Lower Secondary Curriculum

The curriculum for Grades 6 to 8 is based around the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC). This is a 21st Century concept-based curriculum built around clear learning goals and based on educational research about the way in which adolescents learn. It incorporates best practices from a number of renowned international and national curricula from around the world. The IMYC is based around ‘Big Ideas’, overarching conceptual ideas which help students to make connections between ideas and subjects.

The adolescent brain is going through changes similar to those in early childhood, and these changes are greater than at any other point in life. The brain is engaged in massive re-organisation, specialization and maturation and therefore the way in which we educate adolescents is incredibly important for this age range. The IMYC focuses on meeting the needs of the teenage brain by providing meaning for what the students are learning, interlinking learning in different subjects, creating a safe environment for children to be able to take risks and encouraging them to do so. The IMYC provides opportunities for students to collaborate and bridge the gap between Primary and Secondary education.

The IMYC encourages teaching and learning to focus on the knowledge, skills and understanding for each subject and to develop an awareness of the different ways in which learning occurs. Wherever possible, learning is inquiry-based and students are given the opportunity to learn by doing which provides an active hands-on learning experience, which research shows significantly increases retention.

As well as providing students with this enriching educational experience, our IMYC curriculum ensures that all students comply with the requirements of the national programme courses prescribed by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP).

Upper Secondary Curriculum

Winpenny School is an IB World School and has been authorised by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) to offer the Diploma Programme (DP) for Grades 11 and 12. IB World Schools share a common philosophy – a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education, that we believe is important for our students. The Diploma Programme is recognised worldwide for its holistic approach and students’ preparedness for higher education and the world at large.

In Grades 9 and 10, students follow the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) programme. In each subject, this is a two-year course which culminates in a final assessment. Cambridge IGCSE is the leading international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide.

In Grade 9, our curriculum ensures that all students comply with the requirements of the national programme courses prescribed by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). The exam courses taken by students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 are recognised and accredited by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The relationship with UNAM goes beyond the accreditation of studies as it also entitles students, families and teachers to use UNAM facilities, attend performances and events, and collaborate with students and lecturers. Winpenny is one of only 15 schools in the whole country to reach such an agreement with UNAM.

The IGCSE (Cambridge University) is a 2-year programme of study for students in Grades 9 and 10, developed in collaboration with leading international schools around the world. This programme offers students the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding to include international perspectives. This programme is academically rigorous, however there is a balance between subject content and intellectual inquiry. Students in this programme develop confidence, responsibility, reflection, innovation and engagement.

At Winpenny we offer a broad range of subjects for our IGCSE students including English Language (first language), English Literature, Spanish (first language), Mathematics, Coordinated Sciences (dual award), Design and Technology, and Global Perspectives. Our student schedules include Physical Education and Art (Grades 9 and 10), and Advisory (Grade 10).

The prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) offered at Winpenny is a globally-recognised international programme of study for students in Grades 11 and 12. Students are immersed in a rigorous programme of study consisting of a wide range and depth of knowledge within the following subject domains: English Language and Literature (as a first language), Spanish Language and Literature (as a first language), Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences and Mathematics. Students study the IB Core components: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), which are designed to promote critical thinking skills, independent research, and personal development. These elements ensure that students not only excel academically, but become well-rounded individuals who are well prepared for the challenges of further education and beyond. In Grades 11 and 12, students have dedicated sessions scheduled for Physical Education and Advisory.

At the heart of all of our Secondary school programmes you will find the foundational principles of international mindedness and the IB Learner Profile attributes, which are embedded throughout our Secondary School academic journey.

Personal,
Social and
Health Education

In the Secondary School at Winpenny we believe that the development of children’s social and emotional intelligence is essential to help them fulfil their potential and prepare them for the future. In this regard, we have a comprehensive programme to develop personal goals, ensuring that Winpenny students are well-rounded and empathetic. Integral to this is the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum taught in Grades 6, 7 and 8.

