Curriculum Overview

A school's curriculum describes what the student does over the entire school programme, and includes what is explicitly taught (the "overt" curriculum") and what the student indirectly absorbs (the "hidden" curriculum). IST's overt curriculum is explained in the curriculum documents that can be found by clicking on the links below. Our hidden curriculum reflects our Values, and is reinforced by our discipline and behaviour codes.

A school's taught Curriculum is typically broken down into subject syllabuses. IST believes that traditional divisions of knowledge can be misleading and arbitrary, and so we discuss "Subject Areas" as opposed to "Subjects".

IST has seven Core Subject Areas :

• Languages A
• Humanities
• Information and Computing Technologies ("ICT")
• Mathematics
• Science
• Study Habits and Life Skills
• Personal, Social and Health Education ("PSHE")

IST has four Specialist Subject Areas :

• Languages B
• Arts
• Music
• Physical Education

• Languages A - Sometimes may be known as Mother Tongue, home language, first language or L1, however Language A really means a programme which is Literature-based; we believe to be bilingual is to be bi-literate and IST's Language A programmes prepare students for Middle School literature study. A student's Language A choice may be influenced by factors other than that that is the language spoken at home. IST Language A studies begin from Pre-School and focus on speaking in the Junior School programme continues with developing oral skills and the focus shifts to the written language. In learning a Language A, students follow a typical pattern of language acquisition.

• Languages B - Sometimes also known as Second Language, Foreign Language or L2, typically learnt outside the home and often subsequent to the Mother Tongue. The focus in a Language B program lies more in communicative competence, especially in the oral skills. In learning a Language B, students follow a more deterministic pattern of language acquisition dictated by their purpose in learning that language. IST's Language B studies begin from Junior 4, although for some students a third Language A may instead be taken during this timetable slot.

• Humanities - Sometimes known as Social Studies and covering the human world, how people construct it and how they view it. Humanities at IST is approximately 50% History, 30% Physical Geography and 20% Economics, Political Studies and Civics and focuses on the skills of research. Pre-School and Junior School Humanities provide many of the topics studied in the IST curriculum.

• Mathematics - As well as arithmetic, Mathematics includes pure and applied and involves an approach to problem-solving and relationships. IST Mathematics focuses on the skills of logical approaches, ordering and sequencing.

• Science - Science traditionally comprises Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and today, it also includes Environmental Science. IST Science focuses on the skills of the scientific method and Pre-School and Junior School Science provides many of the topics studied in the IST curriculum.

• Arts - This Subject Area comprises Art, Music, Drama and Information and Computing Technology (ICT). In the IST Pre-School, the Arts provide many (or even most) of the students' learning activities.

• Physical Education (PE) - Physical Education at IST is thematic rather than based on major sports and aims at developing an understanding of how the body works and a joy in exercising.

• Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) - This subject area covers looking after oneself, social roles and responsibility, moral issues and health and for older students Lifeskills, Human Relationships, Career Orientation and University guidance. In the Pre-School and Junior School, PSHE is an integral part of the programme and is taught by the student's Languages A teachers.