Stage 3

SSV Welcome | 25


Options eveningThis will take place on 26 January, and

takes the form of a presentation on how to make

wise GCSE subject choices. This will be followed

by the opportunity to talk to specialist GCSE

teachers about the content of their course to help

students make the right decisions. Students will

have some time to consider their options before

advising us of their subject choices in February –

this allows us to make appropriate timetable and

staffing plans for the following September.

Tutor consultation evening This opportunity to meet your son

or daughters’ Form Tutor will take place on

14 October and is a chance to discuss any

concerns or worries you may have.

ReportsStudents are assessed continuously whilst

at Senior School and we aim to regularly talk

to parents and students about their progress.

Students will talk to their Form Tutors and

subject teachers and, at certain times, we send

home reports and invite parents to school, with

students, to discuss how they are doing.

A Progress Report, with comments from teachers

will be issued in December and is followed by

a Parents Evening in January, which we expect

students to attend. Our Invitational Parents

Evening is held early in May. Parents and students

are invited to attend and discuss specific issues

allied to key subject areas – if you do not receive

an invitation to attend, there should be no cause

for concern. A summative report is issued in July.

MidYis TestingDuring September, Year 9 students

who have not been tested at the BSN before,

will take part in MidYis Testing. For more

details about MidYis Testing please refer to the

Year 7 information on page 22 of this handbook

or Gateway.

Field trips Year 9 is an exciting year and includes trips to

Ypres in November and Amsterdam in March. The year culminates in a week-long outward-

bound sailing course held in Europe’s largest

natural harbour in Poole, England where the long,

sandy beaches and waist-deep waters make it the

perfect place to learn.

26 | SSV Welcome

Native speaker language programme (Years 10 and 11) If your mother tongue is French,

German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian or Russian, and

your son or daughter takes their GCSE in Year

8, our language department can offer a two

year course to bridge the gap between GCSE

and further studies in Year 12. These courses

are taught by native language assistants and

are part of the Enrichment programme that

is taught within the timetable. Please see the

Enrichment booklet for more details and also

on how to sign up.

In the past, we have offered courses by the

Instituto Cervantes, The Goëthe Institute, the

NT2 exams and the DELF exams. Sign up for

these can be done at the start of the year via

Gateway or contact the languages department

via [email protected] for more information.

Years 10 and 11 Students will have the same Form Tutor

and Head of Year for these important two years

as students tackle their GCSEs. The Tutors and

Heads of Year are there to help students through

problems which may arise, as well as sharing

successes and achievements. Tutors meet their

classes first thing every morning for registration.

The first day of term Students joining in these year groups will




agenda and locker instructions. Newcomers will

be paired with a student in their class who will

help you settle into the school routines and guide

you around the building.

Careers As students work on their GCSEs, it is

important to maintain a focus on further and

higher education and careers options. In Year

11 students are given the opportunity to take

part in the Morrisby Futurewise Profiling service.

Futurewise membership forms an essential

part of Careers Education and Guidance at the

BSN from the beginning of Year 11 to the end of

Year 13. Futurewise provides a comprehensive

and ongoing service which includes a full

psychometric profile with follow-up guidance

interviews as well as offering a range of resources

and a series of taster courses to understand what

different careers may involve. More information

and a parental consent form will be sent to you

at the start of term and additional information

can be found in the Careers section of Gateway

and our website.

The school runs a Higher Education and Careers

Fair in February, to which students in Years 10, 11

and 12 are encouraged to attend. Last year, not

only did we have universities attending from the

United Kingdom, but also The Netherlands, Spain

and the US.


SSV Welcome | 27


Year 10

Head of Year 10 Elizabeth Bourne

email Mrs Bourne at:

[email protected]

Welcome to Year 10 – a year of new challenges, fresh opportunities and the start of GCSEs! This is a time when you will complete a lot of work towards your GCSEs and build a foundation for success in future exams. You will also have the opportunity to become involved with many more activities beyond the classroom – from the International Award and Young Enterprise, to representing the school in sport, music and speech and debate. There is something for everyone.

Try to stay on top of your work, be organised, focused and remember to ask for help, either from your subject teacher, from me or from your Tutor. Remember that your Form Tutor is your main contact if you need to discuss any issues or concerns throughout the year but I am also here to help you and you are welcome to come and see me in the Year 10/11 Office (Room 169) if you want to talk.

