High School
Section 1: The High School Diploma
High School students (Grades 9 to 12) work towards a High School diploma. There are standard IGCSE and IB High School Courses, as well as alternative pathways. Our High School Careers Advisor works closely with students on their university, college, and careers pathways in Scotland, the wider UK, and international locations as required.
The high school diploma is awarded by ISA and acknowledges students’ study while at ISA. At the end of Grade 12 we hold a formal graduation ceremony in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to celebrate their academic and holistic achievement over the past four years. We are accredited with the Middle States Association which gives our certificate extra weight.
Each year students gain credits for each course they complete. Students who join after Grade 9 will be given credit for courses completed in their previous school. Students who leave before Grade 12 can carry credits from ISA courses to the next school. You can find more information on course credits here, follow this link for more information about specific courses we offer, and here for how assessment works.
Section 2: The IB Diploma
Most ISA students study the world recognised IB Diploma Programme in addition to our High School Diploma. IBDP is offered in Grades 11 and 12, and is very much the culmination of an ISA internationally minded education. We are an IB school, not merely a school that offers IB exams. You can read more about what an IB education is here. Research shows that IB students are more successful at university than students from national systems (this study compares IB to A levels), and have skills and aptitudes employers value.
For the IBDP students choose one subject from each of the six following groups: English, another language, humanities, science, mathematics and an elective (which can be another humanities, another science or Visual Arts). Students complete a 4000 word extended essay on a topic of their choice. They also write an essay and make a presentation for Theory of Knowledge, as well as write formal reflections for Creativity, Activity, Services experiences.
Please see our IB Handbook about how this programme works at ISA. For more information about the IB Diploma at ISA follow this link and for information about students who may want to study IB courses and single courses, but not the full diploma. University pathways are also available through college routes as outlined here as one example.
Section 3: IGCSEs
In Grade 10, some of our students sit IGCSE exams which require two years of study. These are not necessary for university entrance but some students feel they can be useful in getting into the discipline of sitting external examinations and to have something to show UK universities before their final IB Diploma results are confirmed. Follow this link for information about our registration requirements, and look at these slides for information from our IGCSE question and answer session.
Section 4: Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs)
ISA is also a test centre for Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) which are administered by the US College Board. Students don’t have to study a course to sit the exams, which are voluntary and held on Saturdays throughout the year. Many of our US students sit them to help with their applications to US universities - although the IB Diploma is well regarded in the US as well.