Secondary

Key Stage 4 (IGCSE) Year 10 and Year 11

Key Stage 4 (KS4) is made up of students who are normally between 14 and 16 years old. During these two years students will study a range of IGCSE subjects, some of which are compulsory and some optional. The subjects covered in KS4 are:

Compulsory Subjects

• English
• Mathematics
• Science (Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
• Myanmar
• Physical Education
• Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)

Optional Subjects

• Art & Design
• Drama
• Music
• Business Studies
• Geography
• History
• Computer Science
• Additional Maths
• Global Perspectives
• Foreign Language Chinese
• Economics

It is recommended that students choose a broad range of subjects to keep their options open for A-level in the next Key Stage. Students should be encouraged to choose subjects which they enjoy as they are most likely to achieve higher grades in these subjects. They should also choose subjects that will assist them in their university and career path for the future. More detailed information about IGCSEs may be found on the Cambridge International website (www.cambridgeinternational.org).

IGCSEs

Apart from Myanmar, PE and PSHE, all the subjects listed in this leaflet lead onto IGCSE examinations. The University of Cambridge exams board in the UK sets these examinations. There are hundreds of International schools around the world that enter students for these examinations with thousands of students taking the exams each year. IGCSE examinations are an international version of the GCSE examinations taken by students in the UK. IGCSEs are your passport to further studies so that if you are going to stay at our school for A-levels your IGCSE grades are an important indicator of your ability and potential to take the subjects into Key Stage 5 or what is known as A Levels.

Student Learning and Assessment

At MISY every student is an individual and we endeavour to create activities that all of our students can access. Throughout KS4 student learning is assessed in a variety of different ways such as; essays and other forms of written work, presentations, artistic representations of learning, research tasks, problem solving activities, examinations and projects to name but a few. Students are taught how to tackle examination questions as well think critically in each of their chosen subjects. Teachers stretch our students’ abilities through formative (in class) and summative (exam) assessments.

English

The process of acquiring English is supported by the English as an Additional Language (EAL) department. If students arrive at MISY with limited English they are required to take additional English classes as part of their school day. As the level of these students’ English improves they are taken off the EAL programme and integrated fully into the main stream. Over time all of our students acquire an excellent level of academic and spoken English. Students leaving MISY in year 13 will progress into top Universities in the UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore and others.

Key Stage 5 (AS/A Level) (Year 12 and Year 13)

At MISY we have a thriving and ever-expanding sixth-form made up of Year 12 and Year 13 students who play a leading role in the school community as they study for their International A-level qualifications. A Levels that we offer are certified by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE), the same as our IGCSEs. More detailed information about the A-levels can be found on the Cambridge International website(www.cambridgeinternational.org).

Examined Subjects

Almost all students study 4 subjects in Year 12 and 3 subjects in Year 13. There is also an option to take a fourth subject in Year 13). We currently offer the following subjects at AS and A level.

• Art and Design
• Biology
• Business Studies
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Economics
• English Language
• Geography
• Maths
• Physics
• Global Perspectives

Non-Examined Subjects

At MISY we offer a range of additional subjects that develop a level of social and personal awareness in our 6th form students. Furthermore, these subjects support students in their applications to universities. The subjects are:

• Community Service (Project based work to support the school and the local community)
• PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)
• Physical Education

Student Learning and Assessment

At MISY every student is an individual and we endeavour to create activities that all of our students can access. Throughout KS5 student learning is assessed in a variety of different ways such as; essays and other forms of written work, presentations, artistic representations of learning, research tasks, problem solving activities, examinations and projects as it is in KS4. Students are taught how to tackle examination questions as well think critically in each of their chosen subjects. Teachers stretch our students’ abilities through formative (in class) and summative (exam) assessments.

Life at MISY

Our Key Stage 5 students are the leaders of our school and they head up our thriving Student Council. The Student Council is a body that represents the needs of students and meet regularly with the Head of Schools to discuss issues that are pertinent to the students. They also organise regular activities for the student body, both academic and social. They are the glue that holds the bond between all of our students together.

ASDAN

ASDAN is a pioneering curriculum development organisation and awarding body, offering programmes and qualifications that explicitly grow skills for learning, skills for employment and skills for life.

ASDAN courses are recognised UCAS, by the UK's accrediting body. Courses are portfolio-based, and range across topics covering preparation for life and work, enrichment subjects, PSHE and Citizenship.

The focus is on skills development, with courses available for young people aged 7-19 over a range of timescales, from 10 to 180 hours. Every course is designed to develop learners’ personal, transferable and employability skills through an engaging and challenging curriculum of activities, leading to a certificate of achievement.

ASDAN offers a wide choice of activity-based curriculum programmes that can be used in mainstream and alternative educational settings with learners working at a range of levels. More flexible than CIE qualifications, these programmes offer imaginative ways of developing, recording and certificating young people’s personal achievements.

At MISY, ASDAN courses may be taken by themselves or in conjunction with IGCSE classes. Please schedule a meeting with the SENCO or with the Head of Secondary if you wish to learn more about ASDAN courses.