Our curriculum
The MTK Secondary School provides high-quality care and education to students aged 11-18 years.
We teach the internationally respected Cambridge Lower Secondary, Cambridge Upper Secondary and Cambridge Advanced curricula as our core programmes of study. The Cambridge programmes used at MTK are specifically designed for international settings and harmonisation with host country National Curriculum requirements.
Most 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.
To encourage host-country students to grow up with pride in their national identify, as well as fluency in their mother tongue, we blend Cambridge with progressive teaching of all compulsory local National Curriculum subjects, including native languages, National Curriculum Mathematics, the History of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani Geography. All host-country students who successfully complete their Secondary School education at MTK receive the Attestat. 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.
Expatriate students are offered English-language electives in place of intensive native language lessons.
The Grade 10 and Grade 11-12 studies culminate in the completion of IGCSE, AS and A-Level examinations; these qualifications are widely recognised in Azerbaijan and abroad and enable entry to the world’s top universities.
Secondary School Curriculum Subjects:
- English
- PSHE (RULER) *
(Personal, Social, Health and Economic education) - Mathematics
(Following both the Cambridge and, for host-country students, the National Curriculum programme of study) - Azerbaijani Language
- MFL French, German, Arabic and Russian
(Stream A students may choose additional English or Russian) - Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- STEAM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) - World History and the History of Azerbaijan
- Geography
- ICT and Computing
- Sociology
- Music
- Art and Design
- Physical Education
(Includes sports, games; additionally, swimming is provided as an optional club)
What are IGCSEs, AS and A-Levels and where are they recognised
Cambridge International General Certificates of Secondary Education (IGCSEs) are the world’s foremost qualification for students aged 14-16 and gives students more options than almost any other international qualification.
Students study English, Mathematics, one or more Science subject, one or more Modern Foreign Language and one or more Humanities subject. Typically, students choose to study between seven and nine IGCSEs.
Further information about IGCSEs can be accessed from the Cambridge Assessment International Education Website at this link. Cambridge Advanced and Advanced Subsidiary Level (A-Level and AS Level) are the world’s foremost qualification for students aged 16-19.
They are considered a “gold standard” for university entry and are widely accepted in Azerbaijan and overseas. Studying AS and A-Levels develops a deep understanding of subjects and independent thinking skills.
AS-Levels require one year to complete and A-Levels require two years to complete, the benefit of full A-Levels being a more in-depth knowledge and the ability enter the first year of an undergraduate degree at a local or overseas university, bypassing a Foundation Year. Students with full A-Levels are typically not required to complete an IELTS or equivalent English Language Certification test prior to university entry.
Students typically select three to four subjects to study in-depth, focusing on their strengths and interests and guided by their probable choice of future carer.
Further information about AS and A-Levels can be accessed from the Cambridge Assessment International Education Website at this link.
Specific information about the recognition and acceptance of Cambridge Qualifications by schools and universities worldwide can be found at this link.
What is PSHE and RULER?
- Understanding the value of emotions
- Building the skills of emotional intelligence
- Creating and maintaining a positive school climate
Leadership Programmes in the Secondary School
These provide powerful learning and an ideal foundation for university application, which increasingly requires students to evidence their achievement above and beyond the core academic curriculum.
Secondary School structure and the teaching staff
Homeroom Teachers are typically host-country nationals and expatriate and local teachers act as subject specialists.
For further details please consult the International Stream: Secondary Senior Management Team.
Meeting the needs of students who speak English as a Second or Additional Language
MTK is an internationally minded school based in a country where the native language is Azerbaijani; as such, our teaching staff are specialists at delivering lessons in English that are accessible to a diverse student group.
We achieve this by providing differentiated tasks to students of different abilities, dual language resources, through widespread use of practical and experiential learning, through the provision of additional lessons for some learners and in a myriad of other ways.
In addition to the core teaching staff in your child’s Section (Preschool, Primary, Secondary) the school employs a qualified, experienced English as a Second Language & Learning Support (ESL & LS) Coordinator and a dedicated team of 7 additional ESL & LS Teachers who provide support and interventions to the students in Transition to Grade 8 with the explicit aim of raising their achievement to the level of age-related expectations in the fastest possible time.
Please ask our admissions team and academic management staff for further details.
Assessment
- 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. GL Assessments)
- behaviour for learning grades (a teacher assessment of attitude, concentration, social and group-work skills etc.) are awarded every two weeks
- face-to-face Parent-Teacher Consultations twice per semester
- detailed written reports, including grades and narrative feedback, which are shared with parents once per semester
Students attending the International Stream: Secondary complete the following externally accredited examinations:
|
Grade |
Examination |
Subjects |
Purpose |
|
8 |
Cambridge Checkpoint |
English, Mathematics, Science |
Internationally accredited examinations for benchmarking student progress and prospects for success at IGCSE; provided by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) |
|
9 |
Azerbaijani State Examinations* |
Azerbaijani Language, Azerbaijani Mathematics and a Foreign Language |
A legal requirement for host-country students who require a certificate evidencing completion of compulsory education; this is required by local and many overseas universities |
|
10 |
Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education Examinations (ICGSEs) |
English, Mathematics and additional subjects chosen by the student (typically 7-9 subjects in total) |
Internationally accredited examinations evidencing proficiency in a range of subjects and enabling enrolment to pre-university study in Grade 11; provided by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)
|
|
11 |
Azerbaijani State Examinations* |
Azerbaijani Language, Azerbaijani Mathematics and a Foreign Language |
A legal requirement for host-country students who require a certificate evidencing completion of further education; this is required by local and many overseas universities |
|
11 |
Cambridge Advanced Subsidiary Examinations (AS Level) |
Typically 3-5 subjects chosen by the student, which is guided by future university and career ambitions |
Internationally accredited examinations enabling enrolment to first-rate universities in Azerbaijan and abroad; provided by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)
|
|
12 |
Cambridge Advanced Level Examinations (A Level) |
Typically 3-5 subjects chosen by the student, which is guided by future university and career ambitions |
Internationally accredited examinations enabling enrolment to first-rate universities in Azerbaijan and abroad; provided by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) |
* 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 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 bilingual curriculum, based on the Cambridge Secondary 1 and 2 and Cambridge Advanced curricula
- 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
- • A positive emotional climate in which social and emotional skills are systematically taught using Yale Centre for Emotional Intelligence’s RULER programme
We 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 English and fluency in native languages also, meaning that a wide range of educational and career paths will be open to them at home or abroad.
More information: +994552028401
Registration: https://www.mtk.edu.az/en20/
E-mail address: admissions@mtk.edu.az