Secondary School

At Aspen Heights, students see their academic achievement recognised in meaningful, everyday ways. Teachers share positive notes and daily recognition to highlight effort, kindness and strong learning behaviours, while termly Reward Days and enrichment activities celebrate consistent progress. Awards assemblies spotlight academic excellence, outstanding progress and leadership, building a culture of pride and aspiration.

High-ability learners extend their achievement through the Aspen Aspire Pathway, with personalised challenges, leadership opportunities and project-based learning. Throughout, teachers use assessment data, classroom performance and pastoral insight to track progress so every student’s academic, social and personal growth is understood and supported.

At this stage, students grow the life skills they need to feel confident in school, in further study and in the wider world. They build strong interpersonal skills - working in teams, leading projects, listening with empathy and communicating clearly - so they can form positive relationships and collaborate with others.

Students also step up their digital fluency. They research safely, think critically about what they see online, navigate digital platforms and use a range of tools to create, solve problems and present their ideas. Alongside this, they sharpen key learning habits such as time management, independent study, resilience and reflective thinking, so they can make decisions, handle challenges and adapt when things change.

In Secondary, students strengthen their multilingual skills in a truly international setting. English is the main language of instruction, while Arabic is taught through the Ministry of Education programme so students deepen both academic language and cultural understanding.

All learners continue with Spanish in Year 7 – 9, then step into further specialisation in the upper years with options such as IGCSE French and IB Spanish. Many students have their language skills formally recognised through IGCSE examinations in Arabic, French, Spanish or additional home languages, celebrating real-world fluency and opening doors to global study and careers.

At our international school in Abu Dhabi, students connect with the wider world through a rich range of ISP international learning opportunities.

Through ISP Changemakers, they join ECAs and school projects focused on sustainable spaces, turning global issues into local action. They test their strategic thinking in ISP Chess competitions and, for gifted and talented students, extend their horizons through the ISP Virtual Exchange.

Creative and curious learners develop their talents with ISP Artists and ISP Scientists, both embedded across the curriculum, while the whole school takes part in ISP Street Child United, linked to House Days, to explore global social issues and contribute to positive change beyond the classroom.

Students move through a clear, age-appropriate careers journey from Year 7 to Year 11. In Lower Secondary they explore the world of work and their strengths, in Year 9 they receive focused guidance to choose IGCSE subjects linked to future goals, and in Upper Secondary they join careers workshops, subject talks and study skills sessions that introduce next steps.

Senior students then access personalised university application support for UCAS, Common App and other international systems. They shape strong personal statements and essays, secure academic references, prepare portfolios, apply for scholarships and grow confidence through interview coaching and mock interviews.

IGCSE subject selection is supported through one-to-one consultations, parent information evenings and skills and interest surveys, with clear maps that show how each subject links to university courses and careers. Through ISP Future Pathways, students step into international opportunities such as webinars, workshops and exchanges, while parents stay closely involved through regular workshops, options evenings and individual consultations.