CAPS (South Africa)
- A national curriculum set by the Department of Basic Education.
- Content is prescribed in detail—teachers must follow exact pacing and topics.
- Subjects are taught from Grade R–12 with specific annual requirements.
Cambridge (International)
- A flexible, international curriculum is used globally.
- Teachers have more freedom in pacing and teaching approaches.
- High school includes:
- Cambridge Lower Secondary Years 7 – 9 / (Grades 7–9)
- IGCSE – At ISCT we start IGCSE in Term 4 of Year 9. Students will write their final Cambridge IGCSE exam in 24 months the May/June session. In CAPS, this includes Grades 9–10 or 10–11)
AS/A Levels – students can write their AS (Grades 12 equivalent) or A level – also referred to as Year 13 if they intend to stay at an international university.
Teaching Approach:
ASSESSMENT:
recognition:
subject choice and flexibility:
level of difficulty:
language of instruction:
preparation for tertiary studies:
summary table:
*In the Cambridge Pathway, the introduction of an additional language usually happens when the children reach Key Stage 2, however, some school contexts may introduce it earlier.
Consistency is Key
As with most learning, consistency is key and this is even more so in the early years when foundational literacy and numeracy skills are being taught. It is not advisable to change curriculums in the foundation stage. The expectations and explorations are very different between these two curriculums. It could lead to potentially creating gaps in the learning of these foundational skills.
The ISCT Difference
At ISCT, we have seen how our children have benefitted and developed, following the Cambridge Pathway in its scope and in its sequencing. It is always such a pleasure to see the learning that our children experience as they move from Nursery all the way through to Key Stage 1 and beyond. This is all part of our mission to equip students with the skills needed for an ever-changing world and a passion for a lifetime of learning.
At ISCT, we have seen how our children have benefitted and developed through our commitment to following the Cambridge curriculum in its scope and in its sequencing. It is always such a pleasure to see the learning that our children experience as they move from Nursery all the way through to Key Stage 1 and beyond – which is all part of our mission to equip students with the skills needed for an ever-changing world and a passion for a lifetime of learning.
