Lower and Upper Secondary
Prime School offers a flexible curriculum with continuous assessment for 11 to 16 year-olds
Estoril and Lisbon
Lower Secondary
Years 7, Year 8, and Year 9
Ages 11 to 14
(Estoril and Lisbon Campuses)
Prime School stands as an exceptional educational venture, characterised by continual innovation, ongoing learning, cutting-edge facilities, and a commitment to providing diverse experiences. The school is notable for its quality teaching staff, modern facilities, multicultural ethos, emphasis on the arts and drama, and an array of sports offerings. Tailor-made approaches are also integral to address the individual needs of students.
Prime School follows the Cambridge International Curriculum during Lower Secondary, offering two formats: one fully in English and the other in a bilingual mode.
Years 7, 8 and 9 (11 to 14 years old)
Students in this phase are expected to engage with the following subjects:
Cambridge Curriculum with International delivery :
- Taught in English: Science, Mathematics, Art & Design, English as a first language, History/Geography, Music and Drama, Gym, ICT/Robotics, and Drama. Portuguese as a second language and Spanish as a second language.
Cambridge Curriculum with Bilingual delivery:
- Taught in English: Science, Mathematics, Art & Design, English as a second language, History/Geography.
- Taught in Portuguese: Music and Drama, Gym, ICT/Robotics. Portuguese as a first language and Spanish as a second language.
Upper Secondary
Years 10 and Year 11
Ages 14 to 16
(Estoril and Lisbon Campuses)
Prime School International offers two academic pathways for this age group: the IGCSEs and the Technical Courses.
The distinction between the International IGCSE Exams and Technical Courses lies in both the mode of instruction and the assessment methods:
As students transition to Upper Secondary, encompassing Years 10 and 11 (Ages 14 to 16), they encounter a diverse academic environment. At this stage, they have the opportunity to pursue two distinct paths: the International Approach with IGCSE Exams, and Technical Courses, which offer three courses with a more technical focus: Business, Sports, and Art & Design.
Let's delve into each pathway further:
Upper Secondary Cambridge Curriculum
(IGCSE taught in English)
The Cambridge IGCSE is widely acknowledged as the premier international qualification for students aged 14 to 16, providing an extensive array of opportunities unmatched by other international certifications. At Prime School International, our qualifications are exclusively taught by teachers with credentials recognized by Cambridge University.
We offer a diverse range of qualifications covering Coordinated Science, English, Mathematics, Computing, History, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, French, Art & Design, Business, and Physical Education. In numerous subjects, students have the option to choose between core and extended curricula to suit their individual capabilities.
On the other hand, Technical Courses offer flexibility, allowing instruction in either English or Portuguese, with an assessment approach centered on assignments, presentations, and reports. It's essential to highlight that students pursuing this track must undertake two IGCSE exams in English and Mathematics, differing from the standard six subjects evaluated in traditional exams. This unique approach ensures students benefit from a varied learning experience tailored to their preferences and skill development.
Upper Secondary Technical Level 2 Courses
(taught in English or Portuguese)
On one hand, our internationally recognized Technical Courses level 2 of Prime School International are tailored for students who prefer practical pathways over theoretical ones. They offer flexibility, allowing instruction in either English or Portuguese, depending on the student's preference, with an assessment approach centered on assignments, presentations, and reports, which can be presented in either language. It's crucial to highlight that students following this track must take two mandatory IGCSE exams in English and Mathematics, while the remaining subjects involve assignments to be completed alongside the teachers. This unique approach ensures that students benefit from a varied learning experience tailored to their preferences and skill development.
* Note: Each course can only commence with a minimum of 7 students.
Our Technical Courses:
Size and structure
480 GLH Equivalent in size to four International IGCSEs. At least nine units, of which six are mandatory and three are assessed by Prime School International Set Assignment. Mandatory content (62.5%). This qualification is designed to support learners who want to study sport as a one-year, full-time course, or for those wanting to take it alongside another area of complementary or contrasting study as part of a two-year, full-time study programme.
