British International School of Casablanca

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Key Stage 4 Overview

GCSEs are used to assess whether a student is suitable for Tertiary education. Universities and higher education providers will look at a combination of a students’ GCSE and A Level results before deciding if they have the academic ability to succeed on one of their courses. Therefore, having a broad and balanced range of differing subjects will help to facilitate your child’s progress to the best global universities.

Options

K43 students are given the opportunity to study a wide range of differing subjects. However, in line with National and International requirements there are several compulsory subjects which they must undertake, including:

English 1st or 2nd Language

Mathematics
Science
French
Arabic for Moroccan nationals
*In addition, all students must attend PHSCE and PE lessons in both Year’s 10 and Year 11

Subjects taught

The British curriculum is noted for its breadth of study, often teaching subjects which are not normally covered in other countries. As such, all students (regardless of their ability) will have the opportunity to study subjects from the following areas of the curriculum :

STEM

Science, Technology and Mathematics

Modern Foreign Languages

English, French, Arabic and Spanish

Creative Arts

Art and Physical Education

Humanities

Geography, History, Global Perspectives, Business Studies and Travel & Tourism 

Current subjects on offer at BISC include *English Language, English Literature, *Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, *Combined Science, History, Geography, Environmental Science, Business Studies, Travel and Tourism, Academic PE, Art, *French, *Arabic, Spanish.
*Indicates subjects which are mandatory for most students.

Guided Teaching Hours

Our timetable is composed of 30 lessons which is split along the following lines:

 

  • English  : 5 lessons per week.
  • Mathematics : 5 lessons per week.
  • Science subjects : 2 to 3 lessons per week.
  • All other subjects :2 to 3 lessons per week.

 

Lessons are 55 minutes long and are streamed for the Core Subjects – English, Mathematics, Science and Modern Foreign Languages.

On average a BISC student will undertake 1,100 hours of guided tuition over the academic year – this is compared to 950 hours in the UK. This means we can provide a greater focus in the following areas:

Subject GCSE requirement BISC Actual Difference
English Language 120 guided hours 185 guided hours + 45 hours
Mathematics 120 guided hours 185 guided hours + 45 hours
Science subjects 120 guided hours
(per subject)		 148 guided hours
(per subject)		 + 28 hours
Humanities subjects 120 guided hours
(per subject)		 148 guided hours
(per subject)		 + 28 hours
Languages subjects 120 guided hours
(per subject)		 148 hours
(per subject)		 + 28 hours

For more details on the curriculum content for the core subject areas please go to

the curriculum content

Assessment opportunities

All students sit formal internal assessments in their chosen subjects (excluding PHSCE and PE) every 5 to 6 weeks during the academic year, the results of which are then published in their ½ termly report.

In addition to this, Year 11 students will also sit their final mock-assessments in the first month of Term 2 to assess their suitability to undertake the final examination in Term 3.

Finally, Year 10 students will sit their end-of-year examinations at the end of Term 3. These assessments will encompass all the different topics taught throughout the year and so provide us with the necessary information on
the progression of your child.

*Parents are encouraged to ask for their child’s assessments so that they can have a better understanding of what
they have been taught in the classroom.

Teachers

All Secondary Teachers are UK trained subject specialists. This means they will hold a first degree in their subject specialism, plus a Post Graduate Certificate in Education & Qualified Teacher Status.

*This does not include our French or Arabic teachers who are Moroccan nationals.

Teachers Profiles