Lusaka International Community School (LICS)

In order to provide an optimal learning environment, Lusaka International Community School (LICS) bases its curriculum on the English Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 0-5 document designed for the learning, development and care of learners from birth to five years. The Foundation Stage ends in the Reception Year and the EYFS 0-5 document contains a curriculum framework that leads to the Early Learning Goals. The EYFS 0-5 gives guidance in seven learning areas (three prime and four specific) for effective planning, assessment and teaching and prepares learners for learning in Key Stage 1 (years 1 and 2). To further enrich its curriculum, this school also incorporates elements from other internationally recognised educational programmes.

Using the EYFS 0-5 guidance document, teachers are able to plan developmentally appropriate experiences for learners. All activities are play-based, as this is the way in which learners are challenged and learn with enjoyment.

Lusaka International Community School (LICS) also acknowledges that parents are the most significant adults in a child’s life and, in order to enhance educational quality, they are partners in planning the development and growth of their child at school.

With an excellent child-adult ratio, Lusaka International Community School ensures that special care is given to the learning needs of each individual learner. The school is committed to providing a child-centred approach to learning and in developing the whole child socially, emotionally, physically and cognitively.

Infant/toddler programme

This programme is based on the universal patterns of development that all children go through, i.e. children crawl before they walk. Lusaka International Community School (LICS) acknowledges that each child is unique and passes through the developmental stages at different rates. The programme takes into account the ways toddlers approach new experiences and how they interact with others. The goals of this programme are based on the knowledge of the physical, emotional, social and cognitive abilities of learners in this age group.

Early years class

The early years class offers several work and play rooms, including a child friendly kitchen where learners cook every fortnight, a library and computer room. Learners are grouped according to age and have a children's playground.

Children in the early years department are informally introduced to ICT through creative play activities. Most of the children are already familiar with some electronic gadgets such as pre-computers or kids laptops. In school they use electronic toys to enhance their play. From Reception onwards, the children attend weekly formal lessons in ICT.

Reception class

In the reception class specialist teachers take pupils in Physical Education, music and French. Formal lessons in ICT are offered to children in reception. The school's Learning Support department also supports learners with special educational needs. The Lusaka international community school also places great importance on parental involvement in the learning and development of young children.

The school offers a very well established 'Parents as Partners' programme that provides workshops, talks, social events and opportunities for parents to work with and provide activities for learners during the school day.

Extra–curricular activities

The early years department receives one PE lesson a week with a PE specialist following the Val Sabin Schemes of Work. The curriculum focuses on gross motor skills, confidence, and hand / eye coordination, foot / eye coordination, sending and receiving in games. There is a full swimming curriculum including water confidence, using buoyancy aids, movement in the water, safety, entry and exiting the pool as well as pool rules.

In the summer term students experience athletic activities in running, jumping and throwing leading up to the early Years Sports Day in Term 3. There are many other activities offered by the early years department both by school staff and outside coaches that the parents can choose to do for after school activities.

Reception class members have a swimming lesson a week and games, gymnastics or athletics lesson with PE specialist teachers. Curricular activities include water safety and swimming, ball skills, games skills, following instructions; using a range of sports equipment, playground games, multi skills; fundamentals of movement, and athletic activities.

At Key Stage 1 (years 1 and 2), an inter-disciplinary topic approach to curriculum planning is adopted. The curriculum is planned carefully, so that there is a planned progression in all curriculum areas. At Key Stage 2 (years 3 to 6), the curriculum at the school places a greater emphasis on the core subjects than it does at Key Stage 1, and these subjects are taught separately.

The curriculum is all the planned activities that are organised in order to promote learning and personal growth and development. It includes not only the formal requirements of the curriculum, but also the range of extra-curricular activities that the Lusaka International Community School organises in order to enrich the experience of the students. It also includes the 'hidden curriculum', or what the students learn from the way they are treated and expected to behave. The aim is to teach students how to grow into positive, responsible people, who can work and co-operate with others while developing knowledge and skills, so that they achieve their true potential.

Students with special education needs

The curriculum in the school is designed to provide access and opportunity for all students who attend the school. If it is thought to be necessary to adapt the curriculum to meet the needs of individual students, then this is done only after the parents of the student have been consulted.

Residential trips

Children experience a wider curriculum than that offered solely in the classroom. Therefore students in Key Stage 2 (years 3 to years 6) attend residential trips to Fringilla (year 3) Nsobe (year 4 ) Livingstone ( year 5) and Choma (year 6). The experience develops a whole range of skills and knowledge in students from leadership and team building to co – operative/ collaborative learning of life skills and becoming more independent.

Secondary school

Lower secondary

During the lower secondary programme (Year 7- 9), all students learn English Language and Literature, mathematics, French, Science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), History, Geography, Business Studies, Art, Drama, Music and Physical Education.

At the end of junior secondary, the students sit a Cambridge checkpoint examination in English, Mathematics and Science. Students in Year 7, 8 and 9 attend week long annual residential trips to various locations of Zambia. Year 10 students are committed to community service and attend work experience at different companies and organisations within Lusaka.

Upper Secondary

During the next two years, when students enter the IGCSE programme, some of these subjects are dropped in favour of a core of option subjects which include French, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, History, Additional Mathematics, Business Studies and Art. All students study first language English, English Literature, Mathematics and Physical Education.

The programme culminates in the Cambridge-administered IGCSE examinations and students are awarded the internationally recognised International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) qualification. The last two years focus on the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) and Advanced Level (AL) studies.

A-Level

UK universities are very competitive and A-Levels are an equivalent academic qualification that gives students a better chance to be selected. They also give students a stronger foundation to succeed in university.

The following are some of the most frequently required subjects from UK universities:

• Mathematics
• English
• Biology
• Physics
• Chemistry
• History
• Geography

If you are a student or parent that would like your son or daughter to study A-Levels at Lusaka International Community School (LICS), please get in touch with the school and arrange your free consultation.

Extra-curricular activities

The community service and social responsibility programmes empower students in Years 10, 11 and 12 to acquire civic responsibility and leadership skills. Lusaka International Community School Secondary has over a hundred and twenty students from Year 7 to Year 13. Small class sizes, combined with a very dedicated international teaching body, create a caring and friendly atmosphere and a positive learning environment. Complemented by attractive facilities on 5 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds: music and performance rooms, ICT labs, libraries, a multi-purpose hall, a tennis and basketball court, 25-metre swimming pool as well as a beginner's pool and a football pitch.