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MIS



Muscat International School (MIS) was founded in 1989 and is centrally located in Qurum and was the first school in Oman to pioneer the IGCSE/A level curriculum. MIS is a private, co-educational day school, licensed by the Omani Ministry of Education to deliver the English national curriculum alongside Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies from the Omani curriculum, to students of all nationalities in the KG to Grade 12 age range. MIS strives for excellence to lead in the field of educating young adults for the world of tomorrow.

The School believes in the dignity and worth of each student, and his/her unlimited potential for growth. Students thrive in a disciplined and challenging learning environment that nurtures and sustains their inquisitiveness. A strong family-school partnership is encouraged to foster a positive educational experience for each child. Students’ needs are best met through differentiated teaching styles, resulting in independent learners who not only master basic skills but demonstrate original thinking and problem solving. In addition to the core academic subjects, students are actively involved in the arts, foreign language study, physical activity, and pursuits in technology.

Through an emphasis on tolerance and respect for differences, students are prepared to function successfully in today’s diverse society It is the conviction of MIS that education is the well-rounded and complete development of the learner to his or her fullest potential. It is with this conviction in mind MIS has planned the development of it physical facilities, its curriculum, its educational equipment, assessment programmes and selection of staff. It manages it affairs to continue to be an outstanding educational establishment that actively meets the needs of all with an interest in its operation.

Kindergarten
Entry into school for the first time is an important event in a child's life and staff in Kindergarten aim to make this new experience as happy and satisfying as possible. Children normally enter at the Pre KG [age 3+] and progress through the KG1 and KG2 to ‘graduate’ to Grade 1 in the primary section. Emphasis is put on oral fluency in order to build a wide vocabulary, the encouragement clarity of expression and fostering the ability to reason.

This is achieved through a variety of activities which lead to reading, writing and number work. Many of these activities are often described by adults and children as "just play", but they are purposeful activities. Included in these are those with water, sand, clay and other materials. The children are, in fact, experimenting and finding out what materials will do.

This is the beginning of Mathematics and Science; it is encouraging an enquiring mind. The activities are accompanied by teacher-directed discussion, leading to related work. Much of the work is communal, so that children learn to share, to give and take, and learn to live and work together amicably. Other activities include baking, threading, painting, collage, construction and jigsaws.

All of these develop considerable control in the use of fingers and hands, which are necessary for writing. A programme of pre-reading and practical maths activities prepare children for the more formal schemes of maths and reading, which they will encounter further up the school. An enrichment programme which includes Music, Physical Education, Swimming, Arts and Crafts, Science and Social Studies is included in the day-to-day curriculum.

Primary
The Primary Section extents from Grade 1 through to Grade 6 inclusively, and following a child’s many and varied experiences in Kindergarten, the aims of the Primary years are to continue to lead the young student through the successive stages of social, emotional and academic development, towards readiness for the higher, scholastic levels of life in the Secondary Sections.

Our curriculum is modeled on the English National Curriculum and comprises the Cambridge International Primary Program (C.I.P.P.) in English, Mathematics and Science.

The Primary Curriculum is augmented with the addition of programs in areas such as Creative Arts (Music, Drama, Dance and Art), French, Social Studies, Physical Education and Computer Studies (ICT), with many units of work being integrated in a manner that overlaps logically and effectively to enhance learning.

The Primary Section provides Arabic, Islamic Studies and Social Studies from the Omani Curriculum, however, non-Muslim students may be exempted from Religion, non-Arabic speakers may receive their Social Studies in English and non-native speakers of Arabic take Beginners’ Arabic.

There is also a program of extra-curricular activities that take place during the day and sometimes after school which are sporting, musical, theatrical and interest-based. Such activities help to enhance the International quality of the Primary Section, particularly when you consider the experiences our staff and students bring to them.

Secondary
The Secondary Section accommodates students from Grade 7 to Grade 12 inclusive and, generally speaking, has its own dedicated Secondary School teachers. In a few subject areas only [e.g. P.E., Islamic Studies] there may be Primary/Secondary staff overlap.
Elements of Key Stage 3 Maths and Science are brought into Grade 6 and, by the end of Grade 8, which culminates in University of Cambridge Checkpoint external exam testing [in English, Maths and Science] students are ready to embark on their two-year IGCSE programme.

