What is the ICCE?
The International Certificate of Christian Education is a Christian alternative to secular qualifications and is recognized by a growing number of employers and universities in the UK and Asia.
The UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) UK Qualifications Handbook includes details of the ICCE.
Providing formal recognition of the work completed by children on the ACE curriculum, five levels of certificate are offered:
The Basic Certificate
This course is only for pupils with special educational needs. It covers the basic curriculum including English, mathematics, science, history, geography, information technology and Bible study.
The Foundation Certificate
The Foundation Certificate is roughly equivalent to the lower tier of British GCSE (grades D-G) and is designed to meet the needs of lower attaining pupils. It may also be suitable for pupils joining the ACE programme late in their educational career, who do not have the time to complete the ICCE general certificate.
The General Certificate
The General Certificate is of a similar standard and amount of work as 9 British GCSE's grade A-C.It was originally designed for those who expect to leave school at 16. However, experience has shown that many pupils are joining the ACE programme late in their educational career, often with significant educational deficiencies. As a consequence, the General Certificate is often awarded to pupils who are 17 or older. It should be noted that the ICCE programme is based on the completion of the course, not the age of the pupil.
The Intermediate Certificate
The Intermediate Certificate requires a standard of work similar to AS Level. It is intended for those who wish to follow further education or professional courses. The Nursing and Midwifery Admissions Service (NMAS) has accepted the NCSC Level 2 Certificate for entry to pre-registration courses. It has also been accepted by the armed forces for entry on officer training courses.
The Advanced Certificate
The Advanced Certificate is similar to A2 Level. It is intended for those who wish to go into higher education or study professional courses at Christian or secular colleges and universities.
