The secondary school years are crucial as students expand their learning for future studies. A strong foundation provides them with a powerful head start for high school, university and beyond. As an international curriculum designed for students aged 11 to 14 years (Grades 6-8), the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (CLSP) is a comprehensive and balanced curriculum.
The programme encourages students to use their learning for higher-order thinking, providing them with a clear pathway as they move on to Cambridge Upper Secondary (IGCSE). It offers in-depth learning while enabling them to acquire skills mandatory for the 21st century.
Broad, balanced and flexible curriculum
Here are some of the top reasons why CLSP is considered a strong curriculum:
● The curriculum offers a varied choice of 10 subjects, including English, maths and science, and can be shaped around the student learning. It is application oriented and fosters analytical thinking and problem solving skills.
● It’s a flexible curriculum as the schools have the option to choose the combination of subjects.
● The programme is adaptable as it can be offered alone or along with a bilingual curriculum, making it ideal for international students.
● The curriculum equips students to develop global mindedness as they learn to understand about various cultures and apply their knowledge in local contexts.
● The CLSP curriculum is developed using the latest research in different subject areas, allowing students to put their best forward for future learnings and challenges.
● Regular assessments help in evaluating student progression by identifying their academic strengths and weak areas.
● There’s ample support to deliver the programme, including curriculum framework, assessment materials with Cambridge checkpoint papers and teacher guide.
● The curriculum makes the transition to the next step seamless as it prepares students for the rigours of the IGCSE curriculum.
Cambridge Lower Secondary at GIIS
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme at GIIS is offered under trained and experienced teachers who understand the rigours of the Cambridge exam board. It builds in-depth knowledge and skills in:
1. English
2. Global Perspectives
3. Mathematics
4. Science
5. ICT
6. Second Language – French, Mandarin, Hindi, Tamil
7. Digital Literacy
The assessment cycle, which looks at identifying each student’s strengths and weaknesses, is divided into two terms. The first term has two cyclic tests, two internal assessments and a semester exam. In term two, there’s one cyclic test, two internal assessments and a semester exam.
Also read: ‘Cambridge Lower Secondary provides a strong pathway to IGCSE’
English as a Second Language (ESL) at GIIS
As part of the CLS programme, non-native English speakers at GIIS can opt for English as a Second Language (ESL) that provides progressive learning objectives for students. The ESL curriculum is divided into reading, writing, listening and speaking, and aims to;
1. support learning by facilitating equal access to the curriculum
2. support student transition to our school culture
3. encourage students to participate in school activities
4. develop language skills
5. build confidence in ESL students in using the language both inside and outside of the classroom
If you are keen to know more about CLSP at GIIS, please don’t hesitate to contact our admissions team.
Deepika Sodhi
Ms. Deepika Sodhi, Principal, GIIS East Coast Campus is a seasoned education leader with over 25 years of teaching experience, including 15+ years in Cambridge and IB programmes, and 10 years in CBSE.
She holds a Master's degree in Physics with a specialisation in Electronics, a Bachelor’s in Education, and an Honours Diploma in Software Management. Her teaching career spans India and Singapore.
Ms. Sodhi's achievements include being GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) qualified and a Gold Medalist in Physics, Lead ISO Auditor, a member of both the International Schools Network and the International Baccalaureate Educator’s Network.
In her past roles at GIIS, she served as Head of Science and Physics, Cambridge IGCSE Coordinator, Cambridge Exam Officer, and IB Examiner.
Ms. Sodhi is passionate about innovation, inclusivity, and student success. In her free time, she enjoys reading and volunteering with the Singapore Red Cross.
