Curriculum

junior Secondary - Forms 1 and 2

  • Core Subjects

  • All pupils to do the following core subjects:

    •  
    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Geography
    • Science
    • Shona (L1 or L2)
    • History
    • Computers
    • French
    • Music

  • Option Block (Practicals)

  • Pupils choose at least 2 subjects from the following:

    •  
    • Woodwork
    • Art and Design
    • Agriculture
    • Technical Graphics

Middle Secondary – Forms 3 and 4

In their second and third years of secondary education learners follow the Secondary 2 curriculum. At this level learners study for the Cambridge International Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) qualifications.

 

Hillcrest College’s curriculum for middle secondary (IGCSE level) at the IGCSE level is given below. Pupils write the Cambridge IGCSE examinations at the end of Form 4.

  • 3A

    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Geography
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Computer Science/ Literature in English

  • 3A1

    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Geography
    • Combined Science
    • Literature in English


  • 3A2

    • English Language
    • Mathematics
    • Geography
    • Biology (Core)
    • Travel and Tourism


Option Blocks

  • Block 1

    • Art & Design
    • Accounting
    • Design & Technology (TG/RM)
    • Agriculture

  • Block 2

    • Biology (Extended)*
    • History
    • Information & Communication Technology (ICT)
    • Travel & Tourism

  • Block 3

    • Business Studies
    • French
    • Enterprise
    • Travel & Tourism

In addition 3A will choose a subject from each Option Block to make 9 subjects. *(Biology (Extended) option available to Form 3A only)

3A1 will choose a subject from each Option Block to make 8 subjects for 3A1.

3A2 will choose 2 subjects from any two of the Option Blocks (maximum of 1 subject from each block) to make 7 subjects in total.

Upper Secondary – Lower and Upper 6

Senior students at Hillcrest College follow the Cambridge International Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced Level (A2) curriculum.
Hillcrest College follows the staged assessment route to the full Advanced Level qualification. In their Lower Sixth year students follow the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) curriculum and write AS examinations at the end of their lower sixth year.

 

Students who have been successful at the AS by achieving a B or better grade level may carry their marks to A level where they will sit for the A2 component papers only at Advanced Level.

 

Those pupils who achieve grades lower than a B are normally required to re-write the AS components in a full complement of A levels.

 

Senior pupils to choose one subject from any three of the following option blocks:

  • Option Block 1

    • Mathematics
    • Travel & Tourism
    • History
    • Information Technology
    • Global Perspectives
    • Life Skills

  • Option Block 2

    • Chemistry
    • Geography
    • Economics
    • Computer Science
    • AS English Language
    • Life Skills

  • Option Block 3

    • Biology
    • Business
    • Design & Technology
    • Art
    • AS English Language
    • Life Skills

  • Option Block 4

    • Physics
    • Literature in English
    • Accounting
    • Geography
    • Global Perspectives
    • Life Skills

PLEASE NOTE

 

1. Students to choose between Global Perspectives and Research or AS English Language to be taken as a fourth subject.
2. Art is only offered at AS level for examination in June 2023. It can also be taken as an additional subject.
3. Life Skills is a compulsory subject for all sixth form pupils

 

Academic Support

 

Hillcrest College has a robust student academic support system in place to help learners learn effectively

 

Assessments

 

Learning Difficulties – Special arrangements for CAIE examinations.

 

If you know that your child has a learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia) which will hamper their ability to show their true ability in public examinations, please make sure you arrange to have an Educational Psychologist’s assessment done late in their Form 3 year or very early in the Form 4 year. A copy of the Psychologist’s report should be brought to the College Examinations Officer. The College will need to apply to CAIE requesting any special arrangements in good time for approval. The College reserves the right to ask the students’ parents to provide evidence that remedial help has been sought to address the learning difficulty in the past.

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