Our Cambridge International Lower Secondary programme is a flexible programme which the students can tailor to their needs and wants. The teachers work together in order to combine the content so as to get the best out of the students.

The programme includes three core subjects (English or English as a Second Language, Science, and Mathematics), Foundation subjects (Digital literacy, PE, Global Perspectives), Creative subjects (Spanish as a Second Language, Art and Design) and mandatory extracurricular activities (robotics, creative writing, journalism, and reading.)

Here is a more detailed overview of the International School Cambridge International Lower Secondary programme.

What makes our Cambridge International Lower Secondary curriculum special is the fact that it is based on the British education system, which means that it allows students to build self-awareness, explore, gain and enhance their skills, and develop learning habits. By choosing the International School Cambridge Lower Secondary programme, you offer your child a plethora of subjects that will enable them to develop their curiosity and creativity, and allow them to gain practical skills. Thus, students get a wide, balanced, and top-quality education that will make a significant impact in their lives.

English

As one of the core subjects at the International School, the IGCSE First Language English course provides students with a foundation for developing their language skills. The IGCSE diploma allows students to match native speakers in terms of language skills, with a special focus on reading and writing skills.

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Thanks to its literature and grammar aspects, as well as the practical tips that help students master the complexities of academic writing, the IGCSE First Language English course is valuable for both the students’ future education and their creativity.

Given that the essence of the Cambridge International Lower Secondary programme is the fact that it offers English-medium lessons, the course is intended for students whose mother tongue is English. The lessons are designed to foster the students’ lifelong love of reading and writing, and encourage them to enhance their communication skills. The course focuses on four categories: writing, reading, speaking, and listening. With teacher support and the available resources, students participate in interactive activities designed to help students advance, gain experience, and engage in reflection. For developing skills in the Cambridge Lower Secondary programme, we offer a variety of resources in poetry, fiction, non-fiction, drama and script writing for an authentic learning experience.

The students will learn how to:

  • interact with confidence using the four previously mentioned skills
  • become passionate readers focused on diverse content from different cultures and epochs
  • become skillful and creative writers

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English as a Second Language

This subject is intended for students whose mother tongue is not English. Previous knowledge is not a requirement and students are not pressured to speak perfectly. The goal of the course is to provide learners with communication skills that will allow them to successfully interact with different types of information, media, and text.

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The programme is based on the Council of Europe’s Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which describes the proficiency levels of English learners around the world.

The teachers implement an integrated approach to education designed to help students master successful communication methods. The approach includes: reading, writing, listening, practical use of English, and speaking. Thus, students efficiently develop competences for using English in various situations

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Mathematics

Mathematics is a key subject in any school – it helps us think rationally and have an analytical perspective. The Cambridge International Lower Secondary Mathematics curriculum focuses on developing analytical skills and rational reasoning.

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The students approach the content in a holistic manner, exploring patterns, systems, functions, and relations. Moreover, they develop mathematical fluency, which helps them use maths in everyday situations.

A unique feature of this programme is the motto ” Think and Do Mathematics “, whereby students are encouraged to challenge their ideas, support theories and facts with logic, and find bonds and relations between ideas, facts, and concepts. This kind of approach enhances students’ critical thinking skills and teaches them to observe the world through mathematical cause and effect relationships.

The syllabus has three parts:

  • numbers
  • algebra and geometry
  • statistics

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Sciences

  • It is vital for students to understand the world around them, which is why this course focuses on developing a lifelong curiosity about the world of nature. Moreover, it inspires students to seek a scientific explanation for any natural occurrence or phenomenon. In addition to theory, the students will engage in extensive practical activities, and learn how to approach the world from a scientific perspective.

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    By encouraging students to develop a “science is for me” attitude, we enable students to connect to the content on a much deeper and personal level, and learn about the world in an authentic fashion.This approach provides them with the knowledge and skills they require to excel at science in later stages of education and to make informed choices, including considering sustainability issues and meeting the challenges facing our environment.This curriculum covers six main areas called ‘strands’ that work together so that teachers can teach science holistically:
    • Biology – living things and how they interact.
    • Chemistry – the study of matter.
    • Physics – the interaction of matter and energy.
    • Earth and Space – planet Earth, the wider Solar System and beyond.
    • Thinking and Working Scientifically – develops understanding and skills of scientific models and representations, scientific enquiry and practical work.

    Science in Context – helps teachers demonstrate the relevance of science to learners and unique to our science curriculum

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Global Perspectives

Cambridge Global Perspectives is now available in the Cambridge International Lower Secondary programme for students aged 11–14. The programme develops the skills of research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration and communication, skills which every promising and successful young person should have.

