Information on curriculum – Senior School


GCSE 2007 Timetable

GCSE Options Booklet 2008 - 2010 - New

KS3 Booklet 2008 - 2009 - New

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The curriculum taught at Tanglin Trust School is based on the revised orders (2000) of the UK National Curriculum for England, which was first established by the Education Reform Act (UK) of 1988. The professional staff at the School has also supplemented this curriculum to reflect the needs of students living in an international setting in Singapore.

The result is that the curriculum taught at Tanglin Trust School is broadly based and promotes the students’ moral, cultural, mental, aesthetic and physical development. It aims to prepare students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life. It is organised into Key Stages:
Foundation Stage
3 to 5 years of age Nursery and Reception
Key Stage 1 5 to 7 years of age Years 1 and 2
Key Stage 2 7 to 11 years of age Years 3, 4, 5 and 6
Key Stage 3 11 to 14 years of age Years 7, 8 and 9
Key Stage 4
Studies leading to a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) 		14 to 16 years of age Years 10 and 11
Key Stage 5 (Sixth Form)
Studies leading to a General Certificate of Education at Advanced level (A-level)
16 to 18 years of age Years 12 and 13
 
When students are enrolled at Tanglin Trust School, parents are sent detailed curriculum documents for the Key Stage relevant to their child or children. National Curriculum Tests are administered at the end of each Key Stage to show a student’s performance on a particular day at the end of the Key Stage.

Key Stage 3 – 11 to 14 years of age

The core subjects that students in Key Stage 3 study are: English; mathematics; science; and information and communication technology (ICT). The foundation subjects studied are: Modern Foreign Languages (French and either German, Chinese or Spanish); history; geography; art and design; music; and physical education. Students at this level also study classics and life studies.

At the end of Year 9 students take National Curriculum written tests in English, mathematics (with and without a calculator), mental arithmetic and science.

At the end of Key Stage 3, teachers are required to make a judgment about students’ attainment against a set of standardised level descriptions related to the English National Curriculum. Of the eight levels of attainment, levels 5 and 6 represent achievement at the nationally expected standard for most 14 year olds.


Key Stage 4 – 14 to 16 years

The core subjects that students at Key Stage 4 study are: English, mathematics; science; information and communication technology (ICT); physical education; personal, social, health and citizenship education (PSHCE); and a Modern Foreign Language (French, German or Chinese).

They are also given the opportunity to develop their studies according to their preferences and interests. Students at Tanglin in Years 10 and 11 may choose two or three optional subjects in addition to the compulsory core. These subjects include: business studies; geography; history; art & design; drama; music; French; Spanish; Latin; and physical education.

Key Stage 4 examination courses lead to a General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualification. Courses are assessed through written examinations, coursework and usually a combination of both.


Key Stage 5 (Sixth Form) – 16 to 18 years


The Sixth Form at Tanglin is built around a curriculum of examination courses which lead to a General Certificate in Education at Advanced level (A-level),  high expectations and a sense of community spirit which is designed to allow every student the opportunity to achieve their potential in both an academic and social context. From September 2009, Tanglin plans to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma alongside our A-level curriculum.

In addition to their A-level studies, Sixth Form students follow a Critical Thinking course which leads to an AS qualification in Year 13.  They also have a structured PSHCE programme, which includes talks by guest speakers from both UK and global universities, basic first aid, finance and sex education; an elective programme which offers the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports, creative arts and the Model United Nations programme. Students also have an allocation of private study time where they are encouraged to develop their research skills and broaden their knowledge by reading more widely around and outside of their chosen A-level subjects.

A-levels are based on either four or six units of approximately equal size. Half of these make up an Advanced Subsidiary (AS) course, studied in the first year of the Sixth Form. The others are known as ‘A2’ units and complete the full A-level course.

A-level and AS courses may be assessed either in stages or at the end of the course. Normally students sit AS examinations at the end of Year 12 and A2 examinations at the end of Year 13. There is an opportunity to resit individual units in the January of Year 13 with the highest mark counting towards the final grade. Most  A2  courses  have  a  synoptic element designed to test candidates’ ability  to  make  connections between different aspects of the subject.

Each AS and A2 unit is awarded a number of points which are accumulated and then ‘cashed-in’ for an exam grade.  Both AS and A-levels are graded A to E for pass grades, with U (unclassified) for fail. Students are normally expected to achieve at least a D grade pass at AS in order to move forward to an A2 course.

Students in Year 12 usually opt to study four subjects at AS level and then continue with three subjects to A2 level in Year 13. In Year 11 they are asked to make provisional choices, giving their order of preference and a reserve choice. 

Click here to view information on Year 12 Information Evening 2008 / 2009 - New
Click here to view information on Year 13 Information Evening 2008 / 2009 - New

For further details please contact the Senior School (including Sixth Form) on sr.sch@tts.edu.sg

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