INFORMATION College policies

College Policies

Learning & Teaching Policy

Introduction

Discovery College is committed to developing “inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect” – IBO Mission Statement.

Discovery College will foster student achievement by providing learning and teaching programmes through the IB Curriculum framework in collaboration with students and parents.

We will do this by:

Nurturing positive relationships between staff and students

Developing and implementing a learning and teaching programme that is centred around inquiry-based learning

Ensuring that the learning is significant, engaging, relevant and challenging

Giving priority to student achievement in literacy and numeracy

Giving priority to regular quality physical activity that develops movement skills for all students

Deploying a range of assessment practices to:

Inform student learning
Improve student learning
Evaluate student learning

Using good quality assessment information to identify;

students and groups of students who are not achieving;
students and groups of students who are at risk of not achieving;
students and groups of students who have individual and/or EAL needs; and
aspects of the curriculum which require particular attention

Developing and implementing learning and teaching strategies to address the needs of all students

Providing appropriate career education and guidance for all students in Year 7 and above

Discovery College is a community of learners delivering excellence through:

A collaborative approach to learning and teaching
Rigorous assessment procedures
Benchmarking against the highest international standards
An internationally researched Professional Learning Programme
Regular self review

Procedures included under this policy statement:

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP)
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP)
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP)
homework
staff-parent/caregiver Communication
assessment, recording and reporting
digital technologies
co-curricular activities
parental involvement
individual needs/EAL
house system
professional development

Health and Safety Policy

Introduction

Discovery College will provide a safe physical and emotional environment for students.

We will help to achieve this by :

complying in full with any legislation currently in force or that may be developed to ensure the safety of students and employees
developing procedures that support staff and student's well-being
ensuring the school premises provide a safe and healthy learning and working environment
promoting healthy food and nutrition for all students

Procedures included under this policy statement:

school bus
student code of conduct
bullying & harassment
punctuality
smoking / alcohol / drugs
Outdoor Education
school nurse
emergency arrangements

School Governance Policy

Introduction

Discovery College is expected to comply with all general legislation concerning requirements such as attendance, the length of the school day, and the length of the school year.

Discovery College will design a school timetable and annual calendar that best maximises opportunities for student achievement, taking into account:

annual and public holidays
ESF and EDB requirements
internal and external exams/assessments
staff CPD days
school events, including camps

Procedures included under this policy statement:

uniform
cycling
timetable
attendance / length of school day / length of school year
smart cards

Strategic Planning Policy

Introduction

Discovery College will develop a strategic plan which documents how we are giving effect to the IBO curriculum through our policies, plans and programmes, including those for curriculum, assessment and staff professional development.

We will do this by:

maintaining an on-going programme of self-review in relation to the school's policies, plans and programmes, including evaluation of information on student achievement
reporting to students and their parents on the achievement of individual students, and to the school's community on the achievement of students as a whole and of groups
reviewing and reporting on the success of the school's Chinese language programme

Procedures included under this policy statement:

self review
surveys and questionnaires

Employment Policy

Introduction

Discovery College will develop and implement personnel and industrial policies, within policy and procedural frameworks set by the ESF and the HK Government from time to time, which promote high levels of staff performance, use educational resources effectively and recognise the needs of students.

We will do this by:

being a good employer and complying with the conditions contained in employment contracts applying to teaching and non-teaching staff.

Procedures included under this policy statement:

performance management
recruitment
IB requirements
job descriptions
dress code
staff code of conduct

Finance and Property Policy

Introduction

Discovery College will ensure that the school's financial systems and property management are robust and strategic in order to maximise student learning and guarantee the long term viability of the school.

We will help achieve this by:

allocating funds to reflect the school's priorities as stated in the annual plan
monitoring and controlling school expenditure, and ensure that annual accounts are prepared and audited as required by ESF
implementing a maintenance programme to ensure that the school's buildings and facilities provide a safe, healthy learning environment for students

Procedures included under this policy statement:

petty cash
budgets

College Policies

Contents:

Learning & Teaching Policy

Introduction

Health and Safety Policy

Introduction

School Governance Policy

Introduction

Strategic Planning Policy

Introduction

Employment Policy

Introduction

Finance and Property Policy

Introduction