SECONDARY PROGRAMME
Footprints International School is accredited with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The essence of WASC is to be on a continuous path of improvement by rigorously and thoroughly evaluating the school, setting new goals, working towards those goals and then re-evaluating progress. In addition, Footprintsis authorised to offer the Cambridge curriculum (CIE) and exams culminating in internationally recognised degrees. Thirdly, Footprints also offers a course of study in Khmer language for Cambodian students to earn their national diploma from the Ministry of Education, youth and sports.
LOWER SECONDARY (GRADE 6-8)
The International Programme for Grade 6 runs from 08:00-14:00 Monday to Friday while Grades 7-8 run from 08:00-2:20.These students follow the Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme. Near the conclusion of the school year, Grade 6-8 students will sit the Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests. These tests are written by all Grade 6, 7, and 8 students in April/May in Checkpoint Mathematics, Science and English Language Arts. Cambridge Lower Secondary Progression Tests are used by teachers to assess the performance and progress of learners in their classes. They are designed to measure learners’ progress and identify their strengths and weaknesses at the end of each stage. The lower secondary have 1 hour library and 1 hour study hall.
THE TABLE BELOW SHOWS THE BREAKDOWN OF SUBJECTS IN LOWER SECONDARY EVERY WEEK.
| Subjects | Number of hours |
| Cambridge Checkpoint Math | 5 |
| Cambridge Checkpoint Science | 4 |
| Social Studies | 4 |
| English Language Arts | 5 |
| Chinese | 2 |
| Health | 1 |
| Physical Education | 2 |
| Electives | 3 |
UPPER SECONDARY (GRADE 9-12)
The International Programme upper secondary runs from 08:00 – 14:20 from Monday to Friday. Footprints uses the International Graduation Certificate of Education (IGCSE) course for Grades 9 and 10. Footprints is currently teaching English Language Arts, History, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Global Perspectives, and Math. At the end of Grade 10 we will urge students who want to go abroad to sit for 4-6 subjects for the IGCSE examinations. Students may also sit for a subject that the school does not offer if they study independently. For example, a Korean student could sit for the Korean language exam.
The table below shows the breakdown of subjects in upper secondary every week.
Grade 9-10(IGCSE) International General Certificate of Secondary Education
| Subject | Number of hours |
| English | 5 |
| Mathematics | 5 |
| Biology | 3 |
| Chemistry | 3 |
| Physics | 3 |
| History | 3 |
| Global Perspectives | 2 |
| French | 2 |
| Health/career | 1 |
| Electives | 2 |
GRADES 11 AND 12 (AS AND A LEVELS)
Footprints uses the Advanced Level (A Level) or Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS Level) in Grades 11 and 12. The students will narrow their focus and be encouraged to sit for 3 or more A levels, while continuing to study their other core subjects. This is what is expected for university admission abroad. English and Mathematics are compulsory subjects for Grade 11 and 12. The students then have a choice of three additional subjects. The subject choices are: Biology, Chemistry, Global Perspectives, History and Physics. The syllabi develop a deep understanding of subjects and independent thinking skills.
GRADE 11
| Subject | Number of hours |
| English | 5 |
| Mathematics | 5 |
| Biology | 4 |
| Chemistry | 4* |
| Physics | 4* |
| History | 4* |
| Global Perspectives | 4* |
| French | 2 |
| Health/Career | 2 |
| Elective | 2 |
* Students have the freedom to choose two subjects.
GRADE 12
| Subject | Number of hours |
| English | 5 |
| Mathematics | 5 |
| Biology | 4 |
| Chemistry | 7 |
| Physics | 7* |
| History | 5* |
| Health/Career | 1 |
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
Graduation Requirements at Footprints International School: Grades 9-12
Footprints Diploma Requirements: Students must obtain 24 credits to qualify for graduation (1 credit is the equivalent of one year)
4 years English Language Arts:
• 2 years IGCSE First Language or ESL
• 2 years AS/A-levels English course 4 Credits Mathematics:
• 2 years IGCSE Mathematics Core or Extended
• 2 years AS/A-level Mathematics course 4 Credits Science
• 2 years IGCSE Science Core or Extended
• 2 years AS/A Levels Science course 4 Credits
Social Studies
• 2 years IGCSE Global Perspectives (1 Credit)
• 2 years IGCSE 20th Century History (1 Credit)
• 2 years AS/A-levels Social Studies course
1 year of Physical Education
• (Additionally, sports or physical education courses may be counted as electives)
2 years of Foreign Language:
• (2 years IGCSE French or Mandarin)
2 years of electives
• Students must complete 2 semesters of electives, debate and public speaking is a MUST.
2 years Fine Arts
• Students must complete 1 semester of music or art electives
1 year Health Education
Cambridge International Examinations
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) is used in 160 countries by 10,000 schools to help prepare students for their future. Footprints uses Cambridge International Examinations, which provides our learning objectives for Grades 6+. Footprints is registered with Cambridge and uses Cambridge endorsed textbooks. Each year has an end of year exam that corresponds to their grade level, the highest stakes of which are the IGCSE in grade 10 and the A Level at the end of Grade 12.
MATHEMATICS
Footprints follows the Cambridge Math Curriculum. Students develop numeracy, reasoning, thinking skills, and problem solving skills through the learning and application of mathematics. It is a strongly conceptual based curriculum, focusing on the “how” of Mathematics, and encourages students to study the processes involved in mathematics, as well as mathematical knowledge. See the Cambridge frameworks/syllabus for a complete list of the learning objectives for secondary Math.
