An Indepth Look At Various Popular International Curricula

A look Into Your Children’s Global Education Passport

Various Schools offer rigorous, internationally recognised curricula and qualifications including the English National Curriculum and International Baccalaureate which provides your child with a global education passport, equipping them to study anywhere in the world.

Each school also adapts the curricula to embrace local culture and conditions. For example, schools in China provide opportunities for students to learn Mandarin and understand the Chinese culture as a part of their studies. Colleges in Switzerland offer a bilingual curriculum in French and English just as an example.

With such a critical decision at hand, being a parent is the most important job you will ever have, and the most indispensable. Parents draw on their knowledge of the past to point the way to the future, giving their sons and daughters the background they will need to move forward and make their way in an ever-changing world.

Against that backdrop, it is easy to see why choosing the right curriculum is such a critical decision. As a parent, you know that educating your child is the most important thing you can do to secure their future, but you also know that your son or daughter is an individual, and that there is no one right approach to getting a quality education.

No matter which option you ultimately choose for your child, you can move forward with confidence, knowing that you have examined each curriculum and made a smart choice for the education of your child.

Let’s examine at some of the popular curriculums and what they have to offer :

For Parents of Young Students :

WHAT IS THE EYFS CURRICULUM ?

EYFS stands for Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery / Reception) is for children aged three to five years old and is the first stage of their education.

The key focus during this part of the curriculum is on teaching them routine and easing them into the idea of learning in a structured environment. A lot of the activities your child will undertake will be play-based, with more formal teaching not starting until they begin Key Stage 1 (Year 1 and Year 2).

What is in the Foundation Stage?

The Foundation Stage was introduced in the 90s and a more experimental and play-based form of learning was brought in following lengthy research. This may be very different from your experience of starting school. The Foundation Stage recognises that children need to be able to use concrete experiences to provide the building blocks for their learning, so with that in mind it utilises play, modelling, painting, investigating and cooking as the mediums for learning.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children it ensures children’s readiness for Primary School and provides a broad range of knowledge and skills that form a strong foundation for future progress through school and life. EYFS integrates four guiding principles that shape learning:

Every child is a unique child, constantly learning and resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there’s a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and or carers.
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

The three Prime Areas of Learning and Development :

COMMUNICATION & LANGUAGE : In this area, children have opportunities to experience a rich language environment and develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves while speaking and listening in a range of situations. We also ignite their interest in reading and writing. They learn greetings and introductions, and also how to speak about colors, numbers, food and transport. In learning to speak these languages, children also explore the associated cultures.
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT : Here, children enjoy opportunities to be active and interactive, and to develop their coordination, control and movement. They also learn basic principles of health and self-care, including the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PSED) : This area involves helping children develop a positive sense of themselves and others. They develop social skills and learn about making relationships. Children also learn how to manage their feelings and demonstrate appropriate behavior. The overarching theme is self-confidence and self-awareness.

Are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

Learning in the three Prime Areas is strengthened and applied in the four Specific Areas of Learning and Development :

LITERACY : Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters, and to begin to read and write. Children have access to a wide range of reading materials, including books, poems and other written work.
MATHEMATICS : The Mathematics area provides children with opportunities to improve their skills in counting and understanding and using numbers. They calculate simple addition and subtraction problems, and learn how to describe shapes, spaces and measures. This area supports children’s understanding in different situations by providing opportunities to explore, practice, learn and talk.
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD : Children make sense of their physical world and their community through activities that help them observe and learn about people, places, technology and the environment. Learning is based on first-hand experiences that involve making predictions and decisions, and taking part in discussions.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS & DESIGN : Here, children use their imaginations and work with various media and materials. They’re encouraged to share their thoughts, feelings and ideas by creating art and music, taking part in movement, dance and role play, and exploring design and technology. Through these activities, children learn to value their own ideas and those of others. This area particularly supports children’s curiosity and desire to play.

The activities, stories and games through which learning takes place in each area are challenging, exciting and fuel progress towards learning outcomes. Through a mix of child-initiated and adult-led experiences that are relevant to the children’s lives, we also encourage effective listening and positive behavior.

WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL PRIMARY CURRICULUM (IPC)?

The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is thematic, creative and employs specific goals for learning in each subject as well as for personal development. The curriculum applies a global approach that helps children connect learning to where they are living now and view learning from the perspectives of people in other countries. To aid learning, teachers chose the following themes. They ensure a varied and exciting curriculum that follows an appropriate progression of skills and helps children reach their highest potential.

