OPEN FOR ENROLMENT: Karen (third left) at the press conference. From left are Kong, Dr Sue and Eric.
SIBU: Sibu secondary students no longer have to leave home if they want an international education.
Woodlands International School is accredited by the Cambridge International Examinations Board (CVIWE) to run the full range of Cambridge Secondary programmes from Year 7 to Year 13.
Woodlands currently caters to students up to Year 10 and will welcome the first cohort of Year 11 students in 2014.
For principal Karen Mclymont, the Cambridge programmes open doors to future international educational opportunities.
“Universities these days expect students to be well-rounded individuals. The student profiles developed at Woodlands will ensure senior students leave with a comprehensive balanced resume that documents their academic abilities and achievements as well as their wider abilities and interests.”
Karen was speaking at a press conference held at the school premises at Teku Road yesterday afternoon.
With her were the school’s chief operating officer Dr Sue Collins, deputy principal Eric Yee Jat Foh and head of secondary school, Bong Shiaw Kong.
The Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme for students in Year 7 to 9 is designed to provide seamless progression from the Cambridge International Primary Programme.
The principal said: “The widening range of subject options offered in Year 9 gives students the opportunity to stretch their wings and explore their subject interest before selecting their senior examination subjects.”
At the end of Year 9, students sit for the Cambridge Checkpoint Tests.
Karen said these tests marked by Cambridge provide schools an external examination benchmark for student performance.
In Year 10, students progress to the two-year International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
Karen said the IGCSE programme was the world’s most popular international curriculum for upper secondary schools.
‘It provides excellent preparation for the Cambridge Advanced Stage (AS) and A-Level for students in Year 12 and 13.
The IGCSE and A-Level curriculum are designed to be relevant to today’s international students, and are regularly updated and extended in line with changing needs and education research for best teaching practice.”
Currently, Woodlands International School Year 10 students are offered the following subjects — English as a First Language, English as a Second Language, Mathematics, Physics (single or double awards), Chemistry (single or double awards), Global Perspective, Music, ICT, Chinese as a Foreign Language and Bahasa Malaysia as a Foreign Language.
In addition to their selected examination subject, secondary students at Woodlands also have Physical Education, swimming and two hours of extra-curricular activities each week.
As required by the Ministry of Education, all Malaysian students in international schools must study Bahasa Malaysia, History and Moral or Islamic Education.
Woodlands International School followed the Malaysia academic calendar and is preparing for the January 2014 intake for pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, primary and secondary students for Year 11.
The school will be holding information sessions for prospective families in the school at Teku Road from 9am to 3pm on Oct 5.
Senior staff will be available to discuss the curriculum and various programmes offered at the school.
Those who enrol by Nov 31 can get free assessment and free registration paid for by generous donors.
Families who wish to view the school or arrange for assessments to be conducted on an alternative day may do so by contacting the administration office at 016-8893513 or 084-239761 for an appointment.