Choosing your GCSE Courses

Choosing GCSE subjects is the first really important decision that has to be made in school life and will be crucial when it comes to applying for University and a job.  Some boys will already have a good idea as to which subjects they are best at and which ones they enjoy and these are important factors when it comes to making a decision as to which subjects to follow to GCSE.

This Guide gives you information about all of the GCSE subjects offered here, whether they are core or optional and should be read carefully.  In particular, the course descriptions for the optional subjects should be considered fully.  These are some of the things that the boys should think about:

• How interested am I in the subject?

• How much do I enjoy the subject?

• If I don’t study this subject will I be able to take it up in the Sixth Form?

• Am I damaging my chances of following a particular degree course or career path by not taking a particular subject?

• Not every subject has to be directly relevant to a career path and some subjects are worth taking for their own sake.

• How do my subjects fit together?  Do I have a balance across the curriculum and do they reflect my strengths and interests?

What are the core subjects?

All pupils at Thorpe House take the following core subjects:

• English Language

• English Literature

• Mathematics

• Games (Non-examined)

• PSHE (Non-examined)

• Enrichment programme

What are the optional subjects?

Here at Thorpe House, we believe that a boy should choose subjects that he enjoys the most and in which he is likely to gain his best grades. Current educational guidance would suggest that the boys’ best interests are best served by studying the core subjects including at least two sciences and at least one humanity history, geography or RS. This is not compulsory and there may well be good reasons why your son does not wish to take all of these subjects and follow this route.

Your son will be required to select six of the optional subjects, one from each option column.

Please note these subjects are the initial choices if your son does not want to take any subject in one option column, you can enter his preferred choices in the additional options row on the option choices.

Option choices

Options are set out into columns please select one subject from each option column. Please note that there is a maximum size to each of the classes. We will allocate these options on the basis of first to return with the exception of those subjects where your son will need to have shown a particular aptitude for the subject or where he needs a specific skill. Please seek advice on this from the subject teacher or head of department.

 Option A:  Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Option B:  Chemistry, Drama, Design and Technology (Resistant Materials)

Option C:  Art, Geography, Computer Science

Option D:  Music, Physics and Spanish

Option E:  Biology,  DT (3-Dimensional Design), History and Religious Studies

Option F:  French, Geography and PE

Some options appear twice in the option blocks to help facilitate those subjects that have proven to be popular in the past so in order to facilitate your best choices e.g. your son may choose Geography in option C so he can select PE in option F.

Please complete your option choices on the online form.  The link is below.

https://forms.gle/V5E3e3pkwCyjDZjh6

It would help very much with our planning if all option choices are returned to me by at the very latest by Friday, 3rd March.  Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need any help with these very important choices at  sjenkin@thorpehouse.co.uk

Our Enrichment Programme

This September continue to develop our enrichment programme working on both the academic side of the curriculum and the vocational side giving student the opportunity to develop life skills but also to study certain subjects to a higher level as well as giving them an opportunity to let off a bit of steam now and again.

Like many schools we are now focusing on ensuring that what we deliver is done to the highest standard and that the pupils are able to focus their efforts on the subjects they really want to study. All boys study nine subjects to GCSE level,  it is important to note that although changes can be made to the optional subjects in the first term of Year 9, boys are expected to continue to study all their subjects throughout their GCSE years.

Our enrichment programme aims to develop interests in other areas outside of the curriculum and includes:

• An additional hour of sport each week involving circuit training or the development of a new sport.

• Financial management looking at everything from managing budgets to how to manage tax and opening bank accounts.

• Life skills

• Revision and Study skills sessions

• Examination practice sessions

• The opportunity for our most able mathematicians to study for the further maths qualification

I trust you will be as excited about this new offering for the boys as we are.

Yours sincerely,