Academic
Academic
International Students
International students play a full role in both the academic and extra-curricular life at Framlingham. They can achieve success at the highest levels and we have international students who go on to study at Oxford and Cambridge or who hold representative honours in many types of sport.
International students have full access to the same curriculum as students from the United Kingdom. The only difference on an international student's timetable is that in years 9, 10 & 11 they generally study IGCSE English as a Second Language (ESL) for their GCSE examination; although if they are proficient enough in English they can study mainstream GCSE English alongside their English peers. In Year 9 they also have the opportunity to sit the Cambridge ESOL PET exam. If they are new pupils entering the Sixth Form then they will follow a course in ESL leading to the IELTS qualification, alongside their other academic AS subjects. It is also possible to supplement timetabled ESL lessons by individual English support lessons after school.
International students can take, where possible, GCSE, AS and A2 examinations in their first language. European students in the lower school can usually take an A2 in their first language during their studies at the College. Students from China and Japan take GCSE in Year 10 and A Level in the Sixth Form in their first language. Students joining the College in the Sixth Form will, as a matter of course, take an AS and A2 in their first language in Year 12. In many cases a grade in a first language at A2 level can be used as part of entry requirements into a British university. It must be stated, however, that not all first languages that are spoken at the College can be examined by GCSE or A2.
Each student is assigned an academic tutor who oversees their progress at the College. International students are placed in tutor groups alongside students from the UK. They receive academic and careers advice and are given individual help on university applications within the UK and are supported as much as possible in their application to Universities either back in their home country or to other countries.
The core, compulsory subjects taken by most overseas students are:
- Mathematics
- English [ESL or mainstream]
- Science (double or triple award)
Studying these subjects enables students to collect a total of between four and six GCSEs, since Science can lead to either a ‘dual’ award of two GCSEs or three single Science awards; and mainstream English leads to two GCSEs (language and literature).
In addition, most students will take a further four subjects chosen from the following list of options:
|
|
Most students will take either eight or nine GCSE courses, which along with a further GCSE in their First Language, will give them a total of between nine and eleven GCSE qualifications. Details of all these subjects are included in the online booklet.
Although the majority of our students take History or Geography, or both, we recognise that in some cases it may be more appropriate for students to make other choices. Similarly, while as a general rule we encourage students to choose at least one creative subject (Art, Design, Drama, or Music), there will be circumstances in which it would be wrong to make this a requirement. As a result we are always keen to consider each case on its merits.
