A message from Mr Ben Turner, Head Teacher

 Situated in the Western Sovereign Base Area of Cyprus, Akrotiri School is an extraordinary place in which to learn and work. History, nature and technology exudes fromevery corner and even in the skies above us. Our unique context is the starting point for an engaging curriculum which aims to reflect our motto ‘Roots to Grow and Wings to Fly’.

I am immensely proud to lead this exciting school which sits at the heart of RAF Akrotiri Station. Active involvement from our community reflects the pride in our school and I never fail to be impressed by the children who come with a wide experience of different schools and countries. Whether you have just arrived or have been here for longer, you will be amongst friends. You won’t feel ‘new’ for long as you become immersed with strong friendships and exciting learning.

We have an amazing staff at Akrotiri School who understand how your move to Cyprus could be both exciting and worrying.This highly effective team will help you settle into your new surroundings and support your transition. Soon you will be an active learner at Akrotiri School –and we can’t wait to meet you!

Our Vision, Values and Aims

Roots to Grow:

• Foundation of Knowledge: Just like roots anchor a plant, strong foundational knowledge supports students in their academic journey. It ensures they have the essential skills to build upon as they progress.
• Cultural and Emotional Growth: Roots represent connections to family, community, and culture. Teaching children to appreciate their heritage fosters a sense of belonging and emotional well-being.
• Character Development: Building roots also relates to instilling values such as integrity, kindness, and neighbourly, which are crucial for personal and social development.

Wings to Fly:

• Exploration and Innovation: Wings represent the ability to explore new ideas, think critically, and embrace innovation. This empowers children to pursue their passions and interests.
• Independence and Confidence: With wings, students are encouraged to take risks and make decisions independently, fostering self-confidence and resilience.
• Global Citizenship: Wings can also symbolise the ability to reach out to the world. It prepares children to engage with diverse cultures and ideas, becoming proactive global citizens and ready for their next stage of education.

Overall Importance:

• Balanced Growth: This vision encourages a well-rounded education, combining academic excellence with emotional and social growth.
• Lifelong Learners: By cultivating both roots and wings, children are nurtured to become lifelong learners who can adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.
• Community Connection: It helps develop a strong school community where children support one another, fostering collaboration and teamwork.

By embodying this vision, Akrotiri School seeks to cultivate well-rounded individuals who are prepared to excel both personally and academically.

What do we want out of our curriculum?

Akrotiri School is an extraordinary place in which to learn and work.  History, nature and technology exudes around every corner and even in the skies above us. Our unique context is the starting point for an engaging curriculum which reflects our motto ‘Roots to Grow and Wings to Fly’ and is underpinned by our core values ‘Honesty, Empathy, Aspiration, Respect and Teamwork’. 

The curriculum at Akrotiri will:

• Develop the skills for effective learning (roots to grow)
• Foster a love of learning which is brave and ambitious (wings to fly)
• Encourage curiosity and exploit our unique context and environment 
• Be language and knowledge rich
• Prepare children for the next stage of their learning

How do we achieve it?

Consistent high-quality teaching and resources built on a shared understanding of research-based pedagogy will ensure that our children have access to a bespoke curriculum through a broad, balanced and flexible approach.  Our holistic ‘Archimedes Screw’ approach to school improvement (monitoring, assessment, tracking, T&L, coaching, CPD, PM, moderation, standardisation, PPM) ensures that we continually provide the best learning and development opportunities for all.

We:

• Ensure that learning is relevant, purposeful and engaging for all children
• Provide opportunities for children to work independently and collaboratively
• Establish a safe, secure and thoughtful environment which promotes physical and mental well-being
• Use a consistent approach to plan and organise learning based on our whole school model of teaching and learning
• Ensure long term plans consistently build on prior knowledge resulting in progressive learning throughout our balanced curriculum.     
• Use high quality CPD to develop and challenge our practice

How is it evaluated?

An ongoing cycle of evaluation and improvement underpins our curriculum. We seek to gain feedback from children, parents and the School Governance Committee (SGC) so that teaching and learning remains relevant, current and inspirational.  Always seeking to integrate the best learning opportunities within our unique context enables our curriculum to flex as we strive to become world class.

High quality evaluation will:

• result from robust assessment procedures which inform the next stages of learning
• engage subject/focus leaders allowing time for monitoring impact across the school
• ensure accurate and consistent assessments are regularly communicated to parents
• enable the SGC to challenge and support our ongoing development