Sixth Form: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
About Al Diyafah High School (The School)
"Let Your Light Shine" is our founder’s vision, and we are celebrating 40 years. All Diyafah Staff and Management continue to provide a holistic student centric approach by providing resources, pastoral care support ensuring our students feel they are a genuine part of the Al Diyafah High School rather than just headcount. Sixth Form has its own exclusive Winne Dcunha Sixth Form Block block named after our Founder. Students have the opportunity to study a wide variety of academic subjects and we are continually adapting our courses by following our philosophy, ‘right student, right course’ so students leave us well equipped for the opportunities & life beyond Sixth Form. There are also a wide variety of opportunities offered to get involved in extra activities and for all our students to embrace the social aspects of Sixth Form life. Al Diyafah Sixth Form offers students a unique learning experience in familiar surroundings where they are engaged in their subjects by dedicated, well qualified staff and inspired to enjoy studying in an atmosphere of mutual respect and support.
Q: What are the technology infrastructural facilities available at the School?
We pride ourselves on being a “SMART SCHOOL” over the years and we have invested heavily in IT staff, IP Infrastructure, Firewall and Broadband capability across the Campus Diyafah Schools has been a “Microsoft Showcase School” since 2018. Our staff and students have been provided M365 licences upto 5 devices and 1TB of online space to hold and store materails. Our Policy and Vision working with Microsoft 365 (M365) Teams/OneNote with our stduents is a part of Diyafah culture and this helped us to sucessfully switch off during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown with virtual and distance education. Another contributing factor is the ongoing online training of our educators through the Microsoft Educator Center website (MIEE). Our Staff are encouraged to get Microsoft (MS) certified which was instrumental in our School getting certified as a Microsoft Showcase School.
Wirelss Router/Access Points: Diyafah Schools have invested in RUCKUS a premium wireless connnectivity product and our campus is currently Wireless Enabled for Staff and Students and handle all workloads.
Intelligent Flat Panels (BenQ and Promethean): All our classrooms are enhanced with Intelligent Flat Panels which provide unique features for Collaborative Learning. These interactive Intelligent Flat panels facilitate teachers in preparing lessons, screen sharing and delivering lessons to achieve real-time collaborative classrooms.
Diyafah Parent & Staff Portal: Our ERP system software seamlessly integrates with the Student Information thereby allowing school Staff and administrators to create, allocate and track performance year on year.
Online Payments:The payments are facilitated via the Diyafah Parent Portal from the comfort of your home through Credit/Debit Card as per fee payable which simplifies payment process for parents/ students by facilitating them with online payment gateways to pay fees remotely.
Q: What devices will students need to carry in daily to school? BYOD: (Bring you Own Device)
students of Sixth- Form are required to carry a Laptop for lessons daily. Devices must be registered under the School’s BYOD policy. Students caught misusing their devices/accessing restricted materials will be liable for strict action including suspension/expulsion from school. Please refer to our BYOD policy.
Q: what are the specifications of a laptop that is expected in the School? THE SCHOOL recommends the following specs for a LAPTOP device.
Given the current situation, it would be prudent to buy the latest LAPTOP configurations to ensure the device is future compliant for newer applications as well as fit for any Exams (including Boards).
Q: How Does the School ensure online safety
Dsafe – Diyafah safety online -has invested in Fortinet Firewall which track and monitoring all activities. Students caught misusing their devices/accessing restricted materials will be liable for strict action including suspension/expulsion from school. Beside this the School has frequent seminar on Online Bullying and inform students how to manage and surf the web safely
Q: How is Health and Safety (H&S) managed ? :
Dsafe: Diyafah H&S - Diyafah Schools has been graded Outstanding as H&S is a part of the Diyafah Culture. Staff and Students wellbeing is always on the forefront and product used to clean and Sanitize are of top certified quality and Suport Staff are all trained in this process and follow all gudielines. Staff getting vaccinated against the Covid-19, currently stand at 94%. All staff and students entering continue with temperature screening. Chemical used are Diversey for cleaning and Sanitization.
Q: How do I apply to Sixth-Form in the School?
