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the heart of any school is the process of learning and teaching. Whatever
else is offered that gives the school its special characteristics
and appeal, if it fails to provide an environment for effective learning,
it fails completely. The curriculum must develop the knowledge, skills
and conceptual understanding of all students in such a way as to fulfill
individual potential. Many Alice Smith families belong to a highly
mobile international community, and so our curriculum must also : |
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enable
students to connect what they are doing with us to what
they have done or will do in another school |
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enable
established students to have an opportunity to reinforce
and build on what they have learned with us, while giving
newer students the opportunity to develop their confidence
in areas that may be new to them but which others have
already covered |
The
Alice Smith curriculum therefore
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places
importance on transferable, core skills and knowledge
especially in English Language, Mathematics, Science,
and, increasingly, Information Technology |
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maintains
breadth, so that students can experience different types
of knowledge, thinking and skills they will need in
the future in the areas of Design & Technology,
Art, Modern Foreign Languages (MFL), the Humanities,
Performance Arts and Physical Education |
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helps
children by returning to concepts in such a way as to
keep reinforcing and developing them for established
students, while introducing them in an intelligible
way for new children. |
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The framework for
our curriculum is the National Curriculum for England and Wales, which
has been adopted as the school has grown over the last few years.
Adapted to suit our situation of offering an education in an international
and Malaysian context, it is ideally suited to the needs of our students,
and enables us to monitor progress by the means of National Curriculum
Tests (NCTs) in English, Maths and Science at the age of 14. At 16
students sit external examinations in a wider range of subjects.
Students are no longer specifically prepared for Common Entrance,
but we still offer the facilities to take the exam, and offer advice
to parents and help with exam technique. |
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The Subject areas
offered at Alice Smith School are those of the National Curriculum
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English, Mathematics, Science (separate sciences Biology, Chemistry
and Physics are offered in Year 10 - 13), Design Technology, Art,
Information Communications Technology, Modern Foreign Languages, French,
German, Mandarin and Malay, History, Geography, Communications, Music,
Drama and PE., Economics and Business is offered from Year 10. |
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The four "Key Stages"
of the English National Curriculum track the progress of each child
from Reception to the end of Year 11. Progress through the Key Stages
offers the prospect of continuity and progression, as core knowledge,
concepts and skills are consistently developed. In years 12 and 13
we offer a comprehensive A level. This framework relates well to the
curricula of New Zealand and the Australian states, and has become
increasingly attractive to students from Europe and the Americas.
With its emphasis on regular, external assessment and its subject
based organisation, it can form the basis of a rigorous education
in the liberal tradition that will help prepare children from a wide
range of backgrounds for the next stage of their education, whether
at Alice Smith, at another international school, university or back
in their own country.
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At
the end of each Key Stage, students sit externally set and marked
National Curriculum Tests (NCT).
During Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9), students follow the National Curriculum
of England and Wales in all subjects, and are continually assessed
during lessons. A working National Curriculum level is given on the
grade card reports termly. At the end of Year 7 and Year 8, each
subject has an internal examination. In the May of Year 9, students
sit an externally set (and marked) National Curriculum Test in the
National Curriculum core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science.
The school normally receives the results from these external tests
in early July. Students also sit internally set examinations in their
other subjects later in Year 9.
During
Key Stage 4, students will be following GCSE specifications (syllabus)
in most subjects, with some subjects following IGCSE specifications.
These courses are examined by a final externally set and marked
examination in June of Year 11. During the courses students are
also assessed internally at the end of Year 10, and at the end of
term one in year 11 (Trial or "mock" exams). Students will also
complete pieces of coursework during their two years, which are
vital parts of the overall assessment.
At
Sixth form level, students are following AS and A level courses
(A2), which are assessed externally. AS is a three unit course,
and A level is the completion of the AS course plus an additional
three units. Most students complete AS assessments at the end of
Year 12 and A level at the end of Year 13.
