An International Curricular Experience at VPSI
Vientiane Pattana School International has always been effective and successful at continually providing its students the advantage and opportunity to explore different curricular using learning styles.
Students start their education in Pre-Primary and Primary with a curriculum that makes literacy more accessible and easier to grasp.
Our Primary Department uses an American based International Programme, laced with a tailored primary Maths program with specialist math teachers, to offer students aged 5-11 a spectrum of strong curricula to develop a foundation in numeracy, literacy, and sciences. Opportunities for inquiry learning are gradually introduced while these skills are strengthened. The VPSI Primary Maths Curriculum adopts the Cambridge system of applying the Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract approach that aids pupils in achieving a deeper understanding of the key mathematical concepts they need to progress through the higher levels of the Cambridge maths program. Materials used in class are structured and spiraled to ensure a steady build-up of skills as they move from one level to another. The varying strategies employed in our curriculum not only give emphasis on developing students’ problem-solving skills and critical thinking, but also accommodate the different kinds of learners we have in our class.
At High School level, Vientiane Pattana Secondary School International is an accredited Cambridge International School and offers Cambridge International Curriculum. The Cambridge International Curriculum is an assured passport to formal and informal post-secondary education.
The Cambridge Lower Secondary is offered to Vientiane Pattana Students at ages 11-14. This acts as an introduction to the Cambridge curriculum. This programme, although a different system to the one used in previous years, builds upon the skills introduced at Primary level with added subjects being History, ICT, Values and Ethics. Science is still Combined Sciences at this level and Maths is no longer Singaporean, but Cambridge.
The Upper Secondary is moving towards preparing our students for Cambridge International Exams. The complete program is offered to students from ages 14-19, as three formal exams, IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) approximately at age 16; AS/A level (Advanced Level) two exams for students between the ages of 17 to 19. The entire programme is spread out into a 12 or 13 year programme. The Sciences are no longer combined at these levels, and are offered as three separate subjects; Chemistry, Biology and Physics.
Subjects offered are as follows,
IGCSE Level
- English as a Second Language
- English as a First Language
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- ICT
- Art & Design
- Econimics
- Business Studies
- Travel & Tourism
- Global Perspectives
- Dance / Music
AS/A Level
- English Language (AS Level)
- English Literature (AS/A Level)
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- ICT / Computer Science
- Travel & Tourism
- Art & Design
- Economics
- Dance / Music / Media Production (no Cambridge subject)
In future, we intend to introduce more technical subjects and languages that cater to students’ interests and demands. Subjects on offer could also be replaced or phased out, depending on popularity and interest.
Vientiane Pattana School International is student inspired. The culture and the nature of the school have always been based on our student’s needs and success.
Lao Programme
VPS offers Years 1 – 5 students the opportunity to study in an afternoon Lao Programme comprised of core subjects, Language and Literature, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Science, as well as, Lao culture and ethics. This programme meets all requirements of the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES). Secondary students study Lao curricular approved by the MOES to eventually become eligible for a Lao MOES high school diploma, as well as eligibility to study at Lao Universities and other colleges in Vientiane.
Vientiane Pattana Pre-Primary School
At VPS Kindergarten, we make an effort to maintain a positive learning environment that facilitates students’ personal, social, and intellectual development.
We offer a well-balanced curriculum with emphasis on imaginative and creative play. Our literacy and numeracy program are aligned with content-area instruction in Science, Technology, and Social Studies. We recreate a haven of meaningful learning where the developmental needs and varying interests of children are recognized and esteemed.
Play integration in the curriculum has always been a priority for our little ones. We incorporate recreational activities in honing our Kiddi and Preschoolers’ cognitive, affective, and psycho-motor skills.
We also pride ourselves in having a sound pre-reading program that promotes an optimal learning experience for our Kinder I and II students. Our children are taught the foundation of becoming proficient readers through the mastery of foundational skills (concept of print, phonological awareness, phonics, and high-frequency words). VPS is subscribed to a student-centered website that allows our children to explore read and learn dynamically and independently, using interactive e-books with comprehension skill exercises. We strive to get our kindergarteners ready for the big school and we thrive to produce not just readers who can read, but also readers who have a love for reading.
It is our vision to mold students who value themselves, their families, and their community. We aspire to continually empower young learners, whose enthusiasm for learning goes beyond what is taught in class.
We do not just facilitate learning, we bring into being, life-long learners.
