AN OBS EDUCATION
Secondary
Secondary
In Secondary we provide a welcoming environment in which every pupil has the opportunity to expand their knowledge, develop their skills and their learning, and to broaden their academic and social horizons through a rigorous curriculum and numerous opportunities beyond the classroom.
Our pupils represent the school nationally and internationally in the Arts, in sporting events, at Model United Nations, on CAS activities and at academic conferences. We believe that with a strong partnership between teachers, parents and pupils your child will flourish as a learner and as an individual. Our teaching staff are a group of dedicated professionals who are passionate about teaching, experienced in their specialist areas, and who are committed to success for all.
Why Choose Secondary?
Oporto British School secondary students are presented with a wonderfully broad range of subjects as options, from a comprehensive Creative Arts programme that includes Music, Drama and Art, to Humanities, to Modern Languages and the Sciences. We offer Business Studies, Computer Science, Psychology and Economics as examples of a balanced diet of choices.
- Holistic curriculum that incorporates traditional academic subjects, that is well balanced to give the breadth and depth of knowledge required to be prepared for all of life’s opportunities and challenges.
- Consistently excellent results at IGCSE and IB.
- An outward-looking international school, with links to multiple local and global learning communities, and a curriculum and co-curriculum that reflect these links.
- A comprehensive Creative Arts programme for all students when they start in Secondary.
- Small class sizes with dedicated specialist teachers.
- We provide an inclusive education with high expectations for all to be successful.
- Qualifications that are recognised around the world, giving access to universities in Portugal, the UK, Europe and around the world.
OBS students broadly follow the UK National Curriculum during Key Stage 3 (11-14), with the added benefit of being able to blend in project-based learning and Approaches To Learning in order to prepare them for the IB Diploma. At IGCSE (14-16), our students are prepared for Cambridge IGCSE qualifications, one of the world’s most popular programmes, before immersing themselves in the IB Diploma Programme, which offers outstanding preparation for university courses worldwide, and is the most universally accepted school leaving qualification.
Key Stage 3 students (Forms 6-8) study a mix of traditional subjects alongside a comprehensive creative arts program and range of languages.
Subjects taught in English include Mathematics, Science, English Language and Literature, History, Geography, Computing, Physical Education, Music, Art, and Drama.
Students also study either Portuguese Language and Literature or Portuguese as a Foreign Language along with Portuguese History and French as a Foreign Language.
IGCSE students (Forms 9-10) continue with Mathematics, English Language and Literature, Science (either Coordinated Science or Physics, Biology and Chemistry), Portuguese as either a First or Foreign Language and then they choose from a range of IGCSE options that includes History, Geography, Computer Science, Business Studies, Art, Music, Drama, Spanish, French, and Physical Education.
Students are also usually awarded the Cambridge International Certificate in Education (ICE) which recognises the broad and balanced curriculum on offer as it is awarded to students that pass examinations in at least seven Cambridge IGCSE subjects from five different subject groups, including two different languages.
IB Diploma Programme students (Form 11 and 12) choose 6 subjects from across a range of subject areas and must also complete an Extended Essay project along with Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS). We offer a wide range of subjects at different levels such as Computer Science, Psychology, Economics, Business Management, Music, Art and Design, Spanish, and French.
Our full subject offer can be found in the IB Diploma Programme brochure. The OBS is committed to supporting students with a range of subject packages, including those needing Physics, Biology and Chemistry to study medicine in both Portugal and abroad.
