STRUCTURE OF UPPER SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATION
IB Arthur School runs the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGSCE) curriculum for progression to the Cambridge AS-A Level. The IGCSE is for students attaining the age bracket of 14-16 years. The duration of the IGCSE programme typically spans two academic years (Year 10-11). Students study a range of subjects and sit for examinations at the end of the programme to earn their International General Certificate of Secondary Education. At Year 12 and 13 (Key Stage Five) students study the A-level subjects which culminates in externally assessed examinations at the end of Year 13. The UK A-Level system is similar to the IBDP in that it is an advanced two-year course for entry to university. The A Level is recognised worldwide and is accepted as an entrance qualification by leading universities all over the world.
IGCSE COURSE SELECTION
At the IGCSE stage, students choose subjects they would like to pursue at the A Level and beyond. Every student is different, and a selection of a course of study should be tailored to an individual’s academic background and skills. To adequately prepare our students to make the right choices, Year 9 becomes a preparatory year for students to acquaint themselves with the elective courses. Before making final decisions about IGCSE courses, students will study various lessons focused on exploring their strengths and interests and finally meet with Counsellors to discuss their needs. Upon this, students choose from a list of courses in the sciences, languages, and humanities. This is to adequately prepare students for university education and allow them to study a variety of subjects without any limitations. Each student studies 8-10 subjects at the IGCSE level; 5 core subjects and 4-5 elective subjects depending on the student’s strength and interest. Students will then drop some of the subjects at Year 11 or during the A-Level period.
| Core Subjects | Elective subject 1 | Elective Subject 2 | Extra Curricular Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ICT |
BUSINESS STUDIES |
BIOLOGY |
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY |
|
GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE |
ACCOUNTING |
CHEMISTRY |
SPORTS & PE |
|
FRENCH |
COMPUTER SCIENCE |
PHYSICS |
MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS |
|
ENGLISH LANGUAGE |
ELECTIVE MATHS |
||
|
EXTENDED MATHEMATICS |
ENGLISH LITERATURE |
GUIDANCE COUNSELLING
From Grade 8 onwards, IB Arthur Secondary School will provide formalised guidance counselling. Our intent is to help all our students choose their academic paths and move successfully towards post-secondary education and the professional goals that await after graduating from year 13.
Throughout our students’ experiences, they will be guided by professionally trained mentors and researchers in science and technology. These one-on-one learning relationships will provide students with coaching and experiences that can only be found in the real world.
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
FIELD STUDIES
Since education is meant to help students know how to grow and succeed in the real world, we want to make sure that we are providing them with real-world experiences! To do so, two times each academic year, we will take our students into the field to make observations and conduct experiments. These experiences will provide learning opportunities that are second to none. Students will go beyond the classroom and be inspired by the professionals around them, making it applicable to the real world.