.svg){kind=icon}
CIS Gorki has grown significantly over the past few years, and with the campus, its opportunities continue to grow. Today, it is the largest CIS International School campus in Russia and continues to move forward: new classes are opening, the team is growing stronger, and the academic programme is developing.
The new academic year marks another important step. For the first time, Gorki is opening Year 13, while strengthening support in English and Russian, expanding its academic clubs and making learning even more personalised. And this is only part of what awaits our students this year.
From the First Years of School to University
This year, CIS Gorki is opening Year 13 for the first time. Students can now complete their entire school journey here, from their first years in the classroom through to preparing and applying for university.
This is an important new chapter for the campus. Our first Year 13 students are already preparing for university admission and will submit their applications to their chosen universities during this academic year. For families, it means being able to complete the entire school journey in a familiar environment, with the same level of support and individual attention, right through to graduation.
International GCSE: How Did CIS Gorki Students Perform?
In June, CIS Gorki students achieved International GCSE results above international benchmarks in every subject where a direct comparison was available.
Across a cohort of five students, 30 grades were awarded: 57% were at grades 7–9, equivalent to A/A*, 97% were passing grades of 4 or above, and one in every six grades was the highest possible grade of 9. The results in English First Language were particularly strong, with all five students achieving grades of 7 or above.
With a small cohort, it is particularly important to look beyond percentages and consider every individual result. For us, these results are first and foremost confirmation that the school’s academic approach is working and giving students a strong foundation for their next step.
Greater Focus on Every Student’s Potential
In the new academic year, CIS Gorki is placing even greater emphasis on individual progress. One simple example is home reading. Books are now selected according to each child’s actual reading level rather than their year group. Students who are ready to move ahead receive more challenging texts, while those who need to strengthen their skills are given material that helps them progress at the right pace.
The same principle applies to our strengthened English and Russian language support. It is designed for students across the full range of ability, from those who are just beginning to learn in a new language to fluent speakers who are ready for more challenging work.
Dedicated Russian Curriculum Coordinators have also been appointed for Lower Primary and Secondary, allowing greater attention to the quality and continuity of learning at every stage.
See How Your Child’s Results Develop
This year, CIS Gorki is updating its Standards Tracker, giving parents a clearer view of their child’s progress throughout the academic year rather than a series of separate grades and comments.
All four reporting periods are now brought together in one place. Parents can review teachers’ comments from different points in the year, compare them with academic attainment and reading age, and see both where their child is doing well and where there is still room for development.
For example, if the same recommendation appears in November and again in March, it becomes immediately visible and can provide a useful starting point for a conversation with the school. Every family has its own access to the system, while reports remain available in both digital and printed formats.
More Opportunities, Both During and Beyond Lessons
This year, CIS Gorki has introduced nine new academic clubs in Mathematics, English and Science. Available to students of different ages, they complement the school’s existing programme of free clubs.
Spanish is also returning to the timetable after an absence of several years. Neither change happened by chance: parents had specifically asked the school for additional academic clubs and the return of Spanish.
One of the most distinctive additions this year is ice skating as part of the PE curriculum. Sessions take place during the normal school day and form part of PE, rather than being offered as a separate paid after-school activity.
This year, Gorki will also host the Cambridge Mile for the first time, a traditional CIS event bringing together students from across our campuses.
A New Academic Year Ahead
CIS Gorki continues to grow, but what matters most to us remains unchanged: creating an environment where every child has the opportunity to develop their abilities, try something new and progress at their own pace.
We wish all CIS students a successful academic year filled with new discoveries and achievements. May it bring every student new knowledge, greater confidence in their abilities and plenty of reasons to be proud of what they accomplish.