The PSHE programme focuses on developing skills such as time management, learning skills, social skills, and character development that students will need to become successful adults. The programme is built around four themes:

  • Healthy Lifestyle: students learn how to make informed choices about health and wellbeing such as balanced diet; physical activity; mental and emotional health.
  • Healthy Relationships: students learn how to develop and maintain a variety of healthy relationships within a range of social and cultural contexts; how to recognise and manage emotions; how to deal with risky or negative relationships including all forms of bullying.
  • Living in the Wider World: students learn about social responsibility and digital citizenship.
  • Study Habits: students learn how to organize their time, set targets, mind-map, take effective notes, improve their memory and how to effectively research, deal with the pressure of studying and how to prepare for examinations.

To complement the PSHE programme, the Head of Secondary School also holds weekly grade-level assemblies to discuss and reflect on key social and emotional issues. Children are encouraged to participate in social service activities both within the school and the local community.

Technology

At Winpenny we are committed to providing an innovative and dynamic learning environment to our students. We integrate G-Suite for Education into our curricula which allows students to collaborate, communicate and engage with educational resources. We adopt a bring your own device (BYOD) technology programme, which allows students to use their devices to enhance or demonstrate their learning. Embedding the use of devices into each subject helps students to develop their technology and problem-solving skills, and increases ownership of learning. Students take specialist technology classes to learn specific skills that they can then transfer across the different curricula.

For students in Grades 6-12 Google Classroom serves as our platform to organize course materials, assignments and discussions. It also facilitates valuable teacher and peer feedback within a dynamic and tailored learning environment.

The School Day

The school day in the Secondary School starts at 7:30 a.m. with a brief registration period. Starting the day in this way helps us to monitor attendance and punctuality and gives the students a relaxed, social start to the day. The relationship that students develop with their registration teacher is incredibly important to their sense of belonging and their feeling of wellbeing in the school. There are seven periods during the day, punctuated by a morning break and a lunch break, before the students finish their day at 2:10 p.m.

Afternoon Activities are offered to Secondary School children from 2:20 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. More information can be found under the Afternoon Activities section of our pages.

Uniform

Children in Grades 6 to 9 wear the Winpenny uniform every day. On Tuesdays, children wear their Gala uniform (blazer and tie) for the flag ceremony as well as other special events. Twice a week they wear their Winpenny tracksuit for physical education. They also have an art smock for art activities and warm clothing for the winter months. Children in Grades 10, 11 and 12 do not wear a school uniform.

Lower Secondary Curriculum

The curriculum for Grades 6 to 8 is based around the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC). This is a 21st Century concept-based curriculum built around clear learning goals and based on educational research about the way in which adolescents learn. It incorporates best practices from a number of renowned international and national curricula from around the world. The IMYC is based around ‘Big Ideas’, overarching conceptual ideas which help students to make connections between ideas and subjects.

The adolescent brain is going through changes similar to those in early childhood, and these changes are greater than at any other point in life. The brain is engaged in massive re-organisation, specialization and maturation and therefore the way in which we educate adolescents is incredibly important for this age range. The IMYC focuses on meeting the needs of the teenage brain by providing meaning for what the students are learning, interlinking learning in different subjects, creating a safe environment for children to be able to take risks and encouraging them to do so. The IMYC provides opportunities for students to collaborate and bridge the gap between Primary and Secondary education.

The IMYC encourages teaching and learning to focus on the knowledge, skills and understanding for each subject and to develop an awareness of the different ways in which learning occurs. Wherever possible, learning is inquiry-based and students are given the opportunity to learn by doing which provides an active hands-on learning experience, which research shows significantly increases retention.

As well as providing students with this enriching educational experience, our IMYC curriculum ensures that all students comply with the requirements of the national programme courses prescribed by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP).

Upper Secondary Curriculum

Winpenny School is a candidate school* for the Diploma Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy – a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education- that we believe is important for our students.

In Grades 9 and 10, students follow the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) programme. In each subject, this is a two-year course which culminates in a final assessment. Cambridge IGCSE is the leading international qualification for 14 to 16 year olds and is recognised by universities and employers worldwide.

In Grade 9, our curriculum ensures that all students comply with the requirements of the national programme courses prescribed by the Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP). The exam courses taken by students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 are recognised and accredited by the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). The relationship with UNAM goes beyond the accreditation of studies as it also entitles students, families and teachers to use UNAM facilities, attend performances and events, and collaborate with students and lecturers. Winpenny is one of only 15 schools in the whole country to reach such an agreement with UNAM.

