GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls

 
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GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
GCSE Options
2021
A guide for Year 9 pupils
and their parents on GCSE
subject choices
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
Message from the Headmistress

Dear Year 9,

During the first three years in the Senior School at AESG, you
have followed a broad and balanced curriculum, designed to
further your education. Most of the subjects are specified by the
Government at this stage, to ensure a balanced education, and
there is little scope for individual choice.

Then, in the course of Year 9, you are given the chance to select
some of the subjects you wish to study in Key Stage 4, the next two
years up to the GCSE examinations. GCSE options are the first
important academic decision that you will make as you progress
through your time at AESG and beyond to your future careers. It
is an exciting time and an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate
academic strengths and achievements.
                                                                      Mrs Smillie
This booklet sets out all of the important information to guide       Headmistress
and support you through this process, and to help you and your
parents make well-informed decisions that will enable you to
flourish. At AESG, we have an enviable record of success at GCSE
level, and behind these excellent outcomes are, of course, superb
value-added results which demonstrates the incredibly hard work
of students and staff.

During the GCSE options process it is vital that you receive
excellent support, advice and guidance. For some students, the
decisions are easy and quick to make; for others, the choices pose
questions and challenges that are not so easily resolved. Wherever
you are on this scale, there is always someone at AESG to talk to.
You can talk to your teachers, form tutor, Head of Year and, of
course, your parents at home. It is important that you are at the
centre of this options process, making informed decisions for the
right reasons. During the GCSE years, it is important to balance
academic rigour with a fully rounded experience that enables you
to make the most of our extensive extra-curricular programme. By
doing this, you will be able to continue to develop important life
skills that will be invaluable outside of the classroom.

GCSEs are designed to test the whole range of ability, and hard
work will bring success; the next two years should be very exciting
as well as tough and challenging at times. We are all here to help
you. You are embarking on the next stage in the great, lifelong
adventure of learning. I wish you all every success as you embark
upon this next stage of your time at AESG.

Enjoy it and good luck!

Mrs Smillie
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
How to make your choice of
GCSE subjects

This booklet has been prepared       Some points to remember are:
to help you in your choice of
GCSE subjects. For the first         • choose subjects which you
time in your school career you         like and want to do
are being asked to make a
major decision, namely which         • choose subjects which you
optional subjects you will             are capable of doing and with
continue to study. The decision        which you feel at ease
is an important one and you
must discuss it with your            • do not choose a subject just
parents and teachers. It is            because your friend is doing it
important that you read this
booklet carefully and if you are     • do not choose a subject just
unsure of anything you must            because you like the teacher
ask for help.
                                     • choose subjects which
                                       give you a wide choice for
                                       the future.

Timeline for making your choice
of GCSE subjects

1. PSHE lessons in the Autumn        5. On Thursday 12 January,          It is very important that you
   Term will focus on GCSE              you are invited to attend the    seek help and advice from your
   Option Choices.                      Year 9 Parents’ Evening with     teachers. If you have a particular
                                        your parents. You will have      career in mind you must check
2. The School’s GCSE Option             the opportunity to discuss       with the Careers Advisor or
   Choices Booklet will be              your choice of GCSE subjects     your subject teachers that you
   available electronically at the      with your subject teachers.      have chosen the correct subjects.
   end of the Autumn Term.
                                     6. Friday 22 January is the         Remember it may not be
3. On Friday 4 December, there          latest date for handing in       possible to change subjects
   will be a GCSE Options Fair          your GCSE Option Choices         once you have made your
   in the Millennium Hall at            Form to your Form Tutor.         choice.
   lunchtime. This will provide
   pupils with the opportunity
   to speak to subject teachers
   about what is involved in
   each GCSE subject.

4. You will have an individual
   appointment with the
   School’s Career Adviser,
   during school time.
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
Curriculum for Years 10 and 11

Examined Subjects                 Core Subjects                         Non-Examined Subjects
These subjects are divided into   You must study all of these           It is important for your general
two groups:                       subjects at GCSE level:               education that you follow
                                                                        courses in non-examination
• Core Subjects                   •   English Language                  subjects. You will have such
• Optional Subjects               •   English Literature                lessons in PE and PSHE.
                                  •   Mathematics
                                  •   Science – either Double or
                                      Triple Award.

                                  You will choose six subjects,
                                  ranked in order of preference
                                  from the 17 optional subjects on
                                  offer.

                                  If you wish to study Triple
                                  Science, this should be one of
                                  your six choices. You will study
                                  four optional subjects. Most
                                  students will be able to study
                                  four of their top five subjects.
                                  Occassionally, if you have an
                                  unusual combination of
                                  subjects or choose several
                                  subjects which only a few pupils
                                  study, we may place you in your
                                  sixth choice.

                                  Mrs Millar will see you to
                                  discuss your options if we are
                                  using your fifth and sixth
                                  choices. Your subject choices
                                  will be confirmed in writing by
                                  the end of the Spring Term.

                                  It may not be possible to offer
                                  all of the subjects listed if there
                                  is not sufficient demand.
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
Information on GCSE reform
and the grading system

                             “New” GCSE Grading System (reformed)
    U         1         2         3         4          5           6   7       8        9
    U       G       F       E      D            C              B           A       A*
                            “Old” GCSE Grading System (non-reformed)

The process of reforming all     GCSEs will be graded from 9
GCSE qualifications began        (the highest) to 1 (the lowest).
in September 2015. The           The chart above shows how
government’s stated intention    the current grading of GCSEs
in reforming GCSEs is to make    compares with the new grading
the courses more rigorous, by    system. The proportion of
introducing a new grading        pupils who achieve a grade 4
system and by moving away        and above will be the same as
from Controlled Assessments      the proportion who currently
towards longer final             achieve a grade C or above.
examinations at the end of the   A grade 4 will count as a
two year course.                 ‘standard’ pass; a ‘good pass’
                                 will be a grade 5. In addition, the
                                 proportion of pupils achieving
                                 grade 7 and above will be the
                                 same as the proportion who
                                 currently achieve a grade A or
                                 A*, making the new grade 9
                                 equivalent to an A** grade.
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
Non–Examination subjects in the curriculum

