University of Cambridge International Examinations offers education programmes and qualifications from 5 to 19 years, each stage leading seamlessly to the next. We have recently redeveloped our Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 programmes, adding some great new features which schools in Sri Lanka can teach from September 2011.

Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 develop skills and knowledge in core areas of the curriculum. Both programmes include progression tests and externally marked assessment options to help teachers monitor students' progress and direct teaching where it's needed most.

The revisions to Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 were made in consultation with Cambridge schools worldwide. Helen Eccles, Director of Development at Cambridge, said that the programmes have evolved but retain their most popular features. She explained: "We've kept the elements that schools liked - especially the flexibility - so that schools can integrate the programmes within their existing curriculum or their national curriculum. Then we refreshed and extended the elements where schools thought we needed to make improvements. The result is a coherent education programme from 5 to 14 years which gives schools a framework for developing learners' skills in core areas of the curriculum."

In addition, Cambridge Secondary 1 develops skills, knowledge and understanding that prepare learners for a smooth transition to Cambridge IGCSE and Cambridge O Level and further study.
The new features of Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 include:

• A new English as a second language curriculum to complement the existing curriculum frameworks for English, Mathematics and Science
• A new Cambridge Primary Checkpoint test which gives comprehensive feedback on a learner's strengths and weaknesses in the key curriculum areas at the end of primary education
• Cambridge Progression Tests from stage 3 to stage 9 inclusive - which teachers can download as and when required
• New curriculum frameworks for Science for stages 1 and 2, giving an introduction to this key subject for younger learners
• An extensive teacher support package including new Teacher Guides, online analysis tool, ideas and guidance for incorporating ICT within teaching and new training modules

According to Helen Eccles the new Cambridge Primary Checkpoint test is one of the most exciting developments: "This new test means that students leave primary education with a statement of achievement and a report providing information on their strengths and weaknesses in the core curriculum areas. It's a really exciting development for Cambridge primary schools, and as the test is fully marked by Cambridge it frees up more time for teaching."

Worldwide entries for Cambridge Checkpoint - taken around age 14 - are increasing year on year. Entries in June 2011 are up 29% on June 2010 - the highest number of entries ever recorded. Wycherley International School, the first school in Sri Lanka to offer a Cambridge education from primary to secondary level, recently conducted their first ever Cambridge Checkpoint session for students in Grade 8. More schools in Sri Lanka are expected to offer Cambridge Primary Checkpoint and Cambridge Checkpoint in the near future.

Ann Puntis, Chief Executive, University of Cambridge International Examinations, said: "Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 engage learners in an active and creative learning journey. Cambridge helps schools develop confident, responsible, innovative and creative learners and offers unrivalled support for teachers. In redeveloping the programmes we have taken care to ensure they retain their flexibility, giving a framework for teaching with integrated assessment which can be used around the world."

Schools interested in learning more about the revised Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Secondary 1 programmes should contact Panchalika Kulatunga, Cambridge Schools Development Manager in Sri Lanka at www.cie.org.uk/
srilanka