Upper Senior School - IGCSE (Grades 9 & 10)
The IGCSE Programme (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is an international programme, recognised worldwide due to its academic excellence for students of 14 to 16 years (Grades 9-10). It is a rigorous, flexible, consistent and diverse programme, with an international approach but maintaining local relevance. This curriculum develops a solid foundation of knowledge and skills and facilitates progress and success in the next stage of the course, the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
IGCSE curricula, developed specifically for international context, allow students to develop their skills in a wide range of disciplines, demonstrating an understanding of the content, ability to apply the knowledge in differentiated situations, intellectual curiosity, research capacity, flexibility and ability to adapt to a changing world and cultural awareness, at a local and international level.
In Science and Mathematics, PaRK IS follows the Edexcel and Pearson IGCSE curriculum; in all other disciplines, we follow the Cambridge IGCSE Curriculum Assessment International Education (CAIE). These institutions supervise and validate the educational practices of schools which are test centres and that, consequently, they represent.
At PaRK IS, Grade 9 and 10 students have mandatory courses – English Language, English Literature, Portuguese (First or Foreign Language), Maths, Double Award Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), and Physical Education (non-examined discipline), and three IGCSE electives, to be chosen from a wide range of options: Geography, History, Business Studies; Global Perspectives; French; Spanish; Art & Design; Design Technology; Computer Science; Physical Education; Music; Drama; or Triple Award Science (an extra IGCSE to Double Award). All students must choose one Humanity to ensure solid foundations for the IB Diploma Programme. These disciplines are taught during this two-year cycle, ending with external examinations set by Cambridge or Edexcel Pearson International examination boards.
Thus, the Cambridge IGCSE is an excellent foundation to prepare our students for the final phase of high school: the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) in Grades 11 and 12.
