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Secondary School
Secondary Education
Academics
At Key Stage 3 we offer a comprehensive variety of subjects as part of a holistic curriculum in order to develop our students' critical thinking, personal capabilities and cross-curricular skills. Learning is evaluated through formative as well as summative assessment in order to ensure a high level of achievement of our aims and successful acquisition of key skills. This, in turn, guides our learners towards informed options of (I)GCSE subjects at the end of Year 9 for Key Stage 4.
Throughout the Key Stage students are cared for and guided by Pastoral Care Team as well as a student mentor from Key Stage 5 under our mentoring programme.
All students in Years 7, 8 & 9 follow a standard curriculum, based on the National Curriculum in England, which includes the following subjects:-
Art (1 period) - Computing (2 periods) - Drama (1 period) - English (5 periods) - French or German (3 periods) - Geography (2 periods) - Greek (5 periods) - History (2 periods) - Mathematics (5 periods) - Music (2 periods) - Physical Education (2 periods) - Religious Studies (2 periods) - Science (4 periods).
Students are taught in Form Classes for most subjects, but are placed in ability groups in Greek at Fluent, Intermediate or Beginner level. All students also study French or German as an additional foreign language. At the end of Key Stage 3, students have the option of taking an A1 external exam at the language of their choice.
At the beginning of the academic year our students in Years 7 and 9 take the CAT4 assessment which is a Cognitive Ability Test that provides a rounded profile of pupil ability. Based on the results of this assessment we target support, provide the right level of challenge and make informed decisions about pupils' progress. It provides a unique profile of strengths and weaknesses across different areas of one's cognitive potential.
At Key Stage 4 we continue nurturing critical thinkers by enabling our students to follow a diversified and inclusive curriculum through offering a combination of compulsory and optional subjects.
Learning is evaluated through formative and summative assessment in order to ensure a high level of achievement in external exams, as shown by our annual achievements in external exams, as well as effective acquisition of key skills in order for our students to be able to successfully proceed to Key Stage 5.
All students in Years 10 and 11 follow a standard curriculum comprised of (I)GCSE in English, Mathematics, Biology and Greek as well as Religious Studies and P.E as core subjects.
Students are taught in Form Classes for most compulsory subjects, but are placed in ability groups in Greek at IGCSE Greek First Language and GCSE Greek Second Language, and in English at English as a First or Second Language.
The students have four optional subjects, which they choose to complete a total of eight (8) (I)GCSE courses at the end of Year 11.
We offer subjects from Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) and Pearson Edexcel.
CIE | Edexcel |
Computer Science | Accounting |
English as a Second Language | Art & Design GCSE |
French as a Foreign Language | Biology |
History | Business Studies |
Literature in English | Chemistry |
Drama GCSE | |
Economics | |
English Language IGCSE | |
Geography | |
Greek First Language | |
Greek (Second Language) | |
Mathematics | |
Music GCSE | |
Psychology | |
Physics |
Important Notice:
The current optional courses are being offered on the assumption that each course will attract a minimum number of students. This minimum number varies from year to year and from subject to subject, as it considers different variables like class size and syllabus requirements. The American Academy Nicosia therefore reserves the right not to offer subjects that are listed here as potential options, if these do not have the minimum number of students, as predetermined, in one particular academic year.
After a successful completion of the required (I)GCSE preparation and exams, our learners then move to the final stage of their educational journey at the Academy before they embark on their chosen university destinations.
At Key Stage 5 our students again follow an inclusive curriculum through offering a combination of compulsory and optional subjects.
All students in Years 12 & 13 follow a standard curriculum comprised of English, Religious Studies and P.E as core subjects. In Year 12 the students have four optional subjects at Advanced Level (A Level), which they choose following the release of the results of their external exams in Year 11 and under guidance from our in-school counsellors’ team (composed of an Educational Psychologist, Curriculum Coordinator, our Pastoral Care Team, our Heads of Departments and our Sixth Form Coordinator). At this stage students are encouraged to take psychometric and cognitive ability tests in order to help them in their decision making for their future.
In Year 13, students have the option of dropping one of their A Level courses and graduate with three full A Level courses, or a combination of A Levels and AS courses.
We offer subjects from Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) and Pearson Edexcel.
CIE | Edexcel | Other examinations |
Computer Science | Accounting | Greek Government Exam |
History | Art & Design GCE A Level | IELTS |
Literature in English | Biology | |
Business Studies | ||
Chemistry | ||
Drama GCE A Level | ||
Economics | ||
Greek | ||
Mathematics | ||
Psychology | ||
Physics |
Important Notice:
The current optional courses are being offered on the assumption that each course will attract a minimum number of students. This minimum number varies from year to year and from subject to subject, as it considers different variables like class size and syllabus requirements. The American Academy Nicosia therefore reserves the right not to offer subjects that are listed here as potential options, if these do not have the minimum number of students, as predetermined, in one particular academic year.
Our Pastoral Care Team
For our senior students, the team also offers career counselling regarding academic and professional options as well as support with university applications.
Students and parents are encouraged to share any matters of concern with Subject or Form teachers so that issues can be resolved quickly and effectively by the Pastoral Care Team. In this way, a safe, secure and supportive school environment is maintained.
Pastoral Care Team programmes
Our dedicated Pastoral Care Team guides, oversees and supports the meticulous process of selecting appropriate university destination, courses and professional fields for our students. This careful process includes one-to-one meetings with learners as early as Year 9, and then Year 11, Year 12 and Year 13, in order for students to make informed decisions regarding their optional subjects in the IGCSE level as well as A Level. Our learners are provided with care and advice which, combined with the high level of academics, ensures high employability and return on their investment in private education at the American Academy Nicosia.
We also arrange for the psychometric and cognitive ability tests to be taken by our students and we employ an educational psychologist to support our learners throughout their academic journey at the Academy.
Pupils are assigned to one of the four houses on entrance to the school in Year 7 where they remain until the end of Sixth form; where possible younger siblings will become a member of the same house. Each member of staff is also attached to a house.
Each house has designated House Captains from Years 11-13 who act as representatives for their house throughout the year by helping to co-ordinate and organise activities and events, and representing their house at relevant meetings with school management.
Our House system aim is to provide every pupil in each house with a sense of belonging within the school community as well as opportunities to develop social, intellectual, physical and practical skills. The students are given a sense of achievement both inside and outside of the classroom, opportunities for leadership, while gaining an awareness of individual and collective responsibility as well as fair play and healthy competition.
Our programme runs under a combination of peer- and teacher-mentoring. Students from Years 11-13 volunteer to be part of the mentoring programme. Each mentor is in turn mentored by a member of the Pastoral Care Team. The student mentors are then assigned with a mentee from Years 7-9.
Mentors support their mentees achieve their potential by identifying challenges, setting goals and working together to achieve these goals. These goals include but are not limited to: social integration, organisation, stress and time management, independence, etc.