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What’s in a Number? Our Seven Top Tips for Understanding Academic Results

10 Sep 2020

Schools deserve the opportunity to shout about their students’ achievements as they publish their academic results. The statistics can be incredibly useful for prospective parents too- they offer something concrete to compare between schools. But can and should we compare? The numbers presented are a starting point, but certainly do not paint the whole picture.

Here are our seven top tips to ensure you gain valuable insight as you explore the data published.

Top 7 Tips

#1 Check the size of the cohort

A percentage can be impressive, but the number of students entered for the examinations may be very small. Check how many students are represented by the statistic before you are wowed by the headline!

In 2020, GIS entered 433 students across IGCSE, AS and A Level! This makes our results pretty impressive given our large cohort size !

#2 Zoom in on the ‘Value-added’ Score

In a nutshell, this data shows the ‘extra’ achievement a child has made, when you take into account their natural ability. It can also be seen as a good indicator of the quality of teaching.

At GIS, our Value Added score for A Level is +1.0. This means that our outstanding teachers make the difference of approximately one grade on average for each student in each subject! These results far exceed those of any private school in the UK. What is value added score?

#3 Look at historical data for consistency!

It is important that your child receives a consistently outstanding education. To ensure that a school has an excellent proven track record of this, be sure to check out their past academic results.

Despite 2020’s record-breaking results, GIS students consistently perform exceptionally well, making us one of the world’s top performing British international schools year on year.

2020 Key Academic Achievements

  • 433 students sat IGCSE and A Level examinations
  • 81% of all grades at A-Level were A*/A
  • 76% of all grades at IGCSE were A*/A
  • 100% pass rate for A Level
  • 70% A-Level students achieved straight A*/A grades
  • Nearly 50% of all grades at IGCSE were A*
  • 98% of graduating students will continue to university within two years, having received offers from Stanford, Brown, UCLA, Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Edinburgh, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Leiden University and Yale-NUS amongst others.
  • Six students won places at Oxbridge and ten students received offers to study medicine or dentistry in the UK.

#4 How inclusive is the school?

An inclusive school ensures it provides for students of all abilities, including those with different learning needs.

GIS prides itself on being a fully inclusive school that ensures that all of our students are supported and challenged to fulfil their potential. This makes our excellent results stand out even more!

#5 Check out the destinations!

Outstanding academic results should open doors to the world’s best universities. Check out exactly where the school’s graduates go on to post-A Level to get a sense of how well prepared they are during their final school years.

In 2020, 98% of A Level students at GIS will go on to their first or second university choices, including Stanford, Brown, UCLA, LSE, Edinburgh, University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, Leiden University and Yale-NUS. Additionally, 6 students will go on to Oxbridge and a further 10 will study medicine or dentistry in the UK.

#6 How many subjects are offered?

A broad range of subjects offered means that your child will have a greater chance of discovering a pathway that is perfectly suited to them. Find out how many subjects are offered at IGCSE and A Level, to enable your child the best chance to shine.

In 2020, GIS offered 29 subjects at IGCSE and 18 were studied at A Level. Given our excellent results across the broad, this is the perfect example of the consistency in outstanding teaching across our school.

#7 Compare Apples with Apples

And last but not least, make sure you compare the same statistics. Schools will have different ways of formulating their results to ensure they look their best. If you’re focused on A*/A, make sure that’s what you’re looking at across the board, and if it’s ‘pass rate’ you’re more concerned with, make sure you clarify which grades are included in the data provided.

2020 is a record-breaking year for GIS, with our outstanding results showing academic excellence across the board. We are particularly proud of our A*/A grades, with an astonishing 81% A Level and 76% IGCSE grades awarded these top two grades!

All of the above is what makes our results outstanding and so unique.

Despite the challenges that 2020 has brought, the GIS community has stood stronger than ever, and our recent record-breaking results are the perfect example of this. The dedication, determination and resilience shown, twinned with the excellent virtual learning community established by our staff, has meant that not only have our students developed all-important life skills required for success, they have laid an exciting path for the future ahead.

