Welcome to Year 11

Welcome back, Parents and Guardians of Year 11,

I hope you all had a fantastic summer. We are excited to begin what is arguably the most important year of your child’s Secondary education and make it truly successful and memorable.

Our Focus for Year 11

This year, our focus is on three key areas to help your child succeed:

• Wellbeing and emotional health: We want to ensure students are calm, happy, and emotionally balanced while managing the pressures of Year 11. 
• Maximising individual academic potential: We will emphasise organisation, resilience, and consistent progress toward aspirational targets in every subject. Additionally, we aim to encourage students to participate in leadership opportunities and ECAs, to help them become well-rounded individuals and prepare them for their final two years of school.
• Taking ownership of learning: We expect students to establish regular study habits, attend extra support sessions, and take responsibility for their own learning.

Attendance is Critical

As we all know, consistency is the key to success! We expect students to be in school and on time, aiming for a 95% attendance rate until the study leave in Term 3. We understand that students get sick, and in those cases, they should absolutely stay home to rest. However, a little resilience can go a long way.

For student absences, please use the relevant student absence form on the Parent Hub. It is the most efficient way to notify all relevant staff at once. While emailing your child’s tutor is an option, it may not be seen or attended to immediately. Students will be made aware that it is their responsibility to contact their teachers and catch up on any missed work.

Achieving success in Year 11 requires a high level of commitment and motivation from students. This dedication is key to them doing their best in their (I)GCSEs and making well-informed decisions about their future A Level choices.

Mark Your Calendars

Here are a few key dates in Term 1 for your diary:

 

Monday 1st September	ECAs begin
Wednesday 10th September	Options book published
Thursday 11th September	Y11 Options Information Evening
Friday 19th September	Book Day
Monday 22nd September	Y9–13 Sports Day
Thursday 25th September	Meet the Tutor
Friday 26th September	Y11 Initial Options Close
Wednesday 1st October	Public Holiday
Tuesday 7th October	Public Holiday
Thursday 9th October	Y11 Short Report
Friday 17th October	Last Day Before Half Term Begins
Wednesday 29th October	Public Holiday
Thursday 30th October – Thursday 6th November	Y11 Mock Exams
Friday 7th November	Final Options Choice Deadline
Monday 10th – Friday 14th November	Week Without Walls
Monday 17th November	Teacher Professional Development Day
Thursday 27th November	Y11 Mock Report Published
Tuesday 2nd December	Confirmation Letter
Friday 5th December	ECAs end
Tuesday 9th December	Winter Concert
Friday 12th December	Last day of Term
Monday 5th January	Start of Term 2

We wish to empower our students to be active community members and future leaders. By engaging in service and leadership opportunities, they will gain a deeper understanding of the world and grow into responsible young adults. Whether through academic pursuits, extracurriculars, or other leadership roles, students will be encouraged to build impressive student portfolios that showcase their growth and strengthen their applications for their senior phase.

As always, your child’s tutor is your first point of contact for any questions or information you would like to share. We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead!

Best regards,

Amrith Prabhu

Head of Year 11

Introducing the Year 11 Team

This year, we are excited to have two new teachers join our Year 11 tutor team, with Andy Buddery continuing as part of the team.

• Year 11D: Andy Buddery
• Year 11B: Samuel Cheung
• Year 11I: Amie Allison

Dear Parents / Guardians,

I’m delighted to again be re-introducing myself as a Y11 tutor for the 2025–26 academic year. I have been with 11D since I began at the school and the students were taking their first tentative steps into Year 8. It is amazing to think that at the end of this academic year, they will be completing their (I)GCSE courses and moving on to the next stage of their learning as Sixth Form students. The year ahead will pose lots of challenges, as Year 11 always does, but judging by the way our students approached Year 10 last year, I am positive it will be hugely successful. 

By now, I’m sure you all know me, so I won’t spend too much time discussing my own background or interests. However, I will say that I am really looking forward to again developing students’ interests outside of the classroom this year. I am reintroducing the Secondary Chess Club this year with the aim of forming a team to compete against other schools in Hong Kong, and I will be spending some time with our footballers, particularly helping develop our young goalkeepers. Last year, I enjoyed leading our inaugural DBIS Poetry By Heart competition, and I can’t wait to see what poems our students will be performing this year.

My main priority though will, of course, be to support our students through their final (I)GCSE year, guiding them through their A Level choices, encouraging good study habits, and reminding them to stay balanced and grounded as the year progresses. I know they will continue to make me, as their form tutor, and you, as their parents, very proud. 

Mr Buddery

 

Dear Parents / Guardians,

I am honoured to be joining you at DBIS and am excited to contribute to what looks like a vibrant and thriving community. I hope that I can bring my experience and a steady hand to guide the Year 11s through what is a pivotal year for them.

I am arriving from three years at Christ’s Hospital School in England but was previously at Marlborough College, Malaysia, for eight years and at Latymer Upper School in London for ten years prior to that. In total, I have 26 years of experience as a Maths teacher, and I enjoy teaching at all levels, from the Year 7s to the Further Mathematicians.

Having spent half of my career in boarding schools, I am a strong believer in the holistic education of young people and have led and initiated a host of activities. Most recently, I led the Sixth Form Duke of Edinburgh provision and was previously a qualified Gold Expedition assessor. 

I enjoy hiking in my own time, but not so much in tropical heat and humidity. I mostly involve myself in my church, but also work to promote the educational aspects of tabletop roleplaying games (like Dungeons and Dragons) and, whilst in London, spent time organising and hosting large social events (like charity balls).

My hope is that I can challenge the Year 11s to think critically and take responsibility for their own lives and education, but in doing so become respectful, positive and joyful members of society.

Your Partner In Education,

Mr Cheung

 

Hello Year 11 Parents,

I’m truly looking forward to working with your children as their tutor this year. Year 11 is probably the most challenging year of their academic journey so far, and I am committed to providing them with the support, guidance, and encouragement they’ll need to succeed.

I bring a wealth of international experience to this role, having previously taught in the UK, Abu Dhabi and Thailand. This diverse background has equipped me with a deep understanding of different educational systems and student needs.

Beyond the classroom, I have a strong passion for extracurricular development. I’ve had the privilege of supporting many students through the Award for Young People (AYP), and I’m excited to continue this involvement with our students this year.

Outside of my professional life, I love being active and exploring new places. I particularly enjoy hiking and paddleboarding, and I’m very much looking forward to discovering all the fantastic outdoor opportunities that Hong Kong has to offer!

I am here to ensure your child has the best possible experience and achieves their full potential this year. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Best regards,

Ms Allison