What you need to think about

We aim to offer the widest degree of choice to meet individuals' needs and interests. We must meet other important needs, too, of course. these are just as important to your son or daughter's education as the degree of choice they have, and include:

1. The need to satisfy the legal requirements of the National Curriculum.

2. The importance of all pupils keeping future options open by following, at this stage, a broad and balanced curriculum.

3. The practicalities of ensuring all courses can be adequately staffed and equipped.

There are, therefore, some subjects which every pupil will study. These are the National Curriculum "Core" Subjects of English, Mathematics and Science, together with Physical Education, PSHE and Religious Education, although PE is available as an option, too.

All pupils sit GCSEs that are graded 1-9.

Pupils will aim to achieve grade '5' or above in GCSE Mathematics, English, Science, a Humanities (History or Geography), Computer Science and a European Language (French or Spanish). There is an expectation that pupils who have studied French or Spanish at Key Stage 3 will continue one or both of these into Years Key Stage 4. This should be combined with either Geography or history and one other option choice. We would advise pupils planning academic courses at University to consider these subjects when selecting their options.

You need to remember, too, that the following points apply to all the courses followed in Key Stage 4:

1. Our expectations of you are very high - we expect all pupils to work hard from the very beginning of the course until its end.

2. Homework with be an important and normal requirement - you cannot cover all the necessary work without it.

3. Your personal organisation must be of the highest standard - attendance and punctuality, completing work fully and on time, ensuring all necessary equipment is with you when needed - all influence your final results.

All courses lead to public examinations, whether it be GCSE, BTEC or other applied courses. Your results will greatly affect your future educational, training and career opportunities. You should choose COMBINATIONS of subjects which keep your future options as wide as possible.

In Key Stage 4 you will spend about twice as long each week studying each subject as you do now.  Each subject will be deeper, more specialised and more demanding than in Years 7 and 8.

You have an opportunity now to select subjects in which you are the strongest and which you enjoy most. Can you say which will be most suitable for you?

The grading scale is on a '1' to '9' basis, with 9 being the highest grade achievable. The national expectation at GCSE is grade '5'. Please do not think that grades '1' to '4' are fails - they are not!

Linear assessment for GCSE subjects

All GCSE qualifications are assessed at the end of the course of study

Assessment for BTEC and Applied subjects

All BTEC qualifications involve a controlled assessment (CASS) and an externally set and marked examination.

Differentiation

The GCSE examinations are designed to differentiate between candidates of all abilities. In some subjects candidates will be entered for a 'tier' of GCSE paper; this gives them access to a particular range of grades. These arrangements are explained in the subject descriptions in the following sections.

Equality of Opportunity

It is important you select you courses carefully, especially with the increase level of rigour and challenge in the reformed GCSEs. Avoid thinking that any particular subject is for girls or for boys - that idea is now thoroughly out-dated and the school is committed to enabling all pupils, regardless of their gender, ability or cultural heritage, to achieve the highest levels of attainment and excellence of which they are capable. Keep all your future options as open as possible.