From virtual classes and interactive resources to class e-meets, inspiring videos and excellent pastoral support, our carefully measured hybrid approach tailored learning to the needs of our students. Did this have a positive impact on our students, despite the challenging times? You only need to have a look at our results to find out. >>

At Garden International School, we know that every student’s backpack is filled with unlimited potential. Packed with the right combination of knowledge, skills, character and confidence, we ensure that our students are fully prepared for the journey ahead. We also recognise the importance of opening doors, to ensure that a student’s future continues to be full of potential- and this is where excellent academic results are important! Read more about our top scholars >>

Congrats to our GIS community for once again bringing out the best! What’s more, to celebrate our outstanding results, we are offering all prospective families a full application fee waiver (saving you RM 1300) between 7th- 20th September, if you enrol your child(ren) for the current academic year. Don’t delay; get in touch with us today! 

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Sixth Form Curriculum: Year 12 & 13
Year 1 & 2

Key Stage 5 (age 16 to 18)

Year 12 & 13 Curriculum

Introduction

The GIS Sixth Form promotes academic excellence in all students, offering international AS and A Level qualifications. These are delivered by outstanding teachers with knowledge and expertise in Key Stage 5 education, who are always ready to go the extra mile to set their students on the path to success.

However, our philosophy of education goes far beyond that. We are proud of our bespoke Sixth Form Diploma which allows students to enrich their studies beyond the formal curriculum, develop leadership skills and nourish a love of learning. In Sixth Form, we recognise the need to equip our students with the soft skills that will prepare them for like beyond our school, and are proud of the opportunities our students have to do this as part of our THRIVE Programme, GIS electives and through our extensive CCA programme.

Underpinning everything we do is our approach of academic care. As well as the care and support of their tutors team, our students complete lessons in Social and Emotional Learning to promote the wellbeing and understanding of others that helps support their success both during their time in GIS and beyond.

As a result of our track record of academic excellence, holistic approach and skills-based education, it is not surprising that GIS Sixth Form students are sought after by the world’s best universities. 

In The Classroom

Taught Curriculum

Students can select from a wide range of A Level subjects which are recognised globally and support our students’ progression to universities in a wide range of countries. These are taught by subject specialists who inspire students to explore their passions and provide rigour and challenge to develop higher-order thinking skills.

A Level
(Cambridge & Edexcel)

Beyond the Classroom

Wider Learning

The range of opportunities that our students benefit from beyond their taught curriculum causes them to really stand out. Our wider learning programme gives students the opportunity to get involved in things that they enjoy, build a sense of community and develop skills that they will use in later life.

Bespoke Learning

GIS Diploma Programme

At GIS, we believe in the importance of a holistic education, which is about more than just achieving fantastic A Levels. We believe it also needs to prepare our students for the future, enabling them to develop a broad knowledge and a wide range of skills. For this purpose, we have developed our curriculum, offering an extensive choice of electives that will help prepare students for the next steps and life beyond school. Our GIS Sixth Formers are given the opportunity to complete the GIS Diploma or the GIS Diploma with Honours.

A GIS Diploma is awarded to students who:

A GIS Diploma with Honours is awarded to students who:

Secondary Curriculum: Year 10 & 11
Year 10 & 11

Key Stage 4 (age 14 & 16)

Year 10 & 11 Curriculum

Introduction

The Secondary School curriculum at GIS focuses on supporting young confident adults to reach their potential, in line with our GIS Learner Skills and our commitment to ensuring academic care for all.

Our Year 10 to 11 (KS4) curriculum is designed to meet the academic, personal and cultural needs of our students and better equip them for future challenges, while at the same time creating enjoyable learning environments that inspire and motivate. Students begin to select courses that appeal to them and follow a broad range of examined and non-examined subjects that prepare them for success both in and out of the classroom. Alongside examined subjects, students follow courses designed to develop them as individuals through Social Emotional Learning and a range of elective subjects. The Year 10 and 11 curriculum creates young adults not only with strong academic credentials but who are also well rounded individuals ready for the next stage of their learning.

