Years 10 and 11
GCSE and IGCSE
Most of the courses studied at Year 10 and Year 11 lead to either the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualification or the IGCSE, which is the international version of the GCSE, linking closely to the IB specification.
For our students here in Hong Kong, IGCSE suits some subjects better because the exam questions are more widely based on international contexts rather than being narrowly based on British circumstances.
GCSE examinations are criterion referenced: performance at different levels is described by a series of statements of attainment. To achieve a grade a student's work must match up to these descriptions. Those students whose work matches the descriptions of the highest possible levels of achievement will be awarded an A*. The examinations cover a wide range of ability and students in some subjects will sit papers in different tiers, depending on the expectation of their teachers.
We advise students to take one subject from each of the categories of Language, Creative, Technological and Humanities. The distinctions between these are often blurred but nevertheless they provide a framework which ensures that students are very unlikely to be excluding any options for further study or for their career.
In addition to Supplementary Studies additional learning support is available to those who previously received extra help in Years 7-9. Where it is appropriate and beneficial, additional class support can be arranged for students in certain subject areas during Year 10.
Curriculum for 16-19 age group
Our Senior School curriculum is designed to be engaging for all learners, and to develop students' confidence and character.
There are 3 ‘learning pathways’ available to students:
|INTERMEDIATE DIPLOMA PATHWAY||ADVANCED DIPLOMA PATHWAY||INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE DIPLOMA PATHWAY|
Intermediate Diploma Pathway
This is a one-year course for students for whom more study at Level 2 is most appropriate. Students will take BTEC Certificates in Business and Travel and Tourism. This course is equivalent to 4 GCSEs grades A-C, and leads onto the Advanced or IB Diploma in the following year. There will also be the opportunity to resit Maths or English IGCSE as required.
Advanced Diploma Pathway
Students choose a minimum of 2 BTEC/ A Level subjects (3 subjects would be the norm). They can add IB Certificates in addition to BTEC Subjects. BTEC subjects are BTEC National Awards.
|BTEC Performing Arts||BTEC Digital Media||BTEC Travel & Tourism||BTEC Business Studies|
|GCE Food Technology||BTEC Sport|
International Baccalaureate Diploma Pathway.
The International Baccalaureate is a highly respected qualification which is recognised by universities around the world. It is an academically rigorous course which develops critical thinking skills.
Students choose 1 subject from each group. Students must choose 3 Standard Level (SL) and 3 Higher Level (HL) subjects.
|Group 1||A1 English HL & SL||Group 4||Biology HL & SL|
|A1 Self Taught Language SL||Chemistry HL & SL|
|Group 2||Ab Initio Spanish SL||Design Technology HL & SL|
|Ab Initio Japanese SL||Environmental Systems SL2|
|Chinese A2 HL & SL||Physics HL & SL|
|Chinese B HL & SL||Group 5||Maths Studies SL|
|English A2 / B HL & SL||Maths SL|
|French B HL & SL||Maths HL|
|Spanish B HL & SL||Group 61||Music HL & SL|
|Group 3||Business & Management HL & SL||Theatre Arts HL & SL|
|Economics HL & SL||Visual Arts HL & SL|
|Environmental Systems SL2|
|Geography HL & SL|
|History HL & SL|
|Philosophy HL & SL|
|Psychology HL & SL|
1 Students can elect to choose a second subject from Groups 2, 3 or 4 rather than choosing a subject in Group 6.
2 Covers requirements for both Groups 3 & 4, allowing students to choose a second subject from Groups 2, 3, 4 or 6.
3 Timetable blocks permitting.
Being a Senior Student at Island School should:
- Enable you to further develop your understanding of internationalism.
- Enable you to further develop inter-cultural competency.
- Enable achievement which gives you high self esteem, personal confidence and verbal oralcy.
- Allow you to enjoy participating in the life of the Island School community.
- Give you positive and assured progression to Higher Education.
- All students will participate in a full programme of Creativity, Action and Service activities.
- All Pathways will provide opportunity for ongoing linguistic and numeracy development.
- All students should have an opportunity to maintain their mother tongue within ESF provision.
- All students, regardless of prior attainment, are entitled to take Theory of Knowledge courses
Our Post-16 Curriculum is based on 3 key aims:
The Development of all talents: intellectual, academic, imaginative, physical, moral and social
…. to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. (IBO Mission Statement)
…. [to] encourage students [across the world] to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. (IBO Mission Statement).