FOUNDATION STAGE (EARLY YEARS)
This first learning period is divided into two academic years: Nursery (3-4 years old) and Reception (4-5 years old).
An efficient development of the curriculum during Early Years is very important as it establishes the basis for future learning.
The main curriculum areas of the Foundation Stage are:
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Communication, language, reading and writing
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge and understanding of the world around us
- Physical development
- Creative development
Here in The English School we take care to stimulate and motivate our students so that they can develop these skills and abilities in a relaxed, safe and pleasant atmosphere.
In each Foundation Stage classroom two staff members make sure that the children receive the care and attention required for their age. Thanks to this, our youngest students’ school life takes place in a rewarding learning atmosphere, which will allow them to be independent from an early age and develop a sense of responsibility and respect.
PRIMARY EDUCATION
This learning period is divided into two stages: Key Stage 1 (5-7 years old) and Key Stage 2 (7-11 years old)
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
- History
- Geography
- Art
- Music
- Physical Education (PE)
- Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)
The distribution of the timetable in Primary is organised so that the core subjects (English, Maths and Science) and the rest of the subjects (History, Geography, ICT, Art and Design, Music, PE and PSHE) receive the necessary time in order to develop the objectives and content according to the Curriculum.
We place special emphasis on the creation of an organised, relaxed and pleasant work place, so we can offer our pupils a stimulating learning process. It will provide them the adequate learning strategies for the acquisition of new concepts, and a series of routines and values required for their personal growth.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
Secondary is divided into 3 stages: Key Stage 3 (11-14 years) Year 7 to 9; Key Stage 4 (14-16 years) Year 10 to 11 and Sixth Form (16-18 years) Year 12 and 13.
In accordance with the “National Curriculum for England”, the subjects studied in Key Stage 3 are:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Science
- History
- Geography
- German
- Spanish
- Art
- ICT
- Music
- Physical Education
- PSHE
In Key Stage 4, pupils begin to prepare for the IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations, which they will take at the end of Year 11. These are external examinations, which are marked by independent examining boards based in The United Kingdom.
Towards the end of Year 9, the Head of Secondary and Head of School will speak to Year 9 pupils about the next stage of study in the British Curriculum, Key Stage 4, which comprises two academic years: Year 10 and Year 11.
Before going into to Year 10, pupils will be asked to state their preferences by ranking a number of IGCSE subjects. Some subjects, such as English and Maths are compulsory in Key Stage 4, but others could be optional, and these options could vary from year to year according to pupil preferences.
Below we provide the combinations of core and optional subjects for academic years (2020-21) as example:
Academic Year 2020-21
Edexcel IGCSE Exam Subjects
CORE SUBJECTS
Subject Sessions per week
English Language 4
Mathematics 4
COMPULSORY SUBJECTS
Subject Sessions per week
ICT 4
Spanish Curriculum Sessions per week
Lengua Castellana 3
Valenciano 1
Geografía e Historia 2
OR
Spanish MFL 6
OPTIONS (4 sessions per week)
Select ONE option from each pair. (Please tick)
| Biology | OR |
| German |
| Chemistry | OR |
| History |
| Physics | OR |
| Geography |
NON-IGCSE /
PERSONAL GROWTH SUBJECTS
Subject Sessions per week
Physical Education 2
Music / Drama 1
English 2nd Language prep. 1
PSHE 1
Key Stage 4
Throughout Key Stage 4 pupils study the content of the core subjects, together with their chosen subjects (options), in preparation for the IGCSE exams which take place during the official exam period from May to June in Year 11.
In addition to the IGCSE subjects, pupils will continue with other non-IGCSE subjects such as P.E., music, drama and PSHE, which are considered to be important for their personal development.
The English School is an authorised centre for EDEXCEL, one of several recognised UK-based examination boards. Exams take place in the School and sent for correction to EDEXCEL in the UK.
Key Stage 5 Sixth Form
Pupils who wish to continue studying after IGCSEs can do so at The English School in Key Stage 5. This stage comprises two academic years and prepares pupils for university entry.
At the end of Year 11, the Head of Secondary and Head of School will speak to pupils in Year 11 to understand their study preferences and then devise the proposal for the next school year.
In Year 12 and Year 13, pupils study a combined programme of British A-Levels (between 3 and 4 subjects) and Spanish Curriculum subjects (maximum 2). They also continue studying English, with the objective of attaining a C1 level by the end of Key Stage 5.
Below we provide details of the subjects offered at A-Level in the academic years (2020-21) as example, since the subjects taught at this level will vary from year to year according to pupils’ preferences:
Academic Year 2020-21
A-Level subjects
Maths or Biology
Spanish
Physics or German
Chemistry or ICT
Spanish Curriculum subjects (PCE)
Maths or Applied Maths or Latin (Matemáticas / Matemáticas aplicadas / Latín)
Biology or Economics (Biología / Economía)
English (C1)
In addition to these subjects, pupils have classes of PE and PSHE.
Equivalent years of study
The English School England | Spain | Age | |
Early Years Foundation Stage | Nursery | Infantil 3 años | 3 |
Reception | Infantil 4 años | 4 | |
P R I M A R Y | Year 1 | Infantil 5 años | 5 |
Year 2 | 1º Primaria | 6 | |
Year 3 | 2º Primaria | 7 | |
Year 4 | 3º Primaria | 8 | |
Year 5 | 4º Primaria | 9 | |
Year 6 | 5º Primaria | 10 | |
S E C O N D A R Y | Year 7 | 6º Primaria | 11 |
Year 8 | 1º ESO | 12 | |
Year 9 | 2º ESO | 13 | |
Year 10 | 3º ESO | 14 | |
Year 11 | 4º ESO | 15 | |
Sixth Form (Key Stage 5) | Year 12 | 1º BACH | 16 |
Year 13 | 2º BACH | 17 |