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Years 10 & 11 prepares students for the Cambridge IGSCE Examinations. Skills learned in earlier years are brought into sharp focus as students enter this Phase. Independent thinking, research and resource collection and effective communication are the essential skills focused on at this level. Students are expected to take a minimum of 8 subjects.
Compulsory IGCSE subjects: English as a First / Second Language, Mathematics and Information & Communication Technology.
Optional IGCSE subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Business Studies, Accountancy, Economics, Environmental Management, Geography and History, Global Perspectives, Travel & Tourism & Islamiyat.
Optional IGCSE languages: Arabic as a Foreign Language and French
Ministry of Education curriculum: Arabic and Islamic Education.
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English is designed for learners who are typically first language speakers and proficient in English. The course allows learners to:
• develop the ability to communicate clearly, accurately and effectively when speaking and writing
• learn how to use a wide range of vocabulary, and the correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
• develop a personal style and an awareness of the audience being addressed.
Learners are also encouraged to read widely, both for their own enjoyment and to further their awareness of the ways in which English can be used. Cambridge IGCSE First Language English also develops more general analysis and communication skills such as synthesis, inference, and the ability to order facts and present opinions effectively.
The Cambridge IGCSE Maths syllabus provides opportunities for contextualised learning and develops essential lifelong skills, including creative thinking and problem-solving. It helps students:
•In the development of their mathematical knowledge
•In gaining confidence, by developing a feel for numbers, patterns and relationships
• To develop an ability to consider and solve problems and present and interpret results
• Skills in communication and reasoning using mathematical concepts.
All candidates will study the following topics:
1. Number
2.Algebra and graphs
3.Geometry
4.Mensuration
5. Co-ordinate geometry
6.Trigonometry
7.Matrices and transformations
8. Probability
9. Statistics
The Cambridge IGCSE Biology syllabus helps learners in Years 10 & 11 to understand the technological world in which they live, and take an informed interest in science and scientific developments.
They learn about the basic principles of Biology through a mix of theoretical and practical studies.
Learners also develop an understanding of the scientific skills essential for further study at Cambridge International A Level, skills which are useful in everyday life.
As they progress, learners gain an understanding of how science is studied and practised, and become aware that the results of scientific research can have both good and bad effects on individuals, communities and the environment.”
The Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry syllabus helps learners to understand the technological world in which they live, and take an informed interest in science and scientific developments.
They learn about the basic principles of Chemistry through a mix of theoretical and practical studies.
Learners also develop an understanding of the scientific skills essential for further study at Cambridge International A Level, skills which are useful in everyday life.
As they progress, learners gain an understanding of how science is studied and practised, and become aware that the results of scientific research can have both good and bad effects on individuals, communities and the environment.
The Cambridge IGCSE Physics syllabus helps learners to understand the technological world in which they live, and take an informed interest in science and scientific developments.
They learn about the basic principles of Physics through a mix of theoretical and practical studies.
Learners also develop an understanding of the scientific skills essential for further study at Cambridge International A Level, skills which are useful in everyday life.
As they progress, learners gain an understanding of how science is studied and practised, and become aware that the results of scientific research can have both good and bad effects on individuals, communities and the environment.
The IGCSE ICT syllabus aims are to develop:
• knowledge of ICT including new and emerging technologies
• autonomous and discerning use of ICT
• skills to enhance work produced in a range of contexts
• skills to analyse, design, implement, test and evaluate ICT systems
• skills to consider the impact of current and new technologies on methods of working in the outside world and on social, economic, ethical and moral issues
• ICT-based solutions to solve problems
• the ability to recognise potential risks when using ICT, and use safe, secure and responsible practice.
The syllabus for History aims to make learners explore history from a diversity of perspectives, including social, economic, cultural and political, and they are given the opportunity to:
• develop an interest in and enthusiasm for learning about and understanding the past
• explore historical concepts such as cause and consequence, change and continuity, and similarity and difference
• appreciate historical evidence and how to use it
• gain a greater understanding of international issues and inter-relationships
• learn how to present clear, logical arguments.
The curriculum for Geography aims to develop:
• an understanding of location on a local, regional and global scale
• an awareness of the characteristics, distribution and processes affecting contrasting physical and human environments
• an understanding of the ways in which people interact with each other and with their environment
• an awareness of the contrasting opportunities and constraints presented by different environments
• an appreciation of and concern for the environment
• an appreciation of the earth including its people, places, landscapes, natural processes and phenomena.
