Our curriculum

The MTK International Stream: Secondary provides a high-quality international education to students aged 10-18. 

The vast majority of lessons are instructed in English, although the balance between English-instruction and Azerbaijani-instruction has subtle variations to meet the needs of host-country and expatriate students.

Our aim is to provide a first-rate holistic education that enables entry to top universities at home and abroad.

Students in the International Stream: Secondary study the internationally respected Cambridge Secondary Curriculum, with additional Azerbaijani Language and Azerbaijani Mathematics for host-country students.

The Grade 10 and Grade 11-12 studies culminate in the completion of IGCSE and AS and A-Level examinations; these qualifications are widely recognised in Azerbaijan and abroad and enable entry to the world’s top universities.

Teaching approaches

Students in the International Stream: Secondary experience a blend of high-quality modern and traditional teaching and learning.

Collaborative and project-based learning and the use of technology are complemented by  diligent practice of core skills such as reading, writing and mathematics.  This approach encourages sustainable high levels of academic achievement and a positive attitude to learning.

MTK is proud to offer an expansive programme of clubs, leadership programmes and other extracurricular activities, these opportunities, such as Model United Nations Conferences, are especially prevalent in our Secondary School. They provide wonderful learning experiences and an ideal foundation for university application, which increasingly requires students to evidence their achievement above and beyond the core academic curriculum.

Subjects

Students attending the International Stream: Secondary study the following subjects:

• English
• Cambridge Mathematics
• Local Mathematics*
• Azerbaijani Language
• Biology, Chemistry and Physics
• ICT, Algorithmics* and Computer Science
• World and Azerbaijani History*
• Geography
• Global Perspectives
• Business Studies
• Economics
• Modern Foreign Languages (French, German and Russian)*
• Personal Social & Health Education (PSHE)
• Art
• Music
• Physical Education (PE)

* All subjects except those marked with a red asterisk are delivered entirely in English.

Assessment

In the International Stream: Secondary we employ a variety of methods to closely monitor pupil progress and wellbeing:

• readiness for success in International Secondary is checked in Grade 5 and (pre-IGCSE) in Grade 8 using Cambridge Assessment’s Checkpoint examinations
• Cambridge Assessment IGCSE and AS / A-Level examinations, providing internationally accredited completion of compulsory and pre-university education.
• (for host-country students) completion of all mock and actual examinations required to obtain the Azerbaijani Attestat.
• standardised tests administered regularly in all core subjects, measuring pupil progress against age-related expectations
• digital assessment tools that benchmark pupils against their peers at other high-performing schools around the world (e.g. MAP Growth)
• behaviour for learning grades (a teacher assessment of attitude, concentration, social and group-work skills etc.) are awarded every two weeks
• teacher conferences and PASS(1) tests, which provide diagnostics on pupils’ attitudes to school, their own self-efficacy and wellbeing
• face-to-face Parent-Teacher Consultations twice per semester(2)
• detailed written reports, including grades and narrative feedback, which are shared with parents once per semester

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.

Qualifications and accreditations

Students attending the International Stream: Secondary complete the following externally accredited examinations:

* Compulsory for host-country students and optional for all others.

Why MTK’s Secondary School is special?

The MTK Secondary School provides pupils with:

• internationally accredited examinations provided through Cambridge Assessment International Education enable entry to top universities at home and abroad
• a broad choice of ICGSE and AS / A-Level options for learners in Grades 9, 11 and 12
• a high level of personal attention for every pupil
• high-quality teaching delivered by first-rate international and local teaching professionals
• a fully equipped contemporary learning environment with interactive whiteboards in every classroom
• a varied and engaging authentically bilingual curriculum
• regular, high-quality feedback on personal development and learning, both face-to-face and via the e-mtk app
• 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 have designed our curriculum so that students who complete their education at MTK have a high level of choice and flexibility.

MTK graduates will possess full academic proficiency in at least two languages and most will achieve fluency in three or more, meaning that a wide range of educational and career paths will be open to them at home or abroad.

[1] The Pupil Attitudes to Self and School test provides a range of data on pupils’ attitude to learning, their teachers and their general wellbeing and self-esteem
[2] This is the minimum requirement; teachers are available by appointment on a more regular basis as per parent request.