ADMISSION
Students are admitted to the school only after a careful assessment. This involves consideration of previous school academic results (at least two years), behaviour reports, entrance test results, interviews and any other information the school deems relevant. Due to unprecedented demand, the school now has waiting lists for several classes, so admission also depends on the availability of a place at the time of acceptance. Parents applying from overseas are strongly advised to wait for confirmation of their child’s admission before finalising their plans to move to Mauritius.CURRICULUM
MIDDLE SCHOOL (F1, 2 and 3) Students in Forms 1,2 and 3 study a wide variety of academic and practical subjects: English, Mathematics, French, History, Geography, Integrated Science, Drama, Music, Home Economics, Information Technology, Art and Physical Education. In addition to these subjects, students in Form 2 study Design Technology, Spanish and Health, and students in Form 3 study Physics, Chemistry and Biology (instead of Science), Design Technology, Commercial Studies, Spanish and Speech. The Middle School introduces students to all areas of the academic curriculum, but its programme is less specialised than the upper school. It offers a balanced, comprehensive and success oriented curriculum. In the final term of Form 3, students choose the 8 or 9 subjects that they will study in Forms 4 and 5.INTERNATIONAL GCSE (F4 and 5)
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education from Cambridge University is a series of external examinations taken at the end of Form 5. They are graded on a scale from A (highest) to G (lowest passing grade) and examine not only what a pupil knows but also how knowledge can be applied. The International GCSE is equivalent to GCSE (formerly GCE ‘O’ level) in the UK and the School Certificate in Mauritius. IGCSE assessment rewards positive achievement from both public examinations and internally assessed work. Details of the subjects taught are available from the School Office. Further information is available on the Internet at www.ucles.org.uk/int/igcse/index.htmINTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) (F6 and 7)
Students sit the IB examinations in the final term of Form 7. The IB Diploma is an internationally recognized qualification which permits entrance to most universities around the world, including Oxbridge, Harvard and the Sorbonne. It is the equivalent of the Mauritian HSC, GCE ‘A’ level in the UK and the French Baccalaureate. IB assessment is both by formal public examination and internally assessed project work. Details of the subjects taught are available from the School Office. Further information is available on the Internet at www.ibo.orgCALENDAR
The school's calendar is prepared by the administration and ratified by the Board of Directors during the third term for the following school year. There are at least 184 school days and approximately 13 weeks of vacation each year. This does not include the statutory public and religious holidays in Mauritius. Parents are encouraged not to take their children out of school for longer periods. The calendar is available from the School Office.EXAMINATIONS
Internal progress examinations are held in July and November. The school enters candidates for the November session of the IGCSE and IB examinations in Forms 5 and 7 respectively. Examinations play an important role in academic programmes and students are coached in appropriate examination techniques.EXTRA LEARNING (EL)
The school makes its own provisions for helping those pupils who need extra attention in certain subjects. EL classes are designed according to the needs of the students in attendance. The subject teacher, the student or parents can request extra learning classes. For the extra learning class to be beneficial, the student must also take full advantage of the scheduled lessons in the subject. The school may decide that the attendance at EL classes is compulsory for particular students in need.HOMEWORK
An important part of a person's education is the carry-over of learning into activities outside the school setting. Doing a variety of homework activities can help to accomplish this for students. The Form Teacher gives students in the Middle School a homework diary at the beginning of the year. In it the student records the homework assignments, tests, etc. on the day that they are due and NOT on the day that they are assigned. In this way a pupil will learn to work ahead and become better organised to cope with higher level studies. Parents and form teachers sign the book each week and may use it to communicate with one another.NOTEBOOKS AND MATERIALS
The school supplies each pupil with the necessary exercise books. Pupils are required to keep these covered, neat and presentable. Students are also provided with a homework diary in Forms 1, 2 and 3. Replacements must be paid for if the original is lost. Students are expected to be equipped for lessons with the appropriate writing materials. These include (absolute minimum) pens, pencils, eraser, and ruler. Subject teachers will inform students of any particular requirements for their lessons. Correction fluid is not allowed on campus.PERSONAL AND SOCIAL EDUCATION (PSE)
Students in Forms 1, 2, 3 and 4 attend a weekly lesson in PSE. The programme includes discussion of issues such as personal relationships, social education, health education and study skills. There is also a strong emphasis on values.PROMOTION
At the end of the school year a pupil must have attained significant progress to be promoted to the following year. The school expects passing grades in English and Mathematics, and an average overall pass. Social awareness and level of maturity may also weigh heavily in the school's decision. The school's decision in all matters of promotion or retention is final.REPORTS AND PARENT CONFERENCES
Reports are sent home at the end of each term. Progress reports are sent home half way through each term. Parents may request supplementary reports and are also cordially invited to make an appointment through the school office with any teacher in order to discuss their child's progress. Parent conferences are held in the first and second terms immediately following the mid-term progress reports.SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS (SEN)
Students who are identified as needing specialised assistance are referred to the school’s SEN teacher, who will diagnose the student’s special needs and arrange an appropriate programme. Possible measures include extra afternoon classes, in-class support and selective withdrawal in small groups to tackle specific difficulties.TEACHING STAFF
There are currently fifty qualified full-time teachers at LBIS. All full-time teachers are graduates, with many holding postgraduate teaching qualifications. Specialist staff includes a paramedic, four librarians, a careers counsellor, a psychologist and a special needs teacher.USE OF THE LIBRARY
The school library is open to members of the school whenever school is in session. All students are members of the library and may borrow books and other materials. Please observe the library rules posted inside. Pupils are given lessons in how to use the library at regular intervals.
