Compulsory Subjects

Examination Board: 

Syllabus No.

Staff to contact: Ms Hillier or Mr Spindler

What and how will you learn?:
The GCSE English course is geared towards the needs of young people in the modern world.  It is focused on reading and writing skills.  Some focus will be given to analysing literary texts such as plays, novels and poetry, but you will also look at how to interpret non-fiction and functional texts.  You will be taught how to make you writing imaginitive and interesting to read, as well as how to produce clear and professional documents, such as letters and articles.

You will learn by studying examples of excellent writing, before being asked to incorporate some of the techniques into your own work.  support will be provided by your teacher in lessons and in after school booster sessions.

How will you be assessed?:
You will complete the following controlled assessments:

English

• Shakespeare - compare a play to selected poems
• Novel - 'Of Mice and Men'
• Writing - First person narrative
• Writing - Third person narrative

English Language

• Descriptive writing task
• Narrative writing task
• Studying spoken language

Throughout the course your speaking and listening skills will also be assessed by your teacher.
You will also sit two exams at the end of your two year course.  These will test you reading of non-fiction and functional writing.

What next?:
A C grade at GCSE English is an entry requirement for a wide range of level 3 courses.  The ability to extract information from texts is a vital skill for many subjects, such as humanities, social sciences and business studies.
The skills you will learn in this course will prepare you for various professional taks, such as writing application letters or personal statements.  Most employers as for a C-grade at GCSE English as a minimum requirement for all job applicants.

Examination Board:

Syllabus No.

Staff to contact: Ms Hillier or Mr Spindler

What and how will you learn?:
The GCSE English literature course is designed to give students some experience of the rich variety of poetry, drama and prose in the English Language.  You will be taught how to analyse language, sturcture and character as well as how texts relate to each other.  You will also explore the social and historical contexts in which the texts were created.

As you will learn the skills needed to read texts analytically, lessons will include those that are teacher-led and those where you will work independently.  You will be asked to relate texts to modern-day attitudes and your own experiences.

How will you be assessed?:
You will complete a three-part controlled assessment:

1. Shakespeare - romeo and Juliet
2. Poetry - a selection of poems from an anthology
3. A comparison of the themes in Shakespeare and a selection of poems

You will also sit two exams, one at the end of Year 10 and one at the end of Year 11.
These will test your reading of novels, poetry and plays.

What next?:
English Literature will prepare you for studying English, Film or Drama at Level 3.  In addition, the analysis skills learned are valuable in a wide range of humanities, social science and business subjects.

Examination Board:

Staff to contact: Mr Haxton and Ms Daramola

Level: 2 

What and how will you learn?:

This excellent, practical course is geared towards the needs of young people in the modern world - jobs, communication, creativity.

You will learn to create or use the latest communication and creative technology - smart phones and tablets to video, podcasts and green screens.

Two example assignments are:

• Digital Portfolio - Create your own website and test it
• Create a video - e.g. a fashion documentary or day in the life of a football coach

You will learn how to present your ideas and yourself - clearly and creatively.  You will learn by using real case studies and by meeting experts from commercial organisations swuch as Channel 4, BBC, Google, PC World, Web developers and even Fashion designers.

This course is arranged into project units, which includes finding out about the latest developments; developing things like a website to display your projects online; or using your creativity to create digital graphics, digital animation, and digital video or digital audio.

How will you be assessed?:
Over two years, you will complete two core units and two further units.  Online World is externally assessed for 25% of marks while digital Portfolio represents the second core unit (25% marks).  the final units are chosen from a wide list.  Examples are creating Mobile Apps, Digital video or a Music podcast among others (each is worth 25% of marks).

What next?:
Because you will have successfully developed excellent transferable skills - (Communication, Organisation and Creativity), you can progress to complete almost any/all level 3 vocational courses in the Sixth Form; particularly BTEC Nationals in IT or apply for an IT / Creative Media Apprenticeship.

Examination Board:

Staff to contact: Ms Gorasia and Mr Sajadah

Level: 1 

What and how will you learn?:
This is a practical course that meets the needs of business and employers.  you will learn how to present your ideas clearly with impact - verbally and by presentation.
Success is based upon demonstrating that you can successfully complete a series of computer-based tasks e.g:

• Creating a formal letter, job application or CV for a job
• Entering data into a spread-sheet and database
• Carrying out searches on the Internet
• Designing graphics
• Describing the latest hardware
• Creating a website homepage
• Creating a short presentation

You will learn about all the latest IT developments - from Smart phones to Tablets.  You will learn ideas from a range of fun activities.

The course is an excellent way to learn the foundation skills for a successful career and further education.

How will you be assessed?:
You will be assessed by a series of short projects.  You will create a folder of evidence that meets requirements, and learn how to improve it.  Your 'evidence' could be documents, notes, teacher witness statemetns and even pictures or videos of you working.

What next?:
If you successfully complete this level 1 course, you can progress to complete level 2 in the Sixth Form.

After successfully completing Level 2, you will be able to access a variety of opportunities such as Level 3 Nationals in IT or progress with a different vocational subject such as Business.  You may even choose an academic course such as GCE IT or Computing or choose employment in IT or Creative Media.

