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Forms 6-8
KEY STAGE 3
The Oporto British School offers an academically challenging and personally enriching education for students from Form 6 to 12. Students experience a broad and balanced range of academic subjects. Academic rigour is promoted throughout the school and our external examination results and university placements demonstrate a commitment to providing a successful and progressive environment. Our results are consistently above the world average at IGCSE and IBDP.
Forms
6-8 follow a curriculum that aims to prepare our students for IGCSE and IB
Diploma; to address the need to support our students become internationally
minded in an ever changing global society and to provide a solid framework upon
which to base our teaching and learning practices.
Learning
Objectives and Assessment at Forms 6-8
Assessment at Key Stage Three (Forms 6-8) is based on learning objectives. This means that the work and ability of students is judged against a set of criteria for each subject areas. Students are not judged against the work of other students. These objectives therefore allow for the learning of students to be clearly assessed and also allow teachers and students to set formative targets for individual learning.
Assessment tasks are varied to allow all students to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and skills. For example, students are assessed through projects, essays, end of unit tests, presentations and observation.
The core subjects (English, Maths, Science and Portuguese) have formal summative tests at the end of each year held in the Sports Hall. These are internally marked, moderated and standardised; mark schemes will be shared with students after the examinations.
Our Assessment policy states that assessment is an ongoing process however we want our students to be prepared for external exams and therefore we use a mix of summative and formative assessment to best prepare them for the demands of IGCSE and IBDP examinations.
In Portuguese A (First Language) the curriculum is based on the Portuguese National Curriculum Framework and related objectives. This curriculum covers the third cycle of basic education at continues into Form 9. At the end of Form 9 students are sit the Portuguese National Exam. These exam papers and results are internally marked. ensure OBS students cover the curriculum and objectives of the Portuguese system.
Other subject areas across the curriculum have clear learning objectives which are outlined in this handbook. In these subjects assessment is again linked to these objectives and criterion based.
In Forms 6 to 8 there are no external examinations. We expect a summative assessment at the end of each unit/topic however we value formative ongoing assessment and reported grades are based on a mix of formative and summative grades; we do not report on single test grades (with the exception of the Core subjects in the Summer term).
Curriculum Maps 2020/21
The Curriculum Maps below outline the topics that pupils will be studying this year in each of their subjects. They will provide you with greater information regarding the teaching and learning of each pupil.
It is important that you view these maps as a plan to the year; they are in effect 'working documents' and are therefore subject to review and amendment. In the nature of the teaching and learning process, pupils often learn at a different pace from their peers and teachers respond appropriately by adapting their own specific Scheme(s) of Work and style(s) of teaching; this is an essential part of the pedagogical process.
This is regarded as integral to the school's commitment to the continual development, articulation and documentation of curricula.
If you have any enquiries regarding the Curriculum Map, please contact the relevant Head of Department.
Homework
Homework assignments are given to prepare pupils for the next day's lesson or to offer students the opportunity to practice newly acquired skills. The nature of the homework will vary but it can be assumed that pupils will always be required to be reading set texts in preparation for lessons and reading around all of their subjects as a matter of course. Getting work done on time requires careful planning, organization, determination, and self-discipline.
These qualities are important in the later working-careers of pupils and in their personal lives. To promote the habit of punctuality, our policy is that:
These qualities are important in the later working-careers of pupils and in their personal lives. To promote the habit of punctuality, our policy is that:
- Teachers clearly communicate to pupils the guidelines, expectations and use of criteria for homework or coursework, as well as actively encourage the pupils’ use of the homework diary.
- Pupils are responsible for finding out about any and all missed assignments.
All missing assignments must be made up. Assignments due during an absence should be submitted during the first lesson upon return. Any work assigned during an absence is due on the regular due date unless prior arrangements have been made with the teacher.
- If a pupil is present in class when a test or quiz is announced, the pupil is expected to take the test or quiz on the day of his or her return to school, if the teacher wishes. Special arrangements for exams will only occur due to sickness (accompanied with a doctor’s certificate) or bereavement.
- Any assignments due the day of a field trip must be submitted prior to the field trip, curricular or co-curricular activity.
Extra Help with Homework
All departments are here to support your child should they need extra guidance or support with their homework and all departments offer subject clinics (see extra-curricular timetable for more information). In addition, the school library is open until 5pm. Pupils may use the resources and computers available to support their learning. Form 11 students are also on hand to help Form 6 – 10 with their homework queries.