Our focus on involvement outside the classroom alongside academic excellence aims to create the opportunity for students to become world changers in both their local and global communities.

In The Classroom

Taught Curriculum

Our KS4 taught curriculum provides students with a balanced yet bespoke programme of study at GIS. At its core is a personalised combination of International GCSE qualifications that all students undertake and enhanced by our elective program. To ensure students are well rounded with successes beyond just academic achievements, the programme offers all students in KS4 a range of bespoke GIS elective courses as well as the study of Social and Emotional Learning. This balanced robust curriculum ensures students are well prepared for our our outstanding GCE (A Level) programme in Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13) or study beyond GIS. As with all other Key stages academic care remains central to our ethos with regular curriculum time allocated to the pastoral system and supported through contact with tutor groups.

Core Subjects

Option Subjects

Beyond the Classroom

Wider Learning

Our KS4 wider curriculum supports students in their engagement, enjoyment and personal personal development as they move through Years 10 and 11. A wide range of activities are available that take place beyond timetabled lessons enable all students to gain engage in our school community and develop as individuals.

Bespoke Learning

GIS Elective Programme

At GIS we believe in the importance of a holistic education that is more than just achieving fantastic IGCSEs: it also needs to prepare you for the future, which requires a broad knowledge and wide range of skills. For this purpose, we have developed our curriculum, offering an extensive choice of electives that will extend learning and help prepare you for your own next steps and life beyond education.

Secondary Curriculum: Year 7 to 9
Year 1 & 2

Key Stage 3 (age 11 to 14)

Year 7 to 9 Curriculum

Introduction

The Secondary School curriculum at GIS focuses on supporting young confident adults to reach their potential, in line with our GIS Learner Skills and our commitment to ensuring academic care for all.

Our Year 7 to 9 (KS3) curriculum is designed to meet the academic, personal and cultural needs of our students and better equip them for future challenges, while at the same time creating enjoyable learning environments that inspire and motivate. Students follow a broad and balanced range of subjects that are linked to the National Curriculum of England and Wales but modified to create courses appropriate for an international education.

Our focus on involvement outside the classroom alongside academic excellence aims to create the opportunity for students to become world changers in both their local and global communities.

In The Classroom

Taught Curriculum

Our KS3 taught curriculum provides students with a broad and balanced approach to study at GIS. A range of subjects are followed that gives learners a solid foundation to build upon in later years and ignite a passion for learning. Alongside delivering strong academic foundations, our KS3 taught curriculum is supported through our academic care provision. Students are supported by one-to-one conversations with subject teachers and tutors about their learning.

Subjects

Subjects

Beyond the Classroom

Wider Learning

Our KS3 wider curriculum supports students in their engagement, enjoyment and personal development as they move through Years 7 to 9. A wide range of activities are available that take place beyond timetabled lessons enable all students to gain engage in our school community and develop as individuals.

Early Years Curriculum: Nursery & Reception
Nursery & Reception

Early Years Foundation Stage (age 3 & 5)

Nursery & Reception Curriculum

Early Years

Our EYC learning environment, both inside and outside, is well-resourced and offers a wide range of multi-sensory learning opportunities that are linked to the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum. We balance play-based learning with the teaching of fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, PE and music lessons, as well as social and emotional skill development.

Mandarin is taught as an additional language through a combination of discrete teacher-led sessions, and as part of continuous provision, with our outstanding teachers encouraging authentic and natural language acquisition amongst our youngest learners.

Throughout their time at EYC, our young learners have opportunities to follow their interests and take ownership over their learning. This is encouraged through first-hand experiences that create a sense of awe and wonder for children, inspiring them to learn more about the world around them.

Children’s brains develop connections faster in the first five years than at any other time in their lives. This is the time when the foundations for learning, health and behaviour throughout life are laid down. In fact, by the time they turn five 90% of their brain will have been developed.

Our curriculum and approach are designed to ensure that a strong foundation is laid down to support your child’s further development throughout their life.

