• ENGLISH
• MATHEMATICS
• SCIENCE
• SPANISH
• OTHER LANGUAGES
• HUMANITIES
• COMPUTER SCIENCE AND BUSINESS STUDIES
• ART, MUSIC, AND DRAMA
• PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Many of the children who enter our school at the age of three come from non-native English speaking families, although an increasing number of parents are developing a good command of English. During the first two years at Canterbury School, great emphasis is placed on oral communication so that before the pupil learns to read and write, they can understand the teacher and talk to them about everyday life.
Once a student is in the junior department, the syllabus for English offers children a variety of opportunities to develop their skills as speakers and listeners, readers and writers. In secondary school, they study many different literary texts, with the emphasis on gradually building their competence in written English. All students take IGCSE English as a first or second language and most also take English Literature. English is also studied at A Level.

Mathematics at the school is based on the requirements of the National Curriculum. At the same time, mainly in the secondary department, we took steps to ensure coverage of the mathematical aspects covered in the LOGSE. In recognition of the importance of this subject, we have increased the time allocated to mathematics for our IGCSE students. Students can also study this subject at A Level.

In the primary department we place great emphasis on students’ understanding of the scientific method of drawing conclusions from previous experiments. In the secondary department, students follow courses covering physics, chemistry and biology, while in the sixth form years (Years 12 and 13), the three main sciences are studied as separate subjects for A Level examinations.

All pupils follow the syllabuses stipulated in the LOGSE for Spanish language and literature, as well as those relating to the historical, geographical and political development of Spain. If these courses are successfully completed, students can transfer to the Spanish education system at any time. Most of our students take their A Level Spanish exams, with excellent results, at the end of their Year 12.

In the secondary section, a third language, French or German, is introduced and most pupils take an IGCSE examination in this language. They are also offered as an A Level subject to sixth form students.

At primary and lower secondary level, history and geography are studied in accordance with the requirements of the National Curriculum. One subject is prepared at IGCSE level, while the other is studied during the 3rd and 4th years of secondary school, with internal exams being taken for homologation into the Spanish system. Students can choose either history or geography for the IGCSE examinations. History is also offered as an A Level option. Durante las lecciones de sociales se pone un especial énfasis en la historia y geografía de España.

Both the primary and secondary departments have computer rooms with sufficient modern computers for pupils to work individually.
It is school policy that all pupils at Canterbury School are computer literate, as this is an extremely important aspect of modern life. Older students can study business, at IGCSE, AS and A Level, where computer literacy is essential.

Art, music and drama are important in Canterbury. The personal satisfaction that a cultivated aesthetic awareness can bring should never be underestimated. The children learn to sing and develop their own songs during class lessons, as well as having the opportunity to play the guitar, learn Spanish or jazz dance, and do a more personalised type of painting at the end of the school day. Students can take IGCSE Art and IGCSE Music (we hope to introduce IGCSE Music for the more gifted students in this area. We have a good choir in the senior department which has won several prizes in choral competitions organised in Las Palmas).
Music and drama often come together for Christmas and summer productions, creating one of the highlights of our school year.

Canterbury students come from heterogeneous backgrounds in terms of religious beliefs and we believe that a general approach to ethical, moral and social values is more appropriate than the specific teaching of a particular faith. Many aspects of moral and social development are cross-cutting. In the secondary department, external specialists give pupils formative talks dealing with these aspects. Parents with strong religious beliefs in a particular faith and who wish their children to be instructed in that faith will need to make their own arrangements.

Sport is a very important activity in children’s lives. Primary pupils have PE and games every week and take part in activities such as Karate, football and athletics at the end of the school day.
At secondary level, pupils can also choose Physical Education as an optional subject for IGCSE examinations. In addition to the compulsory classes in this subject, students are invited to stay after class every afternoon and take the 17:15 bus to Las Palmas. The most important of these activities is basketball. The pupils are trained from the age of 5 years old and we have more than 200 pupils of different ages playing in the school league as well as in the federated league.