Academics at ICS

ICS is an accredited Cambridge International School. As such we identify with Cambridge University in developing learners who are confident, responsible, innovative and engaged.

At ICS, we pride ourselves in helping students find and acquire knowledge, skills, and attitudes for themselves through student-centered approaches to teaching and learning. Hence, the active-learning approach is highly utilized. Teachers are therefore facilitators of learning who fully understand that every child is unique and can be helped to succeed using child-friendly strategies.

We believe in ‘training tomorrow’s leaders today.’ We embrace a holistic education hence termly academic/non-academic activities such as club activities, fun games, club exhibitions, and project fairs are consistent features of the education we offer here.

Pre-School

ICS Pre-School welcomes children from age 2 up to 4, starting from Nursery 1 and ending at Reception (KG1). Our qualified staff offer a safe, caring and stimulating environment for children to learn and develop. We encourage active learning through play, enabling our children to grow in confidence and succeed in future learning situations.

The Pre-School curriculum is relevant to the children’s needs and prepares them for future school years. The children are taken through literacy, numeracy and IPC lessons. Our activity based lessons give the children the opportunity to actively participate in class. The teachers observe and respond appropriately to children’s needs as a result of being aware of how children develop and learn.

Our curriculum enables children to progress towards the Seven Areas of Learning:

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Communication and Language
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Knowledge and understanding of the world
  • Physical Development
  • Expressive Art and Design

The six areas of learning help our teachers plan the learning environment and activities to provide the children with the opportunity to develop competencies and skills.

During the IPC lessons, the children are taken through various themes which help them to understand the need to become aware of the world around them and develop an international mind-set alongside their own nationality. The students embark on field trips to acquire more insights into a particular theme being addressed in class. Children visit places like the airport, lake, zoo, farm, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants etc.

ICS Pre-School provides the solid foundation needed for the Cambridge Primary programme.

Primary School

The ICS Primary School starts from year 1 and ends at year 6. Students in year 1 are typically aged 5/6 years of age. Students in year 6 are typically aged 10/11years. At the Primary School we believe that activity-based and fun lessons, combined with a good blend of action-packed, creative, service-based and varied extra-curricular activities form the basis of a great education.

In the Primary School, the subjects offered are Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies (Global Perspective), ICT, French, Art, and Physical Education.

For Mathematics, English, and Science, the Cambridge Primary Programme provides the curriculum framework. It develops skills, knowledge and understanding in young learners. This curriculum provides all the necessary guidance, material, and training for classroom teaching and learning.

Art, ICT, French, Religious Education, and Physical Education are based on the British National Curriculum. This curriculum promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students at the school.

Social Studies is based on the International Primary Curriculum. This curriculum promotes great learning, great teaching and great fun in a framework of different themes that children easily identify with.

At the Primary School we believe that children learn best when they have fun. Based on this simple idea, teachers are trained to deliver lessons that invite children to participate actively, express their opinions and facts eloquently, and develop skills and understanding effectively.

Middle School

The ICS Middle School is for learners between the ages of 11-14 years. The Cambridge International Examinations Secondary 1 curriculum is followed at this stage with emphasis on English, mathematics, and science.

In addition, subjects such as Music, Art, French, Geography, History, English, Math, Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and ICT are also taught using the British National Curriculum. Students in Year 9 are introduced to Economics and Business Studies. ICT, which is an integral part of the curriculum is also delivered using the ICT starters’ package from CIE.

Students at this level are required to develop skills, acquire knowledge and insights needed for the IGCSE programme at Key Stage 4. The use of Cambridge Secondary 1 Curriculum and the Checkpoint Assessment Package provides a seamless progression from Middle School education (Key Stage 3) into High School (Key Stage 4 and beyond).

High School

The ICS High School offers two University of Cambridge International Examination academic programmes: the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) which is taken by students in Years 10 and 11 (Grades 9 & 10) and the Cambridge International AS/A Level which is taken by students in Years 12 and 13 (Grades 11 & 12). The two academic programmes are carefully designed to engage students and give them solid foundations to achieve high levels of academic and personal attainment. The curriculum has been designed to develop learners that are responsible, innovative, confident, and engaged.

CAMBRIDGE IGCSE

The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is the world’s most popular international curriculum for 14-16 year-olds, leading to globally recognised and valued Cambridge IGCSE qualifications.

At ICS, we offer the May/June examination session only. The resulting qualification provides a foundation for higher level courses, such as Cambridge International A level, the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education, the North American Advanced Placement programme, and the International Baccalaureate.

The IGCSE course requires students to take between eight to ten subjects depending on their ability, interest, and career aspirations. First Language English, Foreign Language French, Mathematics, Literature, ICT and at least one Science subject are compulsory for all IGCSE students in ICS.

The required learning hours per Cambridge IGCSE subject is 170 hours. This means that learners are expected to spend four hours per week on each subject.

Assessments take place at the end of the two-year course and include written and oral tests, coursework, and practical assessments. Each learner’s performance is benchmarked using internationally recognized grades, A* to G.

To maintain a highly rigorous academic experience, the school also offers the International Certificate of Education (ICE) option as part of the IGCSE programme. ICE candidates are required to reach certain standards in a group of subjects in order to obtain this certificate. The Cambridge ICE is awarded to learners who pass at least seven Cambridge IGCSE subjects. Learners are awarded one of the three levels of the Cambridge ICE – Distinction, Merit or Pass – depending upon the grades earned in the seven examinations.

CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL

Students who successfully complete the Cambridge IGCSE continue with the Cambridge AS and A-Level programme for another two years. Over the course of the two-year Cambridge International A-Level, students study three or four subjects chosen from the five subject groups of the Cambridge A-Level curriculum.

The GCE Advanced A-Level is one of the most recognized qualifications around the world. It has exactly the same value in admitting students to universities as the UK equivalent and is accepted as an entry qualification to Ghanaian universities and universities worldwide.

Students study three or four subjects at A-Level with each course requiring 360 learning hours. This means that learners are expected to spend twelve hours – six hours in class and six hours on their own – per week to learn each subject. All non-language subjects are taught in English.

ICS provides support for A-Level students with their studies and university applications by organizing regular training sessions on the university application process, essay writing techniques and SAT preparation for students starting year 12 and first term of year 13. Every student, whether IGCSE or A-Level, participates in a number of co-curricular activities.

To complete the Cambridge A-Level, students take the Cambridge A-Level exam in three or four subjects at the end of year 13. Predicted results are provided to college admissions officers with final results sent when available. In each subject, students may score from A* to E, with A* being the top score.

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