Ipoh International School began life as a kindergarten for expatriate children in 1960 and has over the years; evolved into an international school that provides quality education from pre-school to pre-university. Today, Ipoh International School comprises Tenby Kindergarten, the junior and senior school and the A Level Centre.
Tenby Kindergarten for children aged 3 to 6 years old is located in its own building on the spacious ground of 47, Jalan Tun Dr Ismail, Ipoh. The programme at the kindergarten follows the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), with Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese as additional languages. Holistic approaches to teaching and learning at the kindergarten provides a fun and meaningful experience for the children.
At Ipoh International School, The Junior School also adopts the IPC and it follows a child-centred thematic approach but with rigorous assessment ensuring that each child not only enjoys his/her schooling but also attains the highest possible standard. External assessment at the end of Year 6 is through the Cambridge International Primary Assessment Test (CIPAT).
In the Senior School, the school follows the National Curriculum for England appropriately modified for international students in Year 7 to Year 9. All students study the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Information Communication Technology (ICT) together with Geography, History, Design-Technology, Music, Drama, PE, Art and Bahasa Malaysia. External assessment at the end of Year 9 is through the Checkpoint tests administered by Cambridge International Examination (CIE).
In Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), students choose from a range of subjects from the Languages, Humanities & Social Sciences, Sciences, Mathematics and Creative, Technical Vocational groups, leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examinations. The IGCSE is an internationally renowed and recognised qualification for further education.
Students study the Cambridge International A Level at the A Level Centre and it is an international passport to success in education, university and work. Thinking Skills is a compulsory subject and the students choose another three or four subjects from the Science, Arts and Humanities groups. As one of the most recognised qualifications around the world, it is accepted as proof of academic ability for entry to universities worldwide.
Our Preschool / Kindergarten is a half-day programme. The main focus of our Preschool programme is learning through play. We adopt a hands-on approach to learning which allows the child to have fun exploring the world, while developing their physical, cognitive and social skills in a creative way.
The Kindergarten follows the early years programme of the International Primary Curriculum based on the English National Curriculum. While this programme allows for learning through play, it prepares the child for entry into the more formal setting of Junior School.
| Curriculum | Stages / Levels | Examination / Assessment |
| International Primary Curriculum (IPC) | Key Stages 1 and 2 (Years 1 to 6) |
CIPAT (Cambridge International Primary Assessment Test) for English, Mathematics and Science |
| Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme (for English, Mathematics and Science) and English National Curriculum (for Humanities and Technical subjects) |
Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) |
Cambridge Checkpoint Tests for English, Mathematics and Science |
| International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) | Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) |
IGCSE Examination |
The Infant and Junior school currently uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) for teaching and learning. The IPC is based on the English National Curriculum which has been ‘internationalised’ to suit the changing trend of learners’ cultural backgrounds, especially in International Schools around the world.
The IPC is a curriculum that develops children’s learning in terms of the:
The IPC addresses the development of knowledge, skills and understanding in three key areas:
The Curriculum is set out as follows:
The International Primary Curriculum is particularly effective as it:
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme is a framework for students approximately 11 – 14 years old. The Lower Secondary Programme has been developed to link with the Cambridge International Primary Programme and provides standardized tests to allow careful monitoring of progress from primary to lower secondary phases. It also provides excellent preparation for students embarking on IGCSE courses.
It builds on the primary stage, and develops children’s knowledge and skills in Mathematics, English and Science. The Lower Secondary Programme also offers schools a means of tracking student progress through the lower secondary phase, with an integrated package of teaching, learning and assessment materials.
At the end of Lower Secondary, students sit the Cambridge Checkpoint tests which provide detailed feedback on students’ strengths and weaknesses before they move into the 14 – 16 years old / IGCSE stage.
Cambridge Checkpoint tests are standardized, set and marked by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE), to provide an international benchmark of student achievement enabling teachers to advise students and parents of the suitability of different progression routes.
Schools can use the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme with other curricula. At Ipoh International School, the English National Curriculum is used in the teaching and learning of Humanities and Technical subjects at this key stage. In addition to this, a detailed curriculum map has been designed using the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme and the English Curriculum with local context added to provide a holistic curriculum aimed at preparing students for life-long learning opportunities.
The International General Certificate of Secondary Education, or IGCSE, is an international qualification for secondary school students. The IGCSE is typically taken by 14 – 16 year olds, and it prepares students for further academic work, including progression to A Level, AS Level study and the IB Diploma Programme.
Cambridge IGCSE provides a broad study programme and covers subjects from various areas: Languages, Humanities and Social Sciences, Sciences, Mathematics, and Creative, Technical and Vocational. With a choice of Core and Extended papers in most subjects, IGCSE is suitable for students of different ability levels. In some subjects, IGCSE can be taken with or without coursework, making it suitable for schools with less specialised staff.
The IGCSE allows teaching to be placed in a localised context, making it relevant in different regions. It is intended to be suitable for students whose first language may not be English and this is acknowledged throughout the examination process.
Cambridge ICE is the group award of the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and requires the study of subjects drawn from the five different IGCSE subject groups. It gives schools the opportunity to benefit from offering a broad and balanced curriculum by recognizing the achievements of students who pass examinations in at least seven subjects, including two languages, and one subject from each of the other subject groups. Candidates sit for only ONE examination but if they fulfill the requirements, they will automatically qualify for the ICE award.
The Cambridge portfolio of IGCSE qualifications provides a solid foundation for higher level courses such as GCE A and AS Levels and the International Baccalaureate Diploma as well as excellent preparation for employment.
A wide range of IGCSE subjects is available and these are grouped into five curriculum areas, as follows:
Candidates hoping to gain the Cambridge ICE group award must enter and sit for at least seven subjects selected from the five IGCSE curriculum areas.
The subjects selected must include:
The subjects for Cambridge IGCSE and for Cambridge ICE are grouped as follows:
| Group 1 Languages |
First Language | English, Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Sesotho, Spanish, Thai, Turkish |
| Second Language | English, Afrikaans, Hindi, IsiZulu | |
| Foreign Language | Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish | |
| Group 2 Humanities and Social Sciences |
Economics, Geography, History, Literature (English), Bangladesh Studies, Development Studies, Latin, Literature (Spanish), Pakistan Studies, Environmental Management, Religious Studies, Sociology | |
| Group 3 Sciences |
Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture, Combined Science, Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award), Environmental Management, Physical Science | |
| Group 4 Mathematics |
Additional Mathematics, Mathematics | |
| Group 5 Creative, Technical Vocational |
Accounting, Art & Design, Business Studies, Information & Communication Technology, Design and Technology, Child Development, Computer Studies, Drama, Food and Nutrition, Music, Physical Education, Travel & Tourism | |
Note:
| Ipoh International School is a fully recognised and registered centre with the Cambridge International Examinations board to conduct the CIPAT, Checkpoint and IGCSE examinations. |