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It strengthens the links across English as a first or second language, mathematics, science and ICT Starters. Research says that the earlier students start to develop and practise their skills, the greater the impact on their learning. The Cambridge International Lower Secondary program makes this course available to all students so they could develop their cross-curricular skills.

is made up of a series of Challenges. There are six Challenges a year. Teachers can integrate the Challenges into their existing teaching or lessons, and do as many as they like. Some of the Challenge topics are: belief systems, conflict and peace, demographic change, sustainability, poverty and inequality, biodiversity and ecosystem loss, education for all, sport and recreation, tradition, culture and identity, family, globalisation, human rights…

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Digital literacy

In modern times, information technologies are a part of our everyday life. Therefore, digital literacy is now necessary and it has become extremely important to educate students as young as possible about it. The subject Digital Literacy within the Cambridge International Lower Secondary Programme is designed to teach students the most important skills in the digital world.

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The skills that students will master in this subject are:

  • ability to find and interpret reliable information,
  • understanding advanced technologies and their social functions,
  • safe use of digital technologies,
  • useful use of digital services,
  • creating complex documents and presentations,
  • contributing to the digital world.

The programme is designed for all ages and is part of the British-based curriculum, which means that it is flexible and can be adapted to students according to their needs and competencies, as part of the entire Cambridge curriculum or as a separate subject.

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Art & Design

Art & Design gives learners a platform to express themselves, sparking imagination, creativity and developing transferable skills. Students explore and push boundaries to become reflective, critical and decisive thinkers. They learn how to articulate personal responses to their experiences. This creative course offers great possibilities for developing various skills that will help with many aspects of their future learning and development.

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Cambridge Lower Secondary Art & Design is taught through a broad range of investigative, art-making and reflective activities, which include a number of study areas, for example painting, print making, model making or digital art, but students can also apply the curriculum content to your local context, using the resources that you have available. There are no Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests or Checkpoint for this subject. The emphasis of this course is for teachers to give learners formative feedback on the skills they want students to develop. This can be through discussion, observation and lesson outputs where teachers discuss with students ‘what went well’ and how they can improve further, so that students can reflect on and improve their performance.

In this course, students will:

  • learn to see themselves as artists and become increasingly reflective and independent
  • develop the skills needed to express creative ideas and to communicate visually
  • understand their place and the place of others in a creative, innovative and interconnected world

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Physical Education

Physical education is a vital part of a balanced school curriculum. Regular exercise improves physical and mental health and there is growing evidence that it improves academic performance across the curriculum. Establishing good patterns of exercise in lower secondary school provides learners with the foundation of an active and healthy lifestyle.

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The students develop skills through a wide variety of age-appropriate physical activities, including games, team sports, gymnastics and dance. The course supports progression to the next stage of the Cambridge Pathway. This subject is taught through a broad range of tasks, challenges and physical activities. It includes cooperative, competitive, athletic, adventurous and health-based contexts that are appropriate for each learning stage. Learners will move for as much of each lesson as possible, with activities designed promote learners’ confidence, self-esteem, cognitive abilities and social skills.

In this course, students will:

  • increase confidence, moving with increasing control, fluency and variety
  • improve their understanding of concepts, rules, tactics, strategies and compositional ideas
  • participate in respectful and responsible ways, engaging appropriately and safely
  • improve knowledge and understanding of how physical education can contribute to a healthy and active lifestyle
  • develop transferable skills promoting physical, cognitive and social development and become independent, critical and reflective movers and thinkers.

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Humanities

The Cambridge International Lower Secondary Humanities course provides students with key skills in geography, history, and business management.

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The curriculum is tailored to the students’ age group and comprises globally important topics which are presented through interdisciplinary projects aimed at providing students with practical knowledge on the world around them in a creative and dynamic manner.

The goal of this programme is to provide students with comprehensive knowledge and behavioural skills that will make them citizens of a world driven by cultural diversity.

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Extracurricular activities

Extracurricular activities are highly important for the practical application of knowledge, which enhances the students’ learning experience and helps them successfully navigate the modern world.

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Research has shown that students who regularly participate in extracurricular activities perform better in tests, develop school connectedness, and have better social skills.

Throughout the year, students have two weekly lessons in which they engage in creative projects designed to enhance their innovation, communication, and digital skills.

In addition to the main subjects, Cambridge International Lower Secondary students choose one mandatory extracurricular activity:

  • Robotics and STEM
  • Life skills and mindfulness – creative writing, drama, journalism, reading…

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Source: Cambridge Lower Secondary curriculum

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