Physical Education – PE             about alcohol to succeeding in     Relationships and sex education
                                    their first job, PSHE education     (RSE)
All pupils throughout Key           helps pupils to manage many of     The Relationships and Sex
Stage 4 will continue to have       the most critical opportunities,   Education programme aims to
timetabled lessons of PE and        challenges and responsibilities    to support our pupils’ through
will participate in a variety of    they will face growing up.         their physical, emotional and
activities including Hockey,                                           moral development from
Netball, Athletics, Tennis,         Pupils’ are in a safe environment childhood to adolescence and
Rounders, Badminton,                where opinions can be expressed, into adulthood. We explore the
Volleyball and Fitness.             shared, challenged and developed. importance of healthy
                                    Although there is no formal        relationships and how to
Pupils are made aware of the        assessment involved in these areas manage conflict successfully.
many benefits of regular             of study, pupils are encouraged    This may lead to challenging
exercise to their health and as     to develop key skills of problem   offending behaviour, prejudice,
a purposeful way in which to        solving, communication and         bullying, racism and
use their leisure time. Pupils      working with others. These         discrimination assertively and
will continue to be encouraged      support mental wellbeing and       take the initiative in giving and
to attend extra-curricular          academic achievement.              receiving support.
activities and may represent
AESG in matches.                    Health and Wellbeing               Our program will offer a holistic
                                    The PSHE programme aims to         PSHE learning journey
PSHE                                advance and support each pupils’   spanning the pupils high school
                                    personal and social development    career, with a progressive, spiral
PSHE education gives pupils’ the    and to raise awareness of a varietycurriculum that addresses real
knowledge, skills, and attributes   of health issues.                  needs in a rapidly changing
they need to keep themselves                                           world. The underlying aims of
healthy and safe and to prepare     We promote the importance of       the programme are to encourage
them for life and work in modern    good mental health and wellbeing pupils to develop mutual respect
Britain now and in the future.      and on the importance of           and support, think about issues
The Department for Education        personal safety, how to manage     concerning themselves, social
(DfE) says:                         grief and bereavement and social problems in society and the
                                    anxiety. We also consider          environment and to develop
‘All elements of PSHE are           Internet safety and the dangers of informed opinions. It also
important and the government        excessive screen time and social   encourages pupils’ to be aware of
continues to recommend PSHE         media. Pupils’ complete a          and care for others, to talk about
be taught in schools’.              comprehensive study skills unit    feelings and be sensitive to the
(PSHE association 2020)             which explores the power of mind feelings of others.
                                    and memory in preparation for
In Years 10 and 11 the pupils       internal and external
follow a PSHE course. During        examinations.
this course they follow a
programme of study relating to      Living the Wider World
three key areas; Heath and          The Living World programme
Wellbeing, Living in the Wider      incorporates our Careers
World and Relationships and         programme with specialist
Sex Education (SRE). Since          sessions delivered by our Head
September 2020 Relationships        of Careers. Pupils undertake
and Sex Education has become        activities which aim to increase
statutory for all schools.          their self-development, manage
                                    their careers and explore
PSHE helps pupils’ to develop       opportunities available to them.
the knowledge, skills and           We focus on writing CV’s,
attributes they need to thrive as   applying for jobs, interviews and
individuals, family members and     applying for College and
members of society. From            University.
making responsible decisions
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
Homework and School Examinations

The homework allocation for        Homework Allocation              Year 10 and Year 11
each subject is shown here.
You must remember that in          Art and Design                   Up to 2 hours
some GCSE subjects there is        Business                         2 x 40 minutes
an element of Controlled           Design and Technology            2 x 40 minutes
Assessment. In some subjects       Drama                            2 x 40 minutes
                                                     }
pupils will have to hand in        English Language                 3 x 40 minutes
their homework the next day,       English Literature
in others they may be given        Food Technology                  2 x 40 minutes
an extended period of time         French                           2 x 40 minutes
to complete the work. It is        Geography                        2 x 40 minutes
obviously very important that      German                           2 x 40 minutes
pupils organise their time         History                          2 x 40 minutes
carefully and meet any given       Information Technology           2 x 40 minutes
deadlines.                         Latin                            2 x 40 minutes
                                   Mathematics                      2 x 40 minutes
Pupils will have school            Music                            2 x 40 minutes
examinations in all subjects in    Religious Studies                2 x 40 minutes
November and May in Year 10.       PE                               2 x 40 minutes
These are internal examinations    Sciences
to assess progress and, although   Physics            double        1 x 45 minutes
important, do not count towards                       triple        2 x 40 minutes
the final GCSE grade.               Chemistry          double        1 x 45 minutes
                                                      triple        2 x 40 minutes
Mock examinations will be held     Biology            double        1 x 45 minutes
in November of Year 11 and if                         triple        2 x 40 minutes
you achieve a satisfactory mark
in these examinations you will     Spanish                          2 x 40 minutes
be entered for the appropriate
tier in the GCSE examinations      Allocations are minutes per subject per week.
in May and June.
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
Additional Information

GCSE Controlled                     Entry Tiers at                    Support available for
Assessments                         GCSE/IGCSE level                  GCSE pupils
The importance of the work          For some GCSE subjects,           All departments provide
carried out during Year 10          Mathematics, Science and          lunchtime clinics for pupils who
and Year 11 cannot be over-         MFL, two levels of entry are      need extra help with revision,
emphasised, particularly            possible: Foundation Level and    homework, exam questions or
because Controlled Assessments      Higher Level. The vast majority   some other aspect of their GCSE
form part of many GCSE              of entries at AESG are made at    course. In addition, some pupils
courses. A Controlled               Higher Level, but occasionally    receive support from Mrs Ripper
Assessment may take the form        the Foundation Level is           our Learning Enhancement
of a project, a piece of research   recommended for a particular      Co-ordinator.
or some fieldwork.                  pupil in a particular subject.
                                                                      Pupils who have been identified
Controlled Assessment tasks         The final level of entry is       as Gifted or Talented in a
are time limited and are            decided upon in consultation      particular GCSE subject are
carried out in lessons during       between the subject teacher,      encouraged to attend lunchtime
the school day.                     the pupil and her parents.        masterclasses, complete
                                                                      extension tasks and attend
In general, performance in a        Grouping for GCSE                 relevant events publicised by
Controlled Assessment task is       subjects                          Mrs Billington, who, alongside
assessed by teachers in school                                        Mrs Millar and Mrs Dawson,
and then moderated by the           You will be taught in ability     co-ordinates our Gifted,
Examination Board.                  sets for:                         Talented and Interested
                                                                      programme, ‘Symposium’,
For subjects in which               English                           and ‘Lunch and Learn’ events.
Controlled Assessment is an
integral part of the GCSE           Mathematics
course, failure to complete this
work could mean that a pupil        Double Award Science
would not be awarded a GCSE
grade for the subject.              For all other subjects your
                                    groupings will depend upon
                                    your choice of subjects.

