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Cambridge IGCSE for UK SchoolsCambridge Secondary 2

UK State Schools

In June 2010 the UK government announced that Cambridge IGCSE would be made available to state schools in England. Over 500 state schools now offer Cambridge IGCSE, and that figure is rising fast.

Many Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses, listed below, are approved by Ofqual and funded for teaching in state schools in England and Northern Ireland. They are included in the UK government’s school performance tables and many also count towards the English Baccalaureate.

Building a curriculum to suit your school

Cambridge IGCSE encourages learner-centred and enquiry-based approaches to learning. Schools can build a foundation curriculum and broaden it to suit their learners.

Many Cambridge IGCSE syllabuses are approved for regulation by Ofqual and funded for teaching in state schools in England.

When a Cambridge IGCSE is approved for regulation by Ofqual, it appears on the Register of Regulated Qualifications as a Cambridge International Level 1/Level 2 Certificate. This is the official title for all Cambridge IGCSEs approved by Ofqual.

Here is a list of the Ofqual-approved syllabuses:

• English - First Language*
• English - Literature*
• English - Second Language (count-in oral)
• Mathematics
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Chinese (Mandarin) - Foreign Language
• French - Foreign Language*
• German - Foreign Language*
• Greek - Foreign Language
• Hindi as a Second Language
• Italian - Foreign Language (approved in September 2012 - available soon)
• Spanish - Foreign Language*
• Geography
• History
• Art and Design
• Business Studies
• Enterprise
• Information and Communication Technology
• Music

*The syllabuses marked with an asterisk above have a different syllabus code to the Cambridge IGCSE because the content or model of assessment is not exactly the same. Please see the syllabus document for details. For all our other Ofqual-approved qualifications, the Cambridge International Level 1/Level 2 Certificates and the Cambridge IGCSE are identical.

School performance tables and the English Baccalaureate

The following Cambridge International Level 1/Level 2 Certificates (Ofqual-approved syllabuses) count towards the English Baccalaureate: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, English First Language (when taken with English Literature), French, German, Greek, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

To gain a qualification in English for the purposes of the English Baccalaureate and the headline measure 5 A* – C grades including mathematics and English, students must achieve a grade A* – C in First Language English and any grade in English Literature. English Second Language does not count towards this headline measure.

To count in the English Baccalaureate all three single science qualifications must be taken and grades A* – C achieved in two of them. The science qualifications do not need to be provided by the same exam board and can be a mixture of IGCSE and GCSE qualifications.

From 2013 only the Cambridge International Level 1/Level 2 Certificates will be included in the UK government’s school performance tables and count towards the English Baccalaureate.

Please check the Department for Education website for the latest information on our Ofqual-approved qualifications and updates on which qualifications count towards performance league tables.

Inspiring teaching, inspiring learning

Cambridge IGCSE gives more time for teaching and learning given there are no interruptions from modular assessment. This provides teachers with greater freedom to plan lessons over time. Teachers are able to return to key concepts and subjects to ensure learners approach the subject holistically to gain a full understanding across the whole syllabus. The increased level of freedom and flexibility in the curriculum and assessment leads to more enjoyment of the subject for teachers and learners.

A wide range of teaching resources is available. We also offer INSET for teachers who are just getting started, as well as those who are more advanced.

Maximising learner motivation and development

Schools want to put learners at the centre of the curriculum. Cambridge IGCSE is accessible to learners of all abilities. We make learning requirements and assessment clear, to help students to engage with their subjects. Bright students have the chance to excel, and students of all abilities are assessed positively.

Excellent preparation for further study

Cambridge IGCSE develops learner knowledge, understanding and skills in:

• subject content
• applying knowledge and understanding to familiar and new situations
• intellectual enquiry
• flexibility and responsiveness to change
• influencing outcomes
• cultural awareness.

As such, it provides learners with excellent preparation for the next stage in their education, whether they wish to continue to Cambridge International A Level, Cambridge Pre-U, or other progression routes.

Learn more about where Cambridge IGCSE is recognised >>