Welcome to The University Preparatory Section (UPS)
International Curriculum
The British International School is expanding its programme to accommodate the needs of those students who complete the IGCSE courses.
BIS has opened a new section called The University Preparatory Section.
This section offers a broad range of A’ Levels including English (Literature and Language combined) Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Business Studies. Biology and Economics are proposed as subject options for September, 2013.
Furthermore, our progression routes as an alternative to IGCSE are BTEC 1st Diploma in Health and Social Care and IT Level 2. And as alternative route to A’ Levels we have BTEC Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care and IT, Level 3. Allied to this will be IGCSE Mathematics and English allowing many opportunities for the students to enter a wide range of International Higher Education Degree courses. What underpins these courses is our commitment to meeting learner’s needs by considering flexible progression routes depending on each individual’s potential,
so that everyone is enrolled at the right choice and at the right level.
For some of the BTEC courses, the curriculum is enriched with workshops, training and external work experience and of site visits. These course components broaden career aspirations, demystifying the image of academia and science.
National Curriculum
When student finish general education, most of them will continue to use English, either in grade 11&12, at college, in TVET or in the world of the work. For this reason, there is a focus on communication and through the development of learning strategies, independent learning.
Since the majority of students in grade11&12 will be aiming for higher education where English continues to be the medium of instruction, the focus of language teaching will be slightly different. Firstly, students need to have a wider range of grammatical and lexical competence to cope with future studies. Secondly, in Grade 11 and especially Grade 12, there is more focus on reading and writing to prepare students for higher education.
In Grades 11 and 12, the ICT will become more specialized, and the curriculum will be adapted to the two streams on offer in the preparatory programs. Students follow either the social science stream or the Natural Science; both streams will offer ICT.
Thirdly, the focus on longer and more academic texts is also reflected in speaking and listening activities. Discussion and debates are often around topical issues related to other academic subjects . Finally, as has already been demonstrated, there is an increasing focus on student’s independence. There is more work on learning strategies.
The main difference between these streams is that whereas some Natural Science students will study computer science/information system/information technology degrees, Social Science students do not enter such courses. Consequently, the IT needs of Social Science students and Natural Science students are different.
Social Science students will look at methods of applying their IT skills as a tool to be used as needed in the subjects they are studying.
Natural Science students will study ICT as a separate subject equal to the other subjects studied in the science stream, so that they are fully prepared to enter computing degrees if they so wish. The content of their curriculum will focus more on the technical aspects of computing. Throughout these grades, references will be made to moral, either and security issues whenever applicable.
If you have any queries,please donot hesitate to contact me at bisheadups@gmail.com or you can call me on +251116630711
Ted Asfaw
Head of UPS
