A plain-English guide to every major international school curriculum, alternative pedagogy and national programme — what they are, how they compare, and which might suit your family best.
Curriculum guide
One of the most common questions parents ask is: "Which curriculum is best?" The honest answer is that there's no single right answer — the best curriculum is the one that fits your child's learning style, your family's situation, and your longer-term plans.
This index covers every major international-school curriculum on doris — the four global heavyweights (IB, British, American, Montessori), the wider British-system pathway (Cambridge Primary through A-Level, plus BTEC and EYFS), alternative pedagogies (Reggio Emilia, Waldorf Steiner), 15 national curricula from around the world, and the faith-based traditions Catholic, Christian and Islamic schools are built on. Each links through to its own plain-English guide.
How they compare at a glance
| IB | UK | US | MONT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ages | 3–19 | 3–18 | 5–18 | 2–18 |
| Final qualification | IB Diploma | A-Levels | High School Diploma + AP | Varies by school |
| Pre-uni breadth | High (6 subjects) | Low (3–4 subjects) | High (many subjects) | Varies |
| Portable globally? | Very | Very | Moderately | Less so |
| Best for UK uni? | Yes | Ideal | Less common | Unlikely directly |
| Best for US uni? | Yes | Increasingly so | Ideal | With other quals |
4 guides
Curricula and qualifications designed from the ground up for a globally-mobile student population. These transfer between countries with the least friction and are the safest bet if your family expects to move again.
3–19 · IB Diploma
The IB is an inquiry-driven international curriculum offered in three stages: PYP (ages 3–12), MYP (ages 11–16) and the Diploma Programme (ages 16–19). It's the closest thing the…
Read the guide →16–19 · IBCP + career cert
The IB Career-related Programme (IBCP) is the IB's vocational and career-focused senior pathway, launched in 2012. Students combine two or more IB Diploma subjects with an…
Read the guide →2–14 · Framework only
The International Curriculum is a family of programmes — IEYC (early years), IPC (primary) and IMYC (middle years) — developed in the UK by Fieldwork Education. It's thematic and…
Read the guide →4–18 · European Baccalaureate
The European Baccalaureate is the qualification awarded by the network of European Schools, originally set up for the children of EU institution staff and now offered at…
Read the guide →9 guides
The most-offered curriculum family at international schools worldwide — from EYFS in early years through Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary to IGCSE, A-Levels and vocational BTECs. Each sub-qualification below has its own page.
3–18 · A-Levels
The British curriculum follows the structure parents recognise from the UK system: Key Stages 1–4, GCSEs or IGCSEs at 16, then A-Levels (or BTECs) at 18. Internationally, IGCSE is…
Read the guide →0–5 · EYFS Profile (Age 5)
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the UK's statutory framework for children aged 0–5, updated most recently in 2021. It's used by British international nurseries and…
Read the guide →5–11 · Cambridge Primary Checkpoint
Cambridge Primary is Cambridge International's programme for ages 5–11 (Stages 1–6). It underpins the primary years at thousands of British international schools worldwide, and…
Read the guide →11–14 · Lower Secondary Checkpoint
Cambridge Lower Secondary covers ages 11–14 (Stages 7–9) and is the bridge between Cambridge Primary and Cambridge IGCSE. Like Cambridge Primary, it ends with an optional…
Read the guide →14–16 · Cambridge IGCSE
Cambridge IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) is the world's most popular international qualification for 14–16 year olds, offered by Cambridge…
Read the guide →14–16 · Pearson Edexcel IGCSE
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE is the main alternative to Cambridge IGCSE at British international schools. It's an internationally-adapted version of the UK GCSE, offered by…
Read the guide →16–17 · Cambridge AS Level
Cambridge International AS Level (Advanced Subsidiary Level) is a standalone one-year qualification set by Cambridge International, worth half a full A-Level. Many students take…
Read the guide →16–18 · Cambridge A Levels
Cambridge International A Levels are the international version of UK A-Levels, run by Cambridge International. Two-year, subject-specialised qualifications leading to A*–E grades…
Read the guide →16–18 · BTEC National (Level 3)
BTECs (Business and Technology Education Council qualifications, now run by Pearson) are UK vocational qualifications with strong international take-up. BTEC Nationals (Level 3)…
Read the guide →2 guides
The US K–12 diploma with Advanced Placement (AP) as the depth layer. The most direct route to US universities, and increasingly recognised by UK and European admissions.
5–18 · High School Diploma + AP
The American curriculum follows the US K–12 model: Elementary, Middle and High School, leading to a US High School Diploma at 18. Many schools layer Advanced Placement (AP)…
Read the guide →15–18 · AP scores (1–5)
Advanced Placement (AP) is a College Board programme of college-level courses and exams taken during high school. Students choose which APs to sit — often 3–8 across their final…
Read the guide →3 guides
Distinctive teaching philosophies rather than exam-driven curricula. Most run through primary and hand over to a mainstream senior programme (IB, British or American) at 12–14.