The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum for 3-12 year olds, with a clear process of learning and with specific learning goals for every subject, for international mindedness and for personal learning.

The IPC has been designed to ensure rigorous learning but also to help teachers make all learning exciting, active and meaningful for children. Learning with the IPC takes a global approach; helping students to connect their learning to where they are living now as well as looking at the learning from the perspective of other people in other countries. The IPC is used by schools in more than 90 countries around the world.

What the IPC Means for Your Child ?

Learning with the IPC takes a global approach. It helps children connect their learning to where they are living now and look at learning from the perspective of people around the world. The key knowledge, skills, and understanding involved in each topic are covered in specific “Topic” lessons as well as throughout other lessons, such as English, Math, Science, and Art. To provide students with a meaningful learning experience, activities are often project-based and related to relevant and current contexts, such as the presidential elections, climate change, or the Olympic Games.

Student’s knowledge, skills, and understanding are steadily built upon over the course of each key stage, allowing students to consolidate their prior learning while simultaneously developing new learning. A range of informal assessment strategies are used. Students become increasingly able to discuss their achievements and set their own targets for improvement.

Subject Goals : cover the knowledge, skills and understanding of children relating to the subjects they are learning. There are subject learning goals for Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, ICT & Computing, Technology, History, Geography, Music, Physical Education, Art and Society.

Personal Goals : underpin the individual qualities and dispositions we believe children will find essential in the 21st century. There are 8 IPC Personal Goals – enquiry, resilience, morality, communication, thoughtfulness, cooperation, respect and adaptability. Opportunities to experience and practice these are built into the learning tasks within each unit of work.

International learning goals : Are unique to our curriculum and help young children begin the move towards an increasingly sophisticated national, international and intercultural perspective. Each thematic IPC unit includes an international aspect, to help develop a sense of ‘international mindedness’.

Units of Learning : We know that children learn best when they want to learn. That’s why all of the IPC’s thematic units of learning are designed to appeal to children’s interests and help them to learn more about the world around them.

Themes include : Examples Include Who Am I?, The Magic Toymaker, Buildings, Chocolate, Active Planet, Young Entrepreneurs, Mission to Mars, and What Price Progress.

Themed units help children to see how subjects are both independent and interdependent. This enables them to see the big picture of their learning, make connections across different subjects, and talk about a topic from multiple perspectives. With its own Assessment for Learning Programme, the IPC provides immediate support for teachers and learners through its comprehensive design and rigor, whilst being flexible enough for each school to adapt the planning and build on their own strengths.

The IPC Process of Learning involves a distinct learning process with every IPC unit, providing a structured approach to make sure that children’s learning experiences are as stimulating and rigorous as possible. These subjects are built into the different thematic units of work, where they work independently yet interdependently with each other so that children can talk about their learning through multiple perspectives. The IPC actively encourages parent involvement and provides Primary schools with many opportunities throughout the year for parents and guardians to be invited to school and participate in their children’s learning.

With the IPC children can develop the academic knowledge, skills, and understanding to prepare them for Secondary school and beyond whilst also developing the personal qualities and characteristics to help them flourish in our increasingly connected and dynamic world. In short, the IPC can unlock students’ imagination and transform their education.

WHAT IS THE BRITISH CURRICULUM ?

The British Curriculum is also known the English National Curriculum for England, and this system of education stresses creativity, critical thinking and flexibility. At the same time, the British Curriculum includes a series of measurable and achievable goals, each designed to build on what went before while preparing the student for their future work.

The English National Curriculum begins at Early Years Foundation Stage for children age three to five, progressing to the highly respected GCSE or IGCSE qualifications for older students.

Students Aged 3-5 Years Old :

Students aged between three and five years old experience the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. This is a very important stage as it helps children prepare for school, as well as their future learning and successes. Supporting early years student’s learning and development needs through a stimulating and fun programme, both indoors and outdoors. Schools plan learning activities based around seven key curriculum areas, allowing young students to acquire knowledge and skills through engaging experiences.

These seven areas are as Follows :

Communication and language
Physical development
Personal, social and emotional development
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design

Learning activities will always involve playing and exploring, being active and creative, and developing critical thinking. Each activity is adapted to suit each student’s unique needs and interests to provide every child with a strong foundation for their education.

