Secondary

The Secondary section of the ISS caters for students aged between 11 and 16.

INTRODUCTION

Serious faces interspersed with giggling heads, a few pigtails bobbing amidst wannabe rock star stiff gelled-up spikes, sprouting first stubble and well-done eyebrows, screaming lunatics that need to act their age scattered with spectacled nerds, and immature dense boys that need to grow up with intellectual and chic female species- these are a few of my favourite shots of my dear year 9 class.
Being in year 9 makes me think about the periodic table. The earth and alkali metals on one side, in this case Year 7 and 8, the noble gases on the other, year 10 and 11, and in the middle the transition block, year 9. Possibly even a sandwich. Year 9 is the filling, the most vital addition; we are the jam and butter of schooling, with year 7, 8, 10 and 11 being the bread bases.
It is the year in school that kick-starts the ‘transformation’ from juvenile children into young mature adults. Unfortunately, we are neither sweet innocent kids nor are we the wise adults, and that leaves us at an ‘odd’ stage in life.
In class the topics we cover are varied and dynamic, and as our age increases, so does our workload. Our curriculum is challenging, but it also opens new doors and more opportunities to prove ourselves, something we never had the chance to do in previous years. Gradually moving up the classes, we find that the work gets tougher, but that’s what school is all about. Some topics are very boring and stifling but most subjects involve lots of thinking and practical application of academics taught. Then we have the fun teachers that teach us using interactive methods and those that send us into long spells of “dead to the world” attacks with lectures going over and above our heads. The group work is rather enjoyable as we then get the chance to go a bit off-track and even at times lure the anti-social elements into our web of exhilarating and animated times. We are caught in between the stage when during sex education in P.S.D classes (Personal Social Development) there is a mix between infantile sniggering and mature understanding.
Year 9 is not just about work though. Being in a transition class, we have the liberty of enjoying spare moments where we can hang out with friends or classmates. Most of year 9 has been together since reception 1, and we are like a big family. For those who joined us later, they still fit in. We do have the “PSP freaks” and the “eager nerds” but I feel we have a wonderful class…most of the time anyway. Although our home and class work leaves us busy, there is still time to socialize. Again it is a learning process- the first rung on the social ladder, where those who are adventurous and daring try out all sorts of “novelties” in the background of parents’ indoctrination of dos and don’ts. Don’t I know the line “There is a time for everything…”
Now if year 9 is tough, I don’t really want to mar my thoughts with year 13.
Its fun to know you’re one step closer to the end of school, and the class 9 year group is generally considered as a responsible older group, although there are some exceptions in every class.
Although later this year, we will be divided into core or extended group depending on our exam grades, most of us stay positive and enjoy life as it comes. There are no IGCSE’S to worry about this year and all we really need to do right now is take life as it comes and enjoy every bit of year 9 and its world of peer pressure, loud rock music, William Shakespeare, trigonometry and World War 2.

BY: Nandita Nair
Year 9

AIMS

The secondary section educates students aged 11 to 16 in years 7-11. In years 7,8 and 9 students follow curricula based upon the Key Stage 3 National Curriculum for England and Wales. Approximately half of the timetable is devoted to the teaching of the three ‘core’ subjects; English, Mathematics and Science. Students also study Geography, History, Art and Design, Computer Science, French as a foreign language and Personal Social Development (PSD). Assembly is held once a week. All students participate in a varied Physical Education programme.

In year 10 students commence the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), a two year programme culminating with assessments at the end of year 11. Students are awarded an internationally recognised qualification, equivalent in standard to the British GCSE and the International GCE Ordinary level. IGCSE is used by schools in over 90 countries throughout the world and has been recognised as a qualification for matriculation purposes by universities world-wide.

Examination leads to the award of one of eight grades (A*, A, B, C, D, E, F and G) in each subject. The highest grade is A*. In some subjects candidates take examinations at one of two levels, Core or Extended, with the second level designed for higher ability candidates. All grades down to grade G are passes, however the aim is for all students to achieve a C grade or higher in all entries, since these higher passes contribute to accessing Advanced level programmes at 16, and undergraduate courses later on.

International School students normally enter between 7 and 12 subjects at IGCSE. Full details of the content for the secondary curriculum can be found in the curriculum booklets published annually by the school.

FACILITIES

The Secondary Section has grown over the last few years, seeing Years 7 and 10, with two classes per year group. Years 8, 9 and 11 are still only one class per year group, however that will soon change in September 2008. Despite our growing numbers we are more than adequately resourced. There are 3 science labs, 2 networked computer rooms, an Art room and classrooms for French, Geography, History, English, Mathematics, and Economics. The library and Electronic library, which has recently being fitted with 27 new computers, is shared with the rest of the school.

Each student has a locker for their personal items and school books.

There are covered areas providing shade, where secondary students can be seen hanging out and looking cool with their iPods and other electronic gadgets (break times only)!

CURRICULUM

The links below will allow you to download curriculum documents onto your computer where you can then print them out and read them. The documents are all Word documents, so you will need Word, or a compatible application to view them.

Click on the appropriate class to download the curriculum document…

Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Year 10 & 11

If you have any difficulty downloading or accessing the documents please contact the school.

STAFF

TEACHERS:

SCHOOL COUNCIL

A chance for us to air our views!

The Student Council is a forum for students and staff to meet and discuss issues which will continue to improve the school at every level.

Two students from each of the tutor groups in Secondary and Sixth Form are elected by the tutor group to represent then at the student council meeting, which are held on the last Thursday of the month.

This is an opportunity for students to make recommendations as well as air some of their concerns. The meetings are run by Mrs. Dooley and Mrs. Kennedy. At the meetings, issues are discussed and debated, every representative having a chance to say their piece. The discussions lead to actions and then hopefully the matters can be resolved.

In addition the representatives are involved in organising and planning the various activities, for example the School Prom for upper Secondary and Sixth Form. The lower Secondary students are organising a disco.

Minutes are taken at every meeting and these are brought to the tutor group by the representatives.

CLUBS

Click on a club to learn more about it.

CAREERS ADVICE

Introduction to Careers and the World of Work is formally tackled in years 9 and 10.

In year 9, through the PSD programme, students explore possible career choices, enabling them to make the best choices when they embark on the IGCSE courses in year 10. This includes targets in terms of extended and core level studies as well as subject choices as is the case with History and Art, and Business Studies.

In Year 10, the focus is on personal strengths and suitability for a chosen career. Students have the opportunity to participate in workshops related to job applications, where they have to apply for a job and then be interviewed for it along with other members of the group. This is usually the highlight of the course!!

Information relating to career choices, suitability, university courses as well as training is also made available.

The aim is to provide accurate and useful guidance for students starting to consider career options. The course is constantly updated in response to the rapidly changing world of work. The school takes its responsibility in preparing students for the demands and complexities of an increasingly high-tech global workplace very seriously.

All students are encouraged to ‘aim high’ in their initial aspirations, in the understanding that ambitions identified in lower secondary will very likely change before key career decisions such as selection of post-16 subjects and university courses are considered.

Outside speakers visit the school to provide first hand information on professions that students are considering.

WORK EXPERIENCE

All secondary students undertake a two week work experience at the beginning of year 11 as part of the careers programme. Work placements are negotiated during year 10 and traditionally students are expected to meet professional standards and expectations in whatever line of work they are involved with.

The programme gives students a taste of work outside school and will inform career and further education choices they will make in the future.

After the completion of the programme year 11 students share their experiences with year 10 students in the form of a presentation.