The IGCSE (Cambridge University) is a 2-year programme of study for students in Grades 9 and 10, developed in collaboration with leading international schools around the world. This programme offers students the opportunity to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding to include international perspectives. This programme is academically rigorous, however there is a balance between subject content and intellectual inquiry. Students in this programme develop confidence, responsibility, reflection, innovation and engagement.

At Winpenny we offer a broad range of subjects for our IGCSE students including English Language (first language), English Literature, Spanish (first language), Mathematics, Coordinated Sciences (dual award), Design and Technology, and Global Perspectives. Our student schedules include Physical Education and Art (Grades 9 and 10), and Advisory (Grade 10).

The prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) offered at Winpenny is a globally-recognised international programme of study for students in Grades 11 and 12. Students are immersed in a rigorous programme of study consisting of a wide range and depth of knowledge within the following subject domains: English Language and Literature (as a first language), Spanish Language and Literature (as a first language), Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences and Mathematics. Students study the IB Core components: Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS), which are designed to promote critical thinking skills, independent research, and personal development. These elements ensure that students not only excel academically, but become well-rounded individuals who are well prepared for the challenges of further education and beyond. In Grades 11 and 12, students have dedicated sessions scheduled for Physical Education and Advisory.

At the heart of all of our Secondary school programmes you will find the foundational principles of international mindedness and the IB Learner Profile attributes, which are embedded throughout our Secondary School academic journey.

Personal,
Social and
Health Education

In the Secondary School at Winpenny we believe that the development of children’s social and emotional intelligence is essential to help them fulfil their potential and prepare them for the future. In this regard, we have a comprehensive programme to develop personal goals, ensuring that Winpenny students are well-rounded and empathetic. Integral to this is the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) curriculum taught in Grades 6, 7 and 8.

The PSHE programme focuses on developing skills such as time management, learning skills, social skills, and character development that students will need to become successful adults. The programme is built around four themes:

  • Healthy Lifestyle: students learn how to make informed choices about health and wellbeing such as balanced diet; physical activity; mental and emotional health.
  • Healthy Relationships: students learn how to develop and maintain a variety of healthy relationships within a range of social and cultural contexts; how to recognise and manage emotions; how to deal with risky or negative relationships including all forms of bullying.
  • Living in the Wider World: students learn about social responsibility and digital citizenship.
  • Study Habits: students learn how to organize their time, set targets, mind-map, take effective notes, improve their memory and how to effectively research, deal with the pressure of studying and how to prepare for examinations.

To complement the PSHE programme, the Head of Secondary School also holds weekly grade-level assemblies to discuss and reflect on key social and emotional issues. Children are encouraged to participate in social service activities both within the school and the local community.

Technology

At Winpenny we are committed to providing an innovative and dynamic learning environment to our students. We integrate G-Suite for Education into our curricula which allows students to collaborate, communicate and engage with educational resources. We adopt a bring your own device (BYOD) technology programme, which allows students to use their devices to enhance or demonstrate their learning. Embedding the use of devices into each subject helps students to develop their technology and problem-solving skills, and increases ownership of learning. Students take specialist technology classes to learn specific skills that they can then transfer across the different curricula.

For students in Grades 6-12 Google Classroom serves as our platform to organize course materials, assignments and discussions. It also facilitates valuable teacher and peer feedback within a dynamic and tailored learning environment.

The School Day

The school day in the Secondary School starts at 7:30 a.m. with a brief registration period. Starting the day in this way helps us to monitor attendance and punctuality and gives the students a relaxed, social start to the day. The relationship that students develop with their registration teacher is incredibly important to their sense of belonging and their feeling of wellbeing in the school. There are seven periods during the day, punctuated by a morning break and a lunch break, before the students finish their day at 2:10 p.m.

Uniform

Children in Grades 6 to 9 wear the Winpenny uniform every day. On Tuesdays, children wear their Gala uniform (blazer and tie) for the flag ceremony as well as other special events. Twice a week they wear their Winpenny tracksuit for physical education. They also have an art smock for art activities and warm clothing for the winter months. Children in Grades 10, 11 and 12 do not wear a school uniform.