Cambridge Lower Secondary

This programme follows the Cambridge Assessment International Education (CIE) curriculum — a world-recognised standard trusted by top universities globally.

Cambridge Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

The TOWIS Learning Journey

From Age 3 to IGCSE — Phases, Subjects, Milestones & the ACE Approach
Academic Year 2026–2027 | Cambridge International Centre BU001 Yangon | Principal: Mr. Jarlath Madine

The TOWIS Promise — What Every Family Can Expect

At TOWIS, every student — from a three-year-old taking their first steps into school to a sixteen-year-old sitting Cambridge IGCSE — is on the same journey: to become the best version of themselves, academically and as a person. That journey never stops, and no child is ever taught to a ceiling.

We measure success not against other students, but against each child's own potential, established through Quest standardised cognitive assessments. Our ambition is simple: every student meets the expected standard (Green), most go beyond it (Sky Blue), and some will astonish everyone — including themselves (Space Blue). A positive attitude to life and learning, built through the ACE approach, is what makes the difference between a good education and an extraordinary one.

We know that not every student will achieve A* in every subject — and we are honest about that. What we do expect — and what we hold ourselves accountable to — is that every student achieves more than their ability baseline predicted. That is the TOWIS standard: not the grade on the page, but the growth behind it.

The Cambridge Pathway — A Clear Path from Age 3 to 19

TOWIS delivers the Cambridge Pathway — one of the most respected and widely recognised educational frameworks in the world. The Cambridge Pathway provides five stages of education, leading seamlessly from Early Years through Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary, and on to Advanced level (A Levels / IB). Each stage builds directly on the previous one, deepening knowledge, understanding, and skill in a coherent, progressive sequence that prepares learners not just for examinations, but for university, career, and life.

At TOWIS, we currently offer Cambridge Early Years, Cambridge Primary, Cambridge Lower Secondary, and Cambridge Upper Secondary (IGCSE). Our students therefore follow a coherent, unbroken Cambridge pathway from age 3 through to IGCSE at age 16. Every stage prepares students specifically for the next — so a child joining TOWIS at three years old, progressing through every phase, arrives at their Cambridge IGCSE examinations with thirteen years of progressively deepening knowledge, skill, and understanding behind them.

Cambridge qualifications are trusted by schools, universities, and employers in over 160 countries. Every TOWIS student — whatever their background or starting point — is on a pathway that is recognised, respected, and valued worldwide.

Cambridge Lower Secondary

Years 7–9 · Ages 11–14 · Cambridge Stages 7–9

Lower Secondary is the bridge between childhood and young adulthood — and one of the most important phases in any student's education. The curriculum deepens significantly: students move into subject-specific knowledge, analytical thinking, and independent research. They are no longer just acquiring knowledge — they are learning to use it, question it, apply it to the world around them, and defend their thinking in writing and discussion.

This is also the phase where character is tested. Adolescence brings new pressures — social, emotional, academic — and TOWIS is deliberate about building resilience, self-awareness, and a sense of purpose alongside academic skill. A student who leaves Year 9 knowing who they are, what they believe, and how to learn independently is a student ready to excel at IGCSE — and to thrive in life beyond school.

Your child's homeroom teacher remains their pastoral anchor throughout this transition. In Lower Secondary, students encounter more subject specialists — but the homeroom teacher is the person who holds the whole picture: who notices when something has changed, who keeps communication open with home, who ensures your child feels known and supported as academic demands increase year by year. A strong home–school relationship at this stage is not optional — it is essential.

Subjects — Cambridge Lower Secondary (Years 7–9)

1. English (Cambridge LS English 0861)
2. Mathematics (Cambridge LS Maths 0862)
3. Science (Cambridge LS Science 1113)
4. Global Perspectives (Cambridge LS 1129)
5. Computing (Cambridge LS Computing 0860)
6. Myanmar Language (National Curriculum)
7. Mandarin Chinese (MFL)
8. Art & Design (Cambridge LS 0073)
9. Physical Education

Key Milestones & Expectations — Lower Secondary Phase

1. Writes extended analytical and evaluative essays across all subjects — argument is built with evidence, not just opinion
2. Algebraic fluency: equations, sequences, functions, geometry and statistics at Cambridge Stage 7–9 level
3. Designs, conducts, reports and evaluates scientific investigations with growing independence
4. Researches, analyses and presents Global Perspectives projects drawing on multiple viewpoints and sources
5. End of Year 9: Cambridge Lower Secondary Checkpoint — English, Mathematics, Science, Global Perspectives
6. Quest standardised assessments every quarter — personal progress tracked against each student's cognitive baseline
7. Student-led conferences after each Progress Report — students learn to own and articulate their learning
8. Space Blue projects challenge every student beyond the expected standard in every subject, every quarter

The Lower Secondary Checkpoint at the end of Year 9 is not just a Cambridge assessment — it is the proof of readiness for IGCSE. Every student's progress is tracked against their personal Quest baseline throughout Years 7–9 to ensure no one arrives at Year 10 unprepared.

Download the Yearly Curriculum Overview 2026–2027