2–18 · Varies by school
Montessori is an early-years and primary education approach developed by Dr Maria Montessori in the early 1900s. It's built on self-directed activity, mixed-age classrooms, and…
Read the guide →0–6 · n/a (early years)
Reggio Emilia is an early-years educational philosophy that originated in the Italian city of the same name after WWII. It treats children as capable, curious "researchers" and…
Read the guide →3–18 · Varies (often A-Level/IB overlay)
Waldorf education (also called Steiner education) is a holistic approach founded by Rudolf Steiner in Germany in 1919. It emphasises imagination, artistic expression, practical…
Read the guide →6 guides
National programmes designed for their home country and offered abroad at diaspora and bilingual international schools. Feed cleanly into their own country's universities and are widely recognised across the EU.
3–18 · Baccalauréat
French international schools follow the French Ministry of Education curriculum from maternelle (3+) through to the baccalauréat at 18, often accredited by the AEFE (Agence pour…
Read the guide →6–19 · Abitur
German international schools follow the German federal-state curricula (each Bundesland has its own variant), leading to the Abitur — Germany's university entrance qualification —…
Read the guide →4–19 · Matura
Swiss curricula vary by canton but most international Swiss schools follow the Swiss Matura — the federal university-entrance qualification. It's known for academic depth…
Read the guide →4–18 · VWO Diploma
Dutch international schools follow the Netherlands' national curriculum or its English-medium variants for international families. Senior secondary leads to the VWO (Voorbereidend…
Read the guide →3–19 · Esame di Stato (Maturità)
Italian international schools follow the Ministero dell'Istruzione curriculum, ending with the Esame di Stato (Maturità) at 18–19. The system is known for depth in the humanities…
Read the guide →0–19 · Matriculation Exam
The Finnish curriculum is famous for its play-based early years, minimal standardised testing, high teacher autonomy and a strong equity ethos. A handful of Finnish-inspired…
Read the guide →2 guides
North American and Australian national curricula, common at diaspora-serving international schools and popular with families expecting to relocate to those countries.
5–18 · ATAR (via VCE/HSC/QCE)
Australian international schools follow the Australian Curriculum from Foundation through Year 10, then state-specific senior secondary qualifications (HSC, VCE, QCE) at Years…
Read the guide →5–18 · Provincial Diploma
Canadian international schools follow provincial Canadian curricula (most commonly Ontario, British Columbia or Alberta), leading to a Canadian high school diploma at 18. The…
Read the guide →9 guides
National programmes across Asia — some famous for maths and science rigour (Singapore, Chinese, Korean), others for their competency-based reforms (Taiwan 108) or exam culture (Japan). Many international schools blend them with English-medium delivery.
6–18 · GCE A-Levels (SG)
The Singapore national curriculum is run by Singapore's Ministry of Education and is known for academic rigour, especially in mathematics and the sciences. Internationally, a…
Read the guide →5–18 · AISSC (Class 12)
CBSE (the Central Board of Secondary Education) is India's national board for secondary education, used by thousands of schools globally serving Indian-diaspora families. The…
Read the guide →6–18 · Kōkō diploma
Japanese international schools follow Japan's MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) curriculum. The system is known for academic rigour, group…
Read the guide →6–18 · Gaokao (or IB/A-Level at senior stage)
The Chinese National Curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education (MoE) and is used across mainland China's national schools, including bilingual international schools that…
Read the guide →6–18 · Suneung (CSAT)
The Korean National Curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education. It's structured, academically intense, and famous for the culminating Suneung (CSAT) university entrance exam…
Read the guide →6–18 · Senior High Diploma + GSAT/AST
The "108 curriculum" is Taiwan's competency-based national curriculum, launched in 2019 (year 108 in the Republic of China calendar). It reshaped Taiwanese education from rote…
Read the guide →7–19 · SPM + STPM
The Malaysian national curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education (KPM). Students progress through primary (UPSR), lower secondary (PT3, now assessments) and upper secondary…
Read the guide →3–18 · M6 + O-NET / TCAS
The Thai national curriculum is set by Thailand's Ministry of Education (OBEC). It runs from kindergarten through Mathayom 6, ending with the O-NET national assessments plus…
Read the guide →6–18 · THPT National Exam
The Vietnamese national curriculum is set by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). It's known for strong mathematics and sciences and a competitive university-entry…
Read the guide →3 guides
Not curricula in the strict sense — these schools wrap religious formation around a mainstream academic programme (usually IB, British, American or the local national). Each tradition has its own conventions on prayer, RE, community life and admissions.
varies · IB / A-Level / AP / national
Catholic international schools blend a mainstream academic curriculum (usually IB, British, American or the local national system) with Catholic religious education, sacramental…
Read the guide →varies · IB / A-Level / AP / national
Christian international schools cover a wide spectrum — from evangelical Protestant schools to Anglican, Baptist and non-denominational Christian schools. They pair a mainstream…
Read the guide →varies · IB / A-Level / AP / national
Islamic international schools pair a mainstream academic programme (usually British, American, IB or the local national curriculum) with Islamic studies, Qur'anic recitation…
Read the guide →Questions to ask yourself
If you move frequently, the IB or British curriculum offer the most consistency and portability between countries.
UK universities know A-Levels best. US universities are most familiar with the American curriculum. The IB Diploma is recognised almost everywhere.
Breadth-lovers often thrive with IB or American. Deep specialists may prefer A-Levels. Independent, self-directed learners often do well in Montessori.
Ultimately, the quality of teaching at a specific school often matters more than which curriculum it follows.
Frequently asked questions
From here
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