Cambridge Lower Secondary An introduction for parents Presenter Name Job title Date

Cambridge Assessment International Education We prepare school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. Nearly a million students in over 10,000 Cambridge schools in 160 countries We have a 150-year history of providing international exams. We are part of the University of Cambridge. Cambridge Assessment International Education prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. Nearly a million students from 10 000 Cambridge schools in 160 countries now prepare for their future with an international education. We believe education works best when curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment are closely aligned. We encourage teaching practice that engages students in their own learning, and we support our programmes with high-quality resources. Our view is that assessment should both prove and improve students’ learning, giving them focus, pace and challenge. We organise our assessment in a way that maximises time for teaching and learning. Our programmes develop deep knowledge, conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking skills, to prepare our students for their future. We are part of the University of Cambridge and the only exam board that is wholly owned by a world-leading university, and we have a 150-year history of providing international exams

Cambridge Pathway Cambridge Pathway Our Cambridge Pathway gives students a clear path for educational success from age 5 to 19. Its wide range of subjects and flexibility gives schools the chance to shape the curriculum so that it is exciting and relevant for their own students. Cambridge Pathway students have the chance to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to achieve at school, university and beyond. The four stages lead seamlessly from primary to secondary and pre-university years. Each stage builds on the students’ development from the previous one, but can also be offered separately. Schools can adopt one stage or several stages. Cambridge Lower Secondary: is typically for students aged 11 to 14 years and is taught in nearly 2300 schools in over than 130 countries provides a natural progression for children from primary education and prepares them for post-14 education programmes that lead to formal qualifications. offers a curriculum that schools can shape around how they want their students to learn develops young students who are confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged.

Cambridge Lower Secondary – international curriculum Natural progression from Cambridge Primary. Builds skills, knowledge and understanding in: English (first or second language) Mathematics Science Cambridge Global Perspectives ICT Starters. Compatible with other curricula. Cambridge Lower Secondary provides a natural progression for children from primary education and prepares them for post-14 education programmes that lead to formal qualifications. Cambridge Lower Secondary develops students skills and understanding through the primary years in English as a first or second language, mathematics, science, Cambridge Global Perspectives and ICT Starters. Focuses on students’ development in each year. Cambridge Lower Secondary offers a curriculum that schools can shape around how they want their students to learn. It is compatible with other curricula, internationally relevant and sensitive to different needs and cultures supports students with English as a first or second language. Provides foundation for further study - it is an excellent preparation for Cambridge Upper Secondary, and for progression to other educational systems.

Cambridge Lower Secondary – teaching and learning We help schools encourage learners to become: confident responsible reflective innovative engaged. The concept of a ‘Cambridge learner’ helps us communicate attributes we believe are important for learners in the modern world. We recognise that a meaningful curriculum is more than a collection of subjects. Learners need to develop a set of academic skills, life skills and attitudes to be successful. We help schools encourage learners to become confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged: confident in working with information and ideas – their own and those of others responsible for themselves, responsive to and respectful of others reflective as learners, developing their ability to learn innovative and equipped for new and future challenges engaged intellectually and socially, ready to make a difference.

Cambridge Lower Secondary – assessment Two testing options available to help monitor students’ progress: Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests. Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint. Assessments identify and address strengths and weaknesses. Provide international benchmarks. Detailed reporting of student performance. Cambridge Lower Secondary includes optional tests to help us assess your child’s development, compare individual students and class performance, and report progress to you and your child. There are two assessment options: Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests and Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint: Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests – for each stage and marked by teachers Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint – at the end of the primary programme. Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests: provide detailed information about the performance of your child for each stage are available for English as a first or second language, maths and science enable teachers to give structured feedback to students and parents enable teachers to compare the strengths and weaknesses of individuals and groups are marked by teachers in your school. Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint: We receive nearly 112 000 entries a year for Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint. Designed to test skills, knowledge and understanding at the end of the lower secondary programme in English as a first or second language, maths, science and Cambridge Global Perspectives. Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint tests are used at the end of Cambridge Lower Secondary and offer feedback on a student’s strengths and weaknesses in the key curriculum areas of English, mathematics and science. Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint tests are marked by Cambridge and provide schools with an external international benchmark for student performance – an invaluable source of information for students, parents and teachers. There is also a Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint assessment for our Global Perspectives course – students produce a team project that is marked by teachers and moderated in Cambridge.

Cambridge Lower Secondary – progression and international recognition Excellent preparation for Cambridge Upper Secondary (typically for students aged 14 to 16 years). Provides foundation for progression to other education systems. Cambridge Lower Secondary is an excellent preparation for Cambridge Upper Secondary for students It also provides strong foundations for progression to other educational systems.

Global community Connect with Cambridge students from around the world via Facebook. Look for Cambridge Assessment International Education Follow @CambridgeInt on Twitter for all the latest news and educational debate Bringing our Cambridge Pathway to life, our videos are for students, parents and teachers. Look for CambridgeSchools on YouTube Keep up to date with all the latest news from Cambridge on the Cambridge Assessment International Education page on Linkedin Parents and students at Cambridge schools benefit from being part of a global community of nearly a million students in over 10 000 Cambridge schools in 160 countries. We encourage members of that community to share their ideas and their experiences with us and each other on our social media platforms: Facebook – connect with Cambridge students from around the world. Look for Cambridge Assessment International Education Twitter – follow @CambridgeInt for all the latest news and educational debate YouTube – bringing our Cambridge Pathway to life, our videos are for students, parents and teachers. Look for CambridgeSchools LinkedIn – keep up to date with all the latest news from Cambridge on the Cambridge Assessment International Education page