Key Stage 3 (KS3) is comprised of three year groups, Years 7, 8 and 9. At the beginning of their secondary education, starting in Year 7, students study a wide variety of subjects. Up to the end of Key Stage 3 (age 14), all students follow the same core curriculum, which includes:

Students are also able to study languages and religious education.

• Arabic
• French
• Spanish
• Religious Education
• Islamic Studies

During Year 9, students are prepared and supported in making their option choices so that at the end of Key Stage 3 all students are well placed to progress onto Key Stage 4 (Year 10) and begin their I/GCSE courses.

During Years 10 and 11 (children aged 14 to 16 years old) students take two year courses leading to examinations in a range of subjects at the level of General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) or International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE). This is referred to as Key Stage 4.

The GCSE was introduced in 1986 and replaced the previous O’ level and CSE systems by merging them together.  IGCSEs were introduced in 1988 and are internationally recognised qualifications.

The I/GCSE is a single subject exam which is set and marked by independent exam boards in the UK. Students at the British School usually take up to ten GCSE exams in different subjects, including mathematics and English language.

At the British School the I/GCSE subjects on offer are very similar to those offered in schools in the UK. The compulsory I/GCSE subjects at BSB are:

• English Language
• English Literature
• Mathematics
• Science Double Award (2 GCSEs)
• Modern Foreign language (French, Spanish or Arabic for Arab Nationals)

Following a fully supported Option Choice selection process in Year 9 and also depending on demand, students choose a further three optional subjects and BSB offers the following I/GCSE courses:

During Year 11, our students are prepared and supported in making their option choices so that at the end of Key Stage 4 all of our students are well placed to progress onto Key Stage 5 (Year 12 & 13) and begin their A level, IB or B/TEC courses.

KS4 Options Booklet 

Options Letter & Form

• GCSE Prospectus download

When starting out in the Sixth Form our students are entering a new phase in their education. They may be very clear about their career and higher educational goals or they may not. Whatever the situation, it is expected that there will be changes to life at school.

Our aim at the British School’s Sixth Form is to help prepare our students to adjust to new global academic demands and the fast pace of their final years at school. We expect that most of our students will move onto study in higher education and take up places at universities and colleges worldwide.

To help our students through this process in the Sixth Form the school will: – provide a quality education – ensure full preparation for application to college/university.

Develop academic potential to the full – increase confidence and sense of independence – help develop individuals into responsible young adults

Entering Post 16 education involves a challenging transition from I/GCSE or equivalent to Sixth form study (B’TEC A Level). To ensure that this transition is smooth we have an experienced and committed pastoral team who will provide support and advice to help students achieve their goals and reach the right decisions at this critical stage. With high levels of expertise in specialist subjects, our teaching faculty offer first class teaching and guidance. All of our students receive individual attention regarding the university application procedure and a network of contacts at universities across the UK and worldwide assist in securing their futures.

We have incorporated many exciting opportunities to enable all students to take an active part in the life of the school and develop their own personal interests and pursuits. We hope this prospectus will assist you in making an informed decision about which courses you want to choose. We look forward to working with you in the future.

• View/Download the Sixth Form prospectus

The BTEC course is a rewarding, specialist, vocationally-related qualification. They are equivalent to UK A-Levels and are highly valued by universities, further education colleges and employers alike.

The suite of qualifications offered at the British School Bahrain provide students with high quality, industry-relevant qualifications geared to the specific requirements of key sectors. They provide valuable opportunities for students to develop skills and gain underpinning knowledge and understanding which will support entry into work or progression to further studies.

The table below outlines the pathways and levels offered to students as British School Bahrain;

Important Note; Students may study up to 3 BTEC subjects (maximum up to 4 equivalent A-levels) or they can partner BTEC courses with traditional A-Levels for example a student staying until the end of Year 13 may wish to study BTEC Diploma in Business (2 A-Levels) as well as A-Level Psychology and A-Level Economics.

On each programme of study students must complete a specific amount of units (outlined in the table above) to achieve the qualification. The table below explains the units offered on each programme;

All of the BTEC qualifications are assessed via 100% Coursework and there are no external examinations.

Each unit is graded by the teacher at a Pass (E Grade), Merit (C Grade) and Distinction (A-Grade) which are totalled at the end of the qualification which equate to UCAS points. As students are continually assessed students can gauge their own performance on a continuing basis, just like the real workplace. We have found that students are much more engaged and motivated as a result.

Click here for the final grades and UCAS point Tariff

If you have any additional questions regarding BTEC please email the PA to Seniors, Karen Tennant at pa2seniors@thebsbh.com