Exam Board: AQA

Type of course: GCSE.  You will study both English Language and English Literature

How is the course assessed?

GCSE English Language: Two exam papers at the end of Y11

GCSE English Literature:  Two exam papers at the end of Y11

English Language

Paper 1- Reading and analysing fiction and writing creatively—50%

Paper 2 - Reading and analysing non-fiction and writing non-fiction—50%

English Literature

Paper 1 -  Romeo and Juliet and Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde - 40%

Paper 2 - Blood Brothers and Love & Relationships Poetry / unseen poetry - 60%

What topics / units will you study?

You will study:

• A range of creative reading texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st Century
• A range of literary non- fiction and non- fiction texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st Century
• Different types of writing styles and how to emulate these
• Shakespeare
• A 19th Century novel
• A modern drama
• A variety of 19th Century and modern poetry

How to be successful

Read widely - read books and articles by authors you read in class

• Read the classics
• Read articles and news items that take your interest
• Write ‘in the style of..’
• Watch and play vocabulary games
• Visit the theatre

What extra-curricular opportunities are there?

• Trips to the theatre to see the plays being studied.  We will also bring in theatre companies to present live performances of the texts being studied.
• DebateMate
• Writing Club
• Poetry Slam
• Library Leaders

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

Careers associated with English include journalism, work within the media industry, publishing, teaching, to name but a few. Being able to communicate is an essential for any job and the study of English will help you develop this skill.  College courses connected to this subject include English Language, English Literature and Media Studies.

All employers and colleges will ask you for your predicted / actual grade in English.  Being able to communicate is an essential for any job and the study of English will help you develop this skill.  You will develop a critical ability to write to suit your purpose and express yourself clearly and confidently.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr M Dermody in 2R5 or Mrs C McLean in 2R1                                                                                 

Exam Board: Edexcel

Type of course: GCSE.

How is the course assessed?   

Each pupil will sit 3 examinations at the end of Y11. See the breakdown as shown in the image.                               

What topics / units will you study?                                                                                                        

The Year 10 and 11 schemes of learning follow two distinct paths, Foundation and Higher. The foundation tier ranges from Grades 1 to 5 and the Higher tier, Grades 4 to 9.  Pupils will follow the tier that will allow them to fulfil their Mathematical potential and reach the very best grade possible.  

The GCSE Curriculum is designed so that the teaching of new content is completed by the end of the first term in Year 11.  Following this, Pupils complete a series of mock exams that replicate the GCSE process they undertake in the summer.

Key areas of learning include:

• Context-rich work on four operations and calculation skills, including fractions, decimals and  negative numbers, order of operations.
• Proportional reasoning; using fraction, decimal, percentage and ratio skills flexibly and applying to a range of contexts.
• Procedural work on factors, multiples, primes, HCF and LCM, standard form, power and root calculations.

How to be successful

Explore interesting Mathematical problems both in lessons and at our extra-curricular clubs.

Attend revision sessions or visit our Academic Mentor team for help and support with any topics you might struggle with.

What extra-curricular activities are there?

• Some of our clubs and events include:
• Problem Solving Breakfast Club
• UKMT Maths Challenges
• KS3 and KS4 Revision Sessions
• Homework Help Club

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

There are many careers opened up to you through the studying of Maths, such as; engineering, accounting & finance, data analysis or even the world of research.
 All employers like applicants who can demonstrate sound numeracy skills. They are also increasingly  looking for employees who can display creative and logical problem-solving skills in the face of challenges.

A good grade in GCSE mathematics is regarded highly by all colleges, universities and potential future employers. Pupils hoping to participate in further study of Science, ICT and Business will require strong mathematical skills.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr. R. Jones in 1B10 or Mr Wilson in 1W15 in the Maths Department

Exam Board: AQA

Type of course: GCSE

How is the course assessed?

Each pupil will sit six exams at the end of Y11. 2 Biology, 2 Chemistry, 2 Physics

For the combined course each exam is 1hr 15 mins long and has 70 marks.

Each exam counts towards 16.7% of the overall award.

There is no coursework element and exams are linear so they are all sat at the end of the course.

What topics / units will you study?

Paper 1

• Biology topics 1 – 4: Cell Biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.
• Chemistry topics 1-5: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, Structure, and the  properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.
• Physics topics 1-4: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.

Paper 2

• Biology topics 5-7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.
• Chemistry topics 6-10: The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and using resources.
• Physics topics 5-7: Forces; Waves; and Magnetism and electromagnetism.

How to be successful

• Read scientific news articles and reference books.
• Use revision guides to review learning at regular intervals.
• Use educake to test your knowledge of the different topics.
• Practice exam questions.
• Watch online videos of required practicals.
• Complete topic sheets for each unit.
• Use flashcards to learn key facts and equations.

What extracurricular activities are there?

There are currently 3 STEM Clubs which carry out a variety of different investigations every week. The department also works closely with local universities to provide enhanced teaching in class and enrichment through external partners coming in to share their knowledge of scientific industries. The department will work with selected groups of pupils to enter competitions run by external agencies such as the Institute of Physics, Royal Societies of Chemistry and Biology, BP and CREST. All GCSE groups have the opportunity to attend extra revision classes on a weekly basis.

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

If you like to learn how things work, in order to learn how to fix things when they break, or how to understand everyday phenomena, then science will teach you the skills to do this. It also teaches you to find things out for yourself rather than always relying on other people’s reasons for things.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr. D. Mcintyre (Head of Science) or Dr. C. Matis (Assistant Head of Science)

Most of our pupils study this combined science course.

