School Profile

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ICHSOur School

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION HIGH SCHOOL is a Roman Catholic sponsored public grant-aided school for pupils of all denominations. It is a single sex (girls) grammar school with a core curriculum intended to prepare pupils for three and four years University and Polytechny programmes depending on their exit point. There are two major exit points: Grade 11 with the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) at the general proficiency level and Grade 13 with the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Certificate.

ICHS has a student population of approximately 1,663 ranging in age from 11 to 19. Pupils assigned to the school are drawn from a cohort of almost 80,000 Primary Exit Profile (PEP) candidates. Examinees placed at ICHS are among the top 1000 candidates in the PEP examination.

The School Structure

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The School Curriculum

Academic Curriculum

The formal academic curriculum follows the Pattern proven over the years in the Jamaican school system and approved by the Ministry of Education. Sound instruction in; Music; Drama; Physical Education; Food and Nutrition; Textile and Clothing; and lifestyle alternatives in Guidance classes supplement the introduction to the Principal disciplines.

In order to maintain high standards, Immaculate employs criterion testing. Therefore, the school undertakes no ranking of pupils. The passing grade is 60%.

Co-curriculum: This includes activities as well as student organizations. Tourism Action, Karate, P.A.W.S., Interact, Red Cross, Chess just to name a few. Campus Ministry helps the students to form the ethnic of volunteerism. A library, Computer Training Laboratories, Performing Arts Centre offer further enrichment. The latter Music Department, which besides the core curriculum, offers classes in several instruments up to the professional level of the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music. It co-ordinates the activities of Glee Club, Orchestra, Concert Band, and Steel Band. The Drama Department collaborates with the Music Department in some school activities. Facilities for athletics include playing fields, three tennis courts a volleyball/netball court and a swimming pool.

Requirement for Graduation

Graduation status is granted to students exiting eleven grade, who satisfy Academic requirements. Those requirements relate to conduct and general deportment; attitudes toward work; punctuality; and regularity of attendance.

Post-Secondary Programme (Equivalent of A.P / Honours Courses)

The two-year post-secondary programme of studies comprises a compulsory core and electives. The compulsory core subjects are the single unit CAPE subjects of Communication Studies and Caribbean Studies as well as the GCE Advanced Level Paper. Communication Studies is a socio-linguistics programme that also includes modules on oral communication and research skills.

Caribbean Studies is a Social Studies course that examines regional Geography, History, Sociology, and development issues such as small state economy and the impact of slavery on gender relations and health practices. Students choose a minimum of three other advanced level disciplines. They must complete 6 units in at least three other disciplines, but may complete studies in as many as four other discipline since regional three-year university matriculation requires that two disciplines be represented by both unit 1 and unit 2 studies. Each unit is a year long syllabus.