The IGCSE syllabus was developed in 1988 by Cambridge International Examination (CIE). It is an English language curriculum with more than 160 countries embracing the curriculum. It is taught in over 10,000 schools across the globe and the number is steadily increasing. At the IGCSE schools in Chennai a wide range of subjects are offered to students with different abilities, even for those whose first language is not English.
Students at the IGCSE school can take anywhere between 5 to 14 subjects. The core curriculum includes, Languages, Mathematics and Science. Other subjects like Art & Technology, Social Sciences can also be chosen. The schools provide a flexible curriculum and offer excellent training.
The focus areas of the curriculum are to introduce as many subjects as possible to the students and allow them to connect between one another. Focus is on developing knowledge, skill and understanding in the areas of:
- Subject content
- Knowledge and understanding to new and unknown
International schools are growing at a rapid speed with newer forms emerging replacing the traditional forms. The newer forms are commercial based and operate on profit bases, here children from wealthy homes and locals seek admission and the schools are located in non-English speaking countries yet the medium of education is English. The other type is purely international meant for international students who come as immigrants, expats or relocated on the ground of job or career. In India the rise of commercially operated international schools are on the rise.
The rise of international schools is seeing the doom of state board schools. The three most popular boards available in India are Cambridge International Examination (CIE), International Baccalaureate (IB) and Edexcel Examination Board. The factors affecting the migration to international schools in Chennai are:
•Holistic Learning providing education and development in terms of disciplinary and interdisciplinary understanding. The
Education is not restricted to classroom learning. Teachers using a number of teaching aid to facilitate learning. Modern schools are going for less classroom space and use the outdoor as their learning medium. For instance, the schools in Sweden convert corridors, hallways as gathering space for children to collaborate. Every space in the school building is used purposefully. International schools in Chennai are also adopting this to improve teacher-student interaction.
Technology has crept into our daily life and is transforming the consumption of knowledge. Both knowledge and technology go hand in hand and it accelerates the learning time. The partnership between engineers, educators and entrepreneurs facilitate holistic growth of the child. Today learning is personalized to meet the learning potential of the child. In this context sophisticated learning technology tools aid teachers in explaining to the students the subjects. Technology provides students with effective, dynamic and
The 200 years of British Raj has influenced the Indian education system to a great deal. The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) devises curriculum and all the academic and technical support to schools across the country. About 80% of schools in India are run by the government or aided by them. Expat students find respite in International schools in Chennai. These are often children of corporate executives, diplomats, NGO staff in India. With the awareness of international curriculum increasing, locals also gear up for enrolment at the international schools.
The medium of instruction at the international schools is English but some offer French and other international languages to facilitate easy understanding of non-English speaking nationals. The advantage of the international curriculum is that it is uniform globally. This is kept a standard to promote easy transition across the globe. The schools are internationally accredited. Some of the curriculums
While moving to a new country the question that pops in the minds of parents is ‘how to pick an international school?’ The schools are setup for those who migrate across the globe for work and other responsibilities. The International Baccalaureate program created framework for international schools. Any student in IB schools anywhere in the world will be studying the same curriculum. Most international schools offer IB Diploma and it is recognized by universities around the world. The other international curriculum includes Advanced Placement (AP) and Cambridge IGCSE.
Your choice of international schools should depend on the following:
1.The school has to be accredited to the Council of International Schools (CIS) or the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC). Only accredited schools will have specific standards and the accreditation supports a positive learning environment. The school is mission driven and comes with high safety standards. American organization
International curriculum schools are over 9,000 across the globe as maintained by data provided by International Schools Consultancy Group. Among these 6.734 teach in English and Local language according to statistics provided in 2013. Nearly 2,000 schools teach any of the four International Baccalaureate curriculums in other languages and not English. Countries like Switzerland, France, Germany and Netherlands teach their national curriculums in their mother tongue to expatriate children who comes from different schools.
English is the medium of instruction in most schools across the globe. The curriculum is based on the English National curriculum and is popularly embraced by nearly 3,000 schools worldwide. Moreover the British schools from across the globe contribute to nearly $1.6 billion to the UK economy. Cambridge International Examination CIE is the largest contributor of international programs. They offer courses for students between the age of 5 to 19 years. The International
International schools in Chennai lay its primary focus on the infrastructure. It become crucial for the child to grow up in the right environment. Schools are the second home for every child, it helps to identify the purpose of one’s life. The confidence of a child grows as they indulge in team work and socialization. The child spends maximum time in the school. There is always an experienced hand guiding the child in every way of life. It is a safe environment that promotes growth. The infrastructure plays a prominent role in creating a favourable environment in the life of the child.
A school with damaged building and lack of playgrounds is a poor choice for the child. Parents feel safe to send their children to schools that have state of the art infrastructure and this is available only at International Schools. The child will be provided all the basic facilities and physical comfort to learn and play in a safe and secure environment. School environment is responsible for the
A globally recognized curriculum, the IGCSE or the International General Certification of Secondary Education is very similar to the Class X examinations. The IGCSE is formed in the year 1988 and is a two year programme that is spread over Class 9 and 10. The final examination is taken in May or November. The exam is conducted by UK assessment bodies, the Edexcel and the Cambridge International Examinations.
Comparing IGCSE with other curriculums
IGCSE offers a wide range of subjects and brings in high academic standards through practical learning and teaching. The assessment is not just restricted to the written examination but also takes into account oral and listening tests. The aim is to bring out a wide range of skills of the students. The grading system is eight-point scale from A+ to G, with A+ the highest and G the lowest.
IGCSE School offers a balanced and versatile curriculum. There is choice between the core curriculum to the extended curriculum. It gives the students the
International Baccalaureate school curriculum has become the most popular choice among those choosing international school for its rigour, breadth of study and global transferability. International baccalaureate offers programmes for students between 3 and 19. The curriculum is taught in thousands of schools across the globe, including independent international schools and UK State schools. The IB is a two year diploma programme (DP), suited for students between the age of 16 and 19. The curriculum was found in 1968. The IBO started offering courses for early school students through their Primary Years Programme, Middle Year Programme.
Today, families are highly mobile and the curricula need to accept this change and adapt to this part of the community. The curriculum focuses on the changing interest, ideas and viewpoints of both students and teachers. IB curriculum does not aim at underselling potential young minds. According to IB teachers, the students undertaking the programme have
International school in Chennai are in great demand for its world class ambience and expert faculty. The schools have a mentoring system. The faculty attends IB and Cambridge workshops to improve their knowledge on various happenings and current affairs. The schools follows high quality international curriculum supported by a high quality learning environment. Moreover, the lab, staff training, curriculum, everything is of international standard. All this facilitates opening up new opportunities for students to study abroad to expand their career potential. The course goes a step beyond surface learning and focuses on assimilating information and takes up challenges to think conceptually.
The role of international education is to open up opportunities to study abroad and improve their career to the maximum. Students at primary school are encouraged to develop their skills providing the ultimate learning experience. The environment is dynamic and fun with latest technology and resources
