Cambridge International

The Cambridge international curriculum sets a global standard for education and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. The curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Cambridge students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers.The Cambridge international curriculum sets a global standard for education and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide. The curriculum is flexible, challenging and inspiring, culturally sensitive yet international in approach. Cambridge students develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. They also gain the essential skills they need for success at university and in their future careers.

What is an international curriculum?

  • Over 10,000 schools in over 160 countries follow the Cambridge international curriculum.
  • The curriculum is international in philosophy and approach, but can be tailored to local contexts.
  • Cambridge students study for Cambridge international qualifications which are accepted and recognised around the world.
  • Schools can also combine the Cambridge International curriculum with national curricula.
  • Cambridge students moving between Cambridge schools can continue their studies following the same curriculum.

The Cambridge curriculum is a spiral curriculum, which is an educational approach where key concepts are revisited at intervals throughout the student’s education, with each encounter increasing in complexity and building upon prior knowledge. This repetitive reinforcement ensures deeper understanding and retention of the subject over time.

Key principles of a spiral curriculum

Cyclical: students return to the same topic several times

Increasing depth: each time, the topic should be learned at a higher level

Prior knowledge: prior knowledge should be used when returning to a topic to build from students’ foundations

Cambridge Primary English is designed for learners who have English as a first language and can be used in any cultural context. This means the course is a native level course.  The curriculum aims to empower learners in their application of English and encourage reading, writing and spoken English.

For individualised attention, all of our ELL classes are in smaller class sizes around 8 to 12 students.

In Grades 1 and 2, ELL students are put into groups that match their abilities, whether they are native or near native speakers, competent speakers or beginners. In Grade 2, students can receive EAL support if needed.

From Grades 3 to 5, ELL is in mixed ability groups with EAL students receiving support for 4 or 8 lessons depending on English ability. In these grades students will complete longer pieces of writing as this is an important element in the Cambridge curriculum.

By Grade 4 most ELL classes start Novel Studies where students read a book as a class and complete various activities based on the books.

Cambridge Primary Science develops curiosity about the natural world and teaches them to find scientific explanations for all the phenomena around them and for understanding the world.

The Science curriculum aims to demonstrate the relevance of science to students and improving their awareness of their world.

Cambridge science has topics throughout the year that cover scientific inquiry, biology, chemistry and physics.

Cambridge Primary Mathematics encourages analytical and rational thinking. Students focus on principles, patterns, systems, functions and relationships.

The Mathematics curriculum aims to make sense of ideas, build connections between different facts, procedures and concepts.

Only the international students will complete the Cambridge Mathematics course. Bilingual students study mathematics as part of their Hungarian course.

Gifted and Talented 

As well as offering support for those students who need it, ISB also runs a gifted and talented program for English and Maths in both the Hungarian and International programs.

Gifted and talented students must achieve high academic results as well as being recommended by their relevant subject teacher as well as their homeroom teacher. The courses focus on extra work and participating in Hungarian and international competitions where relevant.