Exam Board: AQA

Type of course: GCSE

How is the course assessed?

Pupils are required to sit 2 exams and will gain one GCSE in Biology

For the Biology course each exam is 1hr 45mins long and has 100 marks. Each exam counts towards 50% of the overall award. There is no coursework element and exams are linear so they are both sat at the end of the course.

What topics / units will you study?

Paper 1 Paper 1

Biology topics 1 – 4: Cell Biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.

Paper 2s

Biology topics 5 – 7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.

How to be successful

• Read scientific news articles and reference books.
• Use flashcards to learn key facts and equations.
• Use revision guide to review learning at regular intervals.
• Use educake to test your knowledge of the different topics.
• Practice exam questions.
• Watch online videos of required practicals.
• Complete topic sheets for each unit.

What extra-curricular activities are there?

There are currently 3 STEM Clubs which carry out a variety of different investigations every week.  The department also works closely with local universities to provide enhanced teaching in class and enrichment through external partners coming in to share their knowledge of scientific industries. The department will work with selected groups of pupils to enter competitions run by external agencies such as the Royal Society of Biology, BP and CREST. All GCSE groups have the opportunity to attend extra revision classes on a weekly basis.

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

All science subjects enable you to develop your problem-solving skills and learn to analyse data to make conclusions. These transferable skills can be useful in most careers.

People who go on to study Biology beyond GCSE often follow career paths in scientific research, laboratory work, medicine, pharmaceuticals, animal care, veterinary science, optometry, nutrition, physiotherapy and more.                                                                                                                                                           

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?                                      

Mr. D. Mcintyre (Head of Science) or Dr. C. Matis (Assistant Head of Science)

*Only a small number of our pupils will study the separate Triple science courses. Pupils must be working above age related expectations and be on track/ exceeding their target in all subjects to be considered for this course.

Exam Board: AQA

Type of course: GCSE

How is the course assessed?

Each pupil will sit two exams at the end of Y11.

For the Chemistry course each exam is 1hr 45mins long and has 100 marks. Each exam counts towards 50% of the overall award. There is no coursework element and exams are linear so they are both sat at          the end of the course.

What topics/ units will you study?

Paper1

Chemistry topics 1-5: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.

Paper 2s

Chemistry topics 6-10: The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and using resources.

How to be successful

• Read scientific news articles and reference books.
• Use revision guide to review learning at regular intervals.
• Use educake to test your knowledge of the different topics.
• Practice exam questions.
• Watch online videos of required practicals.
• Complete topic sheets for each unit.
• Use flashcards to learn key facts and equations.

What extra-curricular activities are there?

There are currently 3 STEM Clubs which carry out a variety of different investigations every week. The department also works closely with local universities to provide enhanced teaching in class and enrichment through external partners coming in to share their knowledge of scientific industries. The department will work with selected groups of Pupils to enter competitions run by external agencies such as Royal Society of Chemistry, BP and CREST. All GCSE groups have the opportunity to attend extra revision classes on a weekly basis.

 What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

All science subjects enable you to develop your problem-solving skills and learn to analyse data to make conclusions. These transferable skills can be useful in most careers.

People who go on to study Chemistry beyond GCSE often follow career paths in scientific research, laboratory work, pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, chemical analysis companies, agriculture, material sciences, atmospheric chemistry and many more.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr. D. Mcintyre (Head of Science) or Dr. C. Matis (Assistant Head of Science)

*Only a small number of our pupils will study the separate Triple Science courses. Pupils must be working above age related expectations and be on track/ exceeding their target in all subjects to be considered for this course. 

Exam Board: AQA

Type of course: GCSE

How is the course assessed?

Each pupil will sit two exams at the end of Y11. 

For the Chemistry course each exam is 1hr 45 mins long and has 100 marks. Each exam counts towards 50% of the overall award. There is no coursework element and exams are linear so they are both sat at the end of the course.

What topics/ units will you study?

Paper 1

Chemistry topics 1-5: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.

Paper 2s

Chemistry topics 6-10: The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and using resources.

How to be successful

• Read scientific news articles and reference books.
• Use revision guide to review learning at regular intervals.
• Use educake to test your knowledge of the different topics.
• Practice exam questions.
• Watch online videos of required practicals.
• Complete topic sheets for each unit.
• Use flashcards to learn key facts and equations.

 What extra-curricular activities are there?

There are currently 3 STEM Clubs which carry out a variety of different investigations every week. The department also works closely with local universities to provide enhanced teaching in class and enrichment through external partners coming in to share their knowledge of scientific industries. The department will work with selected groups of pupils to enter competitions run by external agencies such as Royal Society of Chemistry, BP and CREST. All GCSE groups have the opportunity to attend extra revision classes on a weekly basis.

What opportunities does this qualification help you to have?

All science subjects enable you to develop your problem-solving skills and learn to analyse data to make conclusions. These transferable skills can be useful in most careers.

People who go on to study Chemistry beyond GCSE often follow career paths in scientific research, laboratory work, pharmaceutical industry, chemical industry, chemical analysis companies, agriculture, material sciences, atmospheric chemistry and many more.

Who can you speak to for more information or if you have any questions?

Mr. D. Mcintyre (Head of Science) or Dr. C. Matis (Assistant Head of Science)

*Only a small number of our pupils will study the separate Triple science courses. Pupils must be working above age related expectations and be on track/ exceeding their target in all subjects to be considered for this course.