Cambridge Lower Secondary
Cambridge Lower Secondary Ages 12–14
Students deepen their knowledge and develop the analytical skills, study skills and independence to progress with confidence to Cambridge Upper Secondary.
Deepening, analysing and learning more independently
Cambridge Lower Secondary forms the bridge between the broad foundation of Cambridge Primary and the further academic deepening of Cambridge Upper Secondary.
In this stage, education becomes more subject-focused. Students deepen their knowledge, work with more complex questions and learn to investigate, analyse, argue and solve problems with growing independence.
At the same time, they develop study skills and learn to take responsibility for their planning, choices and learning process. In this way, not only what students know grows, but also their ability to apply knowledge independently, critically and purposefully.
The curriculum
Deepening knowledge, strengthening skills
Within Cambridge Lower Secondary, NIS offers a broad curriculum in which subject knowledge, skills, enquiry and personal development are connected.
English
Students further develop their skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening. They work with different types of texts, learn to process information critically and develop the ability to formulate ideas with growing precision, clarity and persuasiveness. A strong command of English also supports students in learning and communicating across other subject areas.
Mathematics
Within Mathematics, students deepen their mathematical knowledge and learn to tackle increasingly complex problems. The emphasis is on logical reasoning, recognising connections, choosing strategies and understanding, applying and explaining mathematical ideas. Students are challenged not only to reach an answer, but also to justify their approach and reasoning.
Science
Within Science, students deepen their knowledge and understanding across three science disciplines: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Students learn to ask scientific questions, formulate predictions, plan and carry out investigations, analyse results and substantiate conclusions. In this way they develop both subject knowledge and the ability to think and work scientifically.
Technology
Within Technology, students develop both technical and digital skills. They learn how computers and digital systems work and are introduced to computational thinking, programming, data, networks and computer systems. At the same time, they learn to use digital technology consciously, critically, safely and responsibly. There is attention for evaluating digital information, creating digital content, online communication, digital safety and digital wellbeing. In this way, students learn not only to use technology, but also to understand and create it. Within the NIS curriculum, this brings together the Cambridge learning areas Computing and Digital Literacy in a coherent way.
Cambridge Global Perspectives™
Within Cambridge Global Perspectives, students explore topics and issues from personal, local and global perspectives. They learn to assess information and arguments critically and develop skills in research, analysis, evaluation, reflection, collaboration and communication.
Humanities
Within Humanities, students explore people, society, history and geography from local, national and global perspectives. They learn to make connections between people, the past and places, to investigate information and sources and to understand different interpretations and perspectives. In this way, teaching connects with the Cambridge areas People, Past and Places, and students develop a broader understanding of the world they live in.
Art & Design
Within Art & Design, students have room to explore, experiment with, design and create ideas. They work with different materials, techniques and creative processes and learn to express their ideas visually. Students reflect on their own work and that of others and learn to make their creative choices ever more consciously.
Physical Education
Within Physical Education, students develop their physical and motor skills and work on an active and healthy lifestyle. They learn to work together, take responsibility, set goals and handle different roles and situations within sport and movement.
Wellbeing
Wellbeing supports students’ personal, social and emotional development. Students develop greater insight into themselves, their relationships and their wellbeing. They learn to deal with change, choices and responsibilities and develop skills that contribute to resilience, positive relationships and healthy development.
Modern Foreign Language — Français
Within Français, students further develop their skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. They expand their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge and learn to use the French language with growing independence and purpose. Alongside language proficiency, there is attention for communication and cultural understanding.
Language development
From language skills to academic communication
As students grow older, language becomes ever more important for understanding, investigating and conveying knowledge.
Within English, students therefore learn not only to communicate correctly, but also to process information, build arguments and formulate their ideas with growing precision in writing and speech.
NIS uses complementary Cambridge resources, including Cambridge Grammar & Writing Skills, to support grammar and writing skills. These materials strengthen English language teaching and are not a separate curriculum subject.
Subject depth
Applying knowledge with growing independence
In Cambridge Primary, students lay a broad foundation. Within Lower Secondary, this knowledge is deepened further and students learn to make connections between topics, concepts and subject areas with growing independence.
Questions become more complex, and students are increasingly expected not only to give an answer, but also to explain how and why they arrived at a particular solution or conclusion.
Responsibility for learning gradually shifts to the student, while teachers continue to guide, give feedback and provide appropriate support and challenge.
Analytical & enquiry-based learning
From enquiry to substantiated arguments
Enquiry-based learning gains more depth within Cambridge Lower Secondary. Students learn not only to gather information, but also to assess its reliability, relevance and meaning. They compare different perspectives, recognise connections, use information and evidence, and learn to substantiate conclusions and positions ever more convincingly. This way of thinking and working recurs across different subject areas and prepares students for the higher academic level of Cambridge Upper Secondary.
- Investigate
- Analyse
- Evaluate
- Argue
- Reflect
Study skills & independence
Growing responsibility for one’s own learning
Lower Secondary is an important stage in the development towards independence.
Students learn to plan and organise their work, set goals, keep track of deadlines, use feedback and take responsibility for their own learning process.
Teachers continue to guide, support and challenge students. With a maximum of 20 students per class from the start, NIS creates room to follow students’ development carefully and to offer appropriate support or extra challenge.
Multilingual education
Using languages to learn and communicate
English is the language of instruction and communication at NIS. French is offered as a separate language subject and Arabic is part of the Moroccan component of the curriculum.
In Cambridge Lower Secondary, students further develop their language skills and learn to use these languages with growing independence and purpose in different learning and communication situations.
NIS takes differences in language background and level into account, so that students can continue to grow from their own starting point.
Moroccan language & culture
Connected to Morocco, open to the world
NIS is an international school in Nador and believes it is important that students get to know and understand the language, history, culture and society of their surroundings.
The Arabic language and Moroccan history and culture therefore have a recognisable place within the curriculum. In Lower Secondary, students deepen their language skills and develop a broader understanding of Morocco’s historical, cultural and social context.
In addition, appropriate to the stage and to students’ backgrounds and needs, attention may be given to Islam Studies.
NIS approaches these elements from an open and respectful learning environment, with room for the different languages, cultures, backgrounds and beliefs within the school community.
In this way, students develop knowledge of and appreciation for their surroundings and background, while also learning to explore different perspectives and to look at the world openly and with an open mind.
Ready for Cambridge Upper Secondary
By the end of Cambridge Lower Secondary, students have deepened their subject knowledge and learned to investigate, analyse, argue, plan and reflect more independently. They have an increasingly strong academic foundation and have developed the study skills to take the next step in their learning journey. Cambridge Upper Secondary builds on this with further academic deepening and preparation for the Cambridge IGCSE route.