An Academic Beacon
According to Professor Ter-Minasova, a distinguished linguist, "every foreign language lesson is a crossroads of cultures, a practice in intercultural communication." Polyglots tend to excel academically; they are successful and adapt with ease because switching from one linguistic system to another continuously develops the neural connections in the brain. A child learning multiple languages perceives fewer boundaries, as each foreign word and expression reflects a national consciousness formed under different conditions, offering a unique perspective on familiar concepts and the world at large. Combine this with an academic approach to education, IT technologies, and both Russian and Singaporean mathematics, and you have the ideal school of the future, asserts Albina Nasyrova, founder of BC Academy in Dubai.
I was raised in an educational environment: my mother, a university professor and Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences, dedicated her life to training future teachers, while my grandmother was a teacher. My husband is a tech entrepreneur who received his education in the United States and speaks several languages. When our son was born, we realised that we couldn't find a suitable nursery for him, so we decided to open our own. We dreamt of creating a modern multilingual educational institution, doing everything with heart and love — for our own child. It turned out that such educational institutions were needed not only by us but by many other families as well. The project quickly gained popularity; people called and wrote to us, offering buildings for new branches because there were not enough places available. In Kazan, there was a long waiting list for both nursery and first-grade school places.
Our project "Bala-City" translates to "the city of happy children." This city grows alongside our pupils and children. We did not view this project as a business; everything was done to create ideal conditions for the development and upbringing of our eldest son. Today, I take joy and pride in my students: the little ones who once sat on my lap are now teenagers preparing to enter top universities. My son Ayaz continues his education in England. I now have three children, but I often say that I am a mother not only to my three but to the thousands of children who have studied and are studying with us.
In the new academic year, there will be even more children — we are opening BC Academy International School & Early Childhood Centre in Dubai.
How did it all begin? Our existing school was visited by a government delegation from the UAE, and this collaboration eventually led to an invitation to open an educational institution under our brand in Dubai.
Finding a suitable building is a common challenge for many companies striving to create something new and unique. However, with the support of local authorities, we were able to find the perfect location for our school. We were provided with a building in the city centre, right in the heart of Dubai — Jumeirah. It is symbolic that this school — an old Arab educational establishment for girls — bears the name of Sheikh Maktoum’s wife, Hind bint Maktoum Al Maktoum. With respect for the national Arabic architectural tradition, we have renovated the school building and its interior. In this building, the international school BC Academy in Dubai was born — a unique project prioritising the development of the child's personality. We firmly believe that the earlier a child is immersed in an international environment, the better it is for their intellectual and linguistic development.
Research from Harvard University confirms that children who are proficient in two or more languages adapt better to the world, find unconventional solutions more quickly, and are generally more successful in both their studies and life. It has been proven in practice: bilingual individuals find it easier to master the system of a new language they decide to learn — there is no fear of the new world that opens to them. Therefore, we create a multilingual educational environment where the primary language of instruction is English, but children also can learn other languages.
We chose the British educational programme for its systematic and sequential approach. However, contrary to popular myth, the British programme does not imply excessive strictness and rigidity. On the contrary, everything in our school is built around the interests and needs of the child.
By choosing BC Academy International School, parents give their children the opportunity to receive a high-quality education of global standards, master multiple languages, and become part of a global community. We believe that investing in education is investing in the future, and we do everything possible to ensure our students achieve success and realise their dreams.
The educational environment in our school is created with particular care. We have gathered the best professionals: teachers, methodologists, and the headmaster, who not only love their profession but are also distinguished by kindness, warmth, and openness. I am confident that children will quickly feel this atmosphere of warmth, respect, and love as soon as they meet our educators.
Many inquire about the quality of teaching and who will be working with their children. I appreciate Dubai for its ability to attract top specialists from around the world. Over 400 CVs were received for job vacancies at our school. Dubai is becoming a magnet for professionals. People are willing to relocate here from the UK, USA, and Australia.
Ninety percent of BC Academy's teaching staff are British, including the headmaster and his deputy. We strive to assemble an international team: teachers from the USA, New Zealand, and South Africa. This is a highly professional team.
