Our International Secondary School Curriculum

Complete the IGCSE through a 3-year pathway
Secondary

“Logic will get you from A - Z. Imagination will get you everywhere.”
- Albert Einsten, Theoretical Physicist

What to Expect in the EtonHouse Secondary School Curriculum (13 - 16 years)

The transition from Primary to Secondary School can be overwhelming. Previously, each class of students stay in one room, and have one teacher who is mainly responsible for them. In Secondary School, students move between classes and have different teachers for different subjects. That in itself requires a massive shift in terms of organisation and getting used to a new learning style. Throw in the fact that puberty can be a tumultuous phase as well and understandably, it will take time and patience for you and your child to adjust to all these changes.
Play

A Two-Year Pathway to Completing the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)

This is why at EtonHouse International School, the internationally recognised and respected Cambridge IGCSE Programme (equivalent to the Cambridge O Levels in Singapore) is undertaken from Year 10 to 11. It gives students the time needed to adjust to Secondary School, and engage with subjects in greater depth and breadth.

In fact, we put our students on the path to exam success from the get-go. While many secondary schools do not provide examinations in Years 7, 8 and 9, we hold twice-yearly exam assessments and Study Skills sessions to help our students learn examination techniques and enhance their understanding of what examiners look for. As they advance through the years in Secondary School, they become confident to take on the IGCSE, which is the world’s most popular international qualification for 15- to 16-year olds.

Your child will be offered IGCSE studies in the following subjects:

  • Art
  • Combined Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
  • Design and Technology
  • English (Literacy and Language)
  • Geography
  • History
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Mathematics
  • Music
  • Outdoor and Physical Education
  • Personal and Social Education
  • Asian or European second language programmes

Read our blog Is IGCSE right for my child?

Play

Why you should enrol your child in an EtonHouse Secondary School

This research-based pedagogy is the driving force behind our excellent pathway from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme to the robust IGCSE Programme and finally, the IB Diploma.

But there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach here. Here is how our Secondary programme empowers and engages students.

A personalised approach to learning

Instead of the traditional top-down approach where the teacher is the authority, our students help to shape the curriculum and empower them to select project work that interests them within a structured framework.

This creates highly engaged learners who steer inspired project work. For example, one student took an unusual approach to the theme of ‘War’ by researching how some animals have unexpectedly thrived under war conditions.

We do this because it is important our students are able to transfer theoretical knowledge to practice. That is why it is not unusual for a lesson on the laws of motion to take place on a rollercoaster ride at Resorts World Sentosa.

Small class sizes

In an age when secondary schools have become vast institutions, it is understandable that parents worry that the environment is less nurturing than primary school, and their child will get lost in the midst.

This is not the case in EtonHouse. The strong pastoral care within the small and boutique nature of the campus ensures that every teacher knows every student. Our much richer teacher to student ratio means deep relationships between teacher and student develop faster than they would in a larger school, and students get the personal attention they need to excel.

Central location

Located in the heart of the city opposite St. Regis Hotel, EtonHouse International School Orchard is a modern facility and the only international school on Orchard Road, hence close to residential areas that you may choose for yourself. The convenient location means less travelling time, and more time for learning and growing.

Interdisciplinary approach to education

We are committed to a fluid approach to education. In other words, learning objectives in one subject should flow into others to allow students to develop an integrated understanding that is relevant to the demands of the 22nd century. Our boutique Secondary School environment makes it feasible for us to coordinate experiences that emphasise the interconnectedness across subjects. For example, map skills picked up in Geography class might flow into learning about coordinates in Mathematics. Our students also gain crucial life skills through activities such as kayaking, rock climbing and self-defence.

SMART Programme

Our 22nd-century education is designed to nurture resilient, capable and confident problem solvers, and one key aspect of our Secondary School curriculum is the project-based SMART programme that focuses on Science Mathematics, Art, Research and Technology.

In the SMART programme, students will have access to programmes around entrepreneurship, design thinking, sports science and action-adventure, and a robust music, drama and visual arts programme. Ultimately, the whole point is for students to build projects around topics they are passionate about. They will investigate, research, learn from their mistakes and come up with practical solutions to problems under the guidance of their teachers.

Strong English as an Additional Language (EAL) Programme for non-native speakers

Our EAL programme is designed to help our students with a basic grasp of English to improve their abilities in listening, speaking, reading and writing — the four macro skills that are needed for successful participation in mainstream programmes. It is conducted as part of the normal curriculum with peers of the same year so the environment is comfortable and conducive for learning.

We also offer an Intensive EAL programme that provides further specialised support for students with limited or no English background. With a focus on building a strong foundation, classes centre around activities that help to boost the student’s language skills with an emphasis on vocabulary and proficiency in spoken English.

Both EAL programmes are designed to integrate students back into mainstream language classes.

Well-rounded specialist programmes
EtonHouse might have a culture of academic rigour but it also emphasises a well-rounded education. In Secondary School, students are exposed to a diverse range of programmes that include sports, visual arts, music and performing arts and ICT, that covers 3D design, robotics and programming.
Play
Play
Previous
Next

What’s On Spotlight

category

Title

location
  1/1
Tour Our School

Read Our Parenting Blog

Search