Curriculum Pathways
Cambridge International, Pearson iProgress, IPC / IMYC
Structured learning pathways and curriculum frameworks that can span several educational phases and support progression through age-related curriculum stages.
NTES International Education Reference Library
Curriculum, Programmes& Examination Frameworks
Explore international curriculum pathways, qualification systems, educational programmes and developmental approaches used by schools around the world.
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These organisations and frameworks do not all perform the same function
Cambridge and Pearson combine curriculum pathways, qualifications and assessment. OxfordAQA primarily provides international qualifications and assessment. IPC and IMYC are international curriculum frameworks. IB provides authorised international programmes. Montessori is a developmental educational approach rather than an examination board. NTES therefore classifies each system according to its actual educational role.
Understanding international education pathways
One professional starting point for comparing major educational systems
International schools can work with very different curriculum structures, qualification providers, programme models and pedagogical approaches.
This NTES library is designed to help school leaders, curriculum teams, teachers and families understand those differences without presenting unlike systems as though they were interchangeable.
Detailed profiles connect curriculum structure, assessment, school implementation, learner progression and official provider resources within one organised reference library.
Current framework library
6
Current systems
6
Detailed profiles available
4
System classifications
Growing
International coverage
Understanding system types
Curriculum, qualifications and pedagogy are different things
Clear classification helps schools understand what each organisation actually provides and how it may fit within their educational model.
Qualification Systems
Cambridge IGCSE, Pearson International GCSE, OxfordAQA International Qualifications
Externally assessed qualifications supported by specifications, assessment structures, grading and recognised progression routes.
Programme Frameworks
International Baccalaureate
International educational programmes combining curriculum principles, pedagogy, programme requirements and school authorization.
Educational Approaches
Montessori
Developmentally grounded approaches to teaching, learning and educational environments rather than examination-board qualification systems.
Current framework library
Explore major curriculum, programme and qualification systems
Each detailed profile explains the system's educational purpose, structure, assessment model, progression routes and official resources.
CambridgeAvailable
Curriculum + Qualifications + Assessment
Cambridge International Education
Approximately 3–19
Explore the Cambridge Pathway from Early Years through Primary, Lower Secondary, Upper Secondary and Advanced, including Cambridge IGCSE, O Level and International AS & A Level qualifications.
Framework coverage
✓
Cambridge Early Years
✓
Cambridge Primary
✓
Cambridge Lower Secondary
✓
Cambridge Upper Secondary
✓
Cambridge Advanced
Pearson EdexcelAvailable
Curriculum Pathway + Qualifications + Assessment
Pearson Edexcel International
International school pathway
Explore Pearson Edexcel international academic qualifications and the iProgress learning pathway, including iPrimary, iLowerSecondary, International GCSE and International Advanced Level.
Framework coverage
✓
iPrimary
✓
iLowerSecondary
✓
International GCSE
✓
International AS / A Level
✓
International progression
IBAvailable
International Programme Framework
International Baccalaureate
Ages 3–19
Explore the IB continuum through the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme and Career-related Programme.
Framework coverage
✓
Primary Years Programme
✓
Middle Years Programme
✓
Diploma Programme
✓
Career-related Programme
✓
IB World School authorization
MontessoriAvailable
Educational Approach + Developmental Framework
Montessori Education
Birth–18
Explore Montessori education as a developmental educational approach organised around prepared adults, prepared environments, independence and age-specific developmental stages.
Framework coverage
✓
Assistants to Infancy: 0–3
✓
Children's House: 3–6
✓
Elementary: 6–12
✓
Adolescent: 12–18
✓
Montessori school leadership
OxfordAQAAvailable
International Qualifications + Assessment
OxfordAQA International Qualifications
Secondary & Pre-University
Explore OxfordAQA International GCSE, International AS and A-level qualifications, assessment structures, project-based qualifications, official specifications and international school implementation.
Framework coverage
✓
International GCSE
✓
International AS
✓
International A-level
✓
International EPQ
✓
Global Skills Projects
IPC / IMYCAvailable
International Curriculum Frameworks
International Primary Curriculum & International Middle Years Curriculum
Ages 5–14
Explore the International Primary Curriculum for ages 5–11 and the International Middle Years Curriculum for ages 11–14, including academic, personal and international learning, thematic curriculum design, Big Ideas and interdisciplinary learning.
Framework coverage
✓
International Primary Curriculum: 5–11
✓
Academic, Personal & International Learning
✓
International Middle Years Curriculum: 11–14
✓
Big Ideas
✓
Interdisciplinary Learning
Featured international pathway
Cambridge International Pathway
Cambridge provides a particularly useful example of a complete international pathway because it spans five stages from Early Years through Advanced study.
