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Botswana
Africa Schools
International Schools |
Northside School is a private, English-medium day school approved by the Ministry of Education, Botswana and a member of the Association of International Schools in Africa. It is situated in a suburb of Gaborone, the capital of Botswana. The school is organized into Infant and Junior Departments. Children enter the reception class of the Infant Department in January as they turn five years by August 31 of the same year. School policy is to maintain classes of mixed ability, two to each year level, where group work prevails. A Special Needs Department allows any child with specific learning problems to be placed on a remediation programme. Many of the staff have served ten years and longer. Specialist teachers offer science, Setswana, physical education, remedial education, information technology and music. The student body at Northside School represents some 28 countries, with 26% from the host country; the majority of expatriates come from the UK, the USA and neighbouring countries. Over 50% complete their primary years at the school. Many UK children pass Common Entrance tests for British independent secondary schools. A few children attend government secondary schools in Botswana, private secondary schools in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa or Maru a Pula, a private secondary school in Gaborone, which offers 'A' and 'O' level courses or Westwood International School which offers the IB programme. The Northside School academic year commences in January and closes in December. The official school day starts at 07:30 and ends at 13:00. A full programme of extra-curricular activities is provided every afternoon from 14:15 to 17:30. This includes football, cricket, netball, swimming, basketball, athletics, gymnastics, table tennis, badminton, art and craft, orchestra, choir, recorders, drama, hobbies, Brownies (Sunbeams), cookery and computers. Facilities at Northside School comprise 16 classrooms, each one with its own Apple Mac and printer, a Reading Resource Centre which includes a large library of 10,000 volumes, a hall with a stage, science room, music room, French and Setswana Language rooms, sports pavilion, gymnasium, football pitch, netball, tennis and basketball courts. The computer laboratory built in 1990 has recently been upgraded with 16 iMacs. Northside School Children are accepted in order of date of registration. Founder Member/Debenture companies and the US Government enjoy priority places on the waiting lists. Demand for places far exceeds places available in the Reception classes, and parents are advised to register early. |
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