Teaching & Learning
An Internationally-minded Curriculum: Bringing out the best in you
At Garden International School we believe that the curriculum encompasses the total learning experiences of the students, both inside and outside of the classroom. We refer here to the ‘taught curriculum’ that occurs within the classroom. The ‘wider curriculum’ refers to opportunities for learning outside of the classroom including the co-curricular activities (CCA) programme, the camps and trips programme, Sports and Arts.
The student welfare programme provides a means to incorporate the reflective thinking and support that unify all the elements of the curriculum at Garden.
Garden International School uses the National Curriculum of England and Wales (NC) as a basis for its taught curriculum. At GIS this curriculum is designed to bring out the best in international students and to provide a high quality and broad education which enables students to move to any other country fully equipped to succeed. Across the school our courses are designed to enable students to acquire important subject knowledge, understanding and skills and also to develop their GIS Learner Skills as they strive to become effective Global Citizens.
EYC 3-5 years old – Nursery & Reception
Taught Curriculum
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS)
Learning Areas:
- A Unique Child
- Playing and Exploring
- Active Learning
- Creating and Thinking Critically
- Prime
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication & Language
- Physical Development
- Specific
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
- Mandarin
- Jungle School Programme
- Outside of classroom learning in a natural
environment
- Outside of classroom learning in a natural
Wider Life
KS1 5-7 years old – Years 1-2
Taught Curriculum
National Curriculum for England GIS Enquiry Units
English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Art & Design
Specialist Teaching
Music, Physical Education (PE), World Languages: Malay, Mandarin
Wider Life
KS2 7-11 years old – Years 3-6
Taught Curriculum
National Curriculum for England GIS Enquiry Units
English, Science, Mathematics, Humanities, ICT, Art & Design
Specialist Teaching
Music, Physical Education, World Languages: Malay, Mandarin
In Years 5 and 6, French and Spanish are added to the World Languages programme, as well as the option to continue studying Malay and Mandarin
Wider Life
KS3 11-14 years old – Years 7-9
Taught Curriculum
Specialist taught subjects based on National Curriculum for England
- Core Subjects
- English, Science, Mathematics
- Compulsory Subjects
- History, Geography, Drama, Art, Music, Design Technology (DT), ICT & Enterprise, Physical, Education, World Languages: Malay, Mandarin, French, Spanish
Wider Life
KS4 14-16 years old – Years 10-11
Taught Curriculum
IGCSE (Cambridge & Edexcel)
- Core Subjects
- Mathematics or Fast Track Mathematics, English, Language, English Literature, Co-ordinated
Science, Global Awareness Project
- Mathematics or Fast Track Mathematics, English, Language, English Literature, Co-ordinated
- Option Subjects
- History, Geography, Sociology, Art, DT Resistant Materials, DT Graphics, Drama, Photography, Music, World Languages: Malay, Mandarin, French, Spanish, ICT, Computer Sciences, Business, Economics, Accounting, PE
Wider Life
KS5 16-18 years old- Years 12-13
Taught Curriculum
A Level (Cambridge & Edexcel)
- English Literature, History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology
- Mandarin, Spanish, French
- Art, Craft and Design, Art and Design: Photography, DT – Product Design, Drama and Theatre Studies, Music
- Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics
- Business, Computer Sciences, Economics
- Edexcel Extended Project or GIS Academic Enrichment Programme
GIS Diploma
As well as completing a challenging academic curriculum, our students are also encouraged to extend themselves by completing the GIS Diploma.
A GIS Diploma is awarded to students who:
- Achieve at least three good A-levels
(grade C or above) - Complete the Extended Project or Enrichment Programme
- Complete the Community Sports Leadership Award or the Expedition Leader Award for GIS Gold International Award students
Wider Life
At GIS, we believe that effective learning is where the learner is engaged and motivated to explore and investigate, develop skills, knowledge and understanding and can apply these with a sense of purpose, progress and achievement in different contexts.
We are guided by our GIS Learning Statements:
Effective learning will take place when:
- Learners understand what they are learning and why
- Skills and understanding are being developed
- Learning is engaging, challenging and motivating
- Learners feel safe, supported and valued as part of a learning-centred environment
- Learners are engaged both independently and collaboratively
- Learners know how well they are doing and how to improve
To ensure that effective learning takes place, our teachers are engaged in continuous professional development using the best practice from around the world – we push boundaries to challenge the status quo, engaging the latest technologies to transform learning.
Learning is at the heart of everything that we do; we are committed to developing our students as adaptable lifelong learners and global citizens. To enable this we design our programmes around our key GIS Learner Skills:
The Skills Ladders
Each of our skills has a five step ladder attached to it. These steps represent what we believe progression may look like in each area. The top end of the ladders are highly aspirational and we do not expect all students to reach the top step of all ladders by the time they leave the school. The ladders are not age restricted and any student can be at any point on any ladder at any given time. The school curriculum provides students with opportunities and challenges to develop these skills.
GIS Students
Garden International School students can utilise these ladders in many ways. They are a guide for personal development. By identifying and actioning ways of moving up the ladders students will become more skillful, empathetic, and well rounded people. Through the evidencing of personal progress, and considered reflection upon this process, our students will be genuinely prepared for the wider world that awaits them.
GIS Teachers
The skills ladders are a guide to aid the continued development of our learners across the length and breadth of the school. They are common goals that transcend the individual areas of the curriculum and unite us in a shared belief of what young people can, and should become. They are a tool to help teachers plan and deliver meaningful skills based learning opportunities.
GIS Parents
The skills ladders demonstrate to parents our aspirations for their children. We hope and intend for parents to read them and use them at home. The creation of opportunities to develop these skills and qualities are all around us. We believe that our parents join us in a shared responsibility for the development of these skills, and the value we place in them.
Next Steps
At GIS, we bring out the best in everyone, both inside and outside of the classroom through our unique learning culture where we pursue our passions and strive for excellence; all in the spirit of respect, integrity and well being. Speak with us today to start your learning journey with GIS.