Primary Curriculum
At Vientiane Pattana School International, we recognize that every child is unique, as expressed in each child’s personality, intelligence and capabilities. Thus, we provide a student-centered learning environment that nurtures all aspects of a child’s life – moral, cognitive, emotional, social, artistic, creative and physical.
Our curriculum is structured and detailed but also flexible. It advocates the active participation of children in a learning process that is both stimulating and creative. Its overall goal is to inspire the students to pursue the acquisition knowledge all throughout life and to equip them to meet with self-assurance, the ever-changing challenges of the times.
Vientiane Pattana School International’s primary levels are from Year 1 to Year 6. Our English Program provides a full array of English language skills required, with core subjects taught by qualified, English-speaking staff. Additional classes are also offered in Physical Education, ICT and the Creative Arts (Music, Dance and Visual Arts).
Secondary Curriculum
The Secondary Department of VPSI is an accredited Cambridge International School and accordingly, our curriculum follows the British system and is divided into three main sections.
Grade 7 and 8
- Students move from a predominantly single teacher in the elementary school to a range of specialist teachers in secondary.
- Students receive a range of subject experiences that will adequately prepare them for taking IGCSE exams in year 10.
- Main subjects: English, Maths, Integrated Sciences (further divided into Chemistry and Biology in grade 8), History, ICT, Art & Design, Geography, and in addition PE are required units.
- Elective subjects are Music or Dance.
Grade 9 and 10
- Students are preparing to take IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) exams.
- The compulsory subjects for grade 9 and 10 are English (ESL English or English as First Language), Maths and Global Perspectives (grade 9 only). Additionally, a number of pairings are offered. Students will choose four more subjects, one from any group: Chemistry/Economics; Physics/Business Studies; Biology/Travel & Tourism (grade 10 only); Computer Science/Art & Design. In addition PE is a required unit. Elective subjects are Music or Dance.
Grade 11 and 12
- Students prepare for their AS/A levels, again a British educational curriculum (following directly on from IGCSE).
- The compulsory subject for grade 11 and 12 is AS English. A number of pairings or triplets are offered. Students will choose English plus three more subjects. One from any group: Art & Design/Maths; Physics/Dance or Music or Media Productions/Business Studies; IT/Biology/Travel & Tourism; Chemistry/Economics; PE is a required unit but not examined.
- Additionally, grade 12 students are guided in preparing their university entries, practicing CV and scholarship + university applications writing.
***Students with AS/A level qualifications are recognised by all the major and minor universities globally. These are rigorous exams held under very strict exam conditions for grade 11 + 12. The papers are sent to Cambridge for marking by external examiners. The papers are graded as if they are all native speakers; there is no special allowance for ESL learners.
Grade 13
- In the academic school year 2021 – 2022, VPSI offers last year’s graduating students a special program to prepare for their AS/A level exams they were not able to take in the CIE May/June series of 2021, due to the pandemic.
Please feel free to contact us if you would like to meet personally and discuss your options for senior secondary.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
VPS provides a pullout intervention for English language learners from Kindergarten through the 6th Grade to boost English language skills to a level where academic performances become equivalent to those of other students of the same age and group.
Our aim is to provide a learning environment, as well as educational opportunities, that will produce students who excel as effective communicators, independent learners, and critical thinkers–successful in the classroom and productive in the community.
We have trained experts who are able to customize learning techniques and utilize resources that best help students in today’s rapidly evolving educational needs and society.
VPS is making a strong statement about our ability to address and meet the ever-changing needs of students in the ESL program by providing effective trainers, well-researched methods, and level appropriate materials that are sure to equip students as they prepare to join mainstream classes.
Information and Communications Technology (ICT)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays a vital role in shaping our lives, as constantly makes a profound influence in every aspect of the world we know today. Overtime, ICT has become a tool for knowledge construction, creativity, and innovation. Thus, VPS adapted and modified the Cambridge ICT Starter curriculum to teach and instill to our students the appropriate use of available technology, not solely for entertainment, but also for purposes of improving our quality of life in the contemporary world.
By the end of the Primary school years, the students will have learned how to use computers in data processing, basic software programs, simple graphic design software, and at the same time, create a presentation on purpose, understand the basics of website development, and surf the Internet in the best available ways.
Secondary students will develop a range of ICT skills to prepare for IGCSE exams: from office applications to computer graphics, 2D/3D Designs, multimedia, and website development. Students will also gain knowledge on basic networking, programming, and Systems Analysis and Design.
VPS has 2 computer laboratories that are well-equipped with necessary hardware and software for the fulfillment of the ICT curriculum.