Accuracy of information
in this booklet
All of the information in this
booklet is correct at the time of
printing. However, examination
specifications can change.
Pupils will be notified of any
major changes to the content or
structure of any GCSE course
they choose.
GCSE Options 2021 A guide for Year 9 pupils and their parents on GCSE subject choices - Alderley Edge School for Girls
Core Subjects
GCSE English Language
AQA Specification A

Why study GCSE English                    The preparation and assessment of          Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoints
Language?                                 Spoken Language is also a                  and Perspectives
GCSE English Language is a                compulsory requirement of the              This paper examines a response to
compulsory subject for all pupils         course of study. You will develop          one non-fiction text and one literary
and the skills which you will gain are    speaking and listening skills and be       non-fiction text in Section A and
transferable across the curriculum.       encouraged to use spoken Standard          writing to present a viewpoint in
You will learn how to read texts          English effectively through a range        Section B. Non Examination
actively and critically, employing        of activities.                             Assessment: Spoken Language You
close reading skills to retrieve                                                     will also receive a separate grade for
information. In the course of your        How will you be assessed?                  Spoken Language. For this unit, you
studies, you will be encouraged to        This is a linear course and as such,       will be assessed on your ability to
make inferences and give informed         is designed to be taken over two           present, respond to questions and
comments on language in use. You          years with all assessments taken at        feedback and on your use of
will also produce your own writing,       the end of the course. There will be       Standard English. The tasks will be
experimenting with different              two terminal written examinations,         set and assessed by the teacher
audiences and purposes. In short,         each comprising 50% of the final           throughout the course and will be
studying English Language will            mark. Each exam is 1 hour 45               separately endorsed at the end. This
develop crucial reading, writing,         minutes long and worth 80 marks.           does not contribute to your final
speaking and listening skills which       Both papers will assess Reading in         GCSE English Language grade.
are fundamental to any further            Section A and Writing in Section B.
studies.
                                          Paper 1: Explorations in Creative
What will you study?                      Reading and Writing
You will read and be assessed on          This paper examines a response to
high-quality, challenging texts from      one literature fiction text in Section A
the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.        and descriptive or narrative writing
The texts will be taken from a range      in Section B.
of genres and types and will act as
stimulus material to help develop
your own writing by providing
effective style models. The texts will
include literature and extended
literary non-fiction, and other writing
such as essays, reviews and
journalism (both printed and online).
The literary fiction texts will be used
to help pupils consider how
established writers use narrative
and descriptive techniques to
capture the interest of readers. You
will also explore how writers have
particular viewpoints and
perspectives on issues or themes
that are important to the way we
think and live our lives. You will be
taught how to produce your own
creative text to demonstrate your
narrative and descriptive skills in
response to a written prompt,
scenario or visual image. You will
learn how to write for a specified
audience, purpose and form.
GCSE English Literature
AQA Specification A

Why study GCSE English                   How will you be assessed?
Literature?                              Assessment takes the form of two
GCSE English Literature is an            external examinations. Paper 1 is
excellent course for developing          entitled Shakespeare and the
analytical skills and improving your     19th-century novel. This is a
ability to present an argument in an     written paper of 1 hour 45 minutes
academic style. By studying GCSE         in length and constitutes 40% of the
English Literature, you will become      final GCSE mark. In Section A you
more aware of the cultural, social       will answer one question on a
and political context in which           Shakespeare text and in Section B
literature was created. Not only will    you will answer one question on a
this course widen your reading, it       19th century novel. In both sections,
will also help increase your             you will be required to write in detail
confidence to offer and deliver your     about an extract from the texts and
own opinions. GCSE English               then to write about the texts as a
Literature is a compulsory subject       whole.
for all pupils at AESG.
                                         Paper 2 is entitled Modern texts
What will you study?                     and poetry and comprises 3
This course allows you to                sections: modern texts, poetry and
experience a range of Literature with    unseen poetry. This is a written
a wide variety of appeal drawn from      paper of 2 hours 15 minutes in
contemporary and modern texts,           length and constitutes 60% of the
texts from across the globe and          final GCSE mark. In Section A:
texts which have had a significant       Modern Texts, you will answer one
influence on our literary and cultural   essay question from a choice of two
heritage. To that end, you will study    on your studied modern prose or
one Shakespeare text and one             drama text. In Section B: Poetry, you
nineteenth century novel alongside       will answer one comparative
more modern prose and drama              question on one named poem
texts. The focus is on you engaging      printed on the paper and one other
with your reading through exploring      poem from your chosen anthology
key themes, ideas and issues,            cluster. Section C requires you to
characterisation and settings in         respond to an unseen poem and to
order to build confidence in your        compare this poem with a second
skills of critical evaluation. Poetry    unseen poem.
will also be studied in preparation
for an examination module; you will
study a cluster of thematically linked
poems from the anthology.
Throughout the course, you will also
learn the skills necessary to enable
you to respond to a previously
unseen poem. You will learn to read
in depth, critically and evaluatively,
so that you are able to discuss and
explain your understanding and
ideas and make connections across
your reading. In addition, you will
develop your writing skills to
produce work which is accurate,
effective and analytical. You will be
encouraged to acquire and use a
wide vocabulary, including the
grammatical terminology and other
literary and linguistic terms.
Mathematics
Edexcel GCSE

