CORE CURRICULUM
We use Cambridge International Curriculum throughout. Lower Secondary School (Year 7 to Year 9) follows the English National Curriculum, Key Stage 3. In Year 9 students take the Checkpoint Examinations in English, Science and Mathematics. A student’s ability to study for the Extended or Core Syllabus can easily be predicted through the Checkpoint scores.
| Checkpoint Scores | Estimated IGCSE Grades | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | A/B | Excellent |
| 5 | B/C | Very Good |
| 4 | C/D | Good |
| 3 | D/E | Average |
| 2 | E/F | Below Average |
| 1 | U | Poor |
We follow the English National Curriculum which culminates in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations (Year 10 and 11) and the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level – AS Examinations (Year 12) and A2 examinations (Year13).
The pass grades for IGCSE courses are A*- C whilst the pass grades for ‘A’ Level courses are A*- E (a fail is labeled ‘U” for unclassified).
The English National Curriculum is divided into four stages.
Key stage 1 – Age (5-7)
Key stage 2 – Age (7-11)
Key stage 3 – Age (11-14)
Key stage 4 – Age (14-16)
Programmes of study show how subject courses are organised and what is expected of the student. Students are advised to read through carefully what is expected of them, so that they can organise their time appropriately.
The courses have been broken down into termwise comprising 13-14 week blocks, but there may be some variation in actual teaching timings. Please note that dates for Christmas and Easter break vary in the school academic calendar for IGCSE and A Level students as they have extra teaching sessions during this time.
Students should expect Mock examinations and Controlled Assessments as part of their programme of study. The number of 35 minute lessons will vary from subject to subject and from level to level; as far as possible, the programmes contain a guide as to how much contact teaching time a student should expect.
Over and above that, students should expect to complete assignments and homework independently, according to the subject teacher’s direction. Revision time is a major part of the courses, usually at the end of the preparation period. Students will be given past paper questions and practice during the course of their study.
Separate help will be given where students experience difficulties, although students should be aware that individual help will always be available from subject teachers. Students can access the Cambridge website for further information about specifications and past paper availability.
The school takes a structured approach to both assessing students’ performance and reporting back to students and their parents.