At the British School of Paris Senior School we provide a broad and rigorous programme for children aged 11-18. Early on, each child studies a range of subjects that build upon their interests and develop their skills, subsequently students choose to specialise in subjects according to their strengths, interests and future aspirations.
The learning at BSP follows the framework specified by the British National Curriculum, tailored to an international student population. This programme benefits your child as he/she learns from a balanced programme covering language and mathematics, arts and sciences, expressive arts and physical education. The BSP takes care to ensure that pupils develop a wide range of skills and techniques together with creativity and physical well-being.
Key Stage 3
Preparing for the GCSE
Year 7 marks the transition from the junior school to Key Stage 3 (Years 7,8 and 9) , which in turn is the preparatory stage proceeding the GCSE course starting in Year 10 and finishing with the GCSE examination in year 11. Before embarking on the GCSE course the children engage in a large variety of subjects from which they then choose their GCSE option subjects alongside the compulsory core of Mathematics, English, Sciences and French.
GCSE Examinations
General Certificate of Secondary Education
Years 10 and 11 constitute a two-year cycle at which time students prepare for the GCSE examinations. Following the GCSE examinations students wishing to go on to university or other institutions of higher education will take A Levels.
A levels - Sixth Form
Preparing for Higher Education and University
After the GCSE examination the students enter the Sixth Form (the last 2 years at school) and start their A level courses which will lead to matriculation standard and will enable them to attend universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the world. The A level programme runs over 2 years and finishes at the age of 18.
The students choose any 4 or 5 subjects according to their strengths, interests and future aspirations for the first year. The examinations at the end of that year (AS) constitute the halfway mark and represent 50 percent of the final A level grade. In the second year of A level the students normally continue with 3 or 4 out of the 4 or 5 AS subjects to the full A Level while one would remain at AS standard. Any combination of subjects is possible and appropriate advice is given to students by the tutors, subject teachers and 6th form guidance team.
The A Level system is based on the concept of transferable skills, a variety of which are acquired in any of the students’ chosen subjects. A special focus is placed on independent learning and developing skills alongside subject knowledge in order to enable the students to develop the ability to think beyond predetermined pathways.