Why study GCSE Mathematics?                 What will be studied?                   How will you be assessed?
Mathematics is all around us in             GCSE courses build on the work          There are two Tiers of entry in GCSE
everyday life. In fact, the world as        studied in Years 7 to 9, developing     Mathematics:
we know it would not exist without          and extending topics already met
mathematics! The apps on your               and introducing new concepts and        Foundation Tier (aimed at grades
phone, the prices you pay, the cars         techniques. These fit into four broad   1- 5) and Higher Tier (aimed at
on the streets and the gas and              areas:                                  grades 5-9).
electricity bills for your homes all rely
on mathematics. However, studying           Number:                                 At Foundation Tier, around half
Mathematics has far wider benefits.         Including indices, surds, proportion,   the marks are targeted at grades 4
It helps develop logical thinking,          ratio, fractions, decimals and          and 5; at Higher Tier around half the
pattern recognition, reasoned               percentages. A large focus on this      marks are targeted at grades 7-9.
argument and clear communication,           part of the course is an appreciation   A grade 5 has the same value at
for example. Harder topics help             of ratio and proportional change.       both Tiers; it doesn’t matter how
develop abstract ideas and                                                          you earn it!
speculative questioning.                    Algebra:
                                            Including linear equations, quadratic   Your examination is taken in the
Many of the techniques you learn            equations and simplification of         summer of Year 11. There are three
will be useful in other subjects            algebraic expressions. Questions        examination papers; one non-
including Physics, Design,                  may use algebra to model real life      calculator paper and two calculator
Geography, Business, Economics,             situations.                             papers. Each paper is worth 80
Computing, Psychology and                                                           marks, and your final grade is based
Biology.                                    Shape, Space and Measure:               on the total score from all three
                                            Including area, volume, similar         papers. Some of the questions will
Mathematics is a compulsory                 shapes, Pythagoras’ theorem,            be set in the context of ‘real-life’
subject and there is the opportunity        trigonometry, circle theorems and       situations; it is important that you
for able and interested students to         vectors. This is a key topic in any     learn how to identify important
study extra courses in Further              design-related activity.                information, plan your route through
Mathematics and/or                                                                  a solution and communicate your
Statistics.                                 Handling Data:                          steps clearly.
                                            Representation and interpretation of
What happens next?                          data and the study of probability.      GCSE Statistics
Many Sixth Forms, Universities or           Information is all around us – it is    This is an optional course which is
careers require you to have reached         important to know how to analyse        studied after school, one hour per
a minimum standard in Mathematics.          and interpret it correctly.             week, over two years. For this
If you achieve a high grade and enjoy                                               reason, there is a high degree of
the subject, you may choose to take         The new style GCSE places an            independence and responsibility
A Levels in either Mathematics or           increased emphasis on problem-          expected from pupils choosing to
both Mathematics and Further                solving questions.                      study this course.
Mathematics.
                                                                                    The course delves more deeply than
                                                                                    GCSE into information collection,
                                                                                    processing, interpretation and use in
                                                                                    making inferences. As such, the
                                                                                    ability to communicate clearly in
                                                                                    writing is an essential feature of this
                                                                                    course.

                                                                                    GCSE Statistics is not only an
                                                                                    excellent preparation for those
                                                                                    considering studying A Level
                                                                                    Mathematics but also useful for
                                                                                    further study in such subjects such
                                                                                    as Geography, Psychology, Biology
                                                                                    and Economics.

                                                                                    The course leads to an Edexcel GCSE
                                                                                    Higher Level qualification, taken
                                                                                    through two terminal examination
                                                                                    papers of 90 minutes each.
GCSE Combined Science – Trilogy (Double Award)
AQA

Why study GCSE Combined                  What will you study?                      In your Physics lessons you will
Science – Trilogy (Double Award)?        In your Biology lessons, you will         learn about forces, energy resources
Studying Science will help you to        learn about organ systems in the          (including the use of fossil fuels and
learn about how and why things           human body, including the nervous         global warming as critical problems
work in the way they do. From the        system and the digestive system.          for this century), waves (including
complex functioning of the human         The specification also includes           modern technologies such as
body to the development of the           topics on the environment,                imaging and communication
most sophisticated means of              inheritance and photosynthesis.           systems), electricity, magnets, the
modern communication; Science            There are opportunities to learn          particle model of matter and finally
is all around us. It is not just about   about relatively new techniques           radioactivity and nuclear physics.
learning facts; Science is also about    and technologies, such as genetic
developing the skills of critical        engineering and the therapeutic           How will you be assessed?
thinking, data analysis, problem         use of stem cells.                        The course is divided into Biology,
solving and application.                                                           Chemistry and Physics topics
                                         In your Chemistry lessons you will        that will be assessed via six
It is, therefore, not surprising that    learn why chemical reactions occur.       examinations taken at the end of
Science is a core subject of the         The specification includes topics on      Year 11. Each examination is 1 hour
National Curriculum and that a           combustion, extraction of metals          15 minutes long. Questions testing
GCSE Science qualification is a          and neutralisation. Factors such as       experimental and investigative skills
minimum requirement for entry to         how to alter the rate of a reaction       are also included in each
many university courses. The             and how to analyse substances are         examination.
Double Award Science course              also covered. You will also find out
combines the study of Biology,           how chemists strive to minimise the       Biology Paper 1              16.67%
Chemistry and Physics and leads to       use of limited resources and energy       Biology Paper 2              16.67%
the award of two GCSE grades. You        consumption in the manufacture of         Chemistry Paper 1            16.67%
are taught by three different subject    useful products and how chemists          Chemistry Paper 2            16.67%
specialist teachers and have 12          develop ways of disposing products        Physics Paper 1              16.67%
Science lessons per fortnight.           at the end of their useful life in ways   Physics Paper 2              16.67%
                                         that ensure that materials are used
If you take the Double Award course      sustainably.                              There are no Controlled
and later wish to continue a Science                                               Assessments.
subject to A Level, you will be able
to do so, provided you achieve the                                                 Remember
required grades.                                                                   You must choose either Double
                                                                                   Award or Triple Award Science.
GCSE Biology, Chemistry, Physics (Triple Award)
AQA

Why study GCSE Biology,                  How will you be assessed?                Is this for you?
Chemistry, Physics (Triple Award)?       Each Science GCSE covers a range         Triple Award Science is a course
Following the GCSE Triple Science        of topics that are examined in two       that is designed for pupils who have
course gives pupils the opportunity      written papers at the end of Year 11.    a genuine interest in Science and
to spend more time on their study        Questions testing experimental and       are keen to learn more about
of Science (18 periods per fortnight,    investigative skills are also included   Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
compared with 12 periods per             in each examination. Each                In order to succeed you will need
fortnight for Double Award Science)      examination is 1 hour 45 minutes         to have already demonstrated an
and leads to the award of three          long. This means that you will have a    aptitude for Science. You are
separate GCSE grades in Biology,         total of 6 Science examinations at       expected to have strong analytical
Chemistry and Physics. The               the end of Year 11.                      and evaluation skills as well as the
transition from Science GCSEs to                                                  ability to apply your knowledge to
Science A Levels may be easier for       Biology GCSE                             unfamiliar problems.
pupils who have followed the Triple      Biology Paper1                  50%
Science course, as several topics        Biology Paper 2                 50%      It is also important to remember that
for each Science are covered in                                                   taking the Triple Award Science
more detail and additional topics are    Chemistry GCSE                           option gives you one fewer option
introduced.                              Chemistry Paper 1               50%      choice. If you wish to follow a
                                         Chemistry Paper 2               50%      broader curriculum and keep your
What will you study?                                                              future options open, the Double
Biology – the specification covers all   Physics GCSE                             Award Science course may be more
of the Double Award Biology GCSE         Physics Paper 1                 50%      suitable for you.
topics, plus some further topics         Physics paper 2                 50%
including the structure of DNA,                                                   Remember
cloning methods in plants and            There are no Controlled                  You must choose either Double
animals, evolution and a study of        Assessments.                             Award or Triple Award Science.
ecosystems.

