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Curriculum Middle School

THE MSF Middle School programme for students aged 11-16 (grades 6-10) comprises a broad balanced range of subject areas between which areas of interaction are identified and developed. Smaller class sizes are maintained and students benefit from having a home room teacher complemented with specialist teachers.

The curriculum is based on the internationally recognised Cambridge Lower Secondary Programme. Its interdisciplinary approach is internationally benchmarked and provides a natural progression for students from the Primary Years Programme by building on the students' knowledge of how they learn and think in order to further develop their ability to evaluate information critically. It implicitly encompasses key elements of the German middle school curriculum.

The MSF Middle School programme develops students´ knowledge and skills across a range of disciplines with particular focus in Mathematics, English and Sciences including Biology, Physics and Chemistry.

In the Middle School students are also introduced to a third Modern Language.

From grade 8 external checkpoint tests are taken to provide detailed feedback on students´ strengths and weaknesses before they progress towards the externally validated IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) and are offered the opportunity to prepare for the German Realschulabschluss examinations before they enter the senior school.

Goals and Structure of Middle School

The Middle School programme at Metropolitan School Frankfurt extends the inquiry-based approach that the IB Primary Years Programme offers with a broad subject specific middle school curriculum preparing students for the rigour, challenge and high academic standards of the University of Cambridge International Secondary curriculum, offered by CIE, Cambridge International Examinations.

During Grade 6, 7 and 8 the Cambridge Secondary 1 programme offers a high quality curriculum framework and testing structure with a particular focus on English, English as a second language, Mathematics and Science. Student, class and school performance are assessed regularly with internationally standardized tests in these subjects. This allows students, teachers and parents to monitor the progress, strengths and areas for improvement for each student across all major subjects. In addition, a broad range of other subjects are taught throughout these middle school years, as outlined below

In Grades 9 and 10 students are prepared for the IGCSE examinations (International General Certificate of Secondary Education), that are offered towards the end of Grade 10 at MSF and in over 6,000 schools in 120 countries worldwide. For further details please see the CIE website http://www.cie.org.uk/ in particular the “Cambridge Secondary 1” and “Cambridge Secondary 2” sections.

They provide a sound basis for further academic work in Grade 11 and 12 before MSF students have the opportunity to take the IB Diploma exams as globally-recognised university entrance qualification exams.

German students and international students who wish to participate will have the opportunity to take the external Realschulabschluss exams at the end of Grade 10. These include a written German test, English test, Mathematics test and an oral presentation about a subject of their choice.

By following the broad and thorough CIE curriculum, MSF ensures that students cover key elements of the relevant German “Sekundarstufe I” curriculum throughout Middle School

The MSF learning programme combines a positive, caring and supportive learning environment coupled with a climate of quality expectations and self-accountability. In that context MSF recognizes the individual potential and needs of each student as a responsible learner with his/her special strengths and areas for improvement.

Subjects in Middle School

While focusing on English, Mathematics, Science and German students are provided with opportunities to explore and enrich their learning through the Arts, Physical Education, Social Studies and the Humanities.

Students from Grade 6 to 9 will study the following subjects:

English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, German as first language, GAL German as an additional language, Physical Education, PSHE (personal, social and health education), Music, Spanish as third language, IT (information technology).

Across the broad range of subjects MSF values greatly the unique opportunities of living in Europe, Germany and specifically in Frankfurt. This is reflected in study focuses which connect with our school’s geographical location.

Assessment in Middle School

Apart from standard continuous assessment of student performance in Middle School there are Cambridge Checkpoint tests throughout the Secondary 1 programme in English, Mathematics and Science. These regular assessments are

  • valued and recognized throughout the world for their high standards of assessment and their international approach
  • excellent preparation tests for Cambridge IGCSE examinations
  • a good indication of Cambridge IGCSE results to be taken in Grade 10.

MSF is a fully accredited and registered “Cambridge International Centre” which allows us to offer IGCSE examinations towards the end of Grade 10 to be held at the School. All IGCSE exams are marked externally by Cambridge-approved examiners at the same time as other participating schools across the world, with results made available in July.