Reporting and progress – Year 10Parents are encouraged to contact the

school with any concerns or questions through

the year – please don’t wait for a Parents

Evenings. An overview of what you can expect

for every Senior School year group can be found



ReportsAs with other years, students are assessed

continuously whilst at the Senior School and we

aim to talk to parents and students about their

progress, regularly – this is particularly important

in Years 10 and 11, critical exam years. Students will

talk to their Form Tutors and subject teachers and

we send home reports and invite parents to school,

with students, to discuss how they are doing.

In Year 10, students receive an Internal Report in

November which is followed in January by

a Parents Evenings, which we expect students

to attend.

There an Invitational Parents Evening in the March.

Parents and students are invited to attend if there

are specific issues arising allied to key subject

areas – if parents do not receive an invitation to

attend, there should be no cause for concern.

A Progress Report is sent out in June.

ExamsIn Year 10, the results of the end of year

exams are sent home in the form of a Progress

Report and give a good indication of the progress

made by students in their GCSE subjects.

28 | SSV Welcome

Yellis Testing

During September, Year 10 students will

take part in Yellis Testing. The purpose of these

tests is threefold:

● to provide extra data to monitor student

progress more effectively and ensure students

are fulfilling their potential.

● to add further objective information to help us

assess students’ GCSE chances more accurately.


way of measuring our school’s performance by

looking at what ‘value’ we have added during

a given period of education.

The tests take approximately one hour and

consist of both a numerical and verbal section.

As they are not related specifically to the

curriculum, there is no need for revision and

no need to be unduly concerned about them.

The results are used internally and are not

published. More information regarding

Yellis Testing can be found in the Curriculum

Information – Year 10 handbook.

Year 11

Head of Year 11 Nicola Laycock

email Mrs Laycock at:

[email protected]

Year 11 is an important year, full of challenges – the year of your GCSEs. We will support you and encourage you to be really organised, give you strategies for revision and remind you to continue to balance your academic life activities beyond the classroom – from the International Award and MUN, to representing the school in sport, music and speech and debate. There is something for everyone.

The key to a successful exam year is to stay on top of your work, be organised, focused and remember to ask for help, either from your subject teacher, from me or from your Tutor. Your Form Tutor is your main contact if you have any issues or concerns at any point during the year. I am also here to help you and would encourage you to come and see me in the Year 10/11 Office (Room 169) if you want to talk.


SSV Welcome | 29



Parents are encouraged to contact the



Evenings. An overview of what you can expect

for every Senior School year group can be found



ReportsIn November, students will be given an

Internal Report, designed to keep students on

track for their Mock exams and of course, their

GCSEs.

A Parents Evening follows the report and is

designed for parents and students to attend

together. In February, students receive a

Progress Report, following their Mock exams.

An invitational Parents Evening occurs in March.

ExamsAfter the Christmas holiday in Year 11,

students hit the ground running and sit their

Mock Exams in January in preparation for the

real thing – GCSEs during May and June.

Sixth Form Options Students wishing to continue into the

BSN Sixth Form (Years 12 and 13), or are planning

to move on to further education elsewhere in

the world are invited to attend the Sixth Form

Options Evening on 18 November. The event

starts with a presentation to outline the process

and to explain the benefits of A Levels, the IB

Diploma Programme (IBDP) or IB Career-related

Certificate (IBCP), all options for our Sixth

Formers. After that, students are invited to talk to

Sixth Form subject teachers to help them reach

informed decisions about what to do after GCSEs.

30 | SSV Welcome

Year 12 and 13 – Sixth Form

Director of Sixth Form Kevin Sandeman

email Mr Sandeman at: [email protected] Assistant Director of Sixth Form Helen Andrews-Wouters

email Mrs Andrews-Wouters at:

[email protected]

The two years spent in the Sixth Form are an exciting and challenging time when students are able to concentrate on subjects which they truly enjoy, whilst developing their own ideas and opinions. The Sixth Form at the BSN has a lot to offer – both academically and in terms of music, drama, sport and many other co-curricular activities.

Students are encouraged to participate in a range of activities whilst achieving a balance with their academic studies. The Sixth Form team will help students make the transition from GCSE to the Sixth Form by providing a clear academic structure, while encouraging an openness between Tutors and students. Students are treated as the young adults they are becoming, and we expect high standards in return.

