About Cambridge Section

“No matter what your ability is, effort is what ignites that ability and turns it into accomplishment.” — Carol S. Dweck

The best gift one can give children is to teach them to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort and keep on learning. From its inception, we at the Cambridge Section have tried to create a climate of no fear, where our students are comfortable in asking questions and not always answering them.

Here our students get to play an active role in the classroom. They think critically, construct arguments, evaluate evidence and provide feedback, as we truly believe that there is no limit to what a child can explore and experience in a classroom. They are also encouraged to think beyond textbooks, to blossom into young adults ready to tackle the demand of tomorrow’s world, capable of shaping a better world for the future.

Enthusiastic, open minded, well-informed and creative teachers have added value to the section through engaging and innovative classrooms.

About

Dr Jagdish Gandhi & Dr Bharti Gandhi, M.Ed., PhD (Guidance & Psychology)
Founder-Manager and Founder-Director, CMS

Background

City Montessori School (CMS) is the world’s largest city-school with 20 campuses in the city of Lucknow. The school that began with 5 children in 1959 on a borrowed capital of 300 rupees today has over 53,000 students from Montessori to Class XII in the current session.

Our founders, Dr Jagdish Gandhi and Dr Bharti Gandhi, were inspired by the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and Sant Vinoba Bhave. They started CMS with the vision of inspiring generations of children to become socially motivated and conscious citizens of India and the world.

Their motto “Jai Jagat” has been the school's greeting from the beginning, as a deliberate constant to the popular “Jai Hind” greeting at the time. CMS children are taught the value of 'Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam', or the ‘Earth is but One Country and Mankind its Citizens'.

CMS Vision

The CMS vision is to create world peace through education and to nurture thoughtful and proactive world citizens and leaders committed to the service of humanity.

CMS Mission

The CMS mission is to create a better future for all children. We achieve this by maximising opportunities for children through holistic, values-based education of the highest quality and through initiatives that promote unity and meaningful social action for development.

City Montessori School, Gomti Nagar II Campus is affiliated with the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Board, U.K. Admission is open for Classes V, VI, VII, VIII & IX. Parents wishing to admit their children can apply at CMS Gomti Nagar-II Campus.

Cambridge International Examinations Board is a part of the University of Cambridge, one of the world’s top universities trusted for excellence in education. It is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for students aged between 5-19 years. Its qualifications are recognized and accepted by universities, educators and employers across the globe.

The IGCSE qualification (the International General Certificate of Secondary Education or IGCSE) is recognized in India by the Council of Boards of School Education (COBSE) of India and is equivalent to any Std. X Board in India. The Advanced level qualifications (A-Levels) are recognized by the All India Universities (AIU) as equivalent to any higher secondary qualifications of Boards in India.

Cambridge programmes and qualifications are carefully designed to engage learners and give them a solid foundation to achieve high levels of academic and personal excellence.

International Policy of the School

  • To help instill in its students, teachers and staff the much-needed qualities of global citizenship.
  • To have a global outlook to reach out to international communities in order to share thoughts that build long-lasting friendships.
  • To help students to be sensitive to international issues.
  • To teach students to be respectful towards cultural differences that mark human existence on this planet.
  • To ensure that our students are ever ready to learn new things that help in personal and professional growth.
  • To motivate the students to be persistent in encouraging the human race to care for all classes of its members on any part of the planet.
  • To sensitize our students to be empathetic to the survival and existence of earth’s flora and fauna that add colour to life as we know it on this planet.
  • To empower every person related to CMS with the unique responsibility of being a global citizen—both in thought and action.

Where do Cambridge qualifications take you?

 

Success in Cambridge qualifications often gives students admission to the world’s best universities – in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and beyond.

Cambridge qualifications are accepted and valued by universities around the world, including MIT, Harvard and Cambridge. They are recognised as qualifications that prepare and equip students with the skills they need to succeed both at university and beyond. Universities say that they value the independent research and critical thinking skills, as well as the deep subject knowledge that the Cambridge qualifications bring.

Cambridge International Exam (CIE) Board works with these universities when it revises qualifications – getting expert advice to make sure its courses we are preparing students to succeed at university and beyond.

Activities at Cambridge Section

Active learning empowers students to develop their personal capabilities and thinking skills. This approach enables them to gain a deeper understanding of their subjects by being actively engaged in challenging activities which makes learning joyful and meaningful. Students are challenged to apply their knowledge.


CMS Cambridge Section

City Montessori School affiliated with the University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Board in 2016-17. Admission is open for the Classes V, VI, VII, VIII and IX. Parents wishing to admit their children can apply at CMS Gomti Nagar II Campus.

