High School Program Options

[Menolly]

I would especially value any Watcher's opinion who has gone through the British Educational System...

We have been informed that Beorn qualifies to apply for two academic magnet programs for high school. The first is the International Baccalaureate Program at Eastside High School. Although Eastside is a nationally recognized academic school (I think it was ranked number four in the nation last I heard), we decided to pass on this program for various reasons:

First, Beorn’s writing skills are still pretty weak. That may change before he’s required to write the 4,000 word essay during his junior and senior years to get the IB diploma, but I don’t see it happening.

Second, we have heard this is a pretty high pressure program. While Beorn does his school work assigned to him, he’s never been motivated to do extra work. I’ve been told those kids who don’t thrive on doing school work are not really happy in this program.

Third, Eastside is the magnet school for the IB program because of severe gang problems at the school. These issues are ongoing. I strongly feel Beorn should never set foot on that campus.

Prior to our move, we were zoned for Eastside, and it was with that school that I discussed applying for Beorn to try and get into the UF Dual Enrollment program instead of attending class on campus. This is still an option for us, but I need to finish doing all the legwork for the high school we are now zoned for having moved.

However, we attended an Open House at our now zoned school for a three year old program offered there featuring the University of Cambridge (England) AICE curriculum and exams. Based on what we saw presented and what we have read on the website, this may be a better fit for Beorn. Plus, a student can do the program on a partial curriculum basis, if they show a weakness in a particular subject.

The program has just been certified as a magnet program starting next year, so should we move again within the district transportation is guaranteed. We have not heard any input on the general student population at this school, but I have always heard that Eastside has the most troubled student population, other than a high school that specifically targets high risk students.

So, the Cambridge program has tweaked our interest. What do y’all think? Should we apply for it? Or should I continue to pursue the dual enrollment at UF?

[Warmark]

I've been through the scottish education system I'm not sure in what ways it differs to the englsh versions of high School.

Again im not very sure about The Uni at Cambridge but is widely regarded as one of the best in the UK.

[Menolly]

I am sorry Warmark. I thought all of the countries someow affiliated with the British Isles had a similar educational system.

I have heard Cambridge is an excellent school. But I had never head of this program or AS or A level exams. Nor do I know of the general acceptance of the diploma by schools.

[CovenantJr]

Yes, Cambridge is one of the elite universities, along with its eternal competitor, Oxford. I have no idea what their teaching is like at A-Level standard though, since this whole idea is new to me.

For what little it may be worth, I'll just clarify the qualification system here.

First of all, we finish school at 16. Anything after that is voluntary.

The qualifications you obtain when you leave school at 16 are called GCSEs (they used to be called O-Levels, in my parents' day). That's the basic, standard level of education. Beyond that you get into voluntary 'further education', the main form of which (and the one that seems relevant to you) is the A-Level, which is the mid-point between school education and university education (known as 'higher education'). I remember being told by a teacher that, in terms of difficulty and content, an A-Level is the equivalent of the first year of a degree at a North American university.

Though there are other routes, such as the one I, as a mature student, am taking, A-Levels are the main qualification expected of the majority of university applicants.

Things get more complicated with the relatively recent (i.e. in the last ten years) AS-Level system. An AS-Level is basically half an A-Level; half the content, half the time scale and half the value.

[Warmark]

In scotland we take ''Standard grades'' at age 16 and we are able to leave after these are taken. Next year we have 'Highers'', then in your final year - ''Advanced higher''. Advanced higher is roughly equal to first year on uni in most classes.

[Menolly]

Yes, Cambridge is one of the elite universities, along with its eternal competitor, Oxford. I have no idea what their teaching is like at A-Level standard though, since this whole idea is new to me.

For what little it may be worth, I'll just clarify the qualification system here.

First of all, we finish school at 16. Anything after that is voluntary.

The qualifications you obtain when you leave school at 16 are called GCSEs (they used to be called O-Levels, in my parents' day). That's the basic, standard level of education. Beyond that you get into voluntary 'further education', the main form of which (and the one that seems relevant to you) is the A-Level, which is the mid-point between school education and university education (known as 'higher education'). I remember being told by a teacher that, in terms of difficulty and content, an A-Level is the equivalent of the first year of a degree at a North American university.

Though there are other routes, such as the one I, as a mature student, am taking, A-Levels are the main qualification expected of the majority of university applicants.

Things get more complicated with the relatively recent (i.e. in the last ten years) AS-Level system. An AS-Level is basically half an A-Level; half the content, half the time scale and half the value.

Ah...OK. That helps make this from the Cambridge site make more sense to me then:

The subject content of each A Level syllabus has been subdivided into two parts: the AS syllabus content which is expected to be covered in the first half of the course, and part 2 of the syllabus, commonly referred to as A2. This flexible approach enables students to choose between three main options:

Take all A Level components in the same examination session at the end of the course of study, most normally the end of the second year

Follow a staged assessment to A Level by taking the Advanced Subsidiary qualification in one examination session, and the final part of assessment in a subsequent session

Take the Advanced Subsidiary qualification only - this may be at the end of a one year or two year course.

The structure of the international A Level is such that co-teaching of students following both AS and A Level routes is possible.
An A Level course is probably the most in-depth and thorough preparation for university, medical college or employment that a school can give its students.

International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) Level courses, typically taken at age 16 (grades 9 and 10 in US), lay the foundations for future success at the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and
Advanced (A) Level but are equally suitable for students wishing to enter employment.

[I'm Murrin]

Yesh, basically those are the same courses taken by the majority of students in England, GCSEs being compulsory, A levels optional. The AS level was introduced so they could still give qualifications to people who didn't finish the whole two-year course.
I had no idea they did them internationally.

The 'credits' thing sounds different to the way they're run here, though. Not sure exactly what the differences would be.

[Menolly]

OK, so for this Harry Potter fan, the GCSEs would be the equivalent of Hogwart's OWLs, and the A levels would be the equivalent of the NEWTs?

And since only the OWLs were compulsory, this is why the twins could leave school and set up shop without being considered truants?

:::sorry for going this route, but I am more familiar with Hogwart's exam levels than the actual British educational exam levels:::

[I'm Murrin]

Yes; Rowling modelled the wizard exams on the English school system.

[Menolly]

Thanks! That helps make a lot more sense to me!

[Avatar]

They even do GCSE's internationally now. Creatively named the IGCSE's. (My cousin is doing them.)

--A

[Menolly]

They even do GCSE's internationally now. Creatively named the IGCSE's. (My cousin is doing them.)

:::nodding:::

The website mentions them, and the sample yearly schedule we received at the Open House shows when they have to be taken.

So, this international version is a decent educational program then, Av?

[Avatar]

Apparently. My cousin plans on studying medicine, and this IGCSE seems pretty globally accepted as a

Can't imagine my uncle put her into it without first being sure it was good quality.

--A

[Menolly]

Thankee sir!!

:::now to get Beorn to write the four essays from the prompts on the application:::

:::pulling out hair:::

[CovenantJr]

Apparently. My cousin plans on studying medicine, and this IGCSE seems pretty globally accepted as a

Don't just leave us hanging on!

[Avatar]

Haha, I probably meant to say "as a rule" or something. Maybe "as a valid qualification." Not sure.

--A

[CovenantJr]

You've spent too much time in the Tank! Not everything has two possible outcomes!

[Avatar]

Why limit yourself to two? The paths of the multiverse stretch out before us... [cue eerie music...]

--A

[Menolly]