If you or your son or daughter has any issues or concerns throughout the year, their Form Tutor will support and advise, and students are welcome to come and see us in the Sixth Form Office.

The first day of termNew students should meet in the Sixth

Form Common Room, situated on the second

floor, and there will be staff and students on hand

in the Atrium to welcome and guide the way.

Form Tutors and the Head of Year will help with

any concerns.

On the first day a student joins the Sixth Form,

they will be shown to their registration room and

their Form Tutors will explain in more detail, how

the Sixth Form operates.

All Sixth Formers are given a copy of Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form – which

contains extensive detail about the school and

daily routines. More detail about the range of

support offered to Sixth Form students is available

on Gateway.

The Sixth Form offers students a wide range of

opportunities to get involved in leadership roles

and contributing to the BSN and wider Dutch

community in a really positive way.

University preparation Consolidating and developing students

personal and academic profiles prior to university

application is a key element in careers education

and guidance in the two Sixth Form years. The

programme is designed to ensure that students

fully understand all the options open to them

and are confident in the decisions they make.

Tutors and Sixth Form staff are a key component

in offering support here. In Year 12, the Head of

Careers will give students the opportunity for

practice interviews as well as support through

the Life Skills programme which involves

careers preparation. In Year 13, students are

given practical help in the final preparation of

their application for university. Formal practice

interviews with a specialist in a student’s chosen

field of study can be arranged if needed.

Those students wishing to pursue their tertiary

education in the UK make full use of the UCAS

online application system. Students wishing to

apply outside of the UK are able to make use

of the expertise provided to those applying to

universities worldwide. In practice, the most

popular non-UK destinations for our students are

the USA and The Netherlands. Students are given

individual advice, if required, following public

examination results in the summer.

Years 12 and 13 – Sixth Form

SSV Welcome | 31


Dress codeAs a Sixth Former, students are not required to

wear a school uniform. This privilege is balanced

by a responsibility to wear clothes which are

smart, clean, respectable and appropriate for a

working environment. Skirts and dresses should

be of an acceptable length and shorts are not

acceptable for boys or girls. Detailed guidance

for Sixth Form dress code can be found in

Basics: a student’s guide to the Sixth Form –

given to students on the first day of term.

Signing in and out of schoolSixth Form students must sign out when

they leave the school premises, for whatever

reason. If a student has a medical appointment

which means they are late for school, or has

to leave during the day – a note or phone call

from their parents is essential. Without this

confirmation, the student will be marked down

with an unauthorised absence.

Home studyIn the Sixth Form, students are expected

to continue to develop as independent learners

and once they reach half term and their grades

are on track, Sixth Form students will be offered

the option to have Home Study periods. The

amount, and time varies according to the Year

group. Please note: students must stick to the

Home Study period agreed and always sign in

and out of school.

Students in Year 12 will be entitled to one

home study period a week dependent on their

timetable. In Year 13, students may be able

to have two Home Study periods per week.

Students must earn their entitlement to Home

Study periods and the time, once set and agreed,

does not vary – permission for Home Study leave

can be retracted if necessary.

Careers Students have access to the ISCO

Careers service which offers advice and guidance

to students, please refer to Gateway for

more information.

The school runs a Higher Education Fair in

November and Careers evening in February, to which students in Year 12 are encouraged to

attend. Last year, not only did we have universities

attending from the United Kingdom, but also

The Netherlands, Spain, Germany and the US.

32 | SSV Welcome

Years 12 and 13 – Sixth Form


and 13Parents are encouraged to contact the



Evenings. An overview of what you can expect for

every Senior School year group can be found in

the Curriculum Information handbook.

ReportsAs with other years, students are

continuously assessed whilst at Senior School

and we aim to talk to parents and students about

their progress regularly – this is particularly

important in the Sixth Form with students facing

their exams.

In Year 12, students receive an Internal Report in

November which is followed by a more detailed

Progress Report in March, with comments from

teachers. Parents Evenings are held in Year 12, the

first in November and the second, an invitational

Parents Evenings, in March.

In Year 13, an Internal Report is sent in November and is followed by a Parents Evening. A final

Progress Report and evening occurs in March.

ExamsNew students to the BSN need to bring

a copy of the results of any exams taken prior to

entry to the Sixth Form. The AS, A2 and external

exams for Year 13 IB students take place in May and June, with IB internal exams taking place

in June.