• The international world.
Through the study of these Topic areas, candidates gain insight into target language countries and communities.
The Cambridge IGCSE French syllabus is created especially for international students.
The course encourages learners to develop lifelong skills, including:
• the ability to use a foreign language as a means of practical communication
• insight into the culture and civilisation of countries where the language is spoken
• a positive attitude towards language learning, towards the speakers of other languages, and towards other cultures and civilisations
• techniques which can be applied to other areas of learning, such as analysis and memory skills
• a sound foundation for progression to employment or further study.
The subject content is organised around five broad topic areas which provide contexts for the acquisition of vocabulary and the study of grammar and structures. Topic areas are:
• Everyday activities
• Personal and social life
• The world around us
Foreign Language Arabic is taught as a 2-year course in Years 10 and 11. It falls in Group 1 of the International Certificate of Education. All students follow the extended course.
The syllabus content is organised around five broad topic areas which provide contexts for the acquisition of vocabulary and the study of grammar and structures.
This syllabus aims to:
• develop the ability to communicate effectively using the target language
• offer insights into the culture and civilisation of countries where the language is spoken
• encourage fuller integration into the local community, where relevant
• develop awareness of the nature of language and language learning
• encourage positive attitudes towards speakers of other languages and a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations
• provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation
• develop transferable skills (e.g. analysis, memorising, drawing of inferences) to complement other areas of the curriculum
• form a sound base of the skills, language and attitudes required for progression to work or further study, either in the target language or another subject area.
The Cambridge IGCSE Islamiyat syllabus encourages students to develop lifelong skills and knowledge, including:
• Familiarity with the Qur’an and Hadith
• An understanding of the importance of the major beliefs of Islam and of the early history of the Islamic community
• Evaluation skills to understand how these beliefs impact on the daily lives and thoughts of Muslims around the world.
The topics which the students need to closely study, are:
1. Major themes of the Qur’an
2. The history and importance of the Qur’an
3. The life and importance of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)
4. The first Islamic community
5. Major teachings of the Hadiths of the Prophet
6. The Articles of Faith and the Pillars of Islam
7. The period of rule of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and their importance as leaders
8. The history and importance of the Hadiths
Cambridge IGCSE Travel and Tourism is designed to help meet the need for skilled and knowledgeable individuals in this rapidly diversifying industry. The intention of the syllabus is to provide a broad introduction to the travel and tourism industry and related ancillary service industries.
The syllabus develops practical skills across a range of working roles, as well as providing a global and local perspective on travel and tourism. Students gain an overview of the industry, and learn about popular destinations, customer care, working procedures, travel and tourism products and services, and marketing and promotion. Through their studies, students will gain an understanding of the concepts, models and theories used within the industry, and also enhance their skills of investigation, analysis, interpretation and evaluation.
The aims of the Environmental Management course are to enable students to acquire:
• knowledge of natural systems which make life possible on Earth
• an understanding that humans are part of these systems and depend on them
• an appreciation of the diverse influences of human activity on natural systems
• an awareness of the need to manage natural systems
• an understanding of sustainable development to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
• a sense of responsibility and concern for the welfare of the environment and all organisms
• an awareness of their own values concerning environmental issues
• an awareness of the values of others
• a willingness to review their own attitudes in the light of new knowledge and experiences
• a sound basis for further study, personal development and participation in local and global environmental concerns.
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The study of Global Perspectives provides opportunities for enquiry into, and reflection on, key global issues from a personal, local/national and global perspective. Young people globally face unprecedented challenges in an interconnected and information-heavy world, not least in how they will gain a sense of their own active place in the world and cope with changes that will impact on their life chances and life choices.
Students will have opportunities to acquire and apply a range of skills, including:
• gathering, synthesising and communicating information
• collaborating with others to achieve a common outcome
• analysing and evaluating planning, processes and outcomes
• developing and justifying a line of reasoning
Students will explore stimulating topics that have global significance. They will assess information critically and explore lines of reasoning. They will learn to collaborate with others from another culture, community or country, directing much of their own learning and developing an independence of thought. Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives provides opportunities for enquiry into, and reflection on, key global issues from different perspectives: personal, local/national and global.
Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives encourages awareness of global problems and offers a range of opportunities to explore solutions through cooperation and collaboration.
The course is not about getting everybody to think identically; rather it is a matter of opening minds to the complexity of the world and of human thought, and encouraging empathy for the diversity of human experience and feeling.