Students Aged 5-16 Years Old :

Students continue to develop their skills and knowledge in a stimulating and challenging learning environment. Building upon their experience at each key stage, students will find themselves studying a wide variety of subjects to prepare them for the IGCSE exams taken at age 16 such as :

Art and Design
Citizenship
Design and Technology
English (including drama)
Geography
History
Information and Communication Technology
Mathematics
Modern Foreign Languages
Music
Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education
Physical Education
Science (covering Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

Students Aged 16-18 Years Old :

The A Level (which stands for ‘Advanced Level) offers a focused approach to higher level studies with most students choosing to study three subjects. The course is structured into two phases. The AS Level is taken in the first year and consists of three unites. It is a qualification in it’s own right. The second year is known as A2 and consists of a further three units, which when combined with the AS Level, create an A Level. Both AS and A2 units count equally towards the A Level qualification.

The British Curriculum Through its focus on goals and achievement, ensures that both parents and children understand the progress they are making. This, in turn, allows each student to reach his or her full potential.

WHAT IS THE AMERICAN CURRICULUM ?

American Curriculum international schools are a popular choice for parents right across the world. While there is no central American curriculum, the common themes of enquiry based learning and student-centred planning run throughout. This has made American international Curriculum schools a popular choice for students wishing to enter into further education in North America.

The American curriculum offer a broad and balanced educational approach supported by a wide range of co-curricular activities which provide all students the skills they need in all subject areas. All American schools offering the US Curriculum are based on high standards of achievement, therefore, this curriculum is the one of the most widely-used in international schools.

The American curriculum is based on high standards of achievement in all subject areas. This broad and balanced approach is supported by a wide range of co-curricular activities which equip all students with the skills they need for the 21st century.

An American Curriculum international school starts with entry to Kindergarten at age 5. Students can study through to Grade 12, where they are awarded with the American High School Diploma at age 17. The American Diploma is accepted for entrance by all US universities and colleges and is increasingly recognised by other universities around the world.

The Key features of the American curriculum :

Offered by American international schools worldwide.
Broad, balanced and student centred.
Standardized tests are benchmarked by American international schools around the world.
Leads to SAT and advanced placement test for university admission.
Recognised by US and Canadian universities.

The US Curriculum is based on American Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Math, History/Geography, and Next Generation Science Standards for Science. This gives more creative freedom to tailor the curriculum based on individual needs.

The American curriculum is still very popular; in fact, it is the third most widely used curriculum in international schools, after the British National Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate. Up to 75% of pupils in American international schools are not American; some are from the host country, and some from other countries. Many non-Americans will opt to use the US curriculum because it helps to familiarise children with the American education system, preparing them for attending a college in the United States.

American schools are a popular choice among international parents. These schools are designed to provide a core curriculum that prepares students to enter schools, colleges, and universities in the United States and in a great number of countries throughout the world, and this has made American schools greatly in demand among students wishing to enter into the best private colleges and universities in the world.

WHAT IS BC CURRICULUM OR BRITISH COLUMBIA CANADA CURRICULUM ?

The British Columbia Canada curriculum (BC Curriculum) is an internationally renowned education program of the highest standard. The BC Curriculum teaches students through fostering a lifelong love of learning. This outstanding program offers a balanced, concept and inquiry-based approach that is student-centered and focuses on the whole child.

The core competencies are integrated into all learning which are :

Communication
critical and creative thinking
Personal social responsibility

Students registered will receive a Personal Education Number (PEN) which is a nine-digit number assigned to each student enrolled or registered with any BC Certified School. Once issued, the PEN follows the student through their B.C. education path from Early Learning, to Grade 12. This number is used for multiple purposes including; transition analysis between schools, post-secondary education, exams, and student reporting.

Graduates from the program receive a B.C. Certificate of Graduation called the Dogwood Diploma. This Diploma is internationally recognized by the world’s leading universities for entrance to tertiary studies. It is equivalent to a secondary school certificate/Tawjihi certificate In Bahrain.

Academic results for B.C. students are outstanding as assessed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Program for International Student Assessment for educational systems (PISA). In 2018 the B.C. program ranked 1st for reading, 2nd for science and 6th for math across 72 countries and 10 Canadian provinces.

The BC Curriculum and how it differs from a traditional learning curriculum :

The comprehensive curriculum provides an excellent foundation for all areas of learning. Focused on sound foundations of literacy and numeracy these critical skills are the foundation of BC’s education system and are a key component of developing an educated citizen.

