Our school is a Cambridge International School, registered with Cambridge Assessment International Education, part of the University of Cambridge. Our programmes inspire students to love learning, helping them discover new abilities and a wider world.
The International School of Sion’s academic curriculum provides education of breadth, depth, and international context for a multicultural student body. It prepares the young people for university and beyond while simultaneously enhancing their curiosity for life-long learning.
A unique feature of ISSion’s academic programme is its inclusive philosophy. It offers students the possibility to acquire the skills they need in their own way so that each and every student can reach their objectives.
We strongly emphasize the importance of the student’s mother tongue and at least one other language. Students who wish to explore other languages have the possibility to do so by selecting either French or German.
The overall structure of the school has two stages:
Stage one can be done in one or two years. The one-year programme begins with Grade 10. Its main purpose is to prepare students with a solid subject knowledge base and to develop their critical thinking skills before starting the High School program.
For students who are not yet proficient in English, Grade 9 is a better option. This extra year provides students with intensive English lessons as well as solid foundations in individual subjects.
Students who are aiming for a middle school certificate can choose and prepare to sit the external examinations at the end of Grade 10 to obtain a Cambridge International General Certificate in Secondary Education chosen from between five and seven syllabuses that have been approved by the students’ teachers.
In stage two, students must study six subjects chosen from five different subject groups. Students select standard or higher-level subjects according to their abilities and interests.
Besides, there are three mandatory subjects for all students. Epistemology further develops students’ critical thinking skills, creative thinking, and reflective abilities. The Personal project gives students the chance to explore and investigate a research question. Finally, community service provides students with the opportunity to balance their academics with life outside the classrooms by participating in activities of all categories.
ISSion favours concurrency of learning, and interdisciplinary teaching. Thus, students enrolled at ISSion are given the chance to choose their subjects but they must fulfil the following requirements:
In grade 9 and 10, students must take at least one subject from group 1-5.
In grade 11 and 12, students must take at least one subject from group 1-5, and an extra one from group 2-4, for a total of six subjects.
The subject offering for the academic year 2023-2024 follows:
| Class Age | Grade 9 14–15 |
Grade 10 15–16 |
Grade 11 16–18 |
Grade 12 17–19 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mother tongue | ► | ► | ► | ► |
| 2 | English | ► | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ |
| French | ⛌ | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | |
| 3 | Economics | ► | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ |
| Business | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | ||
| History | ⛌ | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | |
| 4 | Biology | ► | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ |
| Chemistry | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | ||
| Physics | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | ||
| 5 | International mathematics | ► | ► | ⛌ | ⛌ |
| Additional mathematics | ⛌ | ▷ | ⛌ | ⛌ | |
| Mathematics: analysis and approaches | ⛌ | ⛌ | ▷ | ▷ | |
| Mathematics: applications and interpretation | ⛌ | ⛌ | ▷ | ▷ | |
| C | Epistemology | ⛌ | ⛌ | ► | ► |
| Service Learning | ► | ► | ► | ► | |
| Personal Project | ⛌ | ⛌ | ► | ► | |
| O | French | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ |
| German | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | ▷ | |
| Academic Pathway (four years) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Students may choose | Students must take | |
| Year 0 | Foundation Programme Grade 9 |
1. Second language 2. The arts |
Intensive English Humanities Sciences Maths Community service |
| Year 1 | Grade 10 | Students choose six subjects from the following groups. 1. English first language/English as a Second Language 2. Studies in language and literature 3. Individuals and societies: history/economics/business 4. Sciences: biology/chemistry/physics 5. Mathematics: International mathematics/Additional mathematics |
Community service Epistemology Personal Project |
| Year 2 | Grade 11 | Students choose six subjects from the following groups. 1. Studies in language and literature 2. Language acquisition 3. Individuals and societies: history/economics/business 4. Sciences: biology/chemistry/physics 5. Mathematics: Analysis and approaches/Applications and interpretations |
Community service Epistemology Personal Project |
| Year 3 | Grade 12 | Students continue the subjects they selected in year 11 | |
| Academic Pathway (three years) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Students may choose | Students must take | |
| Year 1 | Grade 10 | Students choose six subjects from the following groups. 1. English first language/English as a Second Language 2. Studies in language and literature 3. Individuals and societies: history/economics/business 4. Sciences: biology/chemistry/physics 5. Mathematics: International mathematics/Additional mathematics |
Community service Epistemology Personal Project |
| Year 2 | Grade 11 | Students choose six subjects from the following groups. 1. Studies in language and literature 2. Language acquisition 3. Individuals and societies: history/economics/business 4. Sciences: biology/chemistry/physics 5. Mathematics: Analysis and approaches/Applications and interpretations |
Community service Epistemology Personal Project |
| Year 3 | Grade 12 | Students continue the subjects they selected in year 11 | |
