26 Apr 2017
Aspire Private British School in Paphos, Cyprus, has been entering candidates for Cambridge qualifications as private candidates for a number of years. They have now registered as a Cambridge Associate School and are delighted to be the 750th Cambridge school in Europe. Principal Sharon Hadjiyiakoumi shares her experience with us.
'Aspire Private British School delivers quality education through experienced teachers who recognise the importance of an inspirational learning environment. We have been offering Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge International AS & A Level qualifications for some years now, particularly in computing.
‘The Cambridge ICT and Computer Science programmes encourage students to develop lifelong skills which they can use at school, in further studies and in future employment. Students are given opportunities to combine theoretical and practical studies as they develop creative, analytical, logical and critical thinking skills, preparing them to compete in a modern world.
'We plan to extend our ICT curriculum by giving our primary students the opportunity to take Cambridge ICT Starters. These qualifications introduce students to the key ICT applications they require to achieve computer literacy and to understand the impact of technology on our daily lives. Our Parent Teacher Association is excited about these developments and has recently invested in Lego Mindstorm robotic sets to further encourage the adoption of ICT from a young age in our school.
'Becoming a Cambridge Associate School will help us to extend the range of subjects available to our students. We are particularly interested in Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives, a ground-breaking and stimulating course that stretches across traditional subject boundaries and develops transferable skills. It helps learners of today enjoy studying by participating in team work, presentations, projects, and working with other Cambridge students around the world. An emphasis is placed on developing the ability to think critically about a range of global issues where there is always more than one point of view.
'We are proud of the vibrant and caring ethos within our school and we aim to set our students and graduates on the right path as they move forward into higher education and careers. We are excited to have such a close relationship with an internationally renowned and respected education provider like Cambridge Assessment International Education, and recognise the benefits this can bring to our students.'