2009-2010 - Hornbill School Website

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STORY OF THE SCHOOL
Hornbill School is an exciting and expanding new school that caters for both Nepali
children of Gurkha soldiers and children of serving British military and civilian MOD
personnel. Hornbill School is a primary school with 464 children from 3 - 11 years of
age and is situated at present on a split site with the Foundation Stage housed 8km
away from the Main Site. Hornbill School Main Site is located in the building that
previously housed the Gurkha School. Plans are in the final stages to enable the school
to be adapted and extended so that both sites can be housed as one and 200 additional
pupil places can be accommodated. The expected date for completion of our extended
purpose built facilities is Feb 2011. The main site is pleasantly located in the centre of
the main housing area, close to the recently refurbished swimming pool, medical centre
and NAAFI. Children who are unable to walk to school travel on organised buses.
The school follows the English National Curriculum for all children. The principal
teaching is English, with variations for Nepali 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 as “UK-based civilians”
within the Ministry of Defence. They are recruited from both SCE schools in other
Commands and from civilian UK schools. The Nepali Specialist Teachers are degree
qualified and are recruited directly from Nepal for employment in Brunei. WE also
recruit teachers from other countries such as NZ, Australia and Canada through
arrangements in place locally. Like all SCE schools, Hornbill School is subject to
inspections from HMI OFSTED. Our most recent inspection was undertaken in March
2009 and the report can be located on the Ofsted web site as well as our own.
Prior to the opening of the new school in 2003, there were two schools serving the
British Garrison in Seria. Seria Service Children’s School provided mainly for children
of British military and civilian personnel. The Gurkha Children's English School
provided education for children of Gurkha’s serving in Seria with the British Army.
The school is at a dynamic and exciting stage in its development. The amalgamation of
the two schools with distinct cultural needs 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 and because we are responding to
changes in MOD legislation; namely Gurkha Married Accompanied Service (GMAS).
We have recently improved the outdoor learning provision, landscaped the environment
to encourage reflective and first hand learning and improved the administrative and
staff areas of the school. The staff are talented and committed to the school
improvement and keen to drive forward change with energy and enthusiasm. Parents,
the Garrison and the SGC committee members are highly supportive and, again,
committed to the success of the school at all levels. We also boast specialist sport
facilities with extensive grounds. All children from the age of three make good use of
the swimming facilities on both sites. Our Extended Learning Programme is a strength
of the school as we organise and lead over 50 after school activities for our children.
We work 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.