British Education System

The Casco School Academic Model

At The Casco School, we follow a broad and balanced British curriculum, delivering an “Internationally British”education in English and Spanish to children aged 2 to 18. Our educational model is rooted in the globally respected British system and tailored to our international and bilingual context in Panama.

The British curriculum is structured into clearly defined Key Stages that align with children’s natural development, providing continuity and progression from Early Years through to High School. Our model nurtures students to become creative, open-minded, and thoughtful individuals, well-prepared for university and the global workplace.

A Journey Through the Key Stages

Early Years (Ages 2–5)

Our youngest learners begin their journey through play-based, bilingual learning. They explore the world through early literacy and numeracy, storytelling, mini experiments, creative arts, music, movement, and lots of social play. This stage focuses on social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development in a nurturing environment.

Key Stage 1

Years 1–2 (Ages 5–7)
Children begin to develop foundational skills in reading, writing, and mathematics, while continuing to explore their environment. A bilingual, inquiry-based approach helps them transition from learning through play to more structured learning.

Key Stage 2

Years 3–6 (Ages 7–11)
In Upper Primary, students build upon their skills with more advanced concepts in literacy and numeracy and apply them across subjects such as Science, History, Geography, Computing, and the Arts. Assessment becomes more formalised, and targeted support is provided to prepare students for the transition to Secondary.

Key Stages 3 & 4

Years 7–11 (Ages 11–16)
In Secondary, students deepen their subject knowledge across a broad curriculum, including mathematics, humanities, sciences, languages, arts, and technology. They develop critical thinking, research skills, and analytical reasoning.
In Year 11, students sit for their IGCSEs (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) across 8–10 subjects, earning globally recognised qualifications that prepare them for further academic study.

Key Stage 5

Years 12–13 (Ages 16–18)
The final two years of school offer students a choice of academic and college prep pathways, all recognised by top universities worldwide:

A Levels
IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)
College Preparation Courses