British Curriculum

A World-Class British Education

At Cheltenham Muscat, we provide an exceptional British education that seamlessly blends the rich heritage and academic excellence of Cheltenham College UK with the globally respected Cambridge International Curriculum. Thoughtfully adapted to the cultural and educational context of the Sultanate of Oman, our curriculum nurtures curiosity, fosters intellectual growth, and encourages every pupil to achieve their full potential within a dynamic, supportive, and inspiring learning environment.

Our approach strikes a perfect balance between what is learned and how it is learned. We foster academic excellence, independent thinking, and a lifelong love of learning, equipping our pupils with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive in an ever-changing world.

The Pre-Prep School

KG1 and KG2 (Pre-school and Reception)
Our Kindergarten curriculum is tailored to meet the developmental needs of each child as they grow. By making the very most of each child’s natural curiosity, we aim to instill a love of learning, whatever the child’s starting point. Our KG1 and KG2 teaching is modelled around the Curiosity Approach which allows children to experience a rich, inspiring learning environment designed to spark imagination, independence, and a love for learning. Our approach moves away from plastic toys and overstimulating spaces, instead offering authentic materials, open-ended resources, and beautifully curated spaces that encourage deep engagement, problem-solving, and creativity.

Our curriculum provides children with fresh opportunities and new challenges, helping them to make the most of their talents and providing scope for them to develop new and exciting interests.

Grade 1 and Grade 2
Grade 1 and Grade 2 build on all of the wonderful learning the children have experienced whilst in Kindergarten. Our teaching continues to follow an inquiry-based approach and is underpinned by the Cambridge Primary Programme and influenced by the curriculum outcomes of Cheltenham College UK. We maintain enough flexibility in our curriculum to ensure learning journeys foster individual interests and needs.

The children are taught in mixed ability classes with activities differentiated to meet individual academic needs and learning styles, with phonics classes streamed to allow all students to progress at a rate suited to their individual needs and starting points. The classes are small and familiar, with children encouraged to apply the concepts they learn in class to independent and creative work. Their class teacher teaches them for the majority of their subjects. Specialist teachers deliver Arabic, Islamic Studies, PE and Swimming.

Life in Pre-Prep

Pastoral
Our nurturing environment enables our experienced teachers to get to know their children extremely well. We get to know what inspires and ignites interest in each child and as a result can personalise their school experience to suit their individual needs and styles.

We are fortunate to be able to offer very favourable staffing ratios, with each class teacher in the Pre-Prep being supported by a full-time teaching assistant so that all the children receive the support they need to fulfil their potential.

Communications
Our door is always open to parents. In the morning we operate a flexible drop off, giving your child precious time to settle and giving you the chance to talk to our staff or to other parents. Our Seesaw platform allows us to share your child’s learning journey with you every week and allows a regular glimpse of what goes on inside and beyond the classroom.

We also send home a weekly e-newsletter to keep you up to date with whole school events and key information. Regular coffee mornings give you an opportunity to meet other parents, and our curriculum workshops are a unique way of helping you to understand what is being taught in the classroom and to reinforce it at home.

Facilities
Our Pre-Prep is designed to make the learning experience irresistible and memorable. We encourage learning to continue beyond the classroom walls, with excellent opportunities to use outdoor learning areas as well as an extensive internal shared learning space. Click here for more information about our facilities.

The Prep School

Grades 3 to 8
Life at our Prep is full of opportunity and fun. Providing your child with a strong academic foundation is only the start of our offering.

We are extremely proud of our vibrant and supportive community. We ensure that your child receives the best education in the classroom, enjoys a wide range of sporting, music and artistic opportunities and benefits from exceptional pastoral care. Our holistic approach nurtures and guides their path from children through to their teenage years.

Lower Prep starts at Grade 3, where their class teacher is the centre of their universe. Here we really get to know your child, their talents, their interests and their characters. Children learn at different rates and so we make sure that each child is looked after as an individual.

