Welcome to the IIS Schools page. Through these pages, we hope to give you a brief overview of the IIS schools’ curriculum and activities.
IIS Pre-School welcomes children from age 3 to 4 (students must be potty trained), starting from Nursery 1 and ending at Reception (KG1). Our qualified staff offer a safe, caring and stimulating environment for children to learn and develop. We encourage active learning through play, enabling our children to grow in confidence and succeed in future learning situations.
The Pre-School curriculum is relevant to the children’s needs and prepares them for future school years. The children are taken through literacy, numeracy and International Primary Curriculum (IPC) lessons. Our activity based lessons give the children the opportunity to actively participate in class. The teachers observe and respond appropriately to children’s needs as a result of being aware of how children develop and learn.
Our curriculum enables children to progress towards the seven areas of learning:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication and Language
Literacy
Mathematics
Knowledge and understanding of the world
Physical Development
Expressive Art and Design
These seven areas of learning help our teachers plan the learning environment and activities to provide the children with the opportunity to develop competencies and skills.
During the IPC lessons, the children are taken through various themes which help them to understand the need to become aware of the world around them and develop an international mind-set alongside their own nationality. The students embark on field trips to acquire more insights into a particular theme being addressed in class. Children visit places like the airport, lake, zoo, farm, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants etc.
IIS Pre-School provides the solid foundation needed for the International Baccalaureate Primary programme.
The IIS Primary School starts from year one and ends at year five. Students in year one are typically 5 to 6 years of age. Students in year five are typically 9 to 10 years of age. At the Primary School we believe that lessons with high student engagement, combined with a good blend of creative teaching and a variety of extra-curricular activities help form the foundation of a great education.
In the Primary School, the subjects offered are Mathematics, English, Science, Social Studies (Global Perspective), ICT, French, Art, and Physical Education.
For Mathematics, English, and Science, the IB Primary Year Programme provides the curriculum framework. It develops skills, knowledge and understanding in young learners. This curriculum provides all the necessary guidance, materials, and training for classroom teaching and learning.
Art, ICT, French, Kiswahili, and Physical Education are based on the British National Curriculum. This curriculum promotes the moral, cultural, mental and physical development of students at the school.
Social Studies is based on the International Primary Curriculum. This curriculum promotes great learning, great teaching and great fun in a framework of different themes that children easily identify with.
Finally at the Primary School we believe that children learn best when they have fun. Based on this simple idea, teachers are trained to deliver lessons that invite children to participate actively, express their opinions and facts eloquently, and develop skills and understanding effectively.
The IIS Middle School is for learners between the ages of 11-14 years. The Cambridge International Examinations Secondary One curriculum is followed at this stage with emphasis on English, mathematics, and science.
In addition, subjects such as Music, Art, French, Kiswahili, Geography, History, English, Math, Physics, Biology, and Chemistry are also taught using the British National Curriculum. Students in Year 9 are introduced to Economics, Business Studies and ICT.
ICT, which is an integral part of the curriculum is also delivered using the ICT starters’ package from Cambridge Assessment International Education – CAIE.
Students at this level are required to develop skills, acquire knowledge and insight needed for the IGCSE programme at Key Stage 4. The use of Cambridge Secondary One curriculum and the Checkpoint Assessment Package provides a seamless progression from Middle School education (Key Stage 3) into High School (Key Stage 4 and beyond).
The IIS High School offers two University of Cambridge International Examination academic programmes: the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) which is taken by students in Years 10 and 11 (Grades 9 & 10) and the Cambridge International AS/A Level which is taken by students in Years 12 and 13 (Grades 11 & 12). The two academic programmes are carefully designed to engage students and give them solid foundations to achieve high levels of academic and personal attainment. The curriculum has been designed to develop learners that are responsible, innovative, confident, and engaged.
CAMBRIDGE IGCSE
The Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) is the world’s most popular international curriculum for 14-16 year-olds, leading to globally recognised and valued Cambridge IGCSE qualifications.
At IIS, we offer the November, May and June examination sessions. The resulting qualification provides a foundation for higher level courses, such as Cambridge International A level, the Cambridge Advanced International Certificate of Education, the North American Advanced Placement programme, and the International Baccalaureate.
The IGCSE course requires students to take between eight to ten subjects depending on their ability, interest, and career aspirations. First Language English, Foreign Language French, Mathematics, Literature, ICT and at least one Science subject are compulsory for all IGCSE students in IIS.
The required learning hours per Cambridge IGCSE subject is 170 hours. This means that learners are expected to spend four hours per week on each subject.
Assessments take place at the end of the two-year course and include written and oral tests, coursework, and practical assessments. Each learner’s performance is benchmarked using internationally recognized grades, A* to G.
