Academia Británica Cuscatleca

Infobox School
name =Academia Británica Cuscatleca

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established = 1970
type =Private
affiliation =
district =La Libertad
country = El Salvador
grades =Pre-K -12th
students = app. 1370
president =
principal =
headmaster = George Hobson
dean =
faculty =
mascot = Bulldog
colors = Red, Blue, & White color box|redcolor box|bluecolor box|white
location =Apartado Postal 121, Santa Tecla
website = [http://www.abc.edu.sv http://www.abc.edu.sv]

Academia Británica Cuscatleca (ABC) is a selective, mixed bi-lingual and bi-cultural school from pre-Kinder to grade 12 situated in Santa Tecla, El Salvador. The school has more than 1,370 students in the primary and secondary schools. The student body is mainly Salvadoran with a number of international students attending the school. One third of the teaching staff is British with the remainder largely Salvadoran. The language of instruction throughout the school is predominantly English with Spanish being used for a small number of classes. The school is accredited by the Council of International Schools and is an International Baccalaureate World School, it forms part of the [http://www.cista.org/ Council of International Schools in the Americas] (CIStA), the United Kingdom [http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/index.htm Department for Education and Science School] . [ [http://www.abc.edu.sv/links_top/Welcome/Recruiting%20Staff/abcfacts.htm ABC Facts] ]

History

The school became an IB World School since 1982. [ [http://www.ibo.org/school/000202/ International Baccalaureate Organization] ] Headmaster George Hobson is in membership of [http://www.hmc.org.uk/ HMC] . There is now an International [http://www.globalcitizensaward.org/ Global Citizens Award] involving many students from different grades to help become better citizens in the world, make the world a better place, and learn about other cultures. [ [http://www.globalcitizensaward.org/ Global Citizens Award] ]

Programme

The ABC consists of two sections, a primary school and a secondary school.

Primary School

During the early stages of Pre-kindergarten, Kindergarten and Preparatory students are taught and encouranged to learn Swimming, Physical Education and Music as part of the curriculum; other activities which take place are Theatrical productions, fairs and student assemblies. All subjects are taught in English, with the exception of Physical Education and Spanish. This three stages are known as Lower Primary, students are between the ages of 3 to 6 are introduced to the concepts of reading, writing and numbers. Students also follow a separate Spanish curriculum, required by the Salvadoran Ministry of Education. After this years are completed, they follow to what is called Upper Primary which consists of 1st to 5th grade with education on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Citizenship and "Life Skills" (Personal, Social and Health Education or PSHE), Salvadoran History and environmental and political issues of El Salvador. [ [http://www.abc.edu.sv/ Primary School] ]

econdary School

Secondary School is divided from 6th grade to 8th grade, 9th to 10th, and 11th to 12th. In the first two years, students are taught with English, Mathematics, Science, Spanish, History, Geography, Art, Technology, Music, French, Computer Studies and Physical Education as part of a requirement of both the English National Curriculum and the Salvadoran Ministry of Education. When students reach 9th grade, they are taught English Language, English Literature, Spanish Language and Literature, Mathematics and Coordinated Science and they are given the opportunity to choose two courses from History, Geography, Business Studies, Computer Studies, Music, Art or French; this education will lead to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) from the University of Cambridge. The ABC also teaches under the International Baccalaureate Diploma for the last two years of school, they study their basics again as well as Psychology, Geography, History, French, Economics, Art & Design, Information Technology in a Global Society, Computer Studies or either a second Science subject or a second Humanities subject. Students undertake a Theory of Knowledge Course, write a dissertation, and undertake community service. The school also offers the TOEFL, PSAT and SAT examinations and offers vocational tests. All graduating Salvadoran students also sit for the national PAES examination which, together with their studies for IB, allows them to gain the Salvadoran Bachillerato (school leaving certificate). [ [http://www.abc.edu.sv/ Secondary School] ]

Curriculum

There are only four IB schools in El Salvador, all located in the capital San Salvador. The school follows a British curriculum preparing students for International General Certificate of Secondary Education examinations (grades 9 and 10) followed by International Baccalaureate Diploma in (grades 11 and 12). The programme of education follows the English National Curriculum, the [http://www.mined.gob.sv/ Salvadoran Ministry of Education] and the International Baccalaureate requirements.

References