Middle school students in grades 6-8 follow a curriculum based on the UK National Curriculum Key Stage 3. They mainly study with their advisory class but are set by ability in English, Chinese and for some maths and social studies classes. On Wednesday afternoons middle school students choose from a range of sports and arts electives.

In middle school students study the following courses:

English

Grades 6-8 have 7 periods of English per week

Students follow an integrated Cambridge course for English as Second Language learners using the English in Mind series of books. Students develop reading, writing, speaking and listening through a range of interesting and relevant contexts. Each context also has a grammatical focus. Students learn to be active readers and thinkers and express their own opinions clearly and sensitively.

Chinese

Grades 6-8 have 6 periods of Chinese per week

Students are placed within 8 levels of Chinese classes. Students take an HSK exam at least once per year to determine their levels and monitor their progress. Students develop reading, writing, speaking and listening through a range of interesting and relevant contexts. Students learn to be active readers and thinkers and express their own opinions clearly and sensitively.Mathematics

Grades 6-8 have 5 periods of mathematics per week.

Students will calculate the perimeter and area of various geometric figures as well as the surface area and volume of 3 dimensional objects. They will be introduced to ratios, rates and proportions and how it is related to real life situations. They will also be introduced to coordinate geometry and find out the gradient and equation of any linear function. Pupils will also be introduced to statistics and how to graph various sets of data.

Science

Grades 6 – 8 have 5 periods of Science per week

Students build on their scientific knowledge and understanding and use these to explain physical processes and events, and to understand a range of familiar application of science. They do more quantitative work, carrying out investigations on their own and with others. They select and use a wider range of reference sources. They communicate clearly what they did and its significance.

History

Grades 6-8 have 3 periods of History per week

The middle school history course covers key historical events from the middle ages to the second world war. Students also complete a project on Korean history. The focus is on developing the skills of a historian: making connections between events, analysing sources and considering cause and effect. Students also develop their critical reading and extended writing skills.

Geography

Grades 6-8 have 3 periods of Geography per week

The geography course introduces key ideas in both human and physical geography. Students learn key terminology and analytical skills. They also learn practical skills such as map reading.

ICT

Grades 6-8 have 3 periods of ICT per week.

The middle school course introduces students to key skills in using computer technology and the basics of computer science. The course is a mixture of theory and practical.

PSME

Grades 6-8 have 1 period of PSME per week

The PSME course encourages students to consider their own worldview and how they respond to some of life’s big questions.

MUN

Grades 6-8 have 1 period of MUN per week

The middle school MUN course introduces students to the role of the UN and human rights. Students develop public speaking and debating skills as well as developing and justifying their own opinions about world issues.

PE

Grades 6-8 have 1 period of PE per week

In middle school the boys and girls take separate physical education classes. The school follows a British curriculum.