As students progress through Lower Prep, they begin to experience more specialized teaching across a wider range of subjects. For example, Grade 5 are taught Design Technology (DT) in our state of the art DT workshop by a specialist DT teacher. This provides a hugely enriching experience in the short term as well as great preparation for moving into Upper Prep where all lessons are taught by specialist teachers.

In Lower Prep, children are increasingly asked to take more responsibility for their work. Assessments gradually become more formalised and children receive more specialist teaching. We follow the Cambridge International Primary Programme but retain the flexibility to personalise learning journeys in order to foster individual interests and cater to individual needs. Throughout this period, we nurture ‘curious minds’ and create a fun and engaging environment through thematic and project based learning.

Upper Prep starts at Grade 6. The academic and all-round curriculum continue but most importantly we are able to focus on their development pastorally. These key years of learning allow children to develop as leaders and learn responsibility. They gradually adapt to become more independent, moving around the school to each of their lessons and learning to manage themselves organisationally. In order to smooth this process, we have a dedicated Grade 6 Hub where our new to Upper Prep students can feel a clear sense of belonging and ownership of their environment, reducing the immediate impact of changes and allowing a soft start to senior education.

We look forward to ensuring that your child receives an extraordinary education that challenges them, but also puts a smile on their face and gives them plenty to talk about when they get home.

Our subject specialist approach allows children to engage with a broad curriculum, whilst unlocking talents and discovering interests for particular topics. It also gives them the chance to expand their perceived academic boundaries in preparation for choosing their own academic pathways in Seniors at Cheltenham Muscat. |In addition to the core of English, Arabic, Maths, Science, Islamic and Social Studies (for Arabic speakers) our students study Art, Music, PE, Geography, History, French and Spanish.

The College

Seniors

Grade 9 to 10

Pupils in Seniors are working towards their IGCSE examinations. At Cheltenham Muscat we have gained Ministry of Education approval to give our students the option of studying for IGCSEs over two or three years, dependent upon their future plans. Whilst in Oman students sit their IGCSE or equivalent exams at age 15, our 3 year pathway allows students to continue their studies in a dedicated cohort and sit exams at age 16 in line with other UK and international schools. This will allow them to complete A levels at age 18 and move on to universities around the world. This option provides the time and space to delve deeper into each subject and strive for the highest possible grades.

Conversely, students have the option of completing IGCSEs through a 2 year pathway, moving into sixth form aged 15 and graduating aged 17. This option is best suited to Omani students who intend to stay within Oman for their undergraduate studies.

Both pathways offer students the full range of options choices which include Business Studies, Art, Music, Drama, PE, Computing, ICT, History, Geography, Philosophy, French and Spanish as well as the core curriculum.

All Senior pupils benefit from outstanding specialist teaching and are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning and develop independent and inquisitive minds.

At the same time, we ensure that all our pupils are fully supported by a pastoral framework. This is the foundation which enables our pupils to gain confidence in themselves.

Similarly, the opportunities provided outside of the classroom are second to none. We are a busy school offering outstanding provision within sport, creative arts and outdoor education.

Sixth Form

Pupils in Grades 11 and 12 have a choice of following the A Level or GED programme. Both programmes run for two years.

A Levels
The large majority of our students study A levels with the intention of moving on to universities around the world upon graduation. We offer a broad range of subjects which are timetabled to meet the needs of our individual cohorts every year. Our curriculum options can be viewed in our Sixth Form prospectus.

Sixth Form students at Cheltenham Muscat benefit from the expertise not only of our own highly qualified and proficient team but also that of our colleagues at Cheltenham College in the UK, whose career and universities guidance staff share decades of experience in supporting students in accessing their chosen universities through live presentations, recorded case studies and personal one-to-one coaching.

GED
For those students wishing to remain within the GCC, the Omani GED qualification can be a good alternative to A levels. Providing direct access to universities across the Middle East and allowing access to students who may find the progression to A level daunting. GED students study a broader curriculum in less depth.

Cheltenham Muscat

Admissions:+968 24073900