In The Classroom

Taught Curriculum

Our Early Years offering consists of carefully designed opportunities to learn through play, directed curriculum and wider learning opportunities such as Jungle School, gardening and cooking.

A Unique Child

Prime

Specific

Mandarin

Jungle School Programme

Beyond the Classroom

Wider Learning

Even at EYC, we offer a broad curriculum, with the aim of igniting passions and developing new interests amongst our children. We offer swimming, Water Play Days, Woodwork, Cooking, Trips and CCAs. We also offer our Jungle School programme. Unique to Malaysia, this is a hands-on programme based on the ‘Forest School’ approach in Europe. At Jungle School, our EYC children are able to learn about nature, explore and take risks is a safe and controlled environment and learn to become responsible citizens of the earth who respect and preserve her resources.

Primary Curriculum: Year 3 to 6
Year 3 to 6

Key Stage 2 (age 7 to 11)

Year 3 to 6 Curriculum

Introduction

This stage builds upon the foundations laid in the Early Years and Key Stage 1, preparing children for the next phase of their education. English is taught daily with a strong emphasis on the development of speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. The development of practical, mental and applied mathematics is achieved through our mathematics lessons.

In Years 5 and 6, French and Spanish are added to the World Languages programme. Students can decide to continue learning the Asian language they have been learning or replace this choice with one of the European languages. Either way, they will still have the opportunity to learn the other language as part of the language club programme after school. Homework is provided throughout the school, and is aimed at consolidating skills taught at school and encouraging parents to play an active role in their children’s education.

Children’s progress is assessed throughout Key Stages 1 and 2 to ensure we have a good understanding of their ongoing progress, individual abilities and to ensure their future needs are met.

In The Classroom

Taught Curriculum

The Primary Curriculum follows a topic-based, cross-curriculum approach to learning with the British National Curriculum as it’s foundation. Soft skills are developed through a set of bespoke ‘Golden Threads’ that are carefully interwoven throughout the curriculum.

Subjects taught in our topic curriculum are:

Specialist Teaching subjects are

Beyond the Classroom

Wider Learning

In Year 3 to Year 6 we offer our students wider learning opportunities to encourage them to learn new interests and skills beyond the classroom including:

Primary Curriculum: Year 1 & 2
Year 1 & 2

Key Stage 1 (age 5 to 7)

Year 1 & 2 Curriculum

Introduction

The first key stage of school welcomes children from Early Years into the Primary School and encourages each child to continue their development and maintain the fun, active approach to learning. Information Communication Technology (ICT) is used to support the learning process. Classroom-based learning along with a broad co-curricular programme and education outside the classroom ensure we provide a holistic education for your child.

The majority of learning takes place in the nurturing environment of the classroom facilitated by the classroom teacher and assistant teachers. Specialist teachers support the teaching of Art, Music, ICT and Physical Education. In World Languages, students learn Mandarin or Bahasa Malaysia – the national language, helping them to develop the skills and passion to learn an additional language in depth. Students also have the opportunity to explore other languages as a part of the language club programme which happens after school. Science, History, Geography, Design Technology and Drama are taught through our exciting Topic Curriculum which is underpinned by the ‘Golden Threads’ of Intercultural Learning and Social and Emotional Learning.

GIS utilises both the classroom and education opportunities outside the classroom to provide a programme that develops World Changers. At GIS we believe that our responsibility goes beyond producing outstanding academic results. We are fully committed to providing a holistic, well-balanced education.

In The Classroom

Taught Curriculum

The Primary Curriculum follows a topic-based, cross-curriculum approach to learning with the British National Curriculum as it’s foundation. Soft skills are developed through a set of bespoke ‘Golden Threads’ that are carefully interwoven throughout the curriculum. The subjects taught in our topic curriculum are: English, Science, Mathematics, History, Geography, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Art & Design, Design Technology

Subjects taught in our topic curriculum are:

Specialist Teaching subject are:

Beyond the Classroom

Wider Learning

 

In Year 1 & 2 we offer our students wider learning opportunities to encourage them to learn new interests and skills beyond the classroom including: