FutureSkills High School
Encyclopedia
FutureSkills High School is a co-educational independent school
in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. The school offers courses for students in grades 9 to 12 who seek their OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma
). The school is also an accredited TOEFL
test center. International students can prepare for and take their TOEFL exam at their premises.
, under the name Netskills College. The focus was on computer courses. In 2002 the name was changed to FutureSkills High School, to reflect the addition of high school credit courses to the curriculum. Private schools have sometimes been controversial, with some in the media claiming that a private education gives students an unfair advantage.
School has no age limit policy. This enables adult students to join FutureSkills and complete their high school diploma.
Students have the option of attending full-time or part-time through day school
, night school
and summer school
programs.
Mature students who are unable to attend all the classes are offered fast track classes through a variety of one on one lessons and online courses. A combination of one on one lessons and Internet based courses allows these students to complete accredited high school credits, without attending all the regular classes. Their major exams must be supervised.
Approximately, one third of FutureSkills population are international students, who can choose from a range of ESL
courses (ESLAO, ESLBO, ESLCO, ESLDO, ESLEO) to prepare them for linguistic integration into the English speaking communities.
) . This would be taken in conjunction with, and driven by the in-class curriculum as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Education. It is supported by regular student-teacher meetings via internet.
The FutureSkills' teachers’ set schedules for regularly monitoring and evaluating progress through quizzes, chapter tests, unit tests, projects, assignments and a final exam. These evaluations will be used towards the students’ final mark. Upon successful completion of each Fast Track course, the student will be awarded one credit.
Independent school
An independent school is a school that is independent in its finances and governance; it is not dependent upon national or local government for financing its operations, nor reliant on taxpayer contributions, and is instead funded by a combination of tuition charges, gifts, and in some cases the...
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The school offers courses for students in grades 9 to 12 who seek their OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma
Ontario Secondary School Diploma
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma is a diploma granted to high school graduates in the province of Ontario.-Diploma requirements:The Ontario Academic Credit system applies to students from Grades 9 through 12...
). The school is also an accredited TOEFL
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
test center. International students can prepare for and take their TOEFL exam at their premises.
History
The school was established in 1997 in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, under the name Netskills College. The focus was on computer courses. In 2002 the name was changed to FutureSkills High School, to reflect the addition of high school credit courses to the curriculum. Private schools have sometimes been controversial, with some in the media claiming that a private education gives students an unfair advantage.
Programs
The school is a credit-granting institution. It is certified by the Ontario Ministry of Education.School has no age limit policy. This enables adult students to join FutureSkills and complete their high school diploma.
Students have the option of attending full-time or part-time through day school
Day school
A day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
, night school
Night School
Night School is a school that holds classes in the evening or at night, and is usually intended for continuing and adult learning and to accommodate people who work during the day.Night School may also refer to:...
and summer school
Summer school
Summer school is a school, or a program generally sponsored by a school or a school district, that teaches students during the summer vacation....
programs.
Mature students who are unable to attend all the classes are offered fast track classes through a variety of one on one lessons and online courses. A combination of one on one lessons and Internet based courses allows these students to complete accredited high school credits, without attending all the regular classes. Their major exams must be supervised.
Approximately, one third of FutureSkills population are international students, who can choose from a range of ESL
ESL
ESL is a common abbreviation for English as a Second Language, see English language learning and teaching.ESL may also refer to:-Companies:...
courses (ESLAO, ESLBO, ESLCO, ESLDO, ESLEO) to prepare them for linguistic integration into the English speaking communities.
Interactivity
FutureSkills has some on-line interactivity on its website. Teachers and administrators update the website on a regular basis, providing information that is relevant to students and parents. Enrolled students are urged to access teachers' notes, assignments, and their marks as soon as they are produced by the teachers. This information is shared with parents or guardians if the students are under the age of 18. The site is kept up-to-date on a range of issues associated with parenting teens.E-learning (Virtual School)
For those students who are unable to attend (live too far from school, or have medical issues), or prefer to study on their own, i.e, at their own speed, the school is offering online distance learning version of most programs (e-learningE-learning
E-learning comprises all forms of electronically supported learning and teaching. The information and communication systems, whether networked learning or not, serve as specific media to implement the learning process...
) . This would be taken in conjunction with, and driven by the in-class curriculum as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Education. It is supported by regular student-teacher meetings via internet.
Fast Track Option
For those students who need to finish a course faster, or are unable to attend the regular classes, FutureSkills offers Fast Track courses. Fast Track courses allow students to complete accredited high school courses, usually faster than the normal term. Where feasible, the course can be fitted to their own schedule. Fast Tracking does not mean taking short cuts. The logistics of Fast Track studies is to cover all the material of a given course in a shorter time frame, using the following parameters:- The program must meet the 110 hour requirement, specified by the Ontario Ministry of Education.
- There must be at least 10 hours of student - teacher one-on-one evaluation and planning time.
- The remaining 100 hours must reflect the balance of the Ministry mandated 110 hours per credit. They consist of the normal scheduled classes, coupled with hours spent with qualified tutors.
The FutureSkills' teachers’ set schedules for regularly monitoring and evaluating progress through quizzes, chapter tests, unit tests, projects, assignments and a final exam. These evaluations will be used towards the students’ final mark. Upon successful completion of each Fast Track course, the student will be awarded one credit.