Does the IGCSE place more emphasis on international affairs?
The IGCSE essentially has to be more flexible, because it is available in more than 100 countries. It does not have to adhere to the English national curriculum. It might well be taken by a pupil at an English school in a foreign country. It does not include the compulsory study of Shakespeare, for instance, though his works would still be an option in an IGCSE. How popular is the IGCSE? Numerous independent schools have moved towards IGCSEs in recent years, though only four now offer them exclusively. In 2008 there were 40,000 IGCSE exam entries, according to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which represents most of the bigger institutions – a leap from 15,000 in 2007. The ISC says it believes just under half of private schools offered the IGCSE in at least one subject. But the vast majority of independent schools are still offering ordinary GCSEs, at least for most subjects. Can pupils in state schools sit the IGCSE? State school pupils do not sit the IGCSE currently because al