Emphasis is placed in Key Stage 3 on steering the students towards subject specific teaching. Creative and Performance Arts moves towards the separate disciplines of Art, Drama and Music, for example. Science develops into Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students of English are steered, as appropriate, towards English as a First Language or English as a Second Language groupings.

The importance of teaching students further in the skills of subject-based analysis, research and investigation is underlined, particularly in the Key Stage 3 phase. The values of self-confidence and independent study are emphasized.

At Grade 9 and Grade 10, students take English, Arabic, Maths, Religion [only Arabic speaking Moslems] and P.E., but select from a current range of fourteen options the IGCSE subjects of their choice. Those subjects usually are:- Accounting, Art and Design, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Child Development, Drama, English Literature, French, Geography, History, ICT, Music, Physics.

However, the school insists that all students retain at least one Science and do not over-specialise at this relatively young age. Ultimately, at the end of Grade 10, students take external IGCSE exams, sent out from the University of Cambridge, in eight subjects.

In Grades 11 and 12 students may opt again either for ‘A’ levels or for the Omani General education Diploma [GED]. Again the concept of student choice comes into play, but this time with more emphasis on linkage to university courses and careers.

Our current ‘A’ level and Diploma programmes are outlined here.

Advanced Subsidiary [AS] – leading to full A-level
  • Compulsory Subjects are: English, Islamic Studies/Ishtimayat/Social Studies in English, P.E.
  • Optional Subjects include:- Arabic, English Literature, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, ICT, Business Studies, Computing, Drama, Travel & Tourism, Leisure Studies
General Education Diploma [GED] – leading to leaving Diploma
  • Compulsory Subjects are: Arabic, Islamic Studies/Social Studies/English, Maths, Biology, Thinking Skills/Extended Essay, P.E.
  • Optional Subjects are: Physics, Chemistry, Business Studies, ICT, Biology

Students are taught the responsibility of deciding on their ultimate choice, but are guided through this process by teachers, subject specialist co-ordinators and university/careers advisors from inside school. Visiting university representatives also play a significant part in shaping students’ decisions about prospective university destinations.


Admission Procedure
New students are required to pass placement evaluations, or personal interviews, before admission. Language proficiency is NOT a criteria for admission to MIS. A Registration Fee of RO:300/- per child will secure placement. This fee is not refundable even the student leaves the school during the academic year or fails to take up the offer of admission.

Documents to be submitted:
An up-to-date, official copy of last school report & record
Medical Record
Original Birth Certificate
Non-Omani Students: Passport with Residence Visa
Two recent photographs
RO:10/- (non-refundable)

Calendar
The school year starts in mid August and ends around the third week in June. All National and Religious Holidays are observed as well as other breaks during the year. [See Calendar]

Fees
School fees are payable in advance at the beginning of the school year. [See Fees]

Daily Timetable
Classes begin at 7.30am and finish [for Kindergarten at 12.30pm]; for Primary grades 1 to 6 and for Secondary grades 7 to 12 students at 2.20pm.

Home-School Transport
A 'door-to-door' transportation service is provided for students at an extra fee. [See Fees]

Student Enrolment
School enrolment varies from year to year but usually numbers are 800+. MIS has students from around 45 different nationalities.

School And Home
MIS believe that working together with parents encourages both academic and social standards. To this end, staff and parents meet regularly; both formally and at parent/teacher interview times.

Summer School
MIS runs an annual Summer School which is available to any student in Oman. It is an excellent opportunity for students interested in consolidating their studies, or to concentrate on problem areas they may be experiencing. Students should choose to study two subjects in the Academic Programme and the remainder of the day will be spent in our educational Activities.


Contact Details

Muscat International School
Muscat International School (MIS)
PO Box: 1031
Phone: +968 24565550
Fax: +968 24560957
Ruwi, Sultanate of Oman
Email: admin@misoman.org
Website: www.misoman.org
 
 
 
 
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