Chemistry – the specification covers
all the topics studied in the
Chemistry sections of the Double
Award Science GCSE plus further
topics including the properties of
transition metals, chemical cells and
fuel cells, synthetic and naturally
occurring polymers and additional
quantitative chemistry.

Physics – the specification covers all
the Double Award Science GCSE
topics plus further topics including
moments, pressure, lenses, static
electricity and space physics.
Optional
Subjects
GCSE Art and Design (Fine Art)
AQA

Why study GCSE Art and Design?           What will you study?                      Unit 2 – Externally Set Task
Choosing Art and Design enables          The Fine Art endorsement will allow       This is the examination element
you to explore your creativity and       you to explore and produce work           provided by AQA. You will receive an
develop your skills in a diverse range   using a range of the following            examination paper with a choice of
of media through an exciting             techniques: drawing, painting,            seven starting points. You will
practical based course.                  printmaking, mixed media, collage,        choose one question from the paper
                                         assemblage, sculpture and                 and produce work on it in a very
Art and Design has increasing            photography. Your teacher will            similar way to the sustained project
relevance to many aspects of our         guide you in order to develop your        for the portfolio. The examination
daily lives. Virtually everything that   technical skills, and support you         will be carried out over a number of
we own or look at has been               in trying new processes and               weeks beginning in January of Year
designed. We now live in a visual        techniques so that you can develop        11 and will conclude with a final
world that has its roots in Art and      the confidence required to realise        piece of work undertaken during
Design. Think about television and       your ideas.                               10 hours of supervised time.
film, web pages, interior design,
architecture, cars, fashion and much,    Unit 1 – Portfolio                        How will you be assessed?
much more. Art is everywhere; it’s       This is the coursework element, in        You will be assessed on your
not just a painting on a wall. Modern    which you will complete a sustained       portfolio, which is worth 60% of
businesses need people who have          project in response to a given            your total mark, and the externally
the ability to think creatively and      theme. You will demonstrate your          set task, which is worth 40% of your
adopt a disciplined approach to          knowledge, skills and understanding       total mark.
difficult situations. Many of the        of methods of recording,
study skills that you learn in Art and   experimenting with materials and          Is this for you?
Design can be used in a lot of your      techniques and the work of other          If you answer yes to some of the
other subjects. In fact, Art is very     artists documenting your journey          following questions, then GCSE Art
cross curricular as every subject        from the initial starting point through   and Design could be for you.
expects you to think creatively, to      to your final piece/s. You will also
explore, experiment and be curious.      be required to present a selection        • Do you enjoy expressing yourself
                                         of further work that has resulted           creatively?
                                         from mini projects, workshops and         • Do you enjoy having more
                                         responses to gallery, museum or             freedom to develop your own
                                         site visits.                                ideas?
                                                                                   • Are you independent, motivated
                                                                                     and determined?
                                                                                   • Do you have a willingness to
                                                                                     experiment and explore?
                                                                                   • Do you enjoy working in a
                                                                                     creative and progressive working
                                                                                     environment?
                                                                                   • Do you struggle with revision
                                                                                     based courses?
                                                                                   • Are you hoping to go into an Art
                                                                                     and Design based career?
GCSE Business
Edexcel

Why study GCSE Business                  In Year 11, we move on to look at the     How will you be assessed?
Business is an accessible and            growth of business, focusing on the       There are two written examinations
fascinating subject which has an         four main functions in the context        which are taken at the end of Year 11.
impact on every area of our              of larger businesses: marketing,
everyday lives. In the GCSE course       operations, finance and human             Theme 1 on Investigating Small
we apply knowledge to different real     resources. You will look in more          Businesses is a 90 minute, 90 mark
world organisations ranging from         depth at successful marketing – the       paper with a variety of multiple
small enterprises to large               product life cycle, building a brand      choice, short answer and extended
businesses which operate across          and how to build an effective             answer questions.
the globe.                               marketing mix. In operations, you
                                         will learn about the importance of        Theme 2 which is about Building a
You will already be familiar with        research and development, how we          Business has a similar structure and
many of the concepts and ideas           manufacture quality products,             is also 90 minutes long and worth 90
we discuss and should find it            manage stock, stay competitive            marks. The papers have equal
easier to add more depth to your         and deliver good customer service         weighting and there is no Controlled
understanding and analysis. We           that meets legal requirements. You        Assessment as part of the course.
also use a mixture of qualitative and    will also revisit some of the financial
quantitative data so, whether you        concepts from Year 10 including           Is this for you?
prefer essay based or numerical          cash flow, revenue, costs, break          This GCSE is fun, lively and thought
subjects, there is something which       even and profit. In the topic on          provoking – we look at product
links to your personal strengths.        people, you learn about motivation,       development, talk about what is
                                         how organisations can be                  happening in the business world
What will you study?                     structured, remuneration and the          and review marketing campaigns.
As shown in the course details           vital role of communication. Finally,     By the end of the course you will
below, the design of the course          you will look at the wider world of       have a solid understanding of how
starts with small businesses and         business: ethics, environmental           businesses operate.
more simple concepts which               issues, economic issues and
gradually build into a thorough and      international trade, and the impact
detailed understanding of the world      of government and the EU.
of business by the end of Year 11.

In Year 10 we focus on the start up
of small businesses. The topics
includes what inspires
entrepreneurs to start a business
and what skills they need to have to
be successful; for example,
understanding customers,
researching the market and thinking
creatively. You will also learn about
the use of social media, the
reliability of data in market research
and how businesses use
technology.
GCSE Computer Science
OCR

Why study GCSE Computer                 What will you study?                       Is this for you?
Science?                                Computer Science is an intellectually      Computer Science is at the centre
Take a look at the world around you.    challenging yet very practical and         of a STEM (Science Technology
How close to a computer are you?        rewarding subject. It is an intensely      Engineering and Maths) education.
When was the last time you used         creative subject where you can             Studying this subject will give you a
one? Life without computers is          apply the knowledge and skills             real advantage in today’s technology
almost unimaginable. The power          learned in the classroom in exciting       driven world. You will make the leap
of computers is utilised in all areas   and inventive ways.                        from using other people’s software
of life, from medicine to space                                                    to being able to design and create
exploration. Computer Science           You will learn to:                         your own. Maybe you could invent
goes way beyond just writing code.      • think creatively, innovatively,          the next Facebook or Snap Chat?
                                          analytically, logically and critically   GCSE Computer Science will give
Steve Jobs (Apple Co-Founder)           • apply the principles of computer         you the skills to become a
once remarked...                          science, including abstraction,          Technology Entrepreneur… but
“Everybody in this country should         decomposition, logic and data            even more than this, it will give you
learn how to program a computer…          representation                           the skills you need for any career
because it teaches you how to think”.   • analyse problems in                      because Computer Science teaches
                                          computational terms and solve            you how to think.
By studying this highly valued            them by designing, writing and
subject you will develop the skills       debugging programs
and knowledge to give you that          • apply mathematical skills relevant
competitive advantage in any              to computation.
future career. You will develop
computational thinking skills such      How will you be assessed?
as analysis, decomposition, logic       You are assessed by two written
and algorithmic thinking.               papers:

