(I)GCSE overview
Dover Campus
Students joining the College in Grade 9 will learn through the two-year (I)GCSE programme which encompasses an exciting mixture of prescribed and free choice subjects that are challenging and varied. The holistic nature of the UWCSEA learning programme ensures that students are extremely well prepared for the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). The GCSE is the British national examination for students at age 16. In many subjects, an equivalent qualification, the International GCSE or (I)GCSE is offered as it is more appropriate in the international context in which our students are learning. The breadth of study is a key factor in the (I)GCSE, designed to help students make informed choices as they move into the final two years of schooling. The course has external examinations, and although examinations can be somewhat daunting, our programme offers the necessary support and preparation to ensure success at the end of Grade 10 and in the next stage of schooling. Of equal value is the onus on learning beyond the classroom. Students are offered a vast array of activities that allow for physical, aesthetic and emotional maturity. Our programme entails a balance of academics, access to a myriad of activities, a compulsory outdoor education expedition and a Service programme that provides opportunity for self development and reflection through service to others. We also have a supportive Personal and Social Education programme. Students who value themselves and others and who are willing to commit to the ideals of the UWC movement will gain enormously from our High School learning programme.
Academics Most UWCSEA students take nine (I)GCSE subjects. A balanced curriculum is made up as follows: English Language (first or second language) English Literature (only for English first language students) One other language chosen from: • advanced (first) languages – for native speakers: Chinese, Dutch, German, Japanese and Korean • continuation (foreign) languages – a taught foreign language: Mandarin, French and Spanish At least one humanity selected from Business Studies, Economics, Geography, UWCSEA Global Perspectives or History Science – Coordinated or Combined Mathematics One creative or practical subject from: • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) • Sport • Music • Drama • Art and Design: Fine Art • Art and Design: Photography • Design and Technology: Resistant Materials Technology Physical Education (not part of the Sport subject above) Assessment patterns differ slightly from subject to subject, however many courses also include a coursework, practical or oral component. This means the final grade is based on both work done during the two-year course and on results of the final examinations at the end of Grade 10. Students are expected to be actively contributing to all aspects of the UWCSEA learning
programme for acceptance into the IBDP. Suitable academic attainment and effort profiles must also be maintained, as with all Grade 10 students, in order to be successful in the IB Diploma.
Activities A wide range of activities in the arts, sports and service is offered each week in four ‘activity seasons’ throughout the year, providing our students with many opportunities to develop new skills and explore their passions. All students are expected to participate in activities, usually about three to four hours per week during lunchtime or after school. The strong sports programme includes representative opportunities in swimming, softball, sailing, rugby (boys), badminton, basketball, netball (girls), volleyball, hockey, gymnastics, golf, cross country, tennis, climbing and touch football. A number of other sports, such as fencing and ultimate frisbee, are offered on a recreational basis. Many other activities are designed to appeal to students with artistic talents and interests, including music ensembles (brass ensemble, percussion ensemble, jazz, choir) and lessons, drama and dance (both on and off stage) as well as special interests such as audio engineering, lion dance, creative writing and journalism, short filmmaking, debating and more. There are also opportunities to participate in activities such as Model United Nations conferences (in Singapore and overseas), the National Youth Achievement Award (also known as Duke of Edinburgh Award) and Round Square through committees, conferences and exchange programmes.
Outdoor education In Grade 9, students must undertake one of the expeditions offered by the Grade 9 adventure programme, which take place during school holidays throughout the year. Though they may discover that they are being taken out of their ‘comfort zone,’ students get great enjoyment and satisfaction from their chosen expedition. Many are often surprised to find that they possess the determination, adaptability and sense of teamwork to rise to the challenges presented. The Grade 9 adventure programme has in the past offered a wide variety of nearly 20 choices: • diving in Lombok • Everest – base camp or service expedition • mountain biking in Thailand • tall ship sailing – Australia or Malaysia • climbing – Mount Kinabalu or in China • trekking – Ladakh, India or Hong Kong • sea kayaking in Malaysia • adventure tours – Langkawi, Japan, Korea, Annapurna (Nepal) or Wales Every student is expected to participate on at least one trip; if places are available, they can select a second trip.
Optional involvement A number of fully-supervised optional trips that support various parts of the curriculum are offered during the school holidays. Previous optional trips have included cultural immersion tours to China, Spain and France for students of these languages and a history tour to Germany.
