King’s College Schools
A Quality British Education in an International Setting
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King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
Overview • At King’s College schools, we teach the English National Curriculum to our pupils’ from age 2-18 years old (Pre-Nursery -Year 13). This curriculum is based on first-hand discovery and exploration; it is a childcentred approach to learning • The quality of the teaching and learning in our schools is measurable; the standards of our teaching can be tracked by regular ISI Inspections, while our pupils’ learning culminates in the results that they achieve in their school examinations and of course ultimately their university destinations. Unlike many educational systems, all of our examinations are externally validated by the relevant examination body – often these are leading universities in their own right, such as the University of Cambridge
• At King’s, we take staff development very seriously, our people are our strength and it is an expectation within our schools, that our teachers are not only native British-English speakers, but that they also have a Post-Graduate qualification • In essence, a King’s College education does not just entrench academic excellence; it focuses on developing the individual child, whilst embedding the core British values of Dedication, Tolerance, Independence, Integrity, Honesty, Kindness and Open-Mindedness. King’s College pupils develop into well-rounded global citizens, ready to enter into today’s fast paced and ever-evolving society
Differences and similarities between the British, American and Spanish educational systems British vs. American The fundamentals of British and American education are broadly similar. However the private sector in the USA is very diverse which makes it difficult to make clear comparisons between the two systems.
discipline, team sports, independent thinking, creativity, individual excellence, outstanding teaching, investment in teaching resources and facilities) • The differences are more marked in the
In general:
following areas: The American system is not guided by a ‘national curriculum’ of core
• Both systems are child-centred and focused on
competencies
individual children as opposed to concentrating on whole class learning. Both systems tend to emphasise understanding and critical thinking
• The ages at which children start to specialise: Children in the British system start to select
above the acquisition of facts
subjects at 14-15 years old when they choose which GCSEs they will take. More specialism
• They both start with play-based learning in Nursery/Kindergarten, followed by cross-
is introduced at AS level (four subjects) and
curricular topic based learning in Primary/
still more at A Level (three subjects). The USA
Elementary school, with subjects being slowly
system tends to be broader (similar to the IB)
introduced as the children get older
for longer. Pupils are expected to study Maths and English all the way through to the end of High School
• The use of text books is varied and they are used to support learning rather than being the
sole source of learning • Teachers are normally university graduates and usually expected to have a post-graduate qualification in teaching
Pupils playing violin at King’s College, The British School of Madrid King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
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• Many of the cultural expectations of private schools in the USA have been adopted from classic British independent schools (uniform, 3
King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
• Many bright High School pupils in the USA
the understanding that they will work toward
take Advanced Placement (AP) courses at their
gaining those credits through alternative
high schools, after which they may take AP
means. There are many alternative schemes
exams. Depending on their performance and
(varying from state to state), which compare in
the policies of their chosen university, they can
ethos to the UK Teach First programme
get ‘college credit’ which could exempt them for up to a year of university. A Levels are often
• Holidays: three month long summer holidays
considered as the equivalent of AP exams by
are quite normal in the USA. However half-term
American universities, which allows A Level
breaks are not common, Christmas and Spring
students to skip the first year of university,
Break holidays tend to be shorter than in the
which could save them tens of thousands of
UK. There is no real equivalent of bank holidays
Dollars
in the USA
• Teachers in the USA have much more freedom to design their own curriculum • All reputable British schools are inspected on a regular basis by independent inspectors. In the USA, accreditation is more varied and flexible and tends to be optional, market forces • Most US universities require pupils to have
determine how successful schools are
• In addition, pupils will be expected to have
taken SATs or ACT exams as well as providing
participated in a wide range of extra-curricular
proof of a solid high school course load, which
activities, which could include Sports, Drama,
should normally include:
Music and Community Work
• All US states require teachers to have a Bachelor’s degree, a criminal background check, and some course in pedagogical
»» 4 years of English »» 4 years of Maths (Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry and Calculus) »» 2 years of lab based science (Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics)
methods. Many states require some level of
• SATs and ACTs are multiple choice exams with an optional essay section and are not
student teacher experience. The same is true
considered as rigorous as British GCSE, AS or A
for most private schools in the USA, although
Level exams
many private schools will hire teachers without the traditional teacher training, on
»» 2 years of a foreign language »» 2 years of History (at least a year and a half of American History)
• The pre-university exam system in the USA (SATs) only tests Critical Reading, Mathematics, and Writing. Some Science SATs are also offered. While A Levels are offered in about 70 different subjects
King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
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King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
British vs. Spanish
Educational Systems Comparison
There are fewer similarities between British and Spanish education than in the American example above.These differences can stem from who sponsors the school in question, as schools in Spain usually fall into one of three categories: state schools (colegios públicos), privately run schools funded by the state (colegios concertados), and purely private schools (colegios privados). Because of this, the number
• Spanish schools will typically prescribe the use of textbooks and learning materials and pupils
of pupils educated in private institutions is
are often expected to follow a ‘scheme of work’
markedly higher in Spain: 32% of all children
until its conclusion (often many years within a
(Ministry of Edcuation, 2009).
school phase)
In general: • Both systems operate around a ‘core’ national curriculum, although the emphasis of content and language of instruction can be significantly altered by the autonomous or regional governments in Spain • Teachers are normally university graduates and usually expected to have a post-graduate qualification in teaching •
At Primary level, both systems tend to emphasise play-based learning
The differences are more marked in the following areas:
• The Primary phase is one year longer and Secondary phase one year shorter than the British system • The Spanish Baccalaureate prescribes ‘routes of study’ where students are expected to choose one and it is difficult to combine subjects from each: »» Arts: The Arts discipline is divided into two concentrations: Art, Image and Design; or Performing Arts, Music and Dance »» Science and Technology: Maths, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Technical Drawing, etc. »» Humanities and Social Sciences: Applied Maths, Economics, Latin, Greek,
• The Spanish system values the acquisition of knowledge and understanding higher than the
Contemporary History, Geography, Art History, Business, Economics, etc.
ability to critically analyse or evaluate it
King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
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King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
Our Vision is to be at the forefront of British education internationally United Kingdom – Spain – Panama
King’s College Paseo de los Andes, 35 Soto de Viñuelas Madrid 28760 Spain
King’s College Alicante Glorieta del Reino Unido 5 El Palmeral-Urbanova-Tabarca Alicante 03008 Spain
King’s College Panama Edificio 518 Calle al Hospital Clayton Panama Republic of Panama
King’s College School Paseo de Alcobendas, 5 La Moraleja Madrid 28109 Spain
King’s College Murcia Calle Pez Volador s/n Urb. La Torre Golf Resort Roldán, Murcia 30709 Spain
King’s College Saint Michaels Oldwood Road Tenbury Wells Worcestershire WR15 8PH United Kingdom
King’s Infant School Prieto Ureña 9 – 11 Chamartín Madrid 28016 Spain
www.kingscollegeschools.org King’s College Schools: A Quality British Education in an International setting
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