“Computational thinking will be a       Unit 1: Computer Systems (50%)
fundamental skill used by everyone
by the middle of the 21st Century.      Unit 2: Algorithms, Computational
Just like reading, writing and          Thinking and Programming (50%)
arithmetic”. Wing (2011)
                                        You must also complete a range of
                                        programming tasks during your
                                        course of study using a high-level
                                        text-based programming language
                                        such as Python or Visual Basic.
                                        Your skills in this will be assessed in
                                        the unit 2 written paper.
GCSE Design Technology
OCR

Why study GCSE Design                    How will you be assessed?
Technology?                              The examination will make up 50%
Every product is designed.               of your final mark. The examination
Designers find solutions to              brings together your core
problems, make our lives better and      knowledge of all material areas and
enhance our lives aesthetically. The     in-depth knowledge of textiles. A
Design Technology GCSE course            minimum of 15% of the paper will
allows you to explore the design         assess your mathematical and
process to create products that          science skills as applied within a
meet real life needs.                    design and technology context. The
                                         controlled assessment project will
What will you study?                     make up the final 50% of your mark.
In Year 10 you will be taught all the
key skills you need to succeed. We       Is this for you?
will build on the knowledge you have     If you are interested in the world
already and you will become familiar     around you, curious about how
with woods, metals, plastics, papers     products develop and reach the
and boards as well as our specialist     market and are keen on problem
area of textiles. You will use this      solving then you will enjoy Design
knowledge to develop product             Technology. The course has a 15%
design ideas and solutions and you       design related mathematics content
will make prototypes using our           so you should be comfortable with
Laser cutter, 3D printer and sewing      basic mathematics. The course can
machines. In Year 11 the exam            support you in many future careers
board will release a ‘context’ upon      including fashion, engineering,
which you will base your controlled      architecture, industrial design and
assessment project. You will             business.
develop your own design brief and
work through the design process to
create your final product. Your
project will have a textiles focus but
can also incorporate any of the other
material areas as part of your final
product. Your controlled
assessment will be worth 50% of
your final mark.
GCSE Drama
Edexcel

Why study GCSE Drama?                      How will you be assessed?               Is this for you?
In Drama lessons you are encouraged        Component 1:                            This course is perfect for you if you
to explore and engage actively in a        Devised Performance                     have a genuine interest in theatre
wide range of creative activities to       • 40% of the GCSE – 60 Marks            and performance. A willingness to
enable you to develop as a successful      • Internally assessed (by your          work collaboratively and creatively
and independent learner. You will be         Drama Department) and Externally      with your peers is essential!
given the opportunity to demonstrate         Moderated.
competence in a range of practical,
creative and performance skills. You       There are two parts to the
will learn how to work imaginatively       assessment:
and creatively in collaboration with       1) A portfolio examining the entire
others; generating, developing and         devising process
communicating your ideas. You will         2) A performance of the devised
develop a multitude of skills, including   performance
collaboration, communication and
an understanding of how to evaluate        Component 2:
and make progress. The course              Performance from Text
has a balance between engaging             • 20% of the GCSE – 48 Marks
prescribed texts and stimulating           • Externally assessed by a visiting
devising work; this will provide you         examiner.
with variety, challenge and fun.
                                           Component 3:
You may not wish to pursue a               Theatre Makers in Practice
career as a performer but many             • 40% of the GCSE – 60 Marks
career paths will benefit from the         • Written examination 1 hour and
study of Drama, for example,                 30 minutes.
marketing, advertising, the law and
teaching; indeed, anything which           Section A
requires public speaking or good           • 45 Marks
communication skills.                      • One question (broken into six
                                             parts) on an unseen extract from
What will you study?                         the chosen performance text
Component 1: (40%) Devised                   studied.
Performance
– Create, rehearse and perform a           Section B
  piece of drama                           • 15 Marks
– Evaluation of the devising process       • Two questions on a live theatre
  and performance                            performance you have seen
                                           • Pupils may take notes of up to 500
Component 2: (20%) Performance               words into the examination for this
from Text                                    section.
– Presentation of two key extracts
  from a performance text

Component 3: (40%) Theatre
Makers in Practice – Written
examination
– Practical exploration and study
  of one play
– Live Theatre Evaluation
GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition
Eduqas

