Curriculum
At the British School of Chicago it is our goal to provide all of our children with the best possible education delivered by motivated, inspirational British teachers who have specially trained for this purpose. BSC follows the British system of education and has an individualised approach and programme. Although we have a general expectation of what a child will achieve in a year, each child works to achieve his or her maximum potential. This means that children who are able can work at a higher grade level than their chronological age.
Instead of pre-school, kindergarten and grades 1 through 8, the British School has Nursery for children ages 3-4, Reception for ages 4-5, and three primary level Key Stages of classes: Primary Key Stage 1 for children 5-7 ( Year 1 and 2 in school ); Primary Key Stage 2 for children 7-11 ( Years 3 through 6 in school); and Middle Key Stage 3 for children 11-14 (Years 7 through 9 in school).
Students age 15-16 advance to Key Stage 4 and the equivalent of an American High School education, and we are an International Baccalaurate Organization application school and if successfully accredited in 2009, we would introduce the IB Diploma program for our 16 to 18 year olds.
Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum (England), which sets out the most important knowledge and skills that every child has a right to learn. The National Curriculum is a framework given by the government of England so that all children are taught in a way that is balanced and manageable but difficult enough to challenge them. The curriculum sets standards that measure how well children are doing in each subject so teachers can help them do better.
The complete National Curriculum (England) can be accessed at www.nc.uk.net
BSC students take National Curriculum tests at ages 7,11 and 14 and the General Certificate of Secondary Education exams at 16. The GCSE examinations, if passed, earn the students the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma. At the completion of their education at BSC if the school has successfully been accredited by the International Baccaluareate Organization, students will have the opportunity of gaining the IB Diploma Qualification which is valued by the most prestigious colleges and universities in the U.S. and internationally.
Our curriculum reflects the locality of the school in Chicago and incorporates areas of study essential to American students. We also provide instruction in American civics, including the U.S. Constitution and government structure, and prepare students to take the SATs and ACTs.
Our passion for learning is reflected in our curriculum and in the assessments for learning that take place throughout the year.