Grade & Book reference Title
Grade 6 – Cambridge Checkpoint Mathematics 7 (course book and practice book)
Grade 7 – Cambridge Checkpoint Mathematics 8 (course book and practice book)
Grade 8 – Cambridge Checkpoint Mathematics 9 (course book and practice book)
Grade 9 & 10 – Cambridge IGCSE extended course book
Cambridge practice book – extended
Grade 11 – Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics Pure Mathematics 1 (course book and practice book) Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics: Probability & Statistics 1 Practice Book (course book and practice book)
Grade 12 – Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics Pure Mathematics 2 and 3 (course book and practice book)
Cambridge International AS & A Level Mathematics: Probability & Statistics 2 Practice Book (course book and practice book)
LANGUAGE ARTS
The Language Arts Curriculum at Footprints International School incorporates and integrates all four areas of literacy: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and is based on the Cambridge learning objectives. Students’ writing is developed through the teaching of writing skills such as idea development, organisation, word choice, sentence fluency, presentation and grammatical conventions for the 21st Century. Students are taught to see writing as a process that doesn’t just happen but requires sustained engagement and is an essential component in all subjects. See the Cambridge Frameworks and Syllabus for a complete list of the learning objectives for Secondary Language Arts Cambridge international curriculum.
Grade & Book reference Title
Grade 6 – Oxford English An International Approach 1 textbook and workbook
Grade 7 – Oxford English An International Approach 2 textbook and workbook
Grade 8 – Oxford English An International Approach 3 textbook and workbook
Grade 9 and 10 – Cambridge IGCSE First Language English course book and workbook
Grade 11 – Cambridge International AS and A Level English Language course book and workbook
Grade 12 – Cambridge International AS and A Level English Language course book and workbook
SOCIAL STUDIES
Social Studies for grade 6-8 consist of two areas of focus. Students spend part of each year learning about human and physical geography with a focus on regions, and then learn about issues that are relevant today from the history of Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Cambodia. Students will be required to finish the year with a paper based on their own research on historical issues. In Grade 9, students follow the IGCSE History and Global Perspectives courses. In Grade 10, students will sit for the IGCSE History and Global Perspectives exams. Students in Grade 11 and 12 follow the Global Perspectives AS Level course and History AS Level course. See the Cambridge Syllabus for a complete list of the learning objectives for the IGCSE History IGCSE and Global Perspectives in Cambridge international curriculum.
Grade & Book reference Title
Grade 6 – Discovering Our Past: A History of the World course book and workbook
Grade 7 – Discovering Our Past: A History of the World course book and workbook
Grade 8 – Discovering Our Past: A History of the World course book and workbook
Grade 9 and 10 History – Oxford Complete 20th Century History for Cambridge IGCSE Textbook
Grade 9 and 10 Global Perspectives – Oxford Global Perspectives for Cambridge IGCSE Textbook
Grade 11 and 12 History – Cambridge International AS Level International History 1871–1945 Coursebook
Grade 11 and 12 Global Perspectives – Cambridge International AS & A Level Global Perspectives & Research Course book
SCIENCE
Footprints International School follows the Cambridge Curriculum. In Grades 6-8 the students prepare for the Cambridge Checkpoint Examination which is a combination of Biology, Physics and Chemistry. In Grade 9-10 students prepare for the IGCSEs (Double award coordinated Science), which students will take at the end of Grade 10. In Grades 11 and 12, students will follow the Biology, Chemistry and Physics A/AS Level courses. Footprints has two science laboratories. Our students frequently use these for practical experiments where they learn the scientific process and conduct scientific investigations and experiments. See the Cambridge Frameworks and Syllabus for a complete list of the learning objectives for secondary science in the Cambridge international curriculum.
Grade & Book reference Title
Grade 6 – Cambridge Checkpoint Science 7 (course book and practice book)
Grade 7 – Cambridge Checkpoint Science 8 (course book and practice book)
Grade 8 – Cambridge Checkpoint Science 9 (course book and practice book)
Grade 9 and 10 – Cambridge IGCSE Physics course book and workbook
Cambridge IGCSE Biology course book and workbook
Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry course book and workbook
Grade 11 and 12 – Cambridge International AS and A Level Biology course book and workbook
Cambridge International AS and A Level Chemistry course book and workbook
Cambridge International AS and A Level Physics course book and workbook
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Footprints offers Foreign Language classes to Secondary students. Grades 6-8 will take Chinese class designed to equal one year of high school study, while Grades 9, 10, and 11 will take IGCSE French with the option to sit for the IGCSE exam at the end of two years of French study.
ELECTIVE PROGRAMME
The Elective Program at Footprints encourages students to expand on their interests and develop fundamental critical thinking skills. The electives are chosen by the students from a selection of courses offered by our teachers. These electives will be graded and count towards our graduation requirements.
Electives offered:
Grade 6-8 (3 Electives/week)
• Drama
• Digital arts
• International dances
• Community Service Club
• Performing Arts
• Yoga practice
• Information and Communications Technology
• Speech and debate
• YouTube Fundamentals
• Film Club
• Mandarin Situational Dialogue
• Guitar Village Rhythms/Kassa
• General Laboratory Techniques
• Modern Dance
• Photography
• Health and wellness(Fitness)
• Microsoft Office and Google Apps Workshop
• Campus Journalism
• Yearbook
• Media and Information Literacy
• Art
Grade 9-11 elective choices
• Performing Arts
• Yoga Practice
• Guitar Village Rhythms
• Information and Communications Technology
• Sports Elective
• Mandarin Situational Dialogue
• Performing Arts
• Public Speaking/Debate
Community Service
In addition to the graduation requirements all students must complete 60 hours of documented community service. Students must complete 15 hours of approved community service hours per year, as well as completing documentation requirements outlined in the Footprints community service program.
Any hours above 15 hours per year must be approved in advance to receive credit for the next year. This may include career exploration topics in upper grades.
- Compassion
- Determination
- Responsibility