The detailed NTES Cambridge page separates curriculum stages from formal qualifications and explains how schools can use individual stages or the wider pathway.
Explore Cambridge International1
Early Years
Age 3+Play-based early-years provision designed around holistic learning and development.
2
Primary
Age 5+Flexible curriculum and assessment options across core and additional subjects.
3
Lower Secondary
Age 11+A curriculum stage supporting progression from primary education into upper-secondary study.
4
Upper Secondary
Age 14+Includes Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level and related upper-secondary programmes.
5
Advanced
Age 16+Includes Cambridge International AS & A Level and other advanced academic pathways.
Professional comparison
What schools should compare before choosing a system
Curriculum decisions should consider considerably more than brand recognition or examination results.
Age & Stage
Understand which phases of education each system covers and whether schools can adopt individual stages or a complete continuum.
Curriculum Structure
Compare subject frameworks, programme models, developmental stages and the degree of curriculum flexibility available to schools.
Assessment
Distinguish external examinations, school-based assessment, formative assessment and developmental observation.
Qualifications
Identify which systems award formal qualifications and which primarily provide curriculum or educational frameworks.
School Requirements
Understand registration, authorization, membership, teacher-development or implementation expectations associated with each system.
Progression
Consider how each pathway supports transitions between school phases, qualifications, higher education and future learning.
International Curriculum
IPC and IMYC connect primary learning with the middle years
The International Primary Curriculum supports learners from approximately ages 5–11, while the International Middle Years Curriculum supports learners from approximately ages 11–14.
Together they provide a curriculum pathway centred on academic, personal and international learning, with IMYC extending this through conceptual Big Ideas and interdisciplinary connections designed for adolescent learners.
Explore IPC / IMYC✓
IPC — Ages 5–11
✓
IMYC — Ages 11–14
✓
Academic Learning
✓
Personal Learning
✓
International Learning
✓
Big Ideas & Interdisciplinary Learning
Montessori classification
Why Montessori belongs in this library without being called an examination framework
Montessori is fundamentally a developmental educational approach rather than a qualification provider or examination board.
Including it enables NTES to compare not only formal curriculum and qualification systems, but also internationally recognised educational approaches used by schools to organise teaching, learning and developmental environments.
Explore Montessori Education✓
Assistants to Infancy — 0–3
✓
Children's House — 3–6
✓
Elementary — 6–12
✓
Adolescent — 12–18
✓
Prepared environment
✓
Prepared adult
Future expansion
Architecture ready for additional recognised systems
The library will continue to grow as additional curriculum systems, qualifications and national frameworks are individually researched, verified and classified according to their actual educational role.
UK Qualifications
AQA
Future verified expansion
UK Qualifications
OCR
Future verified expansion
Future Country-Based Expansion
National Curriculum Frameworks
Future verified expansion
Future verified expansion
Additional recognised systems
Future verified expansion
NTES library standards
Professionally organised and clearly classified
Correct Classification
NTES distinguishes examination boards, curriculum pathways, programme frameworks and educational approaches rather than presenting them as equivalent systems.
Official Sources First
Framework information is organised around official curriculum, qualification and programme-provider sources wherever possible.
School-Level Relevance
Each profile is designed to help schools understand practical implementation, progression, assessment and quality implications.
Independent Guidance
NTES commentary is kept separate from official provider requirements, specifications and authorization information.
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Always verify current programme, syllabus and qualification requirements
Curriculum structures, specifications, assessment arrangements, authorization requirements and qualification rules can change. Schools should confirm current requirements directly with the relevant official provider before making formal curriculum or qualification decisions.
NT Education Solutions is an independent education provider. Inclusion of Cambridge International, Pearson Edexcel, the International Baccalaureate, Montessori organisations, OxfordAQA, the International Curriculum Association or another education provider does not imply endorsement, approval, partnership or affiliation.
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Connect curriculum with school quality and evaluation
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Explore BSO, COBIS, CIS, NEASC, ACS WASC, Cognia, MSA-CESS and IB quality systems.
Open Accreditation LibraryInspection
Inspection Frameworks
Explore official school-inspection and evaluation systems by jurisdiction.
Open Inspection LibraryProfessional Networks
International School Networks
Explore professional communities including BSME, FOBISIA, AoBSO, NABSS, LAHC and IAPS.
Open School NetworksFrom curriculum choice to implementation
Turn curriculum frameworks into coherent school practice
Selecting a curriculum is only the beginning. Effective implementation requires curriculum mapping, assessment design, teacher development, progression planning, quality assurance and evidence-informed evaluation.