University access
At the British School of Córdoba our pupils benefit from an integrated curriculum that provides all the benefits of the British system but also satisfies the Spanish educational system. Thus our pupils are not only academically educated, but also accomplished in values, skills and competencies. The combination of both systems helps our pupils to fully develop their potentials and achieve the academic successes that they set out to achieve.
The Spanish Language starts being taught in the Foundation Stage by Spanish teachers. In these classes, pupils are introduced to the world of reading and writing with games, songs and poems. Right from the beginning, pupils in the primary stage are taught reading and writing through interactive lessons. Spanish teachers also teach Social Sciences and Natural Sciences subjects, as laid out by local law.
When pupils reach secondary school, they continue to develop their appreciation of Spanish subjects with Spanish Language, Geography and History, the combination of Spanish and British curricula ensures that pupils satisfy the requirements for ESO. These requirements for ESO are: a pass in both Spanish subjects from 1st to 4th of ESO together with 4 IGCSE passes (grade C or above).
In the Sixth Form, our pupils complement their preparation for the AS and AL exams with Spanish subjects, following what we call our ‘integrated curriculum’. This implies that pupils who, for example, study Biology AL, will also take Biology (PCE), thus obtaining very advanced and specialized training in this subject. In this way, they will also be better prepared for external exams, both AL and the Specific Competency Tests. The PCE allows us to increase the grade achieved by our pupils with the ALs by four more points, so they can access grades with high cut-off marks.
The requirements needed to obtain the Bachillerato are 5 IGCSE subjects and 3 AL subjects (as required by law to access British universities).
At the British School of Córdoba we are fortunate to have a very experienced teaching team with extensive academic training. Our staff use new technologies to motivate pupils and give pupils personalised attention. Finally, it’s worth mentioning that our educational excellence is endorsed by the accreditation of the Junta de Andalucía, membership of the National Association of British Schools in Spain and the British Council.
More information about our curriculum to academic@bscordoba.es
The school was founded in 1998 and in 2005 our first pupils entered university. The hundreds of pupils who have graduated throughout the history of the school, have accessed universities, both public and private, in Spain, the United Kingdom of the United States (among which are several pupils who obtain a place at Cambridge, Oxford and Harvard).
Pupils from the British educational system can access the Spanish university directly. To do this, pupils need to meet the admission requirements for UK universities, that is, a minimum of 5 IGCSE subjects and 3 Advanced Level subjects.
Because we integrate the British system with Spanish subjects; Spanish Language, Social Sciences, Geography and History, our pupils also have the possibility of accessing the Bachillerato degree, if they meet the aforementioned requirements and pass the Spanish subjects from 1st from ESO 4th )
The school accesses the UNED a credential that allows such direct access.
With the credential, based on the marks of the A levels, a maximum access mark of 10 can be obtained (the same as the pupils of the Spanish system). The table of grade equivalences between the British system and the Spanish system is used, adding the points assigned to each grade. For example:
| Grade | Tariff Points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
| Asignatura de AL | Calificación | Puntos |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish | A* | 56 |
| Biology | B | 40 |
| Chemestry | A | 48 |
| Mathematics | C | 32 |
| Total | 176 (= 8.63 / 10) |
| A LEVELS | UCAS POINTS | SPAIN |
|---|---|---|
| EEE | 48 | 5.00 |
| DEE | 56 | 5.23 |
| EEEE, DDE, CEE | 64 | 5.45 |
| DEEE, DDD, BEE, CDE | 72 | 5.68 |
| CEEE, CCE, CDD, AEE, BDE | 80 | 5.91 |
| BEEE, CCD, BDD, ADE, BCE, A*EE | 88 | 6.14 |
| AEEE, BBE, ADD, ACE, BCD, A*DE | 96 | 6.36 |
| ADEE, BBD, BCC, ACD, ABE, A*CE | 104 | 6.59 |
| ACEE, BBEE,AAE, BBC, ABD, A*CD | 112 | 6.82 |
| ABEE, ACDE, BBB, ABC, AAD, A*CC | 120 | 7.04 |
| ABDE, ACCE, AAC, ABB, A*BC, A*AD | 128 | 7.27 |
| ABDD, ACCD, AAB, A*BB, A*AC | 136 | 7.50 |
| ABCD, AADD, AAA, A*AA, A*AB, A*A*B | 144 | 7.73 |
| ABCC, ABBD, A*AA, A*A*B | 152 | 7.95 |
| AACC, AABD, ABBC, A*A*B | 160 | 8.18 |
| AAAD, AABC, ABBB, A*A*A* | 168 | 8.41 |
| A*A*BD, A*ABC, AABB | 176 | 8.63 |
| A*A*BC, A*ABB, AAAB | 184 | 8.86 |
| A*A*AC, A*AAB, AAAA | 192 | 9.09 |
| A*A*AB, A*AAA | 200 | 9.32 |
| A*A*A*B, A*A*AA | 208 | 9.54 |
| A*A*A*A | 216 | 9.77 |
| A*A*A*A* | 224 | 10.00 |
Additional Spanish Tests of specific competences
Pupils can voluntarily take additional tests to improve their entrance to Spanish universities. Thus, the maximum entrance mark to the university is increased to 14.
Pupils can take these examinations in up to four subjects, but only the best two grades are counted. Each subject can raise the grade up to two points (if the weighting is 0.2) or up to one point (if the weighting is 0.1).
The choice of subjects for which the pupil will be examined in the PCE will depend on the degree he or she wants to study.
PCE subjects offered by the school:
- Física
- Química
- Biología
- Geografía
- Dibujo Técnico
- Matemáticas II
- Historia del Arte
- Economía de la Empresa
- Matemáticas Aplicadas a las Ciencias Sociales.
We understand how important the bachillerato and university choice are. The entire team of secondary school teachers, our psychologist and the technical director are all there to help and guide pupils through this final stage. The process includes personal interviews, talks by delegates from different universities, visits to different institutions and our own "University Fair", where public and private universities visit from all over Spain and pupils can discuss courses and ask questions directly to their representatives.