OSA Cambridge Sciences
February 3, 2022 2023-03-08 13:49OSA Cambridge Sciences
The Applied Sciences curriculum is strongly based on technology and laboratory practice, aiming to develop the knowledge, skills and ability required to pursue the development of scientific and technological research.
The OSA Cambridge Sciences Liceo features the teaching of computer science and a large amount of hours dedicated to the study of natural sciences and physics.
The methodologies used allow students to approach contemporary issues critically and con-sciously, developing a sense of responsibility and organisational and teamwork skills.
The Applied Sciences curriculum is also an IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) program. The school was approved as a Cambridge School in February 2019.
OUR SCHOOL IS PART OF THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF CAMBRIDGE SCHOOLS:
The school is part of the Network of Cambridge Schools that includes all of the Italian schools offering an IGCSE program. The Network aims to support Cambridge International Schools and, in particular, to share teaching activities, training initiatives, ideas and materials.
Every year the Network organises various activities, the most important of which are the summer camp, the annual national conference, the regional meetings for macro-areas and the meetings with British associates.
By joining the Cambridge Schools Network, our school has become a part of a network that supports and reinforces the IGCSE pathway. This makes constant exchange and fruitful cooperation with our colleagues from other schools possible.
The other activities offered by the Network can be viewed at the following link: https://www.scuolecambridge.it/
JOINING CAMBRIDGE:
The approval process consists of 3 steps.. First of all, an Expression of Interest Form is sent, followed by a formal Application Form containing all of the necessary information. Finally, the school receives an approval visit by two Cambridge representatives, specifically the Senior Manager for Italy & Southeastern Europe and the Schools Relationship Manager for Italy. To date, the approval process has been successfully completed.
WHY CHOOSE THE IGCSE PATHWAY:
The IGCSE pathway helps to improve the approach to General English as well as that to the specific language. With this curriculum, students are taught a British approach in studying (in many cases, quite different from the Italian approach) that allows them to access university and the world of employment.
Many Italian universities (Università Cattolica, Università Bocconi di Milano, Università degli Studi di Bologna, Università di Genova, Università di Udine, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, John Cabot University di Roma, Università di Siena, Università di Pisa, Univer-sità degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, among others) as well as universities abroad accept IGCSE graduation, although this may differ depending on the university and based on the exam and the final grade achieved.
In the UK, the IGCSE is considered equivalent to the GCSE examinations taken normally by British students when they are 16 (when mandatory education ends). Cambridge IGCSE certificates confer additional scores in Italian and other international uni-versities that have admission selection procedures in place.
WHAT IGCSE MEANS AND WHAT ARE THE SUBJECTS STUDIED:
IIGCSE is the acronym for International General Certificate of Secondary Education.
Students following an IGCSE pathway are studying subjects partially in Italian and mostly in English, without overlay but rather by implementing a more flexible learning method.
QUALIFICATION OF TEACHERS:
The teachers implementing the Cambridge pathway are all qualified to teach English and/or are holders of Cambridge International Certifications or IELTS that range from level B2 (First) to level C2 (Proficiency). All IGCSE pathway teachers have attended or are attending specif-ic training courses activated specifically for each subject by Cambridge International.
IGCSE SUBJECTS AND HOURS:
- 1st year: Geography, English as second language;
- 2nd year: Geography, Mathematics, English as second language;
- 3rd year: Mathematics, Chemistry, Literature in English;
- 4th year: Chemistry, Literature in English;
- 5th year: Dedicated solely to the Italian curriculum.
Activities and Projects
The activities and projects of the Liceo Scientifico OSA Cambridge does not regard only the specific areas of science, IT and technologies. In fact, linguistic projects and activities are equally important thanks to the boarding school’s becoming a part of the Cambridge Schools Network.
Languages
Enhancement of the English Language
The Educandato welcomes the European Commission’s indications aimed to promote the teaching of languages enabling people to communicate in at least two foreign languages.
To achieve this, the boarding school has activated English language Enhancement courses for the achievement of Cambridge certifications, based on the Common European Frame-work.
The school has been a Cambridge Training Centre for years now, and as such organises ESOL examination preparation courses and assists students in registering for final exams.
Arts
A Museum Area was opened in 2014 inside Villa del Poggio Imperiale, that has been an edu-cational institute for over 150 years.
The Institute is thus considered a School-Museum where the boarding school students, after getting the license as ‘Guida del Poggio’, carry out internship work as Museum guides. These students act as tour guides, providing in various languages all information regarding the spe-cial cultural asset as part of their School-Work alternation program.
Sciences
Scientific Degrees Project
This project, resulting from the collaboration with the Ministry of University and Education and with other entities, aims to bring students closer to degree programs in chemistry, physics and mathematics and to improve their knowledge and perception of scientific subjects through stimulating and engaging curricular and extracurricular laboratory activities.
For the last decade, our school every year has been renewing the experience of a Chemistry program for the students in the last three years of Liceo in collaboration with University of Florence professors. For the past three years, the activities carried out under this project have counted as “Pathways for Soft Skills and Orientation” (PCTO).
For further information: https://www.scienze.unifi.it/vp-131-piano-nazionale-per-le-lauree-scientifiche-pls.html
Pianeta Galileo lectures-meeting
The lectures proposed stimulate the students’ reflection on scientific culture and bring them closer to the world of Science and Research using specialised scientific language that is at the same time made easier to understand so as to facilitate their dialogue with the speakers.
Geology-oriented excursions are also organised to foster knowledge of the territory, visits to City and Italian museums and activities at the Galileo museum.
For further information: http://www.consiglio.regione.toscana.it/pianeta-galileo/
The Mathematical Olympiad
For many years, several students selected among those attending the various types of Liceo have been participating in the Mathematical Olympiad, achieving excellent results.
For further information: http://olimpiadi.dm.unibo.it/chi-siamo/cosa-le-olimpiadi/
Festa della Matematica (The Mathematics Festival)
In the past few years, the boarding school teachers have been organising various initiatives aimed to bring students closer to the world of mathematics. One of these events is the so-called ‘Mathematics festival’.
This event aims at proposing several moments of reflection about the concept of mathemat-ics as the key to interpreting the reality that surrounds us, showing how it does not end in the abstract knowledge of the discipline but is a highly creative human activity that has been closely linked to everyday life since time immemorial.