In secondary education at AIS, we work towards meeting three essential goals rooted in Waldorf Steiner Education and in the British National Curriculum:
1. To help the students develop the capacity to think critically and communicate effectively.
2. To help students learn about themselves, the human heritage and the nature of interconnectedness in the world in which we live.
3. To prepare students for work and further education by supporting the development of individual aptitudes and interests.
The morning Main Lesson covers Drama, English, History, Geography, Maths, and Sciences (among others). These subjects are taught in 3-week blocks, at the end of which an assessment tailored to that topic encourages reflective peer and self-assessment.
In Classes Seven and Eight (Years 8 and 9), students will start to learn with subject specialist teachers and move around the school for their lessons.
Subject Lessons
Class Seven and Eight students engage in a structured timetable of lessons in various subjects, each taught by specialist teachers. This approach allows for in-depth exploration of each discipline and encourages students to develop their individual interests and talents while building a solid foundation for future academic pursuits.
In Key Stage 3 our curriculum transitions from the experiential, holistic focus of the earlier Steiner years towards the more structured academic rigours required for the National Curriculum of England and preparation for external qualifications like the IGCSE, BTEC, and eventual A-Levels.
Students in Classes Six to Eight also take the Cambridge Lower Secondary English as a Second Language proficiency tests three times a year.
For students in KS3 with lower levels of English proficiency, we offer extracurricular classes and in school support to help them improve their language skills and engage more fully in the curriculum.
Timetables are personalised according to individual subject choices, reflecting the diverse interests and aspirations of our students.
All students also enjoy history, PSHE, and sports (including basketball, football, volleyball, and swimming) as enrichment (non-GCSE) lessons once per week.