Secondary School (Soto de Viñuelas)

The education offered in the Secondary School builds on the pupils’ previous achievements. Lessons are taught by a series of subject specialists with the class tutor having the important pastoral role of coordinating all aspects of the pupils’ academic, as well as social, development.   Studies from 11 to 14
In National Curriculum Years 7 to 9 specialist teachers deliver a balanced programme broadly based on the English National Curriculum, but with additional factors such as the immediate introduction of the three separate sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) and the availability of two modern languages (French and Spanish). Students of non-Spanish nationality study Spanish as a second language. Students of Spanish nationality vaildate their studies by following courses in Spanish Language, Literature and Social Sciences, according to the curriculum set by the Spanish Ministry of Education.
As in Britain, towards the end of Year 9, pupils at King’s College take Standard Achievement Tests (SATs) in English, Mathematics and Science and these tests are then sent to Britain for evaluation and marking. Year 9 students are also entered for GCSE Spanish. Choices at 14-16 The curriculum for age 14-16 is fundamentally the same as in English schools. All students study up to nine subjects in preparation for the award on the International General Certificate of Secondary Education. IGCSE is a highly regarded qualification which is accredited by the University of Cambridge (www.cie.org.uk) and approved by the Joint Council of British Universities. All students are required to study English Language, Mathematics, Science and Spanish. In addition, they have a certain freedom to choose those subjects which they prefer and which will be most useful for their future career. Students of non-Spanish nationality will normally study 9 academic subjects, as would be the case in most schools in England or in other international British schools. Spanish nationals, or other students requiring official Spanish validation of their studies, will study slightly fewer subjects in order to include within their academic programme the necessary courses required by the Spanish Ministry of Education: (a) Spanish Language & Literature, and (b) Social Sciences. On to "A" Level Access to the Sixth Form to begin preparation of Advanced Subsidiary (AS) examinations and in Year 12 and General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (A2) examinations in Year 13, is open to those students who have passed a required minimum of subjects at (I)GCSE with good grades.
In September 2000 the GCE A Level system was reformed in the UK and King’s College was one of the first schools in Spain to introduce this new system, leading the way for other schools who have used our experience to model their own programmes. Students take five subjects in their first year (Year 12) as well as a full Key Skills programme. The Key Skills course equips students with Information Technology, Numeracy and Communication skills One of the five subjects will be Spanish A Level or, for those students who intend to study for their degrees in Spain, Convalidation Studies.
In their first year our A Level students take four or five subjects from the wide range offered at Kings College. These include: - Maths - Biology - Chemistry - Physics - Geography - History - English - Economics & Business - Art and Design - Computer Studies - French as well as Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) and Physical Education (PE). One of the subjects is normally Spanish. At the end of the year, students sit an Advanced Subsidiary examination in their chosen subjects. This examination is set at a level of difficulty halfway between (I)GCSE and A Level and will count towards students university entrance. More importantly at this stage it will give our students and their teachers the opportunity to see how they are progressing. Students may then choose which of their subjects they wish to continue studying to A Level standard in their second year. Most students sit A Levels in 3 subjects at the end of Year 13. Success in the A Level examinations gives access to university education worldwide. At the same time, Spanish students equally have access to universities in Spain with their English qualifications and are entered for the "Selectividad" university entrance examinations. The same is the case for non-Spanish nationals who may wish to enter Spanish universities. King’s College is justifiably proud of a consistently high pass rate in official examinations leading to an excellent record on University entry. Validation Since King’s College is legally registered in Spain as a Centre for Foreign Studies, validation with the equivalent academic years in the Spanish educational system up to and including the last year in the Junior Department, is automatic. Upon entry to the Senior School, validation is obtained by studying, as a time-tabled option, the minimum number of Spanish subjects required by the Spanish Ministry of Education.