对话教育学监，解读A-Level特色 A-LEVEL IN NAS BEIJING,FANGSHAN

Macaulay 先生在Nord Anglia教育集团中拥有丰富的、高度成功的的教育社群资源联系。在来北京市房山区诺德安达学校之前，他曾担任乌兹别克斯坦塔什干英国学校的校长。在他的管理和领导下，塔什干英国学校成为乌兹别克斯坦首屈一指的学校。

Macaulay 先生从事教育工作 32 年之久，其中 25 年致力于亚洲国际学校的教育和管理。他曾在阿布扎比的 Al-Khubairat 英国学校担任副校长，在 2006 年前往卡塔尔后，担任 Dukhan 英语学校的副校长和校长，以及 Mesaieed 国际学校的校长。Macaulay 先生拥有英国国家校长从业证书 (NPQH)，体育教育硕士学位，历史和经济学本科学位，曾经从事体育，商业研究，经济学和数学的教学工作。

 如何解读A level项目？

A-level项目是一项高级别的短期项目，是学生进入英国大学前所获得的受英国认证的证书。在北京房山诺德安达学校，我们提供的大多数科目都是基于国际A-level 课程内容。虽然这些科目与英国本土学生所学的内容相一致，但它是专门为国际学生开设的。为期两年的A-level项目包含11年级开设的AS课程和12年级开设的AI课程。AS课程是独立认证模式，虽然AS课程的课业成绩会加入到2年的A-level课程成绩之中，但单独使用AS课程成绩来申请英国或美国大学课程是不被接受的。

英国本土课程的所有成绩都以2年后的最终成绩为主，而国际A-level课程更具定制化。这便是英国本土课程和国际课程之间的不同之处。

 A-level项目的模式是怎样的？ 

相较其他项目，A-level项目更加灵活。在11年级，学生最多有4门科目可选，以及一些我校评估后认为学生应该学习的核心内容。

在A-level项目中，并没有特殊科目的要求，它更注重于学生专注的并有兴趣的科目。科目少意味着学生所学科目将更深，并能帮助学生很快适应大学生活。

A-level更适合那些对自身优势掌握清晰的学生，换句话说，适合那些在某一方面特别擅长的学生。例如，学生在数学方面能力较强但英语语言文学方面较弱，那么学生可以完全专注于数学的学习而抛弃英语语言文学。对于IB学生来说，只专注于特定科目是不太可能的，因为IB在广度上要求更高。A-Level的最终考试是非常重要的，所以A-Level更适合那些善于考试的学生，学生可以有效地、出色地完成限时考试的，则更适合学习A-level.

更重要的是，学生可以根据所完成的科目获得相应的证书，而IB只有最终一个成绩证书。

国际AS/A level (IAL)采用模块化方法，这意味着学生在每个学习单元结束时都可以参加考试，也可以在学生感觉准备充分时参加相应科目考试，或者在课程全部结束时一起参加考试。对大多数科目来说，这种具有灵活性，以及1月、6月和10月皆有考试机会的模式，意味着学生有更多的机会参加考试并提高学术成绩。在北京房山诺德安达学校，本学期的考试将于5月或6月举行。

国际A-level经过严格的评估设计过程，确保课程内容适用于国际学生，并且在用词、分数和技能培养方面有清晰一致的关联。通过难度的逻辑递进以及模板和设计的一致性，考试模式变得清晰明了，而且更适用于能力各不相同的学生。

 我校目前提供了哪些A-level科目？ 

现阶段，我校为学生提供数学、物理、化学、商科和艺术等科目，所有科目皆为单科学习模式并进行单独学术评估。

 未来，我校将提供哪些新的科目？ 

我们坚信倾听学生的声音在教育中至关重要，所以我们对我校学生进行访谈，倾听他们想学的科目类型。2023年起，在已开设的数学、物理、化学、商科和艺术等科目基础上，我校将新开设生物、地理、历史、音乐以及心理学在内的五门科目。

这是我校A-level项目在新学期的巨大变化，能为学生提供更多的选择让我们倍感欣慰。成为一名北京房山诺德安达学校高中学生的优势是我们拥有IBDP和A-level两类项目的官方认证，所以我们的课程可以满足不同类型高中学生的个性化需求。在新学期，我们即将进入11年级的学生都选择了A-level项目，这也为我们将所有资源投入到A-level 课程教学当中得以实现。

世界各地的顶尖大学都接受A-level成绩。

• 英国罗素集团内的所有大学(包括牛津和剑桥)都接受爱德斯的课程。

• 澳大利亚8大(Go8)均接受爱德斯。

• 国际A-level课程成绩也获得美国大学认可，包括耶鲁大学、哥伦比亚大学、康奈尔大学、达特茅斯学院、麻省理工学院和加州理工学院。

• 获得加拿大顶级高等教育机构的认可，包括多伦多大学和麦吉尔大学。

• 获得亚洲大学的认可，包括香港科技大学和新加坡国立大学。

北京房山诺德安达学校提供多元化的国际高中项目，为学生铺就名校升学之路。

Mr. Macaulay has built a strong and highly successful teaching community among Nord Anglia Education Group.

