Lower Secondary Curriculum

What is Lower Secondary Curriculum?

Cambridge Lower Secondary is typically for learners aged 11 to 14 years. It gives schools a flexible framework for developing skills and understanding in English as a first or second language, mathematics, science, Cambridge Global Perspectives and ICT Starters.

Cambridge Lower Secondary Curriculum

Among the numerous advantages of the curriculum, designed by the Cambridge Assessment, the world’s largest provider of international education in alignment with the most prestigious examination board Cambridge International Examinations

Board, are:

Age appropriate, internationally relevant and culturally sensitive goals
Encouraging learners to engage with a variety of subjects and make connections between them.
Progression tests showing the students’ development through the whole process of education.
Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoints provided in Grade 8, marked by Cambridge examiners and providing a statement

of achievement as well as diagnostic feedback report, showing how a learner has performed compared to all learners who have taken the tests in that series around the world.

Core subjects of Lower Secondary

	English - First or second language
	Mathematics - Number, Geometry, Measure, Handling data, Problem-solving
	Science - Scientific inquiry, Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Additional subjects of Cambridge Lower Secondary

	ICT- Documents, Multimedia, Spreadsheets, Databases, Programming, Website Design, Networks, Video or Animation
	Global Perspective - Six Challenges a year
	SMSC - The spiritual, moral, social and cultural development, PSHEE - Personal, Social, Health, Economic Education

Cambridge Lower Secondary Assessment

Cambridge Lower Secondary assessment uses internationally benchmarked tests, giving parents extra trust in the feedback they receive. Grades are benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades, 7 to 1, which have clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement for each grade.

There are two assessment options:

Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests (marked in school)
Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint (marked by Cambridge examiners)

Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint

The exams take place in 8 Grade.

Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint is a diagnostic testing service that helps learners by giving comprehensive feedback on their strengths and weaknesses in each subject area.

The tests are marked in Cambridge to provide an international benchmark of learner performance. Learners receive a statement of achievement and a diagnostic feedback report. Feedback reports show how a learner has performed in relation to the curriculum, their learning group, the whole school, and against all learners who have taken tests in that series around the world.

International Middle Year Curriculum or IMYC

The International Middle Year Curriculum or IMYC is a broad curriculum that aims to bridge the divide between Primary and Secondary education. It connects learning by linking all subjects together through the conceptual idea. This type of learning provides our students with:

5 to 6 topics per year, specifically designed for students aged 11-14
Make meaning of learning by giving them opportunities to develop and present their own ideas
Opportunity to find things for themselves (but with clear direction from the teacher) by researching, investigating, inquiring, thinking, reporting and reflecting.
The assessment aimed at improving learning and structured round knowledge (tests, exams, subject projects), skills (feedback from the teacher through the Assessment for Learning programme) and understanding (reflective journalling and exit point for each topic)
Preparation for the next step of their learning in IGCSE and IB.

The Holistic Approach

BSS provides a holistic approach to education. It educates the whole student, developing the capacity for inquiry, research, and problem-solving as well as essential skills for communication and collaboration. Students are taught to apply what they have learned in different contexts and across disciplines.