San Silvestre offers the University of Cambridge IGCSE programme (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and the International Baccalaureate programme.
Some advantages of international examinations:
- It ensures that the San Silvestre curriculum is up-to-date and its content is of a very high standard.
- The pupils develop many transferable and enduring skills including: field work, practical work, academic writing, research, extended essays, presentations.
- The courses are largely delivered in English thus they enhance the bilingual identity of the school.
- The examinations provide our students with internationally recognized and respected certificates which bear testimony to their achievements.
- External assessment is an objective, reliable measurement of standards against which our school can gauge our students' performance in an international context.
- The examinations can provide ease of access to universities, both in Peru and abroad. Some local universities award credits for these exams.
- They enable the teaching staff to maintain high levels of professionalism as they attend related training courses.
- They promote links with other schools and facilitate participation in activities at home and abroad.
-
International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE)
The IGCSE is a two-year course prepared by Cambridge University for pupils aged 14 to 16. This is a broad-based, flexible programme designed to prepare students for subsequent pre-university courses. In San Silvestre School, this programme is followed in Forms III and IV, culminating with the external examinations taken entirely in English, this being a reliable and useful indicator for both the school and the pupils.
The IGCSE programme offers a large variety of courses, providing pupils with wide and well-balanced learning experiences. The following courses are offered within the IGCSE curriculum areas:
- Languages: English, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese and Italian
- Mathematics: International Mathematics
- Humanities & Social Sciences: Geography, History, Economics, English Literature, Spanish Literature
- Science: Coordinated Science (Double Award)
- Technology: Information Technology, Computer Science
- Professional & Creative: Art & Design, Music, Drama and Physical Education
The Cambridge IGCSE examinations include Italian and Mandarin Chinese, both are offered as optional subjects available from Form III in secondary. Mandarin Chinese IGCSE exam has been available at San Silvestre for more than 10 years and great results have been achieved.
In San Silvestre, students can take up to 9 IGCSE courses, obtaining a maximum of 10 IGCSE results as Coordinated Science is a double award. The average number being eight per pupil, seven being the minimum.
Our students’ results at IGCSE have been consistently above world averages and of that fact we are extremely proud.AS Level
This one year course is taken by those students who sit the IGCSE French examination in Form III. It constitutes the first year of the two-year A level programme.DELF
In Form IV, pupils who have done French IGCSE in Form III and will not be entered for French AS will do the DELF B1 course.In Form V pupils who are following the Internal programme can opt for the DELF B1 or the DELF B2 courses depending on whether they have taken IGCSE or AS French examinations in Form IV. Both are communicative courses but the upper level also includes French literature.
Due to the COVID-19 State of Emergency, the IGCSE exams were cancelled in 2020.
-
International Baccalareaute (IB)
The International Baccalaureate is a two-year pre-university course of study taught in over 2,300 schools around the world. Its original purpose was to create a demanding educational programme which would respond to the challenges of a globalised world.
The International Baccalaureate is a very challenging, balanced programme that places emphasis on: critical thinking, written and oral communication skills and international perspectives. This programme develops individual talents and teaches students to relate their classroom experiences to the wider world.
As the IB Diploma meets the entry requirements universities both in Peru and overseas, students who obtain the Diploma enjoy a smooth transfer from school to university, often with the added benefit of course credits.
San Silvestre School has offered the IB programme since 1992 and our students have consistently obtained outstanding results, often way beyond world averages.
Students who follow the IB Diploma Programme must conform to the arrangement of six courses traditionally presented as the IB hexagon.
Each courses are offered at two levels, Standard and Higher, and students are required to take three courses at each level.
The CORE is a central requirement of the Diploma that combines academic and practical skills at three levels:
Theory of Knowledge course (TOK)- Reflects on the nature of knowledge
Extended Essay of 4,000 words- Allows for critical thinking
CAS (Creativity, Action and Service)- Allows to reflect on emotions-affect-change
The CAS programme aims to provide a 'counterbalance' to the academic rigour of the programme. A CAS experience must fit within one or more of the CAS strands and be based on a personal interest, skill, talent or opportunity for growth. It provides opportunities for self-determination and collaboration with others, while fostering a sense of accomplishment. The CAS outcomes for students are defined as follows: Undertaking new challenges, planning and initiating activities, working collaboratively with others, showing perseverance and commitment, engaging with issues of global importance, considering ethical implications and developing new skills
In San Silvestre all courses taught in English, except for Spanish and French.
Group 1: Language and Literature - Spanish and English
Group 2: Language acquisition - French
Group 3: Individuals and Societies - Economics, Business Management, History, Geography, Information Technology in a Global Society, Psychology, Environmental Systems and Societies
Group 4: Experimental Sciences - Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Societies
Group 5: Mathematics analysis and approaches, Mathematics: applications and interpretation
Group 6: The Arts - Visual Art and Theatre Arts