What you need to know about the British Education Curriculum

The National Curriculum of Wales and England—more commonly known as the British education curriculum—is widely recognised and renowned across the world. Students that are studying the British education curriculum are exposed to a broad spectrum of subjects with the aim of developing their skill sets and knowledge in preparation for becoming a citizen of the future. The curriculum boasts remarkable structure and scope, with specific steps in place for the purpose of measuring progress along the way. The Ambassador International Academy is a British school based in Dubai that utilises the British curriculum in line with the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework. Learn more about the British education curriculum and the IB framework we employ below.

About the British education curriculum

As a globally recognised curriculum with a long track record of prestige, the British education curriculum is the gateway to students having their qualifications recognised and accepted worldwide. The curriculum encompasses the Early Years Foundation Stage followed by 4 key stages, all of which are uniquely designed to help students develop according to a structured learning programme.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the first stage of the curriculum and is designed for students aged 3 to 5 years old. This stage is a very sensitive transition in a child’s life as they adjust from home life to school life, with the British education curriculum structure effectively aiding students during this process. Students are exposed to interaction and a fun way of learning through a play-based learning approach. This is delivered in both indoor and outdoor settings so that students’ social, emotional, physical and academic skills are fostered.

Students in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) are encouraged to think independently, execute their opinions and ideas confidently, and express themselves while learning to work with others and solve problems. Learning in ways that empower self-expression and independent thinking—coupled with collaborating with others—is how students learn to initiate play independently, explore new ways of thinking, make new friends, and develop their confidence when interacting with others.

The key areas of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage are as follows:

• Physical development;
• Communication and language;
• Mathematics;
• Literacy;
• Personal, social and emotional development;
• Expressive arts and design; and
• Understanding the world.

Once students have successfully mastered the Early Years Foundation Stage, they will then progress to the following 4 key stages. The 4 key stages are categorically referred to as primary school (key stages 1 and 2) and secondary school (key stages 3 and 4).

The compulsory subjects offered at the key stages 1 and 2 include the following:

• English;
• Science;
• Mathematics;
• History;
• Geography;
• Art and design;
• Design and technology;
• Computing;
• Music;
• Physical education (with swimming included); and
• Ancient and modern foreign languages (at key stage 2).

The compulsory subjects offered at the key stages 3 and 4 include the following:

• English;
• Science;
• Mathematics;
• History;
• Geography;
• Modern foreign languages;
• Music;
• Design and technology;
• Physical education;
• Computing;
• Art and design; and
• Citizenship.

What happens at key stage 4?

Students that have successfully progressed to key stage 4 of the British education curriculum will work towards acquiring a national qualification, which typically comprises a IGCSE There are compulsory subjects—called ‘core’ and ‘foundation’ subjects—which students must take at this stage, namely: English, science, and mathematics as their core subjects, and physical education, citizenship, and computing as their foundation subjects.

As mentioned above, the Ambassador International Academy utilises the British curriculum content combined with the International Baccalaureate framework (the teaching pedagogy). This means that the curriculum we use is designed according to the IB framework, which sees our highly qualified teachers collaborating with one another on a weekly basis at grade level to develop and improve on existing and future lesson plans. Teachers get to share ideas on what works best where it concerns complex lessons or activities, compare notes, and share best practices. When the actual lesson is initially constructed by a teacher, the IB framework is utilised as a guide to develop the proposed lesson objectives and outcomes that the teacher deems fit.

What are the 4 International Baccalaureate programmes?

The IB framework comprises 4 programmes. These include the Primary Years Programme, The Middle Years Programme, the Diploma Programme, and the Career-related Programme. The Ambassador International Academy is an authorised Primary Years Programme school, and is a candidate for the Middle Years Programme. You can learn more about the various IB programmes by reading our blog here.

The British education curriculum is undoubtedly an esteemed level of education to aspire towards. Not only is it recognised in various countries across the world, but it also aims to develop students’ academic, social, physical and emotional well-being through a holistic approach to learning. When combined with the International Baccalaureate framework, the approach to learning is elevated through specified outcomes that are clearly defined and executed by teachers. The Ambassador International Academy is a renowned educational institution in Dubai offering the British curriculum in line with the IB framework. Visit our website to learn more today.