Mr. Macaulay joins us from the British School in Tashkent. Under his leadership, it has become the leading International School in Uzbekistan. He has overseen the successful implementation of the bilingual curriculum and international curriculum, which will culminate in the school’s first sixth form graduation in June 2020. Integral to this success and pre-requisite to improvements in the quality of teaching and learning at the school has been the development of a whole school English as an Additional Language pedagogy during his time.

With his 32 years in education, Mr. Macaulay has devoted 25 years to the education and management of Asian International Schools. He was assistant Head of Al-Khubairat British School in ABU Dhabi and then, after moving to Qatar in 2006 as Head of Dukhan English School and Mesaieed International School. Mr. Macaulay holds a Bachelor of Degree of History and Economics,   Secondary Physical Education in UK, and the Certificate of UK National Professional Training Program (NPQH) of principals.

 What are A levels?

Levels is a short-hand term for Advanced Level. They are the pre-university qualifications from the UK. For most of our subjects we use the International Advanced Level (IAL). These qualifications have been designed meet the same rigorous standards as the U.K. versions and be accessible to students studying outside the UK The 2-year IAL programme has AS levels in its first year (Grade 11) and A2 in its second year (Grade 12). AS Levels are now a separate qualification. Although they still equate to the first year of study on the full 2-year A Level course, most UK and US universities do not consider AS levels alone adequate for entrance. 

Unlike the UK A level programme which is a linear qualification where all examinations are taken at the end of 2 years, the IAL is modular bases.

 How does A level项目的模式是怎样的？ 

IALs offer more flexibility than some programmes. In grade 11, the students choose up to 4 subjects to study alongside some core elements that we as a school feel they will benefit from.

There are no requirements for specific subjects in the IAL programme. This allows students to focus on the subjects they are interested in. Being able to focus on a small number of subjects means that each subject is studied in depth, helping students to make the transition to university life.

A levels are an excellent choice for students who have a clear idea of which subjects they excel in. Or, to put it another way, students who are ‘one-sided’ in terms of their strengths. For example, a student who is strong in Maths and weak in English Literature would benefit from focusing on Maths and dropping English. Focus on specific subjects is not possible with the IB, which has a much broader study areaThe importance of the final written exam means that A-Levels are more suitable for students strong in written exams. Students who can revise effectively and perform well in timed exams are most suited to A Levels.  

Most importantly, students receive separate certificates in each subject they pass, rather than one overall certificate as the IB.

International AS/A levels (IAL) use the modular approach which means exams can be taken at the end of each unit of study, or throughout the programme of study when a student feels prepared and ready, or all together at the end of the course. This flexibility, together with exam series in January, June, and October, for most subjects, means that students have more opportunities to get feedback to improve their performance and get the grade they need to progress. At NAS Beijing we currently run exam sessions in May/June of the academic year.

IALs go through a rigorous assessment design process, which ensures that the content is relevant for international learners, and that there is a clear and consistent relationship between command words, marks, and skills. With logical progression of difficulty throughout and consistency in template and design, the examinations are clear and provide suitable challenge and support for students of all abilities.

 What did we offer already? 

This year we offered A-Levels in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Business and Art. Each of these subjects are studied and assessed independently.

 What new subjects are we offering? 

We believe in giving students a voice in their education, as such, we consulted with the students about what additional subjects they would like to take. For next year, as well as the A-levels in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Business and Art, we are including, Biology, Geography, History, Music, and Psychology.

This is a huge expansion of the programme and we are extremely excited to provide these options to the students. One of the benefits of being a NAS Beijing student is that we are fully accredited to both IBDP and A level pathway, so we can adapt our High School provision specifically to the needs of individual High school cohorts. For the next academic year, our upcoming Grade 11 cohort is specifically looking at A levels therefore we can adjust resources to expand this provision. 

IALs are accepted by top universities across the world.

·        All Russell Group universities in the UK (including Oxford and Cambridge) accept Edexcel IALs

·        All Group of 8 universities (Go8) in Australia accept Edexcel IALs

·        IALs are recognised by US universities, including Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

·        IALs are recognised by top Canadian Higher-Education Institutions, including the University of Toronto and McGill university

·        IALs are recognised by universities in Asia, including Hong Kong/China University of Science and Technology and the National University of Singapore.

NAS Beijing Fangshan has an enriched and varied High School provision and can offer the best possible opportunities to access the world’s leading universities.