Salient Features:

  • The teacher-student ratio is maintained at 1:30
  • Thousands of learners across the globe use Cambridge qualifications to get places at universities worldwide.
  • Cambridge International Education (CIE) programmes have a proven reputation for being an excellent preparation for university, employment and life.
  • CIE offers a wide range of subjects – available in many combinations.
  • CIE programmes help schools and teachers prepare their learners to be confident, responsible, reflective, innovative and engaged.
  • Foreign languages German and French are taught as subjects by native European speakers of these languages from the Institute for European Languages.

Our curriculum

  • Provides a natural progression from primary education
  • Sets clear learning objectives for the first three years of upper primary education in English, mathematics and science. In Cambridge parlance, this is called Secondary 1.
  • Is compatible with other curricula, internationally relevant and sensitive to different needs and cultures
  • Is appropriate for learners whose first language is not English
  • Gives optional routes to use sections that suit your situation best
  • Focuses on learners’ development and provides schools with international benchmarks.

For Parents and Students

Cambridge programmes prepare students for life – helping them to develop an informed curiosity and lasting passion for learning.

Cambridge helps students to become ready to tackle the demands of tomorrow’s world, capable of shaping a better world for the future.

That’s why success with Cambridge opens doors to the world’s best universities – in the US, the UK, Australia, Canada and beyond.

It’s what you’d expect from an organisation that is part of the world-leading university, University of Cambridge.

Subjects offered:

  • English
  • Hindi
  • German
  • French
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • ICT (Information & Communication Technology)
  • Music, Fine Arts & Drama

Cambridge Secondary 1

Cambridge Secondary 1 develops skills and understanding in English, mathematics and science for the first three years of secondary education. It combines a world-class curriculum, high-quality support for teachers and integrated assessment.

International curriculum

Appropriate and relevant internationally, Cambridge Secondary 1 has been designed to be culturally sensitive. It includes top-quality teaching and assessment resources appropriate for teaching and learning in local and international schools.

A foundation for progression

Cambridge Secondary 1 provides excellent preparation for Cambridge Secondary 2 and other educational programmes. Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint tests can be used to monitor learners’ readiness for the next stage of education.

External benchmark

Cambridge Secondary 1 includes two testing options: Cambridge Secondary 1 Progression Tests and Cambridge Secondary 1 Checkpoint. These assessments provide an international benchmark of student achievement, helping teachers to identify learners’ strengths and weaknesses and give advice on progression routes.

Information and Communications Technology

Schools can use Cambridge ICT Starters within Cambridge Secondary 1 to introduce learners to the key ICT applications they need to achieve computer literacy. It gives schools a flexible framework to develop ICT skills.

What’s it like in a Cambridge Classroom?

With Cambridge programmes, students build more than just a deep understanding of their subject. They also develop higher order thinking skills so that they can apply what they’ve learned.

Cambridge students get to play an active role in the classroom. They will be asked to think critically, to learn how to construct an argument and evaluate evidence. They will learn to work independently, and to collaborate with one another to bring a project to a successful outcome (and if it’s not successful, they’ll also learn lessons from reflecting on why that might be). And they’ll be encouraged to develop an international outlook, and become confident, global citizens.

When we design our programmes, we start by identifying what a student needs to learn. Students have to demonstrate understanding and the core knowledge of a subject, as well as think critically. Exams are there to recognise, reward and encourage learning.

Cambridge Secondary 1

A guide for parents

Cambridge International Examinations prepares school students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. We are part of Cambridge Assessment, a department of the University of Cambridge.

Our international qualifications are recognised by the world’s best universities and employers, giving students a wide range of options in their education and career. As a not-for-profit organisation, we devote our resources to delivering high-quality educational programmes that can unlock learners’ potential.

Your child’s needs as a learner are at the heart of our approach to education. Our programmes and qualifications aim to give your child a love of learning that will stay with them through school, university and beyond.

  • confident in working with information and ideas – their own and those of others
  • reflective and developing their ability to learn
  • innovative and equipped for new and future challenges
  • engaged intellectually and socially, ready to make a difference.

What is Cambridge Secondary 1?

Cambridge Secondary 1 is an education programme for learners aged 11 to 14 years that builds skills, knowledge and understanding in English, mathematics and science.


Cambridge Secondary 1 builds on the foundations of Cambridge Primary, although it is not essential to have completed that stage. Cambridge Secondary 1 is offered in over 130 countries worldwide. It develops learners’ skills in English, English as a second language, mathematics and science, and is offered by nearly 2300 schools in over 130 countries.