Teachers are given the opportunity to educate their own children at our school free of charge. This is an important point because a teacher whose children study here always strives to do their best. They actively participate in school life, propose new ideas and projects. Many teachers come with their children, which is a testament to their trust in us and our school. Teachers at BC Academy play a pivotal role. When they inspire and ignite a passion for their subject in children, students attend classes with enthusiasm. It is crucial for teachers to be passionate about their work and to convey this energy to the children.
The British programme we offer provides the opportunity to obtain a diploma recognised worldwide, opening doors to any university. The strengths of this programme lie in mathematics and the natural sciences. We place great importance on academic knowledge, and therefore our students will participate in international Olympiads, competitions, and contests from primary school onwards. After all, a love of learning and a drive for success are instilled during childhood, before the onset of the challenging teenage years.
Our school stands out not only for the scale of its building and grounds but also for the wide range of activities and developmental opportunities available to children. From kindergarten, a child can try various sports: football, judo, hockey, gymnastics, basketball, and more. The key is to foster a love and interest, for if a child is motivated, they are bound to succeed.
We also place great emphasis on musical and creative development. Lessons in piano, vocal training, theatrical arts, architecture, and design will help our students become well-rounded individuals. Special emphasis is placed on mathematics, physics, and robotics. BC Academy boasts a dedicated modern STEM laboratory where children will learn programming languages such as Scratch, Python, Java, C++, and Swift. We fully intend to participate with our students in international Olympiads and competitions.
At BC Academy, children will have access to a unique Makerspace equipped with 3D printers, specially designed for safe use with children's machinery (for wood, plastic, metal), and electronic processor boards. This will enable children to realise any technological projects directly at school.
Additionally, we have implemented the Singaporean programme 'I Love Math', which literally helps children fall in love with this subject. The combination of the traditions of the Russian mathematical school and the innovations of the Singaporean methodology will give our students a significant advantage and allow them to achieve high results in Olympiads.
At BC Academy, we strive to give children the opportunity to choose in all aspects so they can find their calling and develop their talents. We believe that this approach will help them become successful and happy individuals. The main thing is for parents not to limit their children by assuming that a child is exclusively inclined towards the humanities or sciences. We offer a variety of clubs to show that much depends on the teacher and the environment. It is essential to create conditions where a child can flourish.
Certainly, a positive and humanistic environment is essential, but the quality of education must also be high. We strive to ensure that our students can seamlessly continue their education in any country — be it England, America, or Switzerland. For instance, we have a pupil from Switzerland who is fluent in four languages. Our goal is to help him develop his skills and knowledge to the highest level.
Educational trips and international camps organised by BC Academy take place all over the world. They contribute to broadening our students' horizons, enhancing their linguistic and cultural potential, and fostering an understanding of different mentalities. These experiences offer them new and interesting insights. We have visited countries such as England, Spain, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and even the island of Bali. In the upcoming academic year, we plan to explore new destinations such as Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as continue with our highly popular integration programmes in the United Kingdom. Additionally, our school in Dubai will host various themed camps.
A key aspect of our approach is the development of soft skills: teamwork, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. Project-based learning plays a significant role in this. We place great emphasis on collaborative work, open expression of ideas, and project presentations.
Schools should prepare students for independent life. We have an initiative called the 'Entrepreneurial Training Ground', where business-savvy parents are involved in the learning process, and children work on real business projects. We tell our students that everything is in their hands, and they can start implementing their initiatives right now. These are not just essays but projects that can change the world and provide social benefits. The best projects are brought to fruition.
We believe it is crucial for every child to experience 'stage school' — to learn how to speak confidently in front of an audience. Public speaking skills are valuable in any profession. For example, we plan to establish our own television studio within the school. The media programme helps children acquire skills in working with cameras and microphones, which is especially beneficial for introverted and shy students. The more opportunities children have to participate in various clubs and projects, the better they develop. The extensive grounds of our school allow us to implement all these ideas.
