Mr. James’ End of School Year Reflection

Mr James’ Weekly Reflection – End of School Year

As we come to the end of an extraordinary academic year and prepare to head into the summer break, I feel immense pride and gratitude for all that we’ve achieved together as a school community. This has been a year filled with purpose, progress, and passion, a year that has seen fantastic learning opportunities, powerful moments of connection, and exciting growth across every phase of the school.

In Primary, we’ve seen a noticeable shift towards an even more creative and child-centred approach to learning. The development and use of the collaboration areas have been particularly inspiring. These shared spaces have been used so effectively by the team that it has genuinely been a joy to walk past and witness the wonderful learning experiences taking place each day. The vibrancy, engagement, and sense of purpose in these areas reflect the outstanding efforts of our Primary staff and the curiosity of our learners. Through an enquiry lead curriculum, children have learnt and created projects around food, roller coasters, rainforests, travel and many more. It has been amazing to see the passion and understanding these children share with their families during their well attended celebrations of learning.

Our Secondary School has also taken bold steps forward this year, innovating the curriculum with exciting additions such as Drama, Robotics, Wellbeing, and Computer Science, broadening learning experiences and inspiring deeper engagement. With a strong and experienced team in place and new staff joining us next year, we are excited to offer an even wider iGCSE offer and a more diverse and broader curriculum. Next academic year will also see wider extra curricular opportunities that will include, Silver and Bronze Duke of Edinburgh, MUN and greater opportunities for secondary learners to experience life learning experiences through our enhanced trips and visits offering. The future of Secondary at Nadeen is vibrant and full of opportunity as we continue to make preparations for our Post 16 provision which will see Nadeen offer outstanding education from EYFS to Year 13 in the coming years.

Creativity and expression have shone brightly through our performing arts this year. From musical showcases and class performances to the absolutely brilliant production of Shrek the Musical, our learners have truly amazed us with their talent and confidence. Our cast of over 80 learners from Year 3 to Year 10, including a staff and learner band, were all outstanding, and I couldn’t be prouder of their performances. What a way to end the year! Our Secondary Art Exhibition, featuring work from our incredibly talented secondary learners, was another standout. A stunning display of creativity, skill, and personal expression. On a personal note, I must admit I thoroughly enjoyed (maybe not quite as much as Ms. Shanee) taking part in Nadeen’s Got Talent as a judge alongside Armin, Ella, Ms. Pauline, and Ms. Shanee… What fun, what talent, and what an unforgettable community moment. 

We were also proud to host two highly successful TeachMeets this year in Early Years and the more holistic side of education focusing on hearts and minds. These were very well attended and brought together educators from across Bahrain. These events are an important part of our vision to support professional growth, share best practice, and eventually establish Nadeen as a hub for learning and innovation across the region. A huge thank you to the team for their hard work and dedication in organising these inspiring gatherings.

Among the many highlights have been our wonderful school events, which continue to bring our community together and celebrate what makes Nadeen so special. From the energy and joy of the Festive Fayre, to the vibrancy and unity of International Day, and of course, my personal favourite, our uplifting and empowering Wellness Fair, each occasion reflected the spirit, creativity, and values of our learners, staff, and families. None of these events would be possible without the organisation, hard work and dedication of our wider school team who work tirelessly to ensure that everything runs smoothly. A big thank you to each and every one of them!

We are proud to be celebrating our achievement of the HPL Award this year, a significant milestone that reflects our commitment to high performance learning and the belief that all learners are capable of success. At the heart of HPL is the conviction that intelligence is not fixed, and through the development of Advanced Cognitive Performance characteristics (ACPs) and Values, Attitudes and Attributes (VAAs), such as resilience, creativity, and critical thinking, learners can excel in all areas. These pillars are embedded into our daily teaching practice and school culture, shaping confident, independent thinkers who are well-equipped for the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Our strong emphasis on enquiry-based learning complements the HPL philosophy, fostering curiosity, problem-solving, and deeper engagement across the curriculum. This approach is supported by research from leading educational thinkers like Carol Dweck, Deborah Eyre, and Kath Murdoch, who highlight the power of mindset, cognitive strategy, and learner agency in achieving high performance. As we look ahead, our journey toward becoming a World Class School is grounded in this foundation of excellence, ambition, and a belief in the limitless potential of every learner.

A landmark development this year has been the opening of our THRIVE Achievement Centre, a space that embodies our unwavering belief in inclusive, individualised education. THRIVE represents more than a facility, it is a reflection of our commitment to ensuring every learner is supported, challenged, and celebrated. A heartfelt thank you to the inclusion team for their dedication, compassion, and tireless work in bringing this vision to life. Through the lens of High Performance Learning, we continue to hold high expectations for all learners, empowering every individual to achieve their personal best, regardless of need or background.

Looking ahead, our ambition is for THRIVE to become a flagship centre for Inclusion, a place that not only supports our learners, but also serves as a hub for external professionals, collaboration, and innovation. We aim to contribute meaningfully to the development of inclusive policy and practice across Bahrain, advocating for a future where inclusion is not an exception but the norm. By combining research-led approaches with a culture of care and ambition, Nadeen is proud to lead the way in shaping a truly inclusive educational landscape.

Our sporting programme has gone from strength to strength this year, with Nadeen proudly taking part in BSME events, along with the announcement that we will be hosting the U11 BSME Netball Tournament next academic year. We also participated in the World School Games in Dubai and continued our participation in the local Primary and Senior Sports Leagues. This is a testament to our growing presence on the regional stage. 

International trips were also a highlight, with learners attending Ecoventure trips in both the UAE and Sri Lanka. Building on this, we are excited about the plans for the 2025/26 academic year, which include an amazing ski trip to Italy. A huge thank you to the PE team and those staff members who were involved for their energy, organisation, and commitment to giving our learners incredible opportunities to shine. With bigger plans in place for next year, the future of sport at Nadeen is brighter than ever. 

I also want to extend a sincere thank you to the Friends of Nadeen for their continued support and generosity, and I’m thrilled that our Parent Board is now officially up and running, deepening the connection between families and school in a truly meaningful way .

Please note that further communication will be sent in mid-August outlining potential changes to end-of-day timings and pick-up procedures. You will also receive confirmation of our orientation day prior to the start of the new term on August 24th.

At the heart of everything we do is the belief that connection, community, and a shared sense of purpose are what make a school truly special. As the author Peter Senge wrote:

“The most important and visible manifestations of a learning organization are the learning communities—ecosystems where people continually expand their capacity to create the results they truly desire, where new patterns of thinking are nurtured, and where collective aspiration is set free.”

Nadeen is just that, a learning ecosystem where every child, every family, and every member of staff belongs and contributes to something greater. To our entire community: thank you. Your acceptance, encouragement, and belief in our shared vision have made me feel truly part of the Nadeen family. It is an honour to lead such a vibrant, caring, and forward-thinking school.

Wishing everyone a safe, restful, and joyful summer. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another exciting year ahead!

#GrowTogetherThriveAsOne #MoreThanASchool 

Kind regards, 

James Batts

Principal