Why study GCSE Food                       This new GCSE in Food Preparation        How will you be assessed?
Preparation and Nutrition?                and Nutrition is an exciting and         Written examination
The food industry is one of the           creative course which ensures
world’s fastest growing industries.       you will develop a thorough              Paper 1:
In fact over 20% of the top 100           understanding of nutrition, food         Theoretical knowledge of food
British Companies are in food             provenance and the working               preparation and nutrition and from
manufacturing.                            characteristics of food materials.       the five core topics (above)
                                          At its heart, this qualification         1 hour 45 minutes
The food and drink industry is            focuses on nurturing your practical      100 marks
booming, with employment                  cooking skills to give you a strong      50% of GCSE
reaching the heights of 650,000           understanding of nutrition.
people and an annual turnover of                                                   NEA – Non-exam assessment
£66 billion. The opportunities to         Food preparation skills are              100 marks
work within the food industry really      integrated into five core topics:
are endless.                              • Food, nutrition and health             Task 1:
                                          • Food science                           Food investigation - understanding
Some examples of careers in               • Food safety                            the working characteristics,
food are:                                 • Food choice                            functional and chemical properties
food scientist, dietician/nutritionist,   • Food provenance                        of ingredients. A written or
food sales and promotion, product                                                  electronic report (1500 – 2000
development, consumer                     What will you study?                     words) including photographic
technologist (sensory analysis and        During the course you will be given      evidence of the practical
product tasting), chef / baker /          the opportunity to practise a wide       investigations.
caterer, food journalist / food critic,   range of skills along with developing    30 marks
environmental health officer, health      a greater understanding of nutrition;
& safety inspector, food service          the science behind food as a             Task 2:
management, delicatessen /                material, and wider environmental        Food Preparation Assessment –
restaurateur, food wholesaler,            aspects associated with food.            knowledge, skills and
production & manufacturing, quality                                                understanding in relation to the
assurance / standardisation,              This qualification is linear, and        planning, preparation, cooking,
purchaser (buys and sells food from       consists of examination assessment       presentation of food and application
around the world), packaging              and non-examination assessment at        of nutrition related to the chosen
technologist, teacher.                    the end of the course.                   task. Pupils will prepare, cook and
                                                                                   present a final menu of three dishes
                                          The course is taught in a “hands on”     within a single period of no more
                                          practical way; consequently the          than 3 hours, planning in advance
                                          purchase of additional ingredients is    how this will be achieved. 70 marks
                                          essential. Time will also need to be
                                          allocated to visiting the supermarket.   Task 1 and Task 2 together will count
                                                                                   for 50% of the GCSE.
                                          In Year 10 you will cook
                                          approximately once a week along          Is this for you?
                                          with completing a series of modules      You will enjoy Food Preparation and
                                          involving written work and food          Nutrition if you are organised and
                                          experiments.                             enjoy experimenting with food.
                                                                                   When choosing this course, it is
                                          In Year 11 you will concentrate on       more important to enjoy a large
                                          completing two Non-Examination           variety of foods than have a natural
                                          Assessments (NEAs) using a variety       flair for cooking: we will teach you
                                          of research and investigation            how to cook! You will also have an
                                          methods. You will respond to one         inquiring mind and want to know all
                                          of three specified tasks set by the      about the food you eat and what it is
                                          exam board. You will experiment          needed for in the body.
                                          and trial ideas for the NEA and
                                          prepare for your examination in
                                          the Summer term. You will work
                                          independently on the task which
                                          is set by the examination board.
GCSE Geography
AQA

Why study GCSE Geography?                Fieldwork Investigation                   How will you be assessed?
Geography is a varied and wide           Pupils need to undertake two days         You will take three examination
ranging subject which incorporates       of Fieldwork. This will enable you to     papers at the end of Year 11:
aspects of both the physical and         gain an understanding of the
human environments. It develops          environment by first hand                 Paper One:
written, graphical and oral skills and   investigation and by applying             Living with the physical environment
it also helps us to understand the       knowledge and concepts learned in         (worth 35% of GCSE)
world in which we live. Geography is     the classroom. The two Fieldwork
an excellent ‘bridging’ subject          inquiries will be carried out in          Paper Two:
between the Arts and Sciences and        contrasting environments and will         Challenges in the human
allows pupils to keep their options      include aspects of both physical          environment (worth 35% of GCSE)
open when considering A Level            and human geography. There will
studies in the future.                   be a compulsory overnight                 Paper Three:
                                         residential trip to Cranedale in North    Geographical applications (worth
What will you study?                     Yorkshire in Year 11 (usually towards     30% of GCSE) Is this for you?
This exciting and relevant course        the end of September but this is
presents geography in a balanced         subject to availability and approval:     Yes if:
framework of physical and human          approximate cost is £235 per pupil).      • You enjoy learning about people
themes and investigates the link         This specialist centre has an               and their societies, economies,
between them. You will travel the        excellent academic reputation               cultures and managing their
world from the classroom, exploring      and Health & Safety record –                environments
case studies in the United Kingdom       see https://cranedale.com/                • You are keen to learn and develop
(UK), newly emerging economies                                                       a wide range of skills.
(NEEs) and lower income countries        Geography Field Trip
(LICs). Topics of study include          We run a biennial residential trip to
climate change, poverty,                 Iceland which will give you the           And finally... If you are interested in a
deprivation, global shifts in            opportunity to develop your               career that involves travel, you will
economic power and the challenge         knowledge and understanding of            not be disappointed. Geographers
of sustainable resource use.             the topics covered in class and to        really can work anywhere in the
                                         improve your fieldwork techniques.        world!
In lessons, we aim to provide you        In four days we visit many features
with a variety of activities to meet     of the island in order to build up real   “Geography is a living, breathing
your needs. We pay particular            life examples in preparation for your     subject, constantly adapting
attention to examination technique       examinations. We also make sure            itself to change. It is dynamic and
alongside group and pair work            there is time to enjoy the geothermal     relevant. For me geography is a
activities that develop your learning    pools the island has to offer!            great adventure with a purpose.”
and confidence in the subject.                                                     Michael Palin
Mentoring sessions will also provide
you with an opportunity to ask for
further help and advice. We
encourage you to order ‘Wider
World’ magazine to extend your
wider reading within the subject. We
also encourage the use of ICT and
video clips to help improve your
understanding of the patterns and
processes we investigate.
GCSE History
AQA