To maintain a highly rigorous academic experience, the school also offers the International Certificate of Education (ICE) option as part of the IGCSE programme. ICE candidates are required to reach certain standards in a group of subjects in order to obtain this certificate. The Cambridge ICE is awarded to learners who pass at least seven Cambridge IGCSE subjects. Learners are awarded one of the three levels of the Cambridge ICE – Distinction, Merit or Pass – depending upon the grades earned in the seven examinations.
CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL A-LEVEL
Students who successfully complete the Cambridge IGCSE continue with the Cambridge AS and A-Level programme for another two years. Over the course of the two-year Cambridge International A-Level, students study three or four subjects chosen from the five subject groups of the Cambridge A-Level curriculum.
The GCE Advanced A-Level is one of the most recognized qualifications around the world. It has exactly the same value in admitting students to universities as the UK equivalent and is accepted as an entry qualification to Tanzanian universities and universities worldwide.
Students study three or four subjects at A-Level with each course requiring 360 learning hours. This means that learners are expected to spend twelve hours – six hours in class and six hours on their own – per week to learn each subject. All non-language subjects are taught in English.
IIS provides support for A-Level students with their studies and university applications by organizing regular training sessions on the university application process, essay writing techniques and SAT preparation for students starting year 12 and first term of year 13. Every student, whether IGCSE or A-Level, participates in a number of co-curricular activities.
To complete the Cambridge A-Level, students take the Cambridge A-Level exam in three or four subjects at the end of year 13. Predicted results are provided to college admissions officers with final results sent when available. In each subject, students may score from A* to E, with A* being the top score.
Iringa International School is proud to be an IB World School. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Year Programme gives IIS the opportunity to teach a broad and balanced curriculum setting. Whilst our English and Maths curricula are developed to enhance not only knowledge, skills and understanding but also build confidence and independence.
IIS Primary Division aims to use the best practices from all over the world in teaching. Through the IB Primary Year Programme, students in preschool and primary classes develop language capabilities, mathematical and science concepts, as well as trans-disciplinary social, thinking, and research skills.
The primary school features open-plan and multi-modal learning spaces which provide an authentic 21st century learning environment and experiences that promote communication, collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and leadership. The school provide top of the range facilities, a vibrant, exciting and safe learning environment where learners will engage in language, social studies, mathematics, science and technology, arts and personal, social and physical education. Students are required to learn a second language during the program.
Iringa International School is proud to be an IB World School. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Year Programme gives IIS the opportunity to teach a broad and balanced curriculum setting.
IIS Middle School Division aims to use the best practices from all over the world in teaching. Through the IB Middle Year Programme, students in the middle school develop language capabilities, mathematical and science concepts, as well as trans-disciplinary social, thinking, and research skills.
The middle school features open-plan and multi-modal learning spaces which provide an authentic 21st century learning environment and experiences that promote communication, collaboration, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity and leadership. The school provide top of the range facilities, a vibrant, exciting and safe learning environment where learners will engage in language, social studies, mathematics, science and technology, arts and personal, social and physical education. Students are required to learn a second language during the program.
Iringa International School offers the Cambridge IGCSE which is the world’s largest provider of international education programmes and qualifications for learners aged 14 to 16.
IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is a two year programme leading to externally set, marked and certificated examinations from the University of Cambridge. It is a unique UK government endorsed programme provided to thousands of schools around the world.
Our students are offered a curriculum across Grades 9 to 10 that includes around 9 IGCSE examination subjects. These include the core ones of English Language, Mathematics and Science (either as a double award subject or a combination of single subjects from Biology, Chemistry and Physics). Three or four other subjects might be taken from Geography, History, Kiswahili, ICT (Information and Communication Technology), English Literature, Additional Mathematics and perhaps a self-study first language. Exactly what is available in a particular year will depend upon a number of factors. What is ensured is suitability for our students and the key curriculum factors of breadth and balance. Depth and quality goes without saying with all Cambridge courses!
Iringa International School provides a full schooling programme for 3 to 18 year olds with the university entrance qualification of Cambridge Advance Levels for the older students.
The curriculum at IIS is based upon the programmes of the University of Cambridge International group, starting with Cambridge Primary and moving through to IGCSE, AS and A Level in the senior years. The integrated international programmes ensure a smooth transition through the years of schooling and provide the opportunity for students to succeed in a stimulating, externally validated and highly respected world-class educational programme. Ultimately, the qualifications which can be obtained by our senior students can open the doors to universities all over the world. From the UK to Austria, Australia to the USA, Spain and here in Tanzania; Cambridge qualifications are universally recognised and welcomed.
