The English Department offers a higher examination to students outwith the National Test.  This is called the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) which is in essence the testing system used in English schools.  It is administered by Cambridge University and is an internationally recognized qualification of some renown.

In the school year 2008-2009 year we entered a small number of students for both First and Second Language English exams with great success. In 2009-2010, however, we will enter 30 students for English as a First Language only.  Therefore, our students have the chance to be tested as if they are native speakers of English.  All tests are sent to Cambridge University for external marking.

As a specialist English school it is important that we continue to develop our students’ abilities above and beyond the level of Year 9 English.  In the future we hope to implement the English Literature examination.  Indeed, some of the books that we already read in school are taken from this syllabus.

To learn more, please visit the IGCSE web site at http://www.cie.org.uk/qualifications/academic/middlesec/igcse/overview