Gifted. Exceptional. High-attainers.

Financial fluency, deal-making, and leadership with integrity.

At International School, effort and achievement are recognised — and rewarded. The Honours Class is our selective, distinctive programme for students of exceptional potential and results; membership is granted exclusively to carefully selected candidates with demonstrably high achievement — 75%+ in Cambridge IGCSE examinations.

The programme deliberately goes beyond regular teaching and introduces deeper, research-grounded learning at the crossroads of finance, entrepreneurship, technology, global studies and interdisciplinary STEM, with a clearly defined ethical dimension and leadership with integrity.

“Millionaire Skills” that make the difference

“Millionaire Skills” are advanced, applied competences that accelerate the move from knowledge to impact: financial literacy and portfolio management, negotiation and strategic alliances, leadership and emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial ideation and validation, digital branding and public speaking, design thinking and technological fluency (AI, data, blockchain), together with global economics and ethical decision-making. The curriculum is shaped to the highest international standards and fully aligned with the school’s academic culture.

Within the Honours Class, students move from theory to measurable outcomes from day one: they work on complex, authentic problems, model data, make decisions under constraints and defend their solutions publicly. This practice continually transfers knowledge into new contexts — from global markets and digital ecosystems to sustainable development — building a habit of thoughtful decision-making that respects social and environmental consequences.

Why this changes the game

This profile has been cultivated for decades by elite institutions — often called “secret schools of millionaires” — such as Institut auf dem Rosenberg (Talent & Enrichment; entrepreneurial approach) and Eton (EtonX: entrepreneurship and “future skills”), while at university level Harvard Innovation Labs, Stanford d.school, the Wharton Global Youth Investment Competition and Babson College systematically introduce young people to investing, design thinking and market-validated solutions.

That is why we develop game-changers: students who spot opportunity, model risk and value, craft and present strategy, and turn ideas into measurable results in business, technology and social impact — while remaining true to integrity and responsibility.

What you will master in the Honours Class — 10 high-impact domains

  • Entrepreneurship & Value Creation — ideation, validation and strategic positioning of innovation.
  • Personal Finance & Investing — budgeting, diversification, basics of tax efficiency.
  • Wealth Management & Financial Markets — risk vs return, portfolio optimisation, long-term planning.
  • Leadership & Emotional Intelligence — self-awareness, team leadership, sound decision-making.
  • Negotiation & Strategic Partnerships — psychology of negotiation; sustainable alliances.
  • Personal Brand & Digital Influence — reputation, narrative, professional visibility.
  • Technology & Innovation Leadership — AI, blockchain, data-driven choices, digital transformation. 
  • Global Economy & Cross-Cultural Business — international markets, geopolitics, intercultural communication.
  • Interdisciplinary STEM: Environment & Sustainability — ecosystems, environmental chemistry, climate change; measurement and data analysis.
  • Ethics, Sustainability & Impact — responsible decision-making and social effect through a final Capstone.

Consistency that drives success

  • The programme runs throughout the school year, at a pace of two periods per week. This rhythm enables steady progress, time for iterative project development, empirical measurement and the preparation of high-quality presentations. Teaching combines problem-based learning, the case method and simulations (markets, negotiations, technological innovation), with laboratory and field work in STEM, mentoring support and structured peer review. Formative assessment tracks progress and metacognitive strategies; summative assessment evaluates conceptual maturity, analytical accuracy and quality of application through a verified Portfolio and the public presentation of the Capstone project.

Competences that set you apart on the global stage

  • Cognitive & analytical: critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, data interpretation, systems modelling.
  • Financial & economic: design and evaluation of investment plans, risk management, long-term strategy.
  • Leadership & interpersonal: influence, collaboration, conflict management, negotiation strategies.
  • Communication: academic writing, evidence-based presentation, storytelling, public speaking.
  • Digital & technological: information and data literacy; understanding technology’s impact on business models.
  • Ethics & civic responsibility: awareness of social and environmental consequences; professional standards.
  • Project & entrepreneurial: planning, implementation and evaluation; Portfolio and Capstone as proof of competence.
  • The Honours Class is both recognition of effort and an environment in which excellence accelerates. Knowledge becomes impact, and disciplined curiosity becomes a strategy for future success.