An adventure ski trip to Verbier in Switzerland is also offered each year. UWCSEA also provides students options to participate in the National Youth Achievement Award (also known as Duke of Edinburgh Award) at Bronze and Silver level while in the first two years of High School, which involve preparation and then expeditions of varying lengths in Singapore and the region. UWCSEA’s membership of the Round Square movement also provides our students with opportunities to travel to conferences, on student exchanges and to participate on international service projects.
daily meetings with the tutor group and via regular assemblies. The tutor is central to the care of students and works with the Head of Grade to help students make the most of their time in High School. The PSE programme provides guidance and support that helps students to find their place within and beyond the school, by encouraging them to understand and appreciate the richness of the College’s diversity, challenge stereotypes and question generalisations. The programme offers opportunities for our students to become more socially, culturally and politically aware, and appreciative of being part of a global community.
Personal and social education
Professional guidance from the three College counsellors is also available for students and families.
We hope that students entering UWCSEA are excited about the new challenges and opportunities open to them. To ensure that the experience is both positive and enjoyable, and that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential, the Principal, Vice Principal (Pastoral), Head of Grade and tutors work with subject teachers to provide support for all students in their care.
Our university advising programme commences in Grade 10, with advice on subject selection in preparation for the IBDP in Grade 11 and access to tools that assist students to gauge potential for future studies and possible career paths that best suit them.
The Personal and Social Education (PSE) programme is designed to make all students feel valued and confident. It develops awareness of the physical and emotional changes during these critical years, as well as equipping students to deal with growing peer pressures. It endeavours to build resilience and self-confidence to empower them to make the right decisions. Students are assigned a tutor at the beginning of Grade 9, and the PSE programme is delivered through
Service The College’s tiered model of service provides opportunities for High School students to become involved in all three levels of the uniquely-structured programme. Within the College, there are opportunities to take active leadership roles in the Primary School. Some are trained in sports leadership and coach younger teams. All students also join a Singapore-based local service project, visiting the service once a week after school for at least half the academic year. Service takes place after lessons, and students
volunteer for one of more than 30 projects. The third tier of the Service programme involves initiatives outside of Singapore, which we call Global Concerns. This is a dynamic programme, enabling students to put their ideals into action by establishing project groups which actively address specific development and environmental issues about which the students care deeply. All students are expected to commit fully to their service and show initiative by planning and leading activities.
Technology All students, as part of the College’s commitment to integrating technology as a tool to facilitate learning, are issued with a laptop. Students are supported in the responsible use of technology though our extensive digital citizenship programme as we aim to provide our students with the skills and knowledge to become responsible, independent digital citizens. We use the Generation
Safe tools to provide our teachers with professional development in the areas of prevention, detection, intervention and response to cyber incidents. Because experiences online affect school climate, the Generation Safe programme provides the framework for a network of support for all stakeholders—teachers, administrators, school counsellors, network administrators, parents and, above all, students.
Results The (I)GCSE programme at UWCSEA is an excellent preparation for the IBDP and its assessment process. The performance of UWCSEA students in the (I)GCSE examinations shows a strong correlation with subsequent IB Diploma point scores, which supports students in making realistic subject choices for their futures, knowing how they are likely to perform in the final examinations. The May 2012 (I)GCSE examinations saw the 72.7% of the UWCSEA Dover cohort
receive ‘A*–A’ grades, while the ‘A*–C’ grade figure was 99.0%. In addition, 63 further students attained straight A* or A grades; a total of 24% of our students achieved all A* or A grades in all their subjects. When compared to UK independent schools, UWCSEA has a higher percentage of A*, A*–A and A*–C grades than the Independent Schools Council (ISC) published statistics. UWCSEA’s percentage of students with five A*–C grades including Mathematics and English Language and Literature (including English as an Additional Language students), compares very well against UK independent schools. For more information on the IGCSE programme, please see our detailed curriculum guide, available for download from our website.
For details on admission Admissions Department UWCSEA Dover +65 6775 5344 admissionsdover@uwcsea.edu.sg
UWCSEA (I)GCSE Results 2012 Year
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
%A* UWCSEA
24.8 29.2 27.1 33.8 40.0
%A* ISC
28.5 28.9 29.5 31.4 31.0
%A*–A UWCSEA
57.8 61.3 58.6 68.4 72.7
%A*–A ISC
59.2 59.8 60.2 61.4 60.0
% A*–C UWCSEA
95.0 95.8 96.0 98.0 99.0
% A*–C ISC
95.3 95.1 95.3 95.2 94.4
UWCSEA* %
ISC %
students with 5 A*–C incl. Mathematics and English
students with 5 A*–C incl. Mathematics and English
95.2 93.2 94.0 93.6 99.6
93.0 93.2 93.1 93.4 91.1
ISC = Independent Schools Council www.isc.co.uk *Includes EAL, English Language and Literature.
Printed on 100% recycled paper.
050COM-1314