A core component of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme, the Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) programme counterbalances traditional academics, offering students the opportunity to take initiative, learn through experience and foster a sense of accomplishment. Initiated during the last 18 months of the IB programme, the CAS programme gives students an incentive to participate in individual or collaborative learning projects on three concepts:
English Secondary
IIL students aged 11 to 19 follow a French or English curriculum. Our programmes focus on each student’s personal development and international exposure, and support them in preparing for their future.
English Secondary
The English section follows the British national curriculum in preparation for the Cambridge IGCSE and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.
In the English Secondary programme,
our role is to guide and accompany students in their academic and personal development as they start imagining and shaping their future. Our student-centred learning approach is based on fostering intellectual independence and collaboration. Our teachers inspire, guide and support their students, forging strong bonds along the way.
Marie GALMICHE
Director of English Secondary
Meet the Head of Section
Years 7 to 9 follow the British curriculum, with a strong focus on mathematics, sciences and languages. Students in years 10 and 11 follow the Cambridge IGCSE programme, while those in years 12 and 13 prepare the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, either in English or bilingually – in French and English. IIL is one of the few schools to award the Advanced Bilingual IB Diploma.
Secondary school is a critical time for young people, representing an important transition that can open many doors to their future. At IIL, we help prepare students for academic diplomas and guide and support them in their social and emotional development. Through various local and international initiatives, we actively engage our students in global issues and charitable projects.
During their time at IIL, secondary students take their classes in our modern B17 building. Designed with the latest pedagogical innovations in mind, the building houses multiple collaborative spaces, non-traditional classroom settings and digital learning tools to enhance their education.
Our international teaching staff and university guidance team offer our students individualised support. Thanks to their commitment, our pupils can confidently follow their unique path after graduating, including admittance to the world’s most prestigious universities.
- Creativity – arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking.
- Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the IB.
- Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has learning benefits for the student.
These projects challenge students to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance and develop skills such as teamwork, problem solving and decision-making. Through individualised journal entries, students express how their selected CAS activities match with the seven IB outcomes:
- Undertake new challenges, learn new skills
- Correctly plan and initiate their own experiences
- Work collaboratively with others
- Show perseverance and commitment within their work
- Engage with issues of global importance
- Consider ethical implications
- Develop themselves physically and mentally.
Creative Arts
Encouraging creativity and exploration is a core tenet of the IIL philosophy and an integral part of our English Secondary programme. Years 7 through 9 students receive two periods per week of visual arts education. In addition, S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths) classes – a cross-curricular and collaborative subject that allows students to use a variety of skills to tackle group projects with an ecological or entrepreneurial focus – stimulate creative exploration.
We encourage students in Year 10 to pursue one of our creative options. This module is voluntary and comprises visual arts, film and media as well as S.T.E.A.M classes. In year 11, a visual arts option is also available, with additional guidance and support for students wishing to develop a portfolio in order to pursue fine arts, architecture, photography or film studies later on.
In the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma years, students can choose visual arts or film studies as one of the six modules necessary for certification. Additionally, as part of their personalised CAS (creativity, activity and service) programme, all IB students take on creative projects in order to balance their pre-university academic studies.
Digital Learning
The IIL Secondary school approach to digital learning encompasses the tools and the social aspects of digital citizenship. We guide our students on how to best live with technology and how to use it sensibly and ethically. In the classroom, students learn to use appropriate digital tools to enhance and complement their studies. We provide individual iPads to all secondary students and laptops to International Baccalaureate (IB) students.
Language policy
Languages are a priority at IIL’s Secondary school. Combining learning, practice and cultural openness, our language approach leads students to a natural, high linguistic level in both English and French. Divided into groups according to their level of progress, students are learning with native speaking teachers benefiting from differentiated teaching based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL).
The pedagogical approach to language teaching focuses on the active participation of students, enabling them to develop their oral and written skills. In addition to acquiring linguistic notions, students gain access to the cultural dimension of the language, in particular through cohesion events, outings or school trips.
In addition to French and English, we invite students to choose an additional language – German, Spanish, Chinese or Italian – depending on the section in which they are studying. IIL offers several official certifications – the DELF diploma for French, the Cambridge English diploma for English, the Goethe Institut diploma for German, the Instituto Cervantes diploma for Spanish and the Confucius Institute diploma for Chinese, representing a valuable asset for future studies.
KiVa
All IIL students take part in various KiVa activities according to their age. At the Secondary level, we place special emphasis on the concept of groups. Students also learn how to recognize bullying and how to talk about such situations with an adult.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
As an official partner of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, IIL encourages students to take on responsibilities and set personal challenges and goals.
A non-formal education framework, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award provides a comprehensive programme to develop transferable skills, increase fitness levels, cultivate a sense of adventure, and volunteer in the community.
It is open to students in both the English and French sections of the school, starting at age 13. Its three levels are each divided into four sections. Participants must complete the four sections at each level in order to obtain the award.
University Guidance
Our university and careers counselling programme offers students from year 7 through year 13 (6e-terminale) the tools they need to think actively about their future. Students in lower secondary focus on self-development and career exploration, while students in upper secondary investigate higher education options and work on putting together a strong university application. Focused on each individual’s strengths and interests, our devoted staff and dedicated classes offer students a holistic and inclusive approach to their reflection after graduation.
Meet our community
Their experiences at IIL
Gianluca
Student English Secondary
Tania McMAHON
IB Coordinator
Adrian HIRST
Teacher STEAM