Benefits for your child

Cambridge Secondary 1 starts learners on an educational journey for their first years of secondary education, increasing their knowledge and skills at each stage. It provides a natural progression for children from primary education and prepares them for post-14 education programmes that lead to formal qualifications.

A number of progress checks are built into the Cambridge Secondary 1 programme, which enable teachers to monitor your child’s development. Short progression tests are a valuable way for teachers to understand your child’s strengths, and identify areas where more help is required. The emphasis of the tests is on showing where your child is on their learning journey, rather than getting right or wrong answers.

Cambridge Checkpoint tests can be taken in the final year of Cambridge Secondary 1. These tests are available in English, English as a second language, mathematics and science and are marked in Cambridge. On completion of Cambridge Checkpoint, your child will receive a statement of achievement and detailed feedback on their strengths and weaknesses. This helps your school to advise on different progression routes after age 14 and choose the one that will be most suitable for your child.

A global learning community

With a Cambridge programme, your child is joins a community of learners from more than 10000 schools in over 160 countries. We have created our programmes and qualifications for students worldwide but we make sure there is plenty of space for local content too.

Distance does not create a barrier between Cambridge learners around the world. Our online communities bring schools and learners together to discuss their projects and activities. By developing a global outlook in Cambridge learners, we aim to equip them for success in the fast-changing modern world.

Cambridge IGCSE

A guide for parents

The Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) curriculum offers a variety of routes for learners with a wide range of abilities, including those whose first language is not English.

Schools build a curriculum around their specific needs. Starting from a foundation of core subjects, it is easy to add breadth and cross-curricular perspectives. Encouraging learners to engage with a variety of subjects, and make connections between them, is fundamental to our approach.

Cambridge IGCSE offers a flexible and stimulating curriculum, supported with excellent resources and training.

For learners, Cambridge IGCSE helps improve performance by developing skills in creative thinking, enquiry and problem solving. It is the perfect springboard to advanced study.

Cambridge IGCSE develops learner knowledge, understanding and skills in:

  • Subject content
  • Applying knowledge and understanding to new as well as unfamiliar situations
  • Intellectual enquiry
  • Flexibility and responsiveness to change
  • Working and communicating in English
  • Influencing outcomes
  • Cultural awareness.

Schools worldwide have been involved in the development of Cambridge IGCSE. The syllabuses are international in outlook, but retain a local relevance. They have been created specifically for an international student body.

Subject Choices for CMS Session 2017-2018

  • English Language
  • Physics
  • Chemistry
  • Biology
  • English Literature
  • History
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Computer Science
  • Hindi
  • Foreign Language (Choice of German and French)

Assessments

Cambridge IGCSE assessment takes place at the end of the course and can include written, oral, coursework and practical assessment. This broadens opportunities for students to demonstrate their learning. In many subjects there is a choice between core and extended curricula, making Cambridge IGCSE suitable for a wide range of abilities.

Grades are benchmarked using eight internationally recognised grades, A* to G, which have clear guidelines to explain the standard of achievement for each grade.

Recognitions

Cambridge IGCSE is widely recognised by higher education institutions and employers around the world as evidence of academic achievement. Many universities require a combination of Cambridge International A Levels and Cambridge IGCSEs to meet their entry requirements.

UK NARIC, the national agency in the UK for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills, has carried out an independent benchmarking study of Cambridge IGCSE and found it to be comparable to the standard of UK GCSE. This means students can be confident that their Cambridge IGCSE qualifications are accepted as equivalent to UK GCSEs by leading universities worldwide.

The CMS Cambridge Section Team

Mentor


Prof Geeta Kingdon

President, CMS
DPhil, University of Oxford
Chair, Economics of Education and International Development University College London (UCL)

Mentor


Mr Roshan Gandhi Forouhi

Director of Strategy, CMS
BA (Hons), University of Oxford


Advisor


Ms Susmita Basu

Head, Quality Assurance, CMS
BA Economics (Hons), Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi
MA (Economics) Delhi School of Economics

Senior Principal


Ms Manjit Batra

Senior Principal, Cambridge Section


Trainer


Ms Kaye Jacob

Cambridge Pedagogy Trainer Associate Director, The Heritage Schools Former Principal, Woodstock School, Mussoorie

Coordinator


Mrs Sushma Rajkumar

MA, BEd.


Dedicated Staff


Contact Us

Mrs Sushma Rajkumar
Cambridge Section, CMS
CMS Gomti Nagar Extension Campus
1/7 Vardan Khand, Near Shaheed Path,
Lucknow-226010
Phone: +91 - 9918044438
Fax: +91-522-2638008, 2635497
Email: cambridgesection@cmseducation.org