Mandatory units :
Principles of Fitness and Fitness Testing
Training for Personal Fitness
Business Skills in Sport
Optional units :
Sports Development
Practical Sport
Leadership in Sport
Anatomy and Physiology for Sport
Psychology for Sports Performance
Work Experience in the Sports Industry
Nutrition for Sports Performance
Exercise and Fitness Instructions
Size and structure
360 GLH Equivalent in size to three International IGCSEs. Six units, of which three are mandatory and two are assessed by a Pearson Set Assignment. Mandatory content (50%)
This qualification is designed to support learners who want to study art and design as a substantial element of a one-year, full-time course alongside smaller courses in other subjects, or for those wanting to take it alongside another area of complementary or contrasting study as part of a two-year, full-time study programme. The qualification would support progression to further education at Level 3 if taken as part of a programme of study that included other Prime School International Level 2 qualifications or International IGCSEs .
Mandatory units
- Developing Art and Design in Response to a Theme
- Visual Communication
Optional units
- Building an Art and Design Portfolio
- Contextual References in Art and Design
- Practical Research Project
- Working with a Graphic Design Brief
- Working with a 3D Design Brief
- Working with a Photography Brief
- Working with a Digital Art and Design Brief
-
Working with a Moving Image Brief
Size and structure
480 GLH Equivalent in size to four International GCSEs. 13 units, which are all mandatory and three are assessed by Pearson Set Assignment. Mandatory content (100%) .
This qualification is designed to support learners who want to study travel and tourism as a one-year, full-time course, or for those wanting to take it alongside another area of complementary or contrasting study as part of a two-year, full-time study programme. The qualification would support progression to Level 3/pre-tertiary level courses if taken as part of a programme of study that included other Prime School International Level 2 qualifications or International IGCSEs.
Mandatory units
The Travel and Tourism Industry
Customer Service in Travel and Tourism Organisations
Travel Planning
Optional units
Development of the Travel and Tourism Industry
Exploring Marketing in Travel and Tourism
Customer Service Skills, Processes and Digital Technologies in Travel and Tourism
Employment Opportunities in Travel and Tourism
Exploring Airports and Airlines
Working as a Tour Guide
Cruise and Tourist Rail Experiences
Hospitality in the Travel and Tourism Industry
Structure
Prime School outlines a predetermined number of hours for completing and demonstrating achievement in all regulated qualifications, referred to as Total Qualification Time (TQT). Within this framework, Prime School specifies the Guided Learning Hours (GLH) allocated for delivering the qualification. Guided learning encompasses teacher and assessor-involved activities such as lessons, tutorials, online instruction, supervised study, and performance feedback. It encompasses the time required for learners to complete external assessments under examination or supervised conditions. Alongside guided learning, additional learning directed by teachers or assessors includes private study, assessment preparation, and independent assessment undertaking. For instance, preparatory reading, revision, and independent research are included. The Prime School Level 2 Tech in Creative Media Production entails a Total Qualification Time of 150 hours with 120 Guided Learning Hours. While centers should consider these hours when planning their programs, they should also exercise professional judgment in determining the allocation of guided learning and study time across components.
Total Qualification
Time: 150 hours
Guided Learning Hours: 120 hours.
Units
Exploring Media Products
Learning outcomes
- Investigate media products
- Explore how media products are created to provide meaning and engage audiences.
Developing Digital Media Production Skills
Learning outcomes
- Develop and apply media pre-production processes, skills and techniques
- Develop and apply media production and post-production processes,
skills, and techniques to create a media product.
Create a Media Product in Response to a Brief
Learning outcomes
- Understand how to develop ideas in response to a brief
- Develop planning materials in response to a brief
- Apply media production skills and techniques to the creation of a media product
- Create and refine a media product to meet the requirements of a brief
Assessment
The three components in the qualification allow learners to develop broad knowledge and understanding of the media sector, and relevant skills such as research, planning, problem-solving, and communication at Level 2.
Internal assessment – externally moderated
Components 1 and 2 are assessed through non-exam internal assessment.
360 GLH Equivalent in size to three International IGCSEs. Six units. Three units are mandatory, two of which are assessed by Prime School Set Assignments. Mandatory content (50%). The Extended Certificate is designed to support learners who want to study performing arts as a substantial element of a one-year, full-time course alongside smaller courses in other subjects, or for those wanting to take it alongside another area of complementary or contrasting study as part of a two-year, full-time study programme. Being a larger size than the Certificate allows students to develop a still broader base of knowledge and skills.
Mandatory units
Introduction to Performing and Production Arts
Performing Arts Production
Individual Showcase
Optional units
Performing Existing Repertoire
Devising Performance Work
The Context of Performance
Community Performance
Site-specific Performance
Multimedia Performance
Performance Project
