Keystage 3

The final stage we offer in your child’s education in the British section is Key Stage 3 – the first three years of Secondary Education. In some schools, this may be considered a Middle School, while others have it structured so that it is part of the next stages of development to formal examinations at 16+ and 18+.

The needs of the Key Stage 3 are different from the previous two Key Stages. Here we have adopted a form tutor pastoral system to help the children maintain their well being as they deal with increasing maturity in physical, mental and academic development. Key Stage 3 teaching continues the secure, family environment fostered by the earlier key stages whilst encouraging students to extend themselves further in all aspects of their schooling. The students are encouraged to be more independent and assume leadership roles around the school, which involve mentoring the younger students, particularly in the School’s Council. By the end of Year 9 our students are academically motivated and emotionally prepared to transfer across the educational system to the High School where they can aim for the International Baccalaureate, move to another International School or return to their home country’s educational system. In these transitions, SFS provides support during the transfer, both to students and to parents.

In this Key Stage, the curriculum programme for your children is based on the National Curriculum for England and all teaching is now by specialists. All students are taught English, Maths, Science, French (or, from August 2007, Spanish), ICT, Geography, History, Art, PE, DT, Music, RE and PSHE. The curriculum follows the QCA scheme of work but, in the case of the History and Geography may be adapted to match the skills to our host country. At the end of Year 9, the children sit their final SATs before moving onto the next stage.