At BC Academy, communication with parents is extremely important. Every five weeks, we provide them with feedback on their child's academic progress. This helps avoid unpleasant surprises at the end of the year and allows for timely adjustments to the learning process. Parents are always informed about their child's progress and receive recommendations for further development.
We genuinely value interaction with parents. In Dubai, this can be challenging as many lead busy lives and often cannot actively participate in their children's school life. However, we are determined to change this.
We will organise various events and clubs for parents, enabling them to actively engage in school life. For instance, we will host meetings with intriguing speakers and specialists, and we will certainly have a music club for parents as well as football matches for fathers.
Open doors for parents is another crucial aspect. We invite parents to visit the school, sample the food in our dining hall, and observe how lessons are conducted. This helps to build trust and understanding between the school and families.
We strive to ensure that our meals are diverse and balanced. Parents can taste the dishes their children eat from an early age to verify their quality. Adults can rest assured about their children's health. Nutrition is a vital part of our educational approach, providing the energy needed for high mental and physical activity. At our school, children receive four meals a day. We have our own school café, where fresh and healthy dishes are prepared. We understand that proper nutrition plays a key role in a child's academic success and overall well-being.
Our school offers education from early years through to the end of secondary school following the British K-12 programme. Our nursery accepts children from one to five years old. It operates from 7:30 am to 7:00 pm, with the main programme running until 5:00 pm. In primary school, children aged 5 (Year 1) to 12 (Year 6) are enrolled. After Year 6, children transition to secondary school and then to senior school.
Children who begin their education with us in nursery automatically move up to primary school alongside their friends. This helps to alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with transitioning from one school to another. We believe this approach ensures continuity in education and a comfortable environment for both children and their parents.
We recognise the importance of international education and qualifications, but we also want our compatriots to maintain their native language and culture. Therefore, we invite highly qualified educators from Moscow. For example, Vladimir Andreyevich, an experienced, vibrant, and charismatic teacher, will be joining us. I am confident that everyone will like him. He will lead the Russian programme not only for our students but also for children who wish to attend Saturday and evening courses in Russian language and mathematics. This allows children not regularly enrolled with us to maintain their knowledge according to the Russian curriculum. Moreover, we offer the opportunity for children to be affiliated with a Russian school so they can take VPR, OGE, and EGE exams, thereby preserving their connection with the Russian educational system.
Since we live and work in the Emirates, Arabic is a crucial skill for our children. By law, it must be taught in schools, but often this is done superficially. Consequently, children do not speak or understand Arabic. My son studied here, and I know that sometimes time is wasted with no tangible results. It is essential that this time is used effectively and productively. The teaching methodology is of paramount importance. Arabic is a foreign language for our children, so we need educators who are skilled in the appropriate teaching methods.
We have found a native Arabic-speaking teacher with whom we have discussed our approach to education. The goal is to make lessons interesting and engaging by using playful methods. We decided to take inspiration from British schools, where the emphasis is on motivating students.
We firmly believe that early language development is very important. The primary language of instruction is English, through which children receive all core knowledge. Additionally, Russian can be included in the curriculum, both in nursery and school, upon request. In the nursery, we have speech development teachers who prepare children for school in Russian, including Russian mathematics and reading instruction. We also have a Russian speech therapist, which is particularly important for our compatriots.
In primary school, children can choose a second foreign language: Chinese or French. Thus, they will have four languages: English, Russian, Arabic, and one of the two additional languages — Chinese or French.
The main aim of our school is to create a nurturing environment for the self-realisation of each student. We will help children find their favourite subjects and interests so they can fully unlock their potential. The logo of our school — a ray of light, a beacon — symbolises the guiding force of the school and its teachers. We help children find the right and true path, illuminating their strengths and talents like a lighthouse, even those they might not yet be aware of.
In Dubai, we will provide children with a quality education and knowledge that will help them unlock their potential, develop critical thinking, and foster creativity. Our overarching goal is to nurture well-rounded, successful, and confident individuals who are ready to face the challenges of the modern world.
BC Academy
G19, 19B Street, Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai, UAE
Instagaram: @bcacademy.nursery @bcacademy.school
Tel: +971 52 824-0878
E-mail: info@bcacademy.ae