 

Plan and programme

  • Principles of entrepreneurial thinking
  • Creativity techniques and problem-solving strategies
  • Disruptive innovation case studies
  • Developing and pitching new business ideas
  • Assignment: Business idea proposal and presentation
  • Personal finance management fundamentals
  • Introduction to stocks, bonds, real estate, cryptocurrencies
  • Wealth transfer, tax planning basics
  • Simulated investment portfolio management
  • Workshop: Building a diversified investment plan
  • Self-awareness and growth mindset
  • Building influence and persuasive communication
  • Emotional intelligence assessments and development
  • Leadership role-playing exercises
  • Activity: Leadership challenge workshop
  • Negotiation psychology and tactics
  • Building strategic partnerships
  • High-stakes negotiation simulation
  • Assignment: Complete a negotiation project
  • Digital branding & reputation management
  • Content creation & storytelling
  • Personal branding strategy
  • Online presence and media campaigns
  • Task: Develop and present a personal branding portfolio
  • Global financial markets overview
  • Portfolio optimization & risk management
  • Estate & tax-efficient planning
  • Final Project: Design a comprehensive wealth strategy and presentation
  • Emerging technologies (AI, blockchain, biotech)
  • Digital transformation & data analytics
  • Entrepreneurial tech-driven projects
  • Workshop: Tech startup plan creation
  • International market dynamics
  • Cross-cultural negotiation & communication
  • Geopolitical risks & opportunities
  • Case discussions on global investment strategies
  • Impact investing & sustainability
  • Corporate social responsibility
  • Ethical decision-making
  • Capstone: Launching a startup or investment fund (planning, pitch, presentation)
  • Topic 1: Ecosystem Processes & Biodiversity (Ecology + Biology)
  • Explore energy flow, trophic levels, and ecosystem services
  • Investigate biodiversity metrics, species interactions, and adaptation
  • Lab/Activity ideas: simple food web mapping; field observation of local ecosystem; biodiversity index calculation
  • Chemistry/Science connections: nutrient cycles (carbon, nitrogen) and how chemical flux shapes habitats
  • Topic 2: Environmental Chemistry & Pollution Impacts (Chemistry + Ecology)
  • Examine pollutants (heavy metals, organic contaminants) and their pathways in ecosystems
  • Study biodegradation, bioaccumulation, and food-web effects
  • Lab/Activity ideas: pH and water quality testing; water filtration/clean-up design; soil or water sampling
  • Biology/Ecology tie-in: effects on organisms, tolerance thresholds, and ecosystem resilience
  • Topic 3: Cellular Biology & Photosynthesis in Context (Biology + Chemistry)
  • Review cell structure, energy capture, and ATP production
  • Connect photosynthesis chemistry (light reactions, Calvin cycle) to plant ecology
  • Lab/Activity ideas: stomatal conductance observations; pH changes in plantaki photosynthesis experiments; modeling CO₂ uptake
  • Ecology link: plant–microbe interactions; primary productivity in habitats
  • Topic 4: Climate Change Biology & Chemistries (Ecology + Biology + Chemistry)
  • Understand how climate variables alter species distributions and ecosystem functions
  • Explore greenhouse gas cycles, ocean acidification, and chemical equilibria
  • Lab/Activity ideas: simulate CO₂-induced pH changes in water; analyze real climate data trends; model adaptation strategies
  • Cross-disciplinary: data interpretation, communication of scientific findings, and ethical considerations
  • Each topic is condensed to a week (2 classes), focusing on key concepts
  • Activities and assignments are integrated within the weeks
  • Flexibility to emphasize hands-on projects, simulations, and presentations
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