Click on Sixth Form Admission for full details of the application process and registration form. If you are unable to find an answer to your question please do not hesitate to contact the School registrar - registrar@diyafahschool.com & Head of Sixth Form - sixthformco@diyafahschool.com.
Q:How many places are available for students joining the Sixth Form?
We give priority to the Schools students and have a limited number of places for external students. Applicants are invited for an interview following a report from their current school, indicating predicted IGCSE grades.
Q: Are current the School students guaranteed a place?
Although places are prioritised for the Schools students, they must still meet the entry requirements of seven IGCSE's at grade A*-B or equivalent, a positive attitude to learning and good attendance. For further informations please visit our Sixth form admissions page.
Courses
Q: What courses/subjects are on offer:
The School currently offer 15 subjects at Sixthform A levels: Art & Design, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, English Language, Mathematics, (Pure Math, Statistics, Mechanics), Environmental Management, Business, Physics, Sociology, History, Psychology, Information Technology, Computer studies, Accounting.
Q: How many subjects can I choose?
Minimum of 4 subjects in AS level and 3 subjects in A levels. Check the subject-options block for AS and A levels. Students must choose one subject from each of the block.
Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
Physics | Chemistry | Accounting | Physics |
Mathematics | Business | Biology | Computer Science |
Economics | English | Business | Information Technology |
Psychology | English General Paper | Chemistry | Sociology |
Environmental Management | Biology | Art & Design | Mathematics |
| Mathematics | History | Psychology |
Click here to find additional information about a subject.
Q: How will my timetable look like?
The grid below indicates the amount of contact time teachers have with learners to deliver a particular course as Guided Learning hours per week.
Subject | AS | A level |
Form Time | 4 | 4 |
Subject Option 1 | 9 | 9 |
Subject Option 2 | 9 | 9 |
Subject Option 3 | 9 | 9 |
Subject Option 4 | 9 | 9 |
Physical Education | 2 | 2 |
Arabic A / B | 4 | - |
Islamic A / B/Value Ed | 2 | 2 |
Moral Education | 1 | 1 |
Skills16* | 1 | 1 |
Q: Can I opt to study more than four subjects at AS level?
Yes, you may choose to do an extra subject besides one from each block. You will be required to work on the subject on your own. Subject teacher and subject head will help you with the assessments and keep track of your progress in that subject.
Q: Can I opt to apply to universities after AS levels?
We recommend that students complete their A levels as they are preferred entry qualification for many top universities and the best route for students with an excellent academic record who hope to study at one of the top universities, such as Oxford, Cambridge or other Russell Group institutions.They help prepare you for university
Q: Can I drop a subject in Year 13 if I do not need it for my further studies?
Most pupils take four subjects in Year 12. After AS level exams they drop one subject and continue the other three through Year 13 to complete A levels.
Q: Is it true that A levels are a lot tougher than IGCSEs?
Yes. There is a big step up from IGCSE to A level, but we set our entry requirements at the level we do because we know that by achieving the required grades at IGCSE you will be more than capable of flourishing at A level too. This does not mean you are left to struggle alone – if you need help, please ask for it – but by taking responsibility for your learning and doing some independent study outside of lessons you can stretch yourself to achieve the higher grades. Not only will you feel an added sense of accomplishment, but it preparing you for university and employment too.
Q: I don’t know what I want to do after A Level, so how do I know what subjects to pick?
We always advise students to pick subjects that they are good at and which they enjoy. You will do better at subjects you enjoy because you are engaged in what you are learning and getting good grades at A level keeps lots of options open to you. You can also meet with our career counsellor for guidance in this matter.
Assessments
Q: Will I be able to complete an A level qualification in a year?
At Diyafah we follow the ‘staged’ assessment route where students take the Cambridge International/EdExcel AS Level in one examination May/June series and complete the final Cambridge International/Edexcel A Level at a subsequent May/June series. AS Level marks be carried forward to a full A Level.
Students do not have an option taking all papers of a CAIE/Edexcel course in the same examination session.
Q: When are the exam forms to be filled?