Have you got a UCI number?If students have been registered to take

exams at their previous school, they will have

been issued with a Unique Candidate Identifier

(UCI) number. If this is the case, please inform

the Exams Office and bring a copy of your

GCSE statement of results which contains this

information. If you have any queries regarding

Exams, please contact Exam Co-ordinator:

Erina Hosokawa or Exams Officer:

Tadhg Naughton at [email protected].

SSV Welcome | 33


ALIS TestingDuring September, Year 12 students will

take part in ALIS Testing. The purpose of these

tests is threefold:

● to provide extra data to monitor student

progress more effectively and ensure students

are fulfilling their potential.

● to add further objective information to help us

assess students’ examination chances.


way of measuring our school’s performance by

looking at what ‘value’ we have added during a

given period of education.

The tests take approximately one hour – as they

are not related specifically to the curriculum,

there is no need for revision and no need to

be unduly concerned about them. The results

are used internally and are not published. More

information regarding ALIS Testing can be found

in the Curriculum Information handbook.

34 | SSV Welcome

Field trips, visits and courses The programme of field trips below is intended as a guide to help you plan and to enable

you to select the visits you would like your son or daughter to attend. This programme is subject to

change and full detail and costs can be found on Gateway under the Co-curricular tab > Trips and

visits. More information about trips involving your son or daughter will be issued via a Note Home

on Gateway from the organiser.

Field trips, visits and courses

Date Year Group Name of Field Trip Departments

September 7 Duivenvoorde Dutch

17–18 and 24–25 September 7 De Kaag, Netherlands

12–13, 19–20 and 26–27

September

11 Bronze International Award

Expedition

–

10 October 10–13 MiniMUN English

18–23 October 13 Spain Biology

16 October 9 Ypres, Belgium History

18–23 October 10–13 Burgundy, France French

18–23 October 10–13 Vienna, Austria German

18–23 October 10–13 Malaga, Spain Spanish

19-23 October 10-13 Ameland, Netherlands Dutch

19–23 October 12 AS

and IB

Dorset, UK Geography

20–28 October 10–12 Beijing Exchange Visit

30 October–1 November 10–13 MUNISH English

12–14 November 10–13 ISST Hockey (BSB) PE

12-14 November 11–13 ISST Football (London) PE

5 November 13 A2 and

12 IB

Den Haag Geography

27-29 November 11 English Literature Trip English

10–14 December 12–13 Theatre Trip Drama and English

13–16 December 10–11 Italy Food Tech

16 December 12–13 Rotterdam or Den Haag Art

24–28 January 12 THIMUN

SSV Welcome | 35


Date Year Group Name of Field Trip Departments

January/February 13 Senior Maths Competition, London Maths

5–8 February 10–13 COBIS World Debate

Competition

English

12–20 February 7–9 Ski Trip

10–12 March 10–13 ISST Boys Basketball

Girls Basketball

Rugby

PE

10–11 March 8–13 ISST Swimming, Brussels PE

14 March 9 Amsterdam Geography

16 March 10 Leiden or Amsterdam Classical Studies

20-24 March 10-11 Berlin History

22-24 March 12 Art Galleries – Dusseldorf, Cologne

and Essen

Art

March 10–11 Junior Maths Competition – Spain Maths

22 March 8 Verzetsmuseum, NEMO,

Tropenmuseum – Amsterdam

English and

Science

26-27 March 8-13 ISST Golf, Frankfurt PE

Late March 10–13 Moscow and St Petersburg History

Late March 9 Middle School Maths

Competition – France

Maths

14-17 April 9-10 ISTA Drama Festival, Rome Drama

20 April 7 Rotterdam Geography

10 May 8 Keukenhof/Noordwijk Geography

May 7–8 COBIS Games 2015 – Greece PE

4-8 July 7 Netherlands residential trip

(one night)

3-8 July 8 Ahrweiler/Luxembourg

3-9 July 9 Poole PE

3-8 July 10 Switzerland Biology/Geography

3-8 July 11 Silver International Award

Expedition to the Ardennes

July 11 Morocco

July 12 Project Africa

Senior School VoorschotenJan van Hooflaan 3

2252 BG VoorschotenTelephone: +31 (0)71 560 2222 Email: [email protected]

www.britishschool.nl

The British School in The Netherlands (Official)

@BSN_Senior

Senior School Welcome Handbook 2015-2016

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