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There are a wide
range of abilities in the student population at Alice Smith, although
most of the children are of above average ability. Our resources do
not allow us to admit children with extreme specific educational needs,
but we can and do support many children who are experiencing general
difficulties, and who may prove to have a specific need as they mature.
The emphasis is on support within the learning situation rather than
on withdrawal, although withdrawal may prove to be necessary in the
case of children who do have specific problems that can only be addressed
one-on-one. Smaller groups are possible for those who need more individual
attention in the core subjects. This is in addition to our support
and SEN teachers based both at Jalan Bellamy and Equine Park.
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Stage 3
Year 7 to Year 9 Students aged 11 to 14
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By
Year 7 the transition to a fully timetabled curriculum taught
by specialists has been completed, although the range of subjects
covered remains constant, enabling students to build on their
experience in the previous Key Stages. In Year 7 students are
asked to undertake the study of an additional Modern Foreign
Language so they can explore their linguistic capabilities to
a fuller extent. They will then be able to make an informed
choice as to whether they are going to be a one or two Foreign
Languages student at KS4 and beyond. Year 7, 8 & 9 students
have a choice of French, Bahasa Malaysia, German and Mandarin.
One other development is in Science, which is taught as Science
to Year 8, but separated into the three parent disciplines of
Biology, Chemistry and Physics taught by specialists from Year
7 onwards. |
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Stage 4
Year 10 to Year 11 Students aged 14 to 16 |
At
Key Stage 4 students follow their GCSE courses, and are able
to make choices in certain subject areas. English Language and
Literature, Mathematics and Science remain compulsory core subjects,
and students are required to maintain breadth across a broad
range of subjects, which are chosen from subject blocks. All
are expected to follow courses in:
- at
least one Modern Foreign Language (French, German, Bahasa
or Mandarin)
- at
least one Humanity (Economics/Business, Geography or History)
- at
least one Performance Art or Art/Design subject (Art, Music,
DT, ICT or Drama)
The school also offers GCSE courses in Physical Education. Students
are also able to choose between following Science as three full
GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, or as "Double Award"
GCSE in which slightly shorter units of the three parent disciplines
are offered. The full range of choices are listed in the Key
Stage 4 course guide available from the school. Students at
Key Stage 4 continue to follow a compulsory course in general
Physical Education. The GCSE courses are offered by EDEXCEL
and Cambridge International. |
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| Sixth
Form
Year 12 to Year 13 Students aged 16 to 18 |
Year
12 Access
Students who have reached the age of 16 but who do not have
the pre-requisites to enter the Sixth Form A level programme,
have the option of doing an "access" course. This course allows
students to study for GCSE's in English, Mathematics, Double
Award Science, Design Technology, Information Technology and
if possible a language, in a single year. They are considered
to be part of the Sixth form in all aspects apart from their
studies.
Sixth Form
Students entering the Sixth form have a minimum of five GCSE's
with grades above a C, and normally have at least a grade B
in those subjects they wish to study at A level. The school
offers both AS and A level in preparation for entry to university.
Some of the subjects are Vocational A levels (VCE) and are assessed
by portfolio instead of traditional examinations. VCE's are
considered by Universities to be equivalent to traditional A
levels. These subjects are offered by EDEXCEL and students normally
study for three or four subjects. The subjects are arranged
to allow most combinations. Sixth Form students will be expected
to participate in a range of activities, both sporting and cultural,
and become involved in one or more community based projects.
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Block A
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Block B
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Block C
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Block D
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Block E
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| Year 12 |
Pure & Mechs
Pure & Stats
English
Travel & Tourism
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Design & Tech
Geography
Further Maths
German
Music
Psychology
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Physics
History
Drama
Business
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Chemistry
Economics
Art
PE
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Biology
English
French
IT
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| Year 13 |
Pure & Mechs
Pure & Stats
English
Travel & Tourism
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Design & Technology
Geography
Further Maths
German
Music
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Physics
History
Drama
Business
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Chemistry
Economics
Art
PE
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Biology
English
French
IT
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