Why Exams Aren’t The Whole Story

The Well-Rounded Curriculum The breadth of curriculum should also be taken into consideration when viewing exam results. Some students naturally excel academically and require measurement above the standard exam format, while others already know their career path and want to bypass any superfluous exams - to get ‘stuck in’ to what they really want. The International Certificate of Education (ICE) acknowledges a student’s depth and breadth of understanding by recognising the achievements of those who pass examinations in at least seven Cambridge IGCSE subjects from five different subject groups, including two different languages. Principal at Raffles World Academy, Julian Williams says, “the majority of our students receive the International Certificate in Education (ICE) awards which acknowledges both depth and breadth. Of the 79 students who qualified for ICE this year, 30 percent achieved distinctions, the second highest in the school’s history.” At Dubai College the curriculum is designed in much the same way as the ICE, although broader in the sense students sit all three sciences. While the Dubai British School doesn’t offer ICE, the school does offer varied subject options in both GCSE and A-Level including, “a rich Modern Foreign Language programme and enjoys strong student uptake in subjects like Music, Performing Arts and PE. Some of our most popular A-Level subjects include Sociology, Politics and Psychology, so there is a subject package to suit the individual needs of all of our students,” says principal Mark Ford. Greenfield Community School offers a unique option for students who plan to follow a career which does not require a conventional degree. The Career Programme designed with those planning a career in: travel and tourism, aviation, marketing, IT, business or agriculture, etc. allows students to follow a core curriculum in addition to career related subjects. “Nearly all of our Career Programme graduates have gone on to tertiary studies that are more career focused. Others have entered the world of work and are building their careers,” says principal Andrew Wood. Next: Extracurricular Activities