The Curriculum

Our curriculum at BISC is based upon the British educational system for 3 to 16 year olds and culminates in the International Baccalaureate Diploma for 16 to 18 year olds.

In the United Kingdom, a child’s compulsory education is divided into four Key Stages, which follow the government-based educational programme known as the National Curriculum. Children are divided into the following classes, determined by their age on September 1st of the current academic year:

The Foundation Stage is made up of our Nursery class is for children aged 3/4 and the Reception class (children aged 4 on September 1st).

Primary School, Key Stages 1 and 2, includes children aged 4 to 11, and is comprised of the following classes:

Year 1 (aged 5 on September 1st)
Year 2 (aged 6)
Year 3 (aged 7)
Year 4 (aged 8 )
Year 5 (aged 9)
Year 6 (aged 10).

Secondary School, Key Stages 3 and 4, comprises ages 11 to 16, and includes the following classes:

Year 7 (aged 11 on September 1st)
Year 8 (aged 12)
Year 9 (aged 13)
Year 10 (aged 14)
Year 11 (aged 15).

The International Baccalaureate Diploma is a University entrance level qualification and is offered to students in Years 12 and 13 (post 16).

Our school therefore offers an outstanding and complete education for children aged 3 to 18.

You can view our policy regarding assessment by clicking on this link.

All children from Year 1 to Year 11have swimming classes once a week at a local swimming pool not far from the school. Pupils also have gym each week at a local Sports club 5 minutes’ walk from the school.

Music, Art and Drama are seen as essential elements in uniting the school and bringing together children of all ages in the various productions that take place throughout the year, culminating in an end-of-year musical performance. Parental involvement in school performances is strongly encouraged.

Drama is closely linked with English, and individual classes regularly stage small productions for parents. To date, some of these have included: A Small Miracle, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth, and The Importance of Being Earnest.

Class sizes vary between 10 & 20 pupils. This enables teachers to work very closely with small groups or individuals according to ability.

BISC uses current textbooks from the United Kingdom. These are loaned to pupils for the academic year, and must be returned to the school in June. Parents are expected to cover the cost of any lost or damaged textbooks.