The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme or CLSP focuses on developing the knowledge, creativity, life skills, and overall personalities of students of the 7, 8, and 9 grades. International schools offer this reputed programme to their students for the enriching experience and a worldwide approved diploma that helps them in gaining admission at high school and universities anywhere in the world.
Students not only gain knowledge but also develop fundamental skills that help them succeed outside of their school. The Cambridge Key Stage 3 programme offers students a unique blend of subjects that promote the development of their critical-thinking skills, language skills, and helps cultivate confidence.
Let us take a look at the important features of the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme and how students benefit from it.
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Flexible Curriculum
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme at International schools offers a wide range of subjects that help students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. It encourages the students to work with new ideas and information, be creative, innovative, and stay engaged in the learning process.
It is a flexible curriculum with content that suits the students’ culture and context. Besides English, Science, and Mathematics, students can take a combination of different subjects that helps them gain an in-depth knowledge of those subjects.
Students can choose the subjects of their interest and devote their time to gathering extensive knowledge in those subjects in the CLSP curriculum.
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A Wide Variety of Subjects
Apart from English, Science, and Mathematics, the Cambridge Key Stage 3 students are offered Social Studies, Art and Design, Global Perspectives, Digital Literacy, Music and Drama, and Physical Education.
These subjects give the students a wider perspective and a deeper understanding of the concepts and hone their analytical skills. These subjects help develop their curiosity and also offer numerous opportunities for their future education.
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Prepares for IGCSE
The excellent teaching and assessment resources offered at the International schools prepare the students of Cambridge Key Stage 3 for IGCSE as well as any other curriculum. The holistic approach is designed in such a way, it builds a solid foundation for their upper secondary school years.
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme encourages inquiry-based discussions amongst the students. Here, learning is not confined to textbooks or mugging up for exams, but thinking independently and creatively to come up with unique solutions to challenges. This prepares the students for the IGCSE in their upper secondary school.
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Excellent Learning Resources
The students at Cambridge Key Stage 3 are taught by highly qualified teachers who provide excellent learning resources through the best study material approved by educational experts.
The resources are appropriate for their age and provide the right knowledge and skills required to prepare them to accomplish their goals.
The teachers employ unique approaches to help students understand the various concepts. They encourage the students to work independently, think creatively, approach their problems intelligently, come up with their conclusions, and apply their knowledge to real-world challenges.
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Development of English Skills
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme provides extensive training in the English language. It focuses on developing the reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in the language that helps them communicate their thoughts effectively and confidently.
They are introduced to varied works of fiction, poetry, play scripts, and nonfiction texts in different contexts. This not only helps in refining the language skills of the students but also provides them with opportunities to express themselves creatively for different purposes and audiences.
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Grading System
The grading system for the Cambridge Key Stage 3 includes checkpoints conducted at the end of the programme. These checkpoints help the students understand their strengths and weaknesses. These also help teachers measure the student’s progress.
Teachers draw out the right action plan to help students tackle the areas that need more attention. The students are offered support and encouragement to address their needs and use the opportunity to better their performance.
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Global Community
Cambridge is a world-renowned educational system in over 10,000 schools in more than 100 countries. The Cambridge Key Stage 3, thus opens doors to the global student community. International schools prepare their students through the CLSP to succeed in the ever-changing, contemporary world.
Through this programme, the students learn about the varied cultures worldwide, cherish their local cultures, and understand the importance of respecting diversity. In short, this programme helps students develop a global, multicultural outlook.
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Active Learning Approach
Cambridge Lower Secondary Programmes at the International schools follow an active learning approach to introduce new concepts to their students.
Teachers employ varied interactive methods to introduce linguistic, mathematical, and scientific concepts to help students understand as well as retain the information. These active learning methods also help students develop their creativity, imagination, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
Students are encouraged to explore, question, and understand the concepts. This learning approach supports thorough learning and not just rote learning of concepts for the sake of examinations.
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Growth Mindset
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme at International schools encourages independent learning, managing distractions, and staying committed to their learning.
Students are encouraged to review their performance, understand their strong and weak points, assess their skills, and work on their weaknesses, confidently.
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Overall Growth and Personality Development
The Cambridge Key Stage 3 programme helps in the overall personality development of the students. It makes them confident and secure in their knowledge, and ready to take risks. Students learn to be responsible for themselves.
They are open to new challenges, work towards finding solutions for the challenges, and express their opinions confidently. They develop curiosity, are receptive to new ideas, and display a keen interest in learning new skills.
The CLSP helps students learn to appreciate and respect the varied cultures around them and be supportive of their community.
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Conclusion
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme promotes the all-around growth and development of the students. It is their stepping stone to the higher secondary school as it prepares them for the rigors of its curriculum.
The programme not only prepares the students academically but also practically for life as global citizens.
