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Hornbill School is an exciting and fast developing new school that caters for both Nepalese children of Gurkha soldiers and children of serving British military and civilian MOD personnel. Hornbill School is a primary school with 390 children from 3 - 11 years of age and is situated at present on a split site with the Foundation Stage housed 5km away from the main site. Hornbill School main site is located in the building that previously housed the Gurkha School. Over the past year plans have been drawn up to enable the school to be adapted and extended so that both sites can be housed as one. The main site is pleasantly located in the centre of the Gurkha housing area, close to the swimming pool, medical centre and NAAFI. Children who are unable to walk to school travel on organised buses.
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The school, for all children follows the UK National Curriculum. The principal teaching is English, with variations for Gurkha children, to meet their own national requirements and preserve familiarity with their first language and culture. The school is administered and controlled by HQ Service Children Education (HQ SCE) in Wegberg, Germany, and maintains a higher than average academic performance. British teachers at the school are UK trained and employed by the Education Department of the Ministry of Defence. They are recruited from both SCE schools in other Commands and from the civilian UK schools. The Nepalese teachers are degree qualified and are recruited directly from Nepal for employment in Brunei and enhance the curriculum with their British colleagues. Like all SCE schools, Hornbill School is subject to inspections from OFSTED.
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Prior to the opening of the new school in 2003, there were two schools serving the British Garrison in Seria. Seria SCS provided mainly for children of British military and civilian personnel. The Gurkha Children's English School provided education for children of Gurkha serving in Seria with the British Army.
The school is at present at a dynamic and exciting stage of developments. The amalgamation of the two schools with distinct cultural need has been a tremendous success. The school is now at a stage of rapid growth and change in terms of initiating and imbedding excellent practice throughout the school.
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The staff are talented and committed to the school improvements and keen to drive forward change with energy and enthusiasm. Parents, the Garrison and the SAC committee members are highly supportive and again committed to the success of the school at all levels. You will be joining a school that is working in a unique way, in a wonderful setting, celebrating the richness and diversity of cultures and language in order to build together a successful future for your child.
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A new Headteacher commenced her post in September 2004. The school has a staffing establishment that allows for two Deputy Headteachers, one has specific responsibility for UK based children and one for the Nepali children and curriculum provision. We have an experienced and enthusiastic staff who are able to inspire and motivate young children. We maintain high expectations for pupils’ achievements as well as a commitment to raising standards. Improvements have been made to our ICT department, with new interactive whiteboard facilities and free standing computers being installed, to support learning and teaching across the curriculum in all classes from year 1 to year 6. We also boast specialist sport facilities with extensive grounds. All children from the age of 3 make good use of the swimming facilities on both sites. Extra after school activities are also a strength of the school.
The children are organised where possible into single age groups throughout the school with favourable pupil teacher ratios to allow for the special circumstances of combining two distinct curricular. Children who have passed their fourth birthday by 1 September are admitted full time into Foundation Stage 2 at the beginning of the school year.
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