The most important goal of the program is to encourage our students to become self-confident inquisitive and enthusiastic learners.

The BC Curriculum allows children to learn through multiple pathways that help them to make personal connections to their learning. Teachers provide an environment in the classroom in which students be engaged and invested in their learning and ultimately advocates of their own learning.

WHAT IS THE FRENCH CURRICULUM ?

As the name implies, the French Curriculum originated in France. Even so, the success of the French style of learning has allowed the French Curriculum to spread far beyond its native France. These days the French Curriculum has found its way into schools around the world.

French education system is renowned throughout the world and French Schools are famous for their dynamic and innovative approach. Living in France is not the only way to enroll your child in a French school. Fortunately, there is a wide range of French schools everywhere in the world which reconcile a French-style education with international-standard teaching. French schools are overseen by the French Ministry of Education and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The schools are audited on a regular basis (usually at least once a year) by French inspectors. Schools are also overseen locally by the French authorities through the French Embassy.

The specificity of the French school system is that pupils have access to nursery education before the age of six, when compulsory schooling begins. It is often divided into three levels according to the age of the children.

The curriculum of nursery education (early learning cycle or cycle 1 – up to 6 years old) initial is divided into five areas:

Appropriating language and getting ready to read and write
Becoming a pupil
Corporal movement and expression
Discovering the world
Seeing, feeling, imagining & creating

The main purpose of nursery education is to allow pupils to develop their full potential and to have a successful first experience of school. The emphasis is on the acquisition of language and its development, the discovery of the world of writing and that of numbers as well as learning to ‘live together’.

The French curriculum is organized as a series of multi-year cycles, during which students are expected to acquire specific knowledge and demonstrate given competencies. The cycle system acknowledges that learning occurs in a different way, and at a different pace, in every child. For example, some may be proficient readers early on, while others, equally bright, take longer. Children begin learning to read at the start of the 2nd cycle. By the end of the cycle, literacy is expected among all students.

The French system breaks schooling into:

Nursery School – école maternelle (3-6 years old): Cycle 1 : Basic learning cycle

Kindergarten or pre-school. Ecoles Maternelles take pupils from age 3 to age 6, and prepare them for entry into primary school. The French école maternelle is more than just a playschool; the curriculum includes reading and writing, numeracy and even sometimes a foreign language, as well as artistic and creative activities. There are three classes, “les petits”, “les moyens” and “les grands”.

Petite Section (which is the equivalent of pre-KG or FS1)
Moyenne Section (this is the equivalent of KG1 or FS2)
Grande Section (this is the equivalent of KG2 or Year 1)

Elementary School – école élémentaire (6-11 years old): Cycle 2 : Fundamental Learning Stage

Primary school, grade school. Five classes, ages 6 to 11. The primary school curriculum in France is similar to that in other countries, and includes literacy and numeracy, with classes in French, arithmetic, but also geography and history, the arts, and more and more frequently a foreign language, usually English. Pupils have an average of 28 hours classes per week. The five classes in the Ecole Primaire are, in order, CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, and CM2 : CP is Cours préparatoire, preparatory class, CE means cours élémentaire – elementary class – , and CM is cours moyen, middle class; the two middle classes are a preparation for the next level, which is middle school.

Cycle 3 : Consolidation Cycle Secondary: Lower Secondary – collège : (11 to 15 years old)

Middle school. Four levels, normally for pupils aged 11 – 15. The “collège unique” is the backbone of the French school system. All pupils go to collège, usually at age 11, but sometimes at an older age, if they have been made to repeat a year in primary school. The collège is designed to provide all pupils with a fundamental secondary education, after which a certain degree of specialisation will be introduced. In practice, pupils are frequently oriented during their collège years either towards general classes, from which they will be expected to continue their education in a traditional lycée, or towards more technical classes, after which they will be expcted to take an exam called the “brevet” (a kind of GCSE), and then either stop their secondary education (if they have reached school leaving age), or continue in a “lycée professionnel” or vocational high school. The programme in collège includes French, maths, history, geography, technical education, art/music, physical education, civic education, some science, and at least one foreign language. The four classes, corresponding to grades 6 to 9, are called sixième, cinquième, quatrième and troisième.

