School Curricula Guides

GCSE

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academically rigorous, internationally recognised qualification, generally taken in a number of subjects by pupils in secondary education in the United Kingdom
GCSE
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
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The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) is an academically rigorous, internationally recognised qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by pupils in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland over two years (three years in certain schools).

The GCSE and its international counterpart the IGCSE form the basis of entry requirements into post 16, '6th form' study - to A' Level or IB Diploma studies.

Recently the GCSE exam has been in a period of flux with some quite radical changes, notably a move from a "modular approach" to a "linear one". In a modular approach a course is split into different units, or modules, with an exam at the end of each unit. In the new linear system, exams are taken at the end of a two year period - much like the older O' Level exams.

In the exams there are fewer ‘bite-sized’ questions and more essay-style questions.

There are fewer course options in the new Science GCSEs: Most students will either take the new Combined Science course (worth two GCSEs) or three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Finally coursework and controlled assessment will disappear from most subjects, apart from practical ones such as art, dance and drama.

All new GCSEs in English language, English literature and maths, were launched in September 2015, with the first qualifications due to be awarded in August 2017. These subjects will be graded between 1-9, with 9 being the highest grade awarded.

It is hoped that this new grading will introduce greater differentiation between high performing students and will also mark out the new GCSEs from their older counterparts.

Schools in a country can do both GCSEs and its international counterpart, the IGCSE.

In many countries outside the UK, IGCSE is used predominantly for languages and humanities.

However curriculum changes are making some schools - in both the UK and elsewhere - reconsider the international qualification.

In the UK that is because IGCSEs will no longer be considered or accepted for school league tables.

Internationally some schools, notably those with a large UK student population, have expressed concerns about the ability to transfer back to the UK given the increasing divergence between the two qualifications. 

 

 

72 UAE Schools offering GCSE

School name Community City
ABC Private School Al Shamkha Abu Dhabi
Ajman Academy Muwaihat Ajman
Al Ain British Academy Al Sarooj Al Ain
Al Amana Private School Al Ramla Sharjah
Al Basma British School Old Al Bahya Abu Dhabi
Al Maarifa Private School Al Qusais Dubai
Al Nahda National School for Boys Al Mushrif Abu Dhabi
Al Najah Private School Mohammed Bin Zayed City Abu Dhabi
Arcadia School Jumeirah Village Triangle Dubai
Aspen Heights British School Al Bahya Abu Dhabi
Bateen World Academy Al Manaseer Abu Dhabi
Brighton College Abu Dhabi Bloom Gardens & Khalifa City Abu Dhabi
Brighton College Al Ain Gafat Al Nayyar Al Ain
Brighton College Dubai Al Barsha South Dubai
British International School Abu Dhabi Shakhbout City Abu Dhabi
British School Al Khubairat, Abu Dhabi Al Khubairat Abu Dhabi
Capital School Al Nahda Dubai
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island Abu Dhabi
Deira International School Festival City Dubai
Diyafah International School MBZ Mohammed Bin Zayed City Abu Dhabi
Dove Green Private School Dubai Investments Park Dubai
Dubai British School Emirates Hills Emirates Hills Dubai
Dubai British School Jumeira Al Safa Dubai
Dubai British School Jumeirah Park Jumeirah Park Dubai
Dubai British School Mira Mira Dubai
Dubai College Al Sufouh Dubai
Dubai English Speaking College Dubai Academic City Dubai
Dubai Gem Nursery Al Hudaiba Dubai
Dubai Heights Academy Al Barsha Dubai
Dubai Scholars Private School Al Qusais Dubai
English Language Private School Oud Metha Dubai
Fujairah Private Academy Fujairah Fujairah
GEMS Al Barsha National School Al Barsha Dubai
GEMS Cambridge International Private School Sharjah Muweilah Sharjah
GEMS Cambridge International School Abu Dhabi Baniyas East Abu Dhabi
GEMS FirstPoint School The Villa Dubai
GEMS Founders School Dubai Al Barsha South Dubai
GEMS Metropole School Al Waha Al Waha Dubai
GEMS Metropole School Motor City Motor City Dubai
GEMS Wellington Academy Al Khail Dubai Hills Estate Dubai
GEMS Wellington Academy, Dubai Silicon Oasis Dubai Silicon Oasis Dubai
GEMS Wellington International School, Dubai Al Sufouh Dubai
GEMS Westminster School Ras Al Khaimah Seih Al Uraibi Ras al-Khaimah
Horizon International School Umm Sheif Dubai
Jebel Ali School Damac Hills (Akoya) Dubai
Jumeirah College Al Safa Dubai
Jumeirah English Speaking School Arabian Ranches Arabian Ranches Dubai
Kent College Dubai Nad al Sheba Dubai
Kings' School Al Barsha Al Barsha Dubai
Kings' School Nad Al Sheba Nad al Sheba Dubai
Mamoura British Academy Abu Dhabi Al Nahyan Abu Dhabi
Minerva's Virtual Academy Dubai Academic City Dubai
Nord Anglia International School Dubai Al Barsha Dubai
Pristine Private School Al Nahda Dubai
Providence English Private School Muweilah Sharjah
RAK Academy Dafan Al Khor Ras al-Khaimah
Regent International School The Greens Dubai
Repton (Fry Campus), Junior & Senior School, Abu Dhabi Al Reem Island Abu Dhabi
Repton School Al Barsha Al Barsha South Dubai
Rosary School, Muweilah, Sharjah Muweilah Sharjah
Royal Grammar School Guildford in Dubai Tilal Al Ghaf Dubai
Safa British School Al Safa Dubai
Sharjah English School University City Sharjah
South View School Remraam Dubai
St. Mary's Catholic High School Oud Metha Dubai
Star International School Al Qusais Al Qusais Dubai
Sunmarke School Jumeirah Village Triangle Dubai
The Aquila School The Villa Dubai
The Arbor School Al Furjan Dubai
The English College Dubai Umm Suqeim Dubai
The Winchester School Jebel Ali Dubai
Yasmina British Academy Al Raha Gardens Abu Dhabi

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