Why study GCSE History?                   Section B:                                Section B:
History is amazing – it’s the story of    Wider World Depth Study – Conflict        British Depth Study including the
people and their lives! It also helps     and tension, 1918–1939                    Historic Environment: Elizabethan
us understand the world that we live      This study covers the aftermath of        England, 1568–1603
in today. This course enables you to      World War I and the failed attempts       You will study Elizabeth's character
study the most interesting parts of       to prevent World War II. You will         and the difficulties of being a female
British, European and World History.      study the attempts to make a fair         ruler at the time (e.g.the problems of
Diversity is assured and it offers        peace settlement after WWI, the           marriage and succession), together
something for everyone!                   Treaty of Versailles and its impact       with living standards and fashions
                                          (e.g. German resentment). You will        and the Elizabethan Theatre and its
What will you study?                      also look at the formation and            achievements, the reasons for the
You'll study people’s lives in a          successes and failures of the new         increase in poverty during her reign
range of historical periods both          international peace-keeping               and atttitudes and responses to it.
inside and outside the classroom.         organisation, the League of Nations       You will also study religious
Recent trip destinations have             and the reasons for its final collapse.   intolerance, Puritanism and Catholic
ranged from the People's History          Finally, you will look at the growing     Plots to assassinate Elizabeth (e.g.
Museum in Manchester to                   international tension following           the execution of Mary Queen of
Washington DC and New York City           Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor,       Scots). This topic also covers crises
and the department is planning to         how this escalated and the events         such as the Spanish Armada and
run more trips.                           immediately preceding WWII.               the development and growth of
                                                                                    empire (e.g. the voyages of Sir
The course is divided into four           Paper 2:                                  Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh),
sections which are examined in two        Shaping The Nation                        A castle/stately home or historical
papers. The topics that you will be                                                 site specific to the Elizabethan period
taught are as follows:                    Section A:                                must also be studied and referred to
                                          Britain: Power and the people:            in your examination.
Paper 1:                                  c.1170 to the present day
Understanding The Modern World            The story of how British people           How will you be assessed?
                                          fought to gain the rights that we         You will sit two examinations at the
Section A:                                enjoy today. You will look at             end of the two year course. Both will
America, 1920-1973:                       medieval constraints on kingship          last 2 hours and will be worth 50%
Opportunity and inequality                (e.g. Magna Carta), the origins of        of the GCSE.
You will study how America became         parliament (e.g. role of Simon de
so rich in the 1920s and how              Montfort) and popular revolt (e.g.        Is this for you?
American society changed, looking         Peasants’ Revolt). You will also          History is an extremely popular
in detail at the changing role of         examine popular uprisings in the          subject which provides excellent
women, the growth of the                  Early Modern era (e.g. Pilgrimage         support for anyone thinking about
entertainment industry (Hollywood)        of Grace), ‘Divine Right’ vs.             careers in management, business,
and American attitudes towards            Parliamentary authority (e.g.             the media, law, journalism or
racism, immigration and organised         English Civil War) and the right          politics, to name but a few! History
crime (Al Capone). You will also          to representation (e.g. American          develops study skills and thinking
study the impact of The Wall Street       Revolution). You will look at the         skills and is therefore outstanding
Crash on American lives and the           extension of the vote in the 19th and     preparation for life in the Sixth Form.
attempts by President Roosevelt to        20th centuries (e.g. Chartism) and
help America recover. (The “New           various forms of popular protest
Deal”) You will also learn about the      (e.g. the Anti-Slavery Movement).
impact of WWII and how it changed         Finally, you will study women’s
American Society. Finally, you will       rights (e.g. Suffragettes), workers’
study post-war America and the            rights and minority rights and
development of television, Rock and       Britain’s development as a multi-
Roll, Martin Luther King Jr and           racial society.
racism. You will also look in detail at
the social policies of Presidents
Kennedy and Johnson and the
campaign for racial, gender and
human rights. (e.g. Abortion: Roe
vs. Wade).
BTEC First Qualification in Information
& Creative Technology
Pearson

Why study GCSE Information and           What will you study?                    Unit 3: A Digital Portfolio
Creative Technology?                     You will study 2 core units and 2       Digital portfolios can be viewed by
The BTEC First Qualification in          optional units:                         anyone with a computer and an
Information & Creative Technology is                                             internet browser. You will learn how
an exciting, ‘hands-on’ and practical    Unit 1: The Online World                to create a digital portfolio that
qualification. This two-year course is   How do websites work? How do            includes a series of web pages with
equivalent to one GCSE and offers        emails reach your computer?             links to content that you have
an alternative qualification that        How does the use of computer            created. You will learn how to make
focuses on key skills required for       applications affect your daily life?    use of multimedia assets such as
employment or further study in the       This unit provides an introduction to   images, sound and video to make
creative industries e.g. multimedia      the modern online world. Starting       your portfolio appealing and
production.                              with your own experiences, you will     engaging.
                                         extend your knowledge of online
The objective of this qualification is   services and investigate the            Students then pick 2 units from
to inspire and enthuse pupils to         technology and software that            following options:
become technology savvy producers        supports them. You will learn more      • Creating Digital Animation
of technology products and systems       about a range of services including     • Creating Digital Audio
and not just consumers. Pupils           email, online data storage,             • Creating Digital Graphics
will explore the fundamentals of         collaborative software, search          • Creating Digital Video
technology and gain the practical        engines and blogging.                   • Spreadsheet Development
skills, knowledge and understanding                                              • Database Development
to design, make and review:                                                      • Website Development.
• creative technology products,
  e.g. a digital animation, audio and                                            How will you be assessed?
  graphics                                                                       Unit 1 is externally assessed
• products that combine                                                          through an on-screen test. Unit 3
  information technology and                                                     and the optional units are internally
  creative technology, e.g.                                                      assessed through project work.
  website development                                                            Pupils will be graded Distinction*,
                                                                                 Distinction, Merit, Pass or Ungraded.

                                                                                 Is this for you?
                                                                                 This course is for you if you enjoy
                                                                                 using computers in a creative and
                                                                                 practical way. The majority of the
                                                                                 marks for this qualification are for
                                                                                 coursework assignments rather
                                                                                 than an examination. This course
                                                                                 will particularly suit you if you are
                                                                                 well-organised, able to work to
                                                                                 deadlines and enjoy project based
                                                                                 work. You will need to have good
                                                                                 problem solving and evaluation skills.
GCSE Latin
OCR

Why study GCSE Latin?                     How will you be assessed?             Is this for you?
Latin is not just challenging but         The final assessment is by            If you like learning new words,
great fun and the set texts are highly    examination and there are 3 papers.   reading and discussing literature,
entertaining. Learning Latin              All the examinations are taken        you will thoroughly enjoy taking
develops the ability to grasp             at the end of Year 11. There is no    Latin at this level. This subject is for
grammar and to comprehend                 Controlled Assessment or              you if you enjoy studying for exams
language. It also helps to develop        coursework.                           rather than completing Controlled
the skills to respond to texts in a                                             Assessment. If you want to make
sophisticated way.                        Language:                             yourself stand out from the
                                          1hour 30 minutes, 50%                 thousands of other applicants to the
A Latin qualification helps a person                                            top universities then Latin can help
to stand out from the crowd as it is a    Prose Literature:                     you do that as it is a subject that not
very specialised subject. Latin           1hour, 25%                            everyone has the chance to study. If
goes well with all manner of A Level                                            you enjoy a challenge, are ready
subjects, degrees or career choices       Verse Literature:                     to work hard and most importantly
such as Law, Philosophy, History,         1hour, 25%                            have a good sense of humour, then
Archaeology, Languages, English                                                 Latin is for you.
Literature and many more. Latin is
growing in the 21st century as more
and more educators realise its
massive benefits to young people.

What will you study?
In the Latin Language component,
you will discover how the language
works, improving your skills and
vocabulary in English as you
develop your knowledge of Latin.
You will be expected to learn 10-20
words per week from the vocabulary
list provided. A small part of the
language paper requires either
translation into Latin or answering
grammar questions. For Latin
Literature you will study texts by real
Roman authors which have some
very unusual story lines. Prose texts
are based on investigations into a
murder by poison and stolen
inheritance money. The verse text
consists of selections from the first
half of Virgil’s Aeneid, an epic poem
following a flawed hero as he battles
to fulfil his destiny.
You can also read