Exam forms are filled in the month of February for the students appearing for the exams in June.
Q: When can I retake my A levels?
For CAIE Board papers retakes are in November and/or May.
For Edexcel Board retakes can be in October, Jan and/or June.
Q: Will I be able to sit for the retakes through school?
No, you will have to approach the British council in Dubai for filling up the forms and the centre allotment for your exams. You may check the same here
Q: Is it worth retaking my A levels?
This depends on several factors. First, you must identify why you failed to make the grades first time round. Be completely honest with yourself - did you really work hard for your grade(s) or did you leave revision to the last minute? You have to be sure that second time around, you will actually be able to make some improvement and that you are capable of obtaining a higher grade, otherwise it's a waste of time retaking exams and you'll just be repeating the same mistakes.
Q: Besides Board exams will there be any Internal Assessments?
Yes. Student progress monitoring is a practice that helps teachers use student performance data to continually evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching and make more informed instructional decisions. To implement student progress monitoring, summative assessments are scheduled as follows:
Monthly tests – September, October and January
Mock Exams – December and March
Its necessary for students to take the tests as these become the basis for teachers to make a Grade Prediction in subjects, that helps students secure places at the first-choice universities.
Q: Will I be able to meet my academic achievement targets?
We take immense pride in sharing our academic success stories. All of our students are exceptional, and all have extraordinary talents. Many of our students achieve results that are even beyond exceptional.
Click here to get a glimpse of outstanding achievements demonstrated by our students over the years.
We continue to support our students to Achieve Academic Success in the unfamiliar World of online and Blended Classrooms.
Q: Do I have to wear School uniform?
Yes, at Al Diyafah we have a different uniform for the Sixth Form than the rest of the School. Students take pride in wearing their uniform. On P.E days students wear sports uniform matching their House colour. uniform vendor link.
Q: What are the attendance expectations for Sixth Formers?
Attendance is compulsory during all modes of learning (face-to-face or distance learning). A student is marked absent if they fail to attend classes. An absence is only authorized for the valid reasons, as specified in the student planner, confirmed by a signed letter from Parents/Guardians or by way of official documents to attest for the full duration of the absence. All Sixth-Form students are expected to have at least 98% attendance rate.
University and Career Guidance
Q: Does it matter what subjects I pick at A level if I have a particular career in mind?
Yes and no! for some careers you will be unable to study a particular university course without having taken some specific A level subjects (and the grades you achieve in these subjects will be important too!). We make sure we talk students through this when they come to interview and we also have a handy guide on the website too to show you which subjects are essential for particular university degrees. It’s important to note that there are plenty of university courses out there that make no demands on what subjects you have studied at A level. Instead they will be more interested in what grades you achieve, regardless of the subject you have studied.
Q: Is it true that taking certain A level subjects opens up more university course options?
As we’ve explained above, while some university courses demand particular subjects at A level, others don’t. However, there are a number of subjects at A level that are known as ‘facilitating’ subjects and that’s because they are often asked for by a variety of university courses. These subjects include Biology, Chemistry, English, Mathematics, Languages and Physics. The more of these subjects you choose, the more courses at university will be open to you.
Q: What else can help me to get a place at university?
Extracurricular activities are also a great benefit to a students’ resume when it comes to applying for universities or jobs. Universities, for example, love to see evidence from a prospective student that they are willing to go above and beyond to develop new skills. Extracurricular activities also demonstrate that you have varied interests and a curiosity to learn beyond the traditional classroom.
Personal Enrichment Programme (PEP)/Events/Activities/ Student Bodies
Skills16:
The programme aims to support sixth formers to reach their full potential through developing the personal and career related skills that they need to make a positive contribution to their communities and wider society.
The sessions extend to teaching our Post 16 students some of the essential Life skills such as:
Critical Thinking& problem solving
Creativity, Communication and Collaboration
Curiosity
Initiative & persistence
Adaptability
Leadership
Social and Cultural awareness
What co-curricular activities are available?
In the Sixth Form, all students are encouraged to take part in a range of co-curricular activities which are either timetabled, take place at breaktime or after school.
