Reception year

The Reception year offers students the opportunity to experience a smooth transition to the British education system. It is designed to lay the groundwork, build learning habits and language skills, necessary for the IGCSE programme.

AIMS

Each of the subjects in Reception year aims at:

• developing students’ ability to use English effectively for the purpose of practical communication;
• encouraging students’ interest in each of the subjects;
• prioritizing analysis and critical thinking over memorizing;
• fostering independent learners;
• promoting students’ personal development;
• inspiring students’ creativity through a variety of projects and interactive activities;
• stimulating teamwork.

THE SUBJECTS All subjects (apart from Bulgarian Language) are taught in English and are specifically designed to meet the needs of students of various backgrounds. All courses follow an intensive schedule and are aimed at developing lifelong skills – English and Bulgarian promote fluency, comprehension, and cultural awareness, Mathematics enhances problem solving, ICT boosts computer skills and digital literacy, Science provides practice sessions directed towards experiments, application and data analysis, History fosters critical thinking and teaches students the art of building an argument through evaluating a range of historical sources, and Geography nurtures information literacy with focus on research and practice sessions.

THE STUDENTS Our students are in the centre of the learning process and are encouraged to take an active part in it by cultivating a positive and goal-oriented mindset, curiosity, and independent thinking. As they progress in their studies, they gain more control and are expected to master time management, systems thinking, collaboration and adaptability – skills needed for the academic success of the leaders of tomorrow.

THE TEACHERS All courses are taught by highly qualified teachers who rely on the latest study materials and interactive teaching methods in order to stimulate interest, reflection and effective communication. Additionally, every student is assigned a Personal Tutor who guides them by providing both academic advice and general support, and whose role is to enrich the overall learning experience.

THE ASSESSMENT A system of Continuous Assessment, including tests, assignments, projects, and presentations, tracks the progress of all students and accounts for 75% of their final grades. At the end of the year, they sit a Final Exam which tests the understanding and skills acquired throughout the entire academic period and accounts for 25% of their final course grades.

 

English

The course welcomes students of different backgrounds and various levels of language fluency and is structured to cover a range of topics to boost linguistic awareness and facilitate oral and written expression. Throughout the academic year students advance from basic users at a pre-intermediate A2 level to becoming independent users at intermediate B1 and upper-intermediate B2 level.

The course incorporates two parts – 10 classes of English Language and 4 classes of English Literature per week. The first part is aimed at challenging students with rigorous academic material and exam-focused content, while keeping them engaged through fun and personalized learning activities. The second part covers four popular classics and contemporary fiction.

Mathematics

The course lays the foundations for a successful transition to problem-solving based and application-oriented style of mathematics. The students are encouraged to develop their mathematical skills, to apply mathematics in a variety of everyday situations and try to understand and appreciate the role of mathematics in our lives.

The course is taught 4 academic hours per week and allows students to gradually acquire the mathematical skills needed, through extended problem solving and completing individual and team assignments. The use of technology and, in particular, scientific calculators is an essential element of the syllabus and a major prerequisite for further IGCSE Maths Core/Extended/Additional syllabi.

ICT

In an ever increasingly digital world students are challenged to constantly improve their information and communication technology skills in order to outshine the competition in our e-society.

The course is taught 2 academic hours per week and aims at developing the students’ understanding of basic computer science principles, practical ICT skills (including word processing, spreadsheets, designing presentation and elementary programming concepts and techniques) and the knowledge required to apply technology in most of the other subjects.

History

The course covers a wide range of history topics and our students are taking a journey through time to explore daily life, war and peace, mythology and environment.

The student book consists of various challenging activities to encourage pupils’ interest and understanding of the role of historian, the ancient heritage, and also have a great time in class.

Students’ progress is assessed through fortnightly tests, mock exams and final exam.

Geography

The course introduces the students to the physical geography and human geography syllabuses studied at the IGCSE, AS and A2 levels. The focus is on physical geography. The practical part of the programme includes Geographical enquiry and skills.

During the course of the year, the students learn important geographical terminology, master drawing and interpreting different types of graphs and charts, and practice analyzing the corresponding data. At the end of the school year, a booklet is prepared which presents the students skills of performing a geographical enquiry and presenting it in graphs and charts.

Science

The course is built around the Cambridge Lower Secondary Science curriculum and allows for optimal accessibility, regardless of the students’ prior knowledge and experience. Throughout the year, students are introduced to the foundations of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Understanding the scientific method and conducting experiments are essential for properly comprehending any science-based discipline. Four (4) classes per week are devoted to Science, encompassing lessons and exercises, both theoretical and practical.

The overall aim of the course is to serve as an introduction to the natural sciences, as well as an opportunity for students to discover and develop a genuine interest in the field, allowing for a more conscious choice of elective subjects in the following school years. Independent thinking and research outside the scope of the curriculum are all encouraged.

Bulgarian for foreigners 

The subject welcomes students with little or no previous experience with the language and aims to introduce them to one of the oldest Slavic languages. The course is structured to present basic vocabulary and grammar and develop students’ fluency with focus on reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Practice is ongoing and grammar is presented in a minimalist way through graphs and tables. Communication is in Bulgarian from the very first class, but English is used as an intermediary language in order to boost both linguistic and cultural awareness. By the end of the course students will be able to introduce themselves, form simple sentences, respond in some day-to-day situations, and most importantly meet new friends.