Cycle 3 (continued from Primary|Elementary)

The purpose of the sixième / end of cycle 3 is to consolidate the achievements of primary school and initiate pupils in the working methods of lower secondary education.
(Stages are: CM1, CM2, please note : end of cycle 3 is Sixième in Secondary)

Sixième: Cycle 4 : Further Learning Stage

Students enjoy a very broad curriculum, taking all of the fundamental subjects. Teaching in the lower secondary is organised by subject: French, mathematics, history and geography, civic education, life and earth sciences, technology, art, musical education, physical education, physics and chemistry, two modern languages as well as the cross- curricular teaching of the history of art. (Stages of sixieme are: Cinquième, Quatrième, Troisième)

Upper Secondary – lycée : 15 – 18 years old

High School. The traditional French lycée covers the last three years of secondary education. This stage educates students during their final three years of secondary education.There are two main types of traditional lycée, the lycée général or lycée classique, and the lycée technique. In big towns and cities, there will be a mix of both types; in smaller towns, there may not be a lycée tehnique. The main function of the lycée is to prepare pupils to sit the baccalauréat (or bac) exam, the equivalent of British A levels. Classes in a traditional lycée cover the same range as in collège, with the addition of philosophy (for all) in the final year. The three classes (grades 10 to 12) are known as seconde, première and terminale. Students keen to progress to university should undertake a baccalauréat in an area related to their intended future field of study.

WHAT IS THE CBSE CURRICULUM ?

The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) is a standardised school curriculum offered in 24 countries across the world. CBSE is a national level board of education for public and private schools in India and as of 2016, 17,300 CBSE schools worldwide. It’s a reputable programme where students undergo a challenging and rewarding education. While the course is widely considered to be tougher than State Boards, it is also seen as more student-friendly, ensuring pupils don’t face too much pressure and opting for more interesting, interactive learning methods.

CBSE Curriculum Features :

Below are all the specific details you should know before enrolling your child on the course:

The syllabus is structured and controlled, making use of standardised textbooks.
Children can’t fail a class until 8th grade.
Many colleges in India include the syllabus in their entrance exams.
Board exams for the CBSE are optional in 10th grade and mandatory in 12th grade.
The CBSE is generally favoured by those who relocate often and seek a standardised curriculum for their children.
It is a popular choice for students looking to study traditional engineering or medicine.
The secondary curriculum of the CBSSE focuses on seven major learning areas, which can vary between schools.
CBSE Subjects include Humanities, Geography, History, Economics, Home Science, Sociology, Fine Arts, Political Science, Fashion Studies, Creative Writing, Translation Studies, Mathematics and Health and Physical Education.
The curriculum also includes Science and Technology subjects, Visual and Performing Arts subjects and Commerce subjects, including Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Drama, Business Studies and Economics.

CBSE Exams and Assessment :

The CBSE exam table is structured differently to state board curricula. Rather than having three exams spread throughout the year, there are continuous forms of assessment called Formative Assessments (FA) and one exam called the Summative Assessment (SA). The CBSE board curriculum is split across two semesters, and you can find more details below:

Semester One (FA1) :

The Formative Assessment consists of three activities, and children will gain a mark out of 10 for each. One is an individual activity involving the creation of a chart, model or project, another a similar group-based activity. There is also a pen and paper exam.

Semester Two (FA2) :

Semester two includes the same FA as semester one, but also the Summative Assessment. This is a written exam (90% theory, 10% practical) worth a total of 30 marks.

The total marks available for each semester is 50, which are added up to give children a score out of 100 for each academic year.

Advantages of the CBSE Curriculum :

If you’re considering a CBSE school for your child, here are some of the key advantages over State Boards:

CBSE is focused on students and their wellbeing, it is structured to reduce pressure and increase interest and interactive learning. The curriculum also includes a range of extra-curricular activities that help students learn vital life skills and, importantly, enjoy their education.
This low-pressure environment is also considered during exams, with teachers going to great lengths to ensure students are feeling confident and learn from the process. This is evident in the results with very few students failing a CBSE exam.
The CBSE programme focuses on physical and mental growth, encouraging students to pursue a sport alongside their studies.
The curriculum itself and fun extra-curricular activities help students develop into global citizens, learning about different cultures and broadening their horizons.
Doing your primary and secondary education in a CBSE board gives you an advantage if you plan to pursue future studies from centralised institutions like IIT or AIIMS because the preliminary exams are organised by the CBSE.
The CBSE curriculum allows students the flexibility to pursue what they’re interested in. There is no obligation to pick a certain stream, and it means students can follow their passion and develop a love for learning.

What Are Most Popular International Curriculums In Bahrain