The English National Curriculum
The English National Curriculum begins at the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) for children aged three to five. There are five´key stages´ in this curriculum and it culminates with the highly respected GCSE or IGCSE qualifications in Year 11 and A-levels in Year 13. This curriculum offers a British-style education, building skills and knowledge through a wide range of subjects.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) (Ages 3 to 5)
The EYFS is an important stage for children as it helps to bridge the learning needed for the move from home or nursery to school, as well as providing a foundation for future learning, motivation and success.
Our British International schools have pre-schools that create stimulating learning and play environments to allow the youngest children to become familiar with school life in a secure environment, with plenty of outdoor play. The EYFS framework has seven key curriculum areas:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
Primary: Key Stages 1 and 2 (Ages 5 to 11)
Students in Key Stages 1 and 2 study compulsory subjects including:
- English
- Maths
- Science
- Design and technology
- History
- Geography
- Art and Design
- Music
- Physical Education
- Computing
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
Secondary: Key Stages 3 and 4 (Ages 11 to 16)
A typical but not exhaustive range of subjects is:
- Art and design
- Business
- Design and Technology
- English (Literature and Language, including Drama)
- Geography
- History
- Information and Communication Technology
- Mathematics
- Modern Foreign Languages
- Music
- Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
- Physical Education
- Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
At the end of Key Stage 3, students typically decide which optional subjects they would like to study for their GCSEs/IGCSEs to complement core subjects such as English, mathematics and science.
Progressing to Key Stage 5
Students take examinations in their (I)GCSE subjects at the end of Key Stage 4, following two years of study. GCSE and IGCSEs have two grading systems: 9 to 1, or A+ to G. A Grade 9 is considered to be higher than A* and 4 is broadly equivalent to a C.
Post-16 Study / Sixth Form (Ages 16 – 18)
The Advanced Level courses, more popularly known as A-levels, are demanding courses that offer a higher level of complexity to the GCSE/IGCSEs. Because of the depth of study, most students choose to take three or four subjects at this level. Depending on the examination board, Cambridge or Edexcel, A-levels can be either modular or linear two-year courses assessed by individual modules as students complete them or are followed by end-of-programme examinations in each subject. Advanced Subsidiary or AS-level qualifications, may be awarded at the end of the first or second year of study, and are normally considered to be worth half an A-level. Students typically bear in mind higher education aspirations and potential future career pathways when making their choices for AS and A-level subjects.