Secondary School

At ISH, grades 6-12 constitute the Secondary School. The Secondary School curriculum at ISH is guided by the ISH mission and philosophy as well as by the principles of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP), the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the IB Career-related Programme (IBCP).

Because the social and emotional aspects of education are as vital as the academic ones, ISH has an extensive pastoral care programme, with each student assigned to a tutor group that meets regularly to engage in age-appropriate discussions and activities.

In Grades 6- 8, students take English, German, Mathematics, History, Geography, Science, Visual Arts, Music, Drama, Physical Education, Design and Information Communication Technology. French or Spanish as a third language also begins in Grade 6.

The Grade 9-10 programme is a course of study, which offers the students a range of subjects that will prepare them for the DP programme in Grades 11 and 12. There is a core curriculum of English, Mathematics, German, and Physical Education. Students individualise this core by electing to take courses in Chemistry, Physics, Biology, History, Geography, Business Studies, French, Spanish, MYP Design, Drama, or Music.

Throughout Grades 6-10, additional support classes are provided for students whose first language is not English. The purpose of these classes is to enable the student to access the curriculum and participate in the life of the school as fully and productively as possible.

Mother Tongues or First Languages are supported though the Mother Tongue Programme. This programme is tailored to cater for individuals or groups of students whose first language is not English or German. A variety of arrangements are possible. For example, the Mother Tongue can be taught by a tutor or online in place of the third language or after school, depending on the needs and capabilities of the students.

Students in Grades 11-12 may enrol in the two year International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) and IB Career-related Programme (IB CP) upon departmental recommendation.

In the Secondary School, all students are assigned a homeroom tutor. Students are placed into groups by grade level and the tutor becomes another adult that the students can confide in and reach out to. Homeroom times are used to discuss a variety of age appropriate themes such as friendship, conflict, current events, digital citizenship, bullying, academic integrity, college applications and more. The grade level coordinators in collaboration with the tutors, social-emotional counsellors, learning support specialists and the child safeguarding officer are all part of providing ISH students a holistic educational experience. Celebrations and assemblies for each grade level are also part of the program.