High School

What does the ISCT High School offer that makes it so unique?

1.    Flexibility

The education system followed by this school allows a student to continue their studies to the point that is most suitable to them.

2.    Portability

Essentially the same curriculum is being followed by 100s of International schools found in almost all the major cities around the world – and all the schools in the UK. This means that if you were to emigrate and/or go on contract to another country your child’s schooling would be minimally affected.

3.    Internationally recognisability

Because the exams our students write are set and marked by such a reputable organisation as the Univ of Cambridge, the qualifications they obtain are accepted without question anywhere in the world as being indicative of their abilities. They are the ‘gold standard’

4.    Local and international applicability

The academic qualifications obtained in this school will allow a student to get into any SA university AND, indeed, any around the world. It keeps the options open if anything unexpected happens in your family’s life or in this country.

5.    Stability

The government of SA is currently involved in pushing through radical changes to the education system that high school students in SA will follow. It is unclear exactly what form these will take and what standing they will have in the world’s eyes. This contrasts with the stability offered by the IGCSE and A Level courses that have been around for decades and are expected to continue for a long time to come.

6.    Multi-national, multi-cultural classrooms

The high school currently has students from 20 different nationalities and staff with experience of teaching in about 6 countries which provides for a very stimulating, eye opening, boundary spreading experience for your children.

Key Stage Three

What is Key Stage 3?

While every age is special and challenging in its own way, the Key Stage 3 age range (11-14 years) involves a fresh start in a new school. The students are once again the youngest, but at the same time are taking a step towards adulthood.

At Key Stage 3 the role of the school is to:

  • prepare students for the adult world
  • give them the skills and knowledge they need for lifelong learning
  • introduce them to a wide range of subjects and studies
  • make them more independent and self-aware
  • show them how to think and learn for themselves
  • give them confidence to join in, ask questions, help others
  • lay the foundations for success at IGCSE and beyond

What do we teach at Key Stage 3?

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Design and Technology
  • Geography
  • History
  • Modern Foreign Languages
  • Economic Management Science
  • Music
  • Art
  • Drama
  • Physical Education
  • ICT
  • PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)

What is so special about Key Stage 3 at ISCT?

Key Stage 3 is a period of schooling which is often neglected, as secondary school teachers find themselves caught up with preparing senior students for external examinations and prioritising accordingly. In order to provide our Key Stage 3 students with schooling that is academically relevant, exciting and inspiring, we have in the past few years been developing a programme which will establish a clear Key Stage 3 IDENTITY and address more of our students’ needs.

The Key Stage 3 programme of activities:

  • Series of workshops for Form 1 (Time management, Organisation, Reading and Listening Skills)
  • End of term social
  • Medieval Banquet
  • Science/History/Arts Week (a three-year programme)
  • Book Week
  • Camp (Educational and Teambuilding)
  • Market Day
  • Year 6 / Form 1-2 Braai
  • Variety of outings related to the curriculum, such as Robben Island, Elgin Apple Farm, Coca-cola Factory, Table mountain excursion
  • Outings are designed to ‘get out of the classroom’ eg Silvermine Hike

Key Stage 3 participates in the following events with the rest of the school:

  • Athletics Day and Swimming Gala
  • Interhouse General Knowledge Quiz
  • School Play
  • Interhouse Shakespeare competition
  • Interhouse Public Speaking
  • Interhouse Winter Sports, Basketball and Cross-country
  • Interhouse Charades competition
  • Theatresports outings

In the classroom itself, our aims at Key Stage 3 are to ensure that all students:

  • get off to a flying start
  • experience exciting and interesting lessons
  • are actively involved in the lesson
  • become more able to do things for themselves
  • achieve progressively higher standards
  • receive support if they are not reaching the required levels of achievement
  • are extended if they progress faster than their peers
  • and their families are informed and involved by the school

What can parents do to support their child in Key Stage 3?

Although this needs to be a time of increasing independence for young people, many of the ways in which parents helped their child in primary school still apply. Simple things like showing an interest and offering encouragement can give your children the confidence to try out new skills and ideas and learn from mistakes without feeling discouraged.

  • show an interest in what your child is learning
  • talk about the school day
  • help your child to use the term planner and school diary
  • attend parents’ meetings
  • discuss homework tasks
  • help the child to organize their time and paperwork (filing)
  • make sure they attend regularly
  • provide them with a quiet, well-lit place to study
  • be generous with praise when they achieve well