Introduction
Applications for admission to AL Kamal American International School (AKAIS) must be made to the Principal by the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the learner. The Principal shall admit any learner provided he is satisfied that the learner meets the admission criteria below, that in general terms the appropriate standard of attainment has been met, and that the learner will be amenable to school discipline as applied at AKAIS, and display levels of behaviour and self-discipline such that s/he is likely to help create, maintain and enhance rather than disrupt an orderly and disciplined school environment, the teaching process of the school, or the learning of other learners. AKAIS aims to provide an environment where race, culture, religion and economic standing are not an impediment to the access of, or progress, in any aspect of school life.
No pupil who qualifies for admission according to the admission requirements outlined below will be refused admission on grounds of race, culture, religious belief or financial circumstance. As the medium of instruction is English, learners admitted to the school need to be sufficiently proficient in English so as not to prejudice their ability to progress academically.
The following criteria apply for admission:
– The precise application of the admission criteria shall remain within the discretion of the School Governing Body.
– Preference will be given to those applicants noted in the section later in this policy.
– There will be admission tests written by applicants in English, Math and Arabic
– Proof of scholastic achievement and current grade must be provided for academic planning reasons, i.e. a copy of the most recent report.
– The age of the pupil must be within two years of the average age for the grade.
– Learners must be prepared to receive all required subjects in the curriculum. No provision will be made for those who wish to remove their children from certain subjects for religious or other reasons.
– The learner is obliged to comply with the School Rules, the Code of Conduct and other Policies listed above and contained in the Prospectus and must sign a document agreeing to this prior to the first day of schooling.
– The Registration person in charge must fill in the Application Form including general information about the applicant.
– Application Form is to be referred to the Social Worker, Psychologist, SEN coordinator and the section supervisor who will interview the applicant and then sign the form for approval.
– If an applicant passes the interview, he/she must pass the entrance exams in English, Math and science.
– The school Principal is to sign the Application Form after the student passes the entrance exams
– The parent/guardian is to fill in the Registration Form including all the necessary details.
– Two (2) certified copies of the applicant’s Birth Certificate must accompany the application.
– Certified copies of parent’(s)/guardian’(s) Identification Documents are required.
– A record of the learner’s Code of Conduct from the previous school may be requested prior to acceptance.
– A person who wishes to attend AKAIS for the first time at the beginning of any given school year must apply at the school on the date published on the admission letter or obtained from the school’s Admission Secretary.
– Late applications will be considered only under exceptional and special circumstances.
– Residential addresses should be that of either a parent or a legal guardian, and documentation to prove legal guardianship needs to be provided. The learner should permanently reside at that address.
– Based on the number of educators, the school’s facilities and the choice of subjects offered at the school, the school shall accommodate no more than 860 learners at any time. All classes shall normally consist of 20-22 learners and should not exceed 23 learners per class.
– No learner will be admitted to the school without a prior interview and Entrance Exams. This applies to all grades.
– Applicants who have been successfully screened will be informed after the interview whether they have been successful in gaining admission to the school.
– Admission will not normally be granted to pupils entering Grade 12.
– If an applicant has siblings at the school or has direct family members as alumni, these factors may be taken into consideration during the admissions process.
– A proven record by the applicant in one or more fields of sound discipline, leadership, academics, sport, arts, culture and community service should be stated in the application.
Administration of the Admissions Policy
In order to achieve the foregoing, should the school be oversubscribed, the measures listed below will be implemented during the management of the enrolment process.
– The precise application of the admission criteria shall remain within the discretion of the School Governing Body.
– Applications received by the closing date will be given preference over late applications.
– An applicant whose age varies by two years or more relative to the statistical age (average age) norm of the grade cohort will not be accepted into the school.
– The capacity of the school to provide adequately for the educational needs of the applicant (including but not limited to the language needs and other special needs) will be considered before offering a place to a learner. This will be considered in order not to jeopardize the academic interests of the learner.
– Initial applications will be processed, and a response forwarded to parent(s)/guardian(s).
– Applicants who are not successful will be informed of reason(s) in writing.
– Only after the applications received by the closing date have been dealt with, will the school consider late applications and then only if there are still places available in the school.
– All successful applicants from the designated area and their parent(s)/guardian(s) will be given the opportunity of attending an enrollment information event where they will have a tour of the school and receive information about the curriculum they will be studying.
In considering applications, a potential learner will in the first instance be expected to:
– Convince the school that s/he is able to cope academically with the specific pressures and unique demands of the school, and it will be a condition of final acceptance that an applicant must have passed the grade immediately below the grade into which admission is sought.
– Want to be educated in an English-medium, co-educational school environment, be supportive of the ethos of the school and be willing to contribute in the critical areas of school life, i.e. academically as well as in sport, culture, societies and/or service.
Applicants will be considered and placed in the following order, except where placement in the school would not be in the best interests of the learner concerned:
– Applicants who are direct siblings of current pupils.
– Applicants whose proven record is such that they are clearly willing and able to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the school’s educational program, as gauged in the applicant’s application.
– Applicants who are siblings of immediate past pupils of AKAIS
– Applicants who are sons/daughters of alumni of the school.
– Admission will not normally be granted to pupils entering Grade 12.
Capacity
The capacity of the school is 860 learners. The capacity of the school is based on:
– The number of classrooms in the school
– Bathroom and toilet facilities
– Emergency exits
– Corridor width for the safety of learner movement
– Hall size for school assemblies
– Field space for sport
– The size of the classrooms in the school
– Capacity of staircases for the safety of learner movement
Final total number of admissions
Should the final number of learners requiring acceptance into the school at any one time vary from the above on the basis of specific enrollments and the subject choices of individual learners in a particular year and should this in any event exceed the calculated capacity in any one grade, the school will strictly adhere to local and federal ruling and regulation.