Sport is timetabled for 2 lessons a week with a range of options available that include team sports, such as Hockey, Basketball and Football and individual sporting opportunities such as Badminton, sprints etc.
Students are also encouraged to start up clubs where they have a specific interest or talent – recently a Drone Club and a Photography Club were set up for the first time by students of Sixth Form. We offer students an opportunity to join (amongst others) , the Debating Society, Young Entrepreneurs, Model United Nations, Community Action, Chess Club, Mindfulness club. A range of subject specific clubs are operated by Sixth Formers to work with younger members of the School, such as the P.A.L.S (Peer assisted Learning Strategies), Math Buddy Scheme, Paired Reading and the Language Ambassador Scheme.
Sports team / House Captain
- House Captains will be ambassadors for not only the PE Department but also for the whole School. Younger pupils will look up to them as role models for the School sport and they must lead by example. We expect them to take a full and active part in PE life and help with co-curricular clubs in their chosen sport.
- Throughout the year, their role will involve helping with and organising Sports Day, running inter-form competitions, assisting at tournaments, attending our sports awards ceremony, reading out PE notices in assemblies and writing the end of term PE report.
- House Captains apply for the role and once appointed they will be asked to sign a contract to confirm their commitment to fulfilling their duties.
Student Executive Council
- Members of Student Executive Council are elected representatives from sixth form
- Its main purpose is to develop leadership skills among the students. This council act like a bridge between students, faculty and the management.
- Many students have launched their own clubs and societies with considerable success and we are very keen to support and nurture students in these kind of ventures.
Editorial initiatives
We are proud to have a self motivated editorial team led by our sixth formers, with plenty of ideas and initiatives
- The Senior Sixth(Year13s) produce a Yearbook as a record of their schooldays.
- The publish a bi-yearly school magazine titled “Mindspark”
- Our Podcast team create podcasts can help students organize and communicate, building key writing and speaking skills while also learning recording, editing, and publishing skills.
PALS(Peer Assisted Learning Strategies) clubs
P.A.L.S club or Peer Assisted Learning involves students (typically from the year(s) above facilitating discussions and practice sessions for students from the year(s) below. The student tutors provide specific and focussed academic help in subjects that they are good at, to the students who seek help.
ADMUN
MUN provides an opportunity to research contemporary issues in world affairs, practice arguing and public speaking and develop teamwork skills in spontaneous and impromptu situations. In recent years students of sixth form have taken the initiative to organise and run these internal and external conferences with great success. It is excellent preparation for a whole range of university subjects and most importantly it is a challenging yet fun and engaging activity.
Community Outreach activities
Our Sixth formers never miss an opportunity to reach out to make a difference in the local environment and community, creating caring local and global citizens. Click here
to know more about how our students connect and engage for learning and caring about the wider world
Debate club
Debating is a fun, interactive club which is designed to improve each student’s ability to form balanced, informed arguments and to use reasoning and evidence effectively. The debating clubs in the School, meet to run formal debates, discuss issues that concern them and simply to argue with their peers! Clubs interact, with senior students judging junior debates and helping them to choose their motions. Each year we enter and win a range of intra and inter school debate competitions.
Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Programme and awards
Be part of this prestigious programme. “University applicants need examples of the key attributes that employees look for such as leadership and teamworking skills. DofE is a great way to achieve a lot of these in one go, though graduates need to take time to show how their DofE experience is relevant to the role that they are applying for”
Career Guidance
Q: Will I receive guidance on applying to University and Career choices?
Specialist Career Counselling staff (careercounsellor@diyafahschool.com.)
The School has an outstanding record of helping students to gain places to study at top universities. Students can also receive support when applying to foundation courses, internships or to study abroad. Here is a glimpse of our Graduate destinations 2022.
Our staff focus & work with our students in highter secondary which continues into the Sixth Form on skills needed:
Student are actively encouraged & guided to build up a worthwhile CV. Open professional account online – Linkedin How to apply to Higher Education Uninversity of choice UCAS, Common App application process, as per countries of choice Assist in a personal statement.