Our curriculum
The MTK Primary School provides high-quality care and education to students aged 6-11 years.
We teach the internationally respected Cambridge Primary curriculum as our core programme of study. The Cambridge Primary programme used at MTK is specifically designed for international settings and harmonisation with host country National Curriculum standards.
To encourage our students to grow up with pride in their Azerbaijani identify, as well as fluency in their mother tongue, we blend Cambridge with progressive teaching of local National Curriculum native languages1. Also, Azerbaijaini and regional, as well as global, themes, figures, locations and historical events are strongly reflected in teaching, as well as the school’s event calendar.
The Cambridge Primary Curriculum provides a fun and imaginative basis for teaching and learning, incorporating rigorous and effective teaching of reading, writing, speaking and listening, mathematics and science.
Primary School Curriculum Subjects:
- English
- Wellbeing
(Social Emotional Learning) - Mathematics
- Azerbaijani
- MFL (Russian, French, German, Arabic)
- Science
- STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and
Maths with Computing skills) - Social Studies&Global Perspectives
- History of Azerbaijan (Grade 5)
- Music
- Art
- Drama
- Physical Education
(Includes sports, games, gymnastics, dance and swimming)
Primary School structure, the educational streams and the teaching staff
Children who attend the MTK Primary School study on the international programme.
In Grades 1-5 The Cambridge Primary Stage Curriculum is delivered.The Homeroom teachers and specialist teaching staff are host-country English-speaking teachers supported by subject specialists who are native language speakers.
The Homeroom teachers and specialist teaching staff are host-country English-speaking teachers supported by subject specialists who are native language speakers.
English is taught by fully certified expat teachers who are native English speakers.
MTK teachers stay motivated to serve as lifelong learning leaders in society and equip students with skills to nurture values such as excellence, tolerance, enthusiasm and tenacity.
MTK teachers stay motivated to serve as lifelong learning leaders in society and equip students with skills to nurture values such as excellence, tolerance, enthusiasm and tenacity.
Meeting the needs of students
What is learning support?
Students at MTK who are new to English or whose English is not meeting expected levels in the mainstream classroom receive support through the Learning Support Program. The Learning Support program at MTK has been established last academic year (2022-23) and it aims to provide support to all those who need help..
Aims of the Learning Support program at MTK:
- Reinforcing and pre-teaching of concepts and vocabulary from mainstream classroom subjects, such as English, Science and Maths.
- Enhance thinking skills used in all subject areas.
- Four Language Skills – Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing (including Grammar)
- Develop the learners’ skills in English in all subject areas.
Assessment
In the Primary School we employ a variety of methods to closely monitor pupil progress and wellbeing:
- standardised tests are administered regularly in all core subjects, measuring pupil progress against age-related expectations (e.g. Cambridge Mid-Term and Cambridge Progression Tests)
- readiness for success in International Secondary is checked in Grade 5 using Cambridge Assessment’s Checkpoint examinations
- behaviour for learning grades (a teacher assessment of attitude, concentration, social and group-work skills etc.) are awarded regularly, with accompanying comments
- subject-specific grades are awarded regularly, with accompanying comments
- face-to-face Parent-Teacher Consultations occur twice per semester
- detailed written reports, including grades and narrative feedback which are shared with parents, are issued once per semester / twice a year
All of the above is communicated in a clear and efficient manner to parents, using the E-mtk app which includes onboard data analytics for each pupil.
What makes MTK’s Primary School special?
The MTK Primary School provides pupils with:
- a high level of personal attention for every pupil
- high-quality teaching delivered by first-rate international and local teaching professionals
- a contemporary learning environment with interactive whiteboards in every classroom and fully equipped, state-of-the-art teaching spaces for STEAM, Physical Education, Art and Science.
- a varied and engaging authentically curriculum, based on the Cambridge Primary Curriculum
- A positive emotional climate in which social and emotional skills are systematically taught using Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence’s RULER programme
- An educational path, enabling children to achieve full academic proficiency in English and fluency in their native language
- regular, high-quality feedback on personal development and learning, both face-to-face and via the e-mtk app
- Clubs that support children's physical and mental wellbeing according to their interests;
- A vibrant extra-curricular programme, including clubs, leadership programmes and community outreach projects
- a rich and exciting programme of events, educational visits and performances, with regular opportunities for parent involvement
We designed our curriculum so that students who complete their education at MTK have a high level of choice and flexibility.