NAC Egypt - American School In Egypt

The I.G.C.S.E. (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is an internationally recognized British system, designed to encourage high academic standards through a practical approach to teaching and learning. It is equivalent in standard to the Egyptian Thanaweya Aama. The I.G.C.S.E. is accepted as a university entrance qualification by the Egyptian universities, the American University in Cairo, the German University, the British University, the private universities and most universities abroad. School years.

Our intention in Key Stage One is to provide a secure and happy environment where all of our pupils’ needs, emotional, social and academic, are catered for. Pupils in Key Stage One (Years 1 and 2) follow an International Program, designed to deliver the core subjects to pupils for whom English is a second language. In addition to Literacy, Numeracy and Science the pupils follow courses in ICT, Egyptian Studies, French, Arabic, Religion, PE, Swimming, Art, and Library.

Our aim in Key Stage Two (years 3,4,5 and 6) is to build upon the success of Key Stage One and to provide our pupils with a breadth of experience to enable them to become truly independent learners in a challenging environment, whilst continuing to meet their wider social, emotional and academic needs. Pupils in Years 3, 4 and 5 continue the International Program. And the end of year 5, students should decide whether they should join the British or the American program in year 6. If they choose the British system they follow the Cambridge International primary program and they have to sit for Cambridge year 6 Achievement tests in English, Mathematics and Science at the end of year 6.

The curriculum in Key Stage two includes the subjects for Key Stage One with the addition of Social Studies from Year 4

The table below describes the most common patterns for schooling in the state sector in England. In most cases progression from one year group to another is based purely on chronological age, although it is possible in some circumstances for a student to repeat or skip a year.

Age on 31 Aug	Year	Curriculum stage	Schools
3	Nursery	Foundation Stage	Nursery school
4	Reception		Infant school	Primary school	First school
5	Year 1	Key Stage 1
6	Year 2
7	Year 3	Key Stage 2	Junior school
8	Year 4
9	Year 5				Middle school
10	Year 6
11	Year 7	Key Stage 3	Secondary school	Secondary school with sixth form
12	Year 8
13	Year 9				Upper school or High school
14	Year 10	Key Stage 4 /GCSE
15	Year 11
16	Year 12	Sixth form /A level	College/Sixth form college
17	Year 13

State-funded nursery education is available from the age of 3, and may be full-time or part-time. If registered with a state school attendance is compulsory beginning with the term following the child's fifth birthday. Children can be enrolled in the reception year in August of that school year thus beginning school at age 3.5 or 4. Unless the student chooses to stay within the education system school attendance ends on the last Friday in June during the academic year in which a student attains the age of 16.

•Cambridge Checkpoint is a set of tests in English, Mathematics and Science aiming to help students learn. Checkpoint is not a formal qualification with a certificate, although a Statement of Achievement is produced. It is a way in which CIE can help students make the most of their educational opportunities. They are targeting students who are planning to pursue the I.G.C.S.E. system. The checkpoint Curriculum is taught over two years, year 7 & year 8. The School timetable for both year 7 & year 8’s students is include French, I.T, Art, Etiquette, as well as Physical Education lessons together with the three core subjects. Students are also required to study the Ministry of Education curriculum, and pass the Ministry exams, for Arabic Language, Religion and Social Studies.

Are valued and accepted throughout the world for their high standards of assessment

Are delivered worldwide through a network of schools, colleges and training providers

Were created with an international audience in mind so that they are suitable for students of all cultural and language backgrounds

Provide teachers with detailed information about the strengths and weaknesses of their pupils in order to focus their teaching.

The books students are using in the Checkpoint are all recommended by Cambridge University. The books are all of interest to the students, appropriate to their ability and they support the teachers’ teaching process.

Students are required to attend their classes on regular basis during the academic year. Although no coursework is required from the students, they are assessed by their teachers through monthly tests and weekly quizzes throughout the academic year. A report is sent to the parents monthly containing the grades of the monthly exams as well as any comment from the teachers concerning either the academic performance or the behavior of the students.

As for the end of year assessments, at the end of year 7, students have to pass School internal assessments in all the subjects they are studying. At the end of year 8, checkpoint assessments are provided by University of Cambridge International Examinations for the three core subjects (English, Mathematics and Science), while School internal assessments are provided for the other subjects.

Checkpoint tests have two papers for each subject. In the case of Science, the two papers are equal in terms of demand on students. In English, paper 1 contains lower level questions than paper 2. In Mathematics, papers are divided into calculator and non-calculator.

Students receive a statement of achievement from the School after year 7 and from Cambridge after they take the checkpoint tests in year 8. Cambridge also issues a report for every candidate at the end of year 8.

Each student will receive a Statement of achievement and a report that provides more details about his or her performance.

One possible model for the delivery of this curriculum assumes a 5 day week ,consisting of40x90 minute periods(8 per day).One period per week could be given over to clubs/activities ,similar to those currently offered in the American Section ,leaving 39 teaching periods.

•In June 2007, the Ministry of Education gave approval for the adoption and use in Egypt of a Grade 9 Transition Scheme (also called Pre-IGCSE) which is an optional study and assessment Scheme, available at year 9, equivalent to the final year (Edadeya) of the Preparatory Stage of the Egyptian National System.

Year 9 exams are offered by Cambridge International Examinations under the administration of the British Council in Cairo. They cover English as a Second Language, Mathematics and the three Science subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) at the ‘Core’ level. The Academic levels of the subjects are equivalent to the Egyptian national system. However, the way the contents of the subjects are delivered and the style of the exams differs. Students are also required to study the Ministry of Education curriculum, and pass the Ministry exams, for Arabic Language, Religion and Social Studies. Students are required to attend their classes on regular basis during the academic year. Although no coursework is required from the students, they are assessed by their teachers through monthly tests and weekly quizzes throughout the academic year. A report is sent to the parents monthly containing the grades of the monthly exams as well as any comment from the teachers concerning either the academic performance or the behavior of the students.

In order to be promoted to year 10, students should pass in the five I.G.C.S.E. Core subjects they study. Passing grades are C – G, where Grade C is the highest grade equivalent to 100% and Grade G is the lowest pass grade, equivalent to 50% in the Egyptian national system. Passing students can continue in the I.G.C.S.E. System or they can transfer back into the national system or grade 10 of any other system, if they wish

All I.G.C.S.E. students have to study four I.G.C.S.E main subjects in year 10. Those subjects are Biology , Mathematics, Chemistry and English as a Second Language.

A fifth I.G.C.S.E. Subjects may be chosen (this is optional). For example, students coming from French preparatory schools do very well when take the French subject as a fifth subject in their first year.

Also, students in year 10 will have to study and pass the Arabic Language, Religion and Social Studies of the first Secondary (the Egyptian Curriculum).

In years 11 & 12, students choose the subject they wish to study according to their preferences and to the requirements of the faculty they would like to join later.

As mentioned in the previous section, they will also have to pass the Arabic language, Religion and crisis of the Egyptian second and third Secondary.

A levels are studied typically between the ages of 16-18 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, although mature students are encouraged.