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Curriculum Overview

The National Curriculum for England (often simply referred to as the ‘British Curriculum’) is taught in over 150 countries across the globe, the National Curriculum for England or the British curriculum as it is popularly known, is one of the preferred educational systems in the world.

Rigorous and well-organised, the National Curriculum for England has been designed to give students, parents and teachers a clear overview of progress at every stage of education.

The curriculum is organised based on Key Stages, which are categorised as follows:

KEY STAGE	AGE	YEAR GROUPS
Foundation Stage	3-4	FS1 and FS2
Key Stage 1	5-6	Year 1 and Year 2
Key Stage 2	7-10	Year 3-6
Key Stage 3	11-13	Year 7-9
Key Stage 4*	14-15	Year 10-11 (GCSE)*
Key Stage 5*	16-18	Year 12-13 ( A Level)*

Early Years Foundation Stage comprises of Foundation Stage 1 and Foundation Stage 2. The activity-based programme ensures individual participation and growth, and equal emphasis is laid on developing reading, speaking, listening and writing skills.

The Foundation Stage children are suitably prepared for literacy and numeracy. Phonic methods and well-graded writing patterns follow a comprehensive foundation-building programme. The focus is on both individuals as well as group activities.

Key Stage 1 comprises of Year 1 and Year 2. The school recognises and values the need for the Foundation Stage to be strengthened during Key Stage 1. The teaching strategies or the all-round development of the students, every aspect of learning and growing is catered to with accurate planning and perfection.

Key Stage 2 encompasses Year 3 to Year 6. Students get introduced to the analytical process and through individual and group projects, as well as pursuing the carefully planned and balanced curriculum, start to rationalise and think independently.

Key Stage 3 encompasses Year 7 to Year 9. These three years expose the pupils to a wide range of subjects. This integrated academic programme lays the perfect foundation for the IGCSE subject options for Year 10 and beyond, helping the students to attain a high level of success at the IGCSE Examination.

Key Stage 4 encompasses Year 10 to Year 11. The International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is a set of examinations and qualifications designed for 14 to 16-year-olds. The IGCSE syllabus covers a wide variety of subjects, with no limits on the number of qualifications students can achieve. Apart from the compulsory subjects, students can select their own combination to personalise their curriculum.

Normally, a student will study each subject over a two-year period, sitting exams in the summer of their second year of study, typically in Year 11 at age 16.

After students have finished their IGCSEs they have the opportunity to specialise more in their studies. They will study fewer subjects, but in much greater depth, preparing them for further study at university or success in employment. In Years 12 and 13, students can study either A-Levels or BTEC. There are various pathways open to students in Years 12 and 13.

International A-Levels

International A-Levels are challenging, globally recognized qualifications, respected and accepted by universities around the world. Typically, students choose three or four subjects to study in Year 12; they can either study their chosen subject for one year leading to an AS-Level (half an A-Level) or for two years, leading to a full A-Level.

BTEC (Vocational) Pathway

Level 3 International BTEC Extended Diplomas in both Business Studies and Information Technology. BTEC courses are career-related courses that provide the theoretical underpinning and academic rigour of a Level 3 programme, as well as helping students develop skills and competences required for lifelong learning; these courses allow learners to apply the knowledge and skills they gain in real-life scenarios.

An international Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma is a two-year qualification equivalent to three A-Levels. However, the course is very flexible and there are smaller qualifications that can be achieved in one year. International BTEC qualifications are accepted at many universities around the world. Students will be required to achieve five IGCSEs, including English and Maths in order to gain entry to this pathway.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education - developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people. IB programmes empower school-aged students to take ownership of their own learning and help them develop future-ready skills.

Primary Years Programme

The Primary Years Program (PYP) is taught at UIS using knowledge and skills derived from six subjects’ areas and transdisciplinary skills, emphasising inquiry. The PYP is flexible and accommodates the demands of a range of curricula and provides the best preparation for students to engage in the IB Middle Years and Diploma Programmes respectively.

Middle Years Programme

The MYP is a framework that nurtures the whole child, placing equal importance to all subjects, as well as skills, socio-emotional learning, and conceptual understandings.

Building a solid academic foundation, the MYP develops students’ confidence in managing their own learning and making connections between their learning in the classroom and the real world.

Career-related Programme

A unique programme for students in their final school years. It equips them with future-ready skills and prepares them to follow their career pathways—combining academic subjects with their own professional interests.

The IB Career-related Programme stimulates students to pursue Career-related studies that align with their skillset and interests. It is a two-year programme and leads to a qualification that is accepted at universities across the world.

Diploma Programme

The IB Diploma Programme at UIS supports students to gain the required skills and knowledge that will prepare them for professional life, university and beyond. The IB Diploma Programme is rigorous, it is a challenge. Students are stimulated intellectually, there are lots of opportunities for critical thinking and research.