Examination Board:

Staff to contact: Ms S. Goodden and Mr R. Grehan

What and how will you learn?:
The content of the GCSE course covers number and algebra, geometry and measures and statistics and prbability.  The fundamental skills and knowledge which feature in both the examinations include working with arithmetic, understanding fractions, decimals, percentage and ration and an appreciation of algebraic notation.

This course will help you develop many skills, as well as numeracy, such as problem-solving, communication, fucntional skills and collaboration.

How will you be assessed?:
Paper 1 (50% of the GCSE) - non-calculator
Paper 2 (50% of the GCSE) - calculator

This course will be assessed at the end of year 11 by these two examinations.  Students will be assessed at regular intervals throughout the year.

Students follow the OCR GCSE Mathematics course.

What next?:
Mathematics is a language.  It is the language without which science, commerce, industry, the internet and the entire global ecnonomy is struck dumb.  It is the only truly universal language and it is an essential part of our personal and working life.

As such, the GCSE qualification is recognised by both universities and employers, as a way of checking students have the numeracy skills needed to equip themselves for everyday life and further study.

Those students who achieve a grade B or above on the higher paper have the opportunity to continue the study of mathematics throught the AS and A level courses.

Examination Board:

Staff to contact:  Mr B. Mensah

What and how will you learn?:
For students who follow core PE you will have the opportunity to develop the skills that you have achieved in KS3.  You will still have two hours of PE on your timetable.

You will partake in a wide variety of sporting activities and dsiciplines.  You will be able to enhance your skills building upon the skills and knowledge that you will have gained in KS3.

You will get the opportunity to develop your skills on coaching and leadership courses.

You will be able to learn and develop skills such as leadership skills, coaching skills and many more within this course.

How will you be assessed?:
You will not have to hand in an exam or coursework you will however be assessed on your practical performance and your ability to perform as a coach or official.

Each topic that you do will go towards your final end of year grade in PE.

If you're on a coaching course you will be required to log a specified amount of hours in order to gain the ward that you are studying.

Assessment evidence for assigments may be generated via a range of activities such as role plays, video diaries, experiments, practical assessments, presentations.

What next?:
Completing coaching or leadership courses will allow students to pursue further coaching courses or apprenticeships.

Strong performance in core PE will give you the practical, officiating and coaching skills for Level 3 courses such as A Levels and BTEC Level 3s.

Examination Board:  

Syllabus No.

Staff to contact: Ms Akintunde

What will you learn?:

Core:

B1: - How Organisms Work; Environment and Evolution
C1: - The Earth Provides; Oils Earth and Atmosphere
P1: - Energy; Waves and the Universe

Additonal:

B2: - Growing and using our Food; Understanding How Organisms Work
C2: - The Building Blocks of Chemistry; Rates, Salts and Electrolysis
P2: - Forces and Motion; Electricity, Radiation, Atoms and the Stars

How will you be assessed?:
75% from modular examinations and 25% controlled internal assessments (ISA).

What next?:
If you achieve a minimum B grade as well as Bs in mathematics and English, you can go on to complete 'A' levels in any of the three sciences.

With lower grades you can do the BTEC Level 3 National in Applied Science.

Both routes are useful for university applications and courses.

Examination Board:   

Staff to contact: Mrs Duncombe

What and how will you learn?:
Have you ever wondered why you learn science?  then welcome to the BTEC in Applied Science.  This is an all new two year course for 2013.  You will be studying science in a 'real life' context, learning about why science is useful to industry, everyday life and applying practical skills to solve problems.

The course is broken down into two separate awards of Principles of applied science (Year 10) and Applications of science (Year 11) each is equivalent to one GCSE.  You will be covering core ideas in biology, chemistry and physics by investigating a range of concepts including global warming; controlling reactions; how the universe began; keeping healthy; body systems to name but a few.

How will you be assessed?:
You will study 8 units in total over the two years.

Year 10: Principles of applied science

Unit 1: Principles of Science*
Unit 2: Chemistry and our Earth
Unit 3: Energy and our Universe
Unit 4: Biology and our Environment
* Unit is externally assessed

Year 11: Applications of science

Unit 5: Application of Chemical Substances
Unit 6: Application of Physical Science
Unit 7: Health Applications of Life Science
Unit 8: Scientific Skills*
* Unit is externally assessed

You will sit two exams in total (one in year 10 and one in year 11) each are worth 25% of your final qualifications.

All of the other units (2-7) are coursework assessed and are each worth 25% of your final qualifications.

You will gain two separate BTEC grades either: Pass; Merit; Distinction; Distinction*. Equivalent to two GCSEs in science.

What next?:
With this qualification you can apply to do a BTEC National in applied Science do an apprenticeship.

Board:

Level: GCSE 

Staff to contact:  Ms Akintunde or Ms Antonatos

What will you learn?:

B1: - How organisms work; Environment and Evolution
B2: - Growing and using our food; Understanding How Organisms Function
B3: - Biological Systems: Humans and the Environment

How will you be assessed?:
75% from examinations and 25% controlled internal assessments (ISA).

What next?:
If you achieve a minimum B grade as well as Bs in mathematics and English, you can go on to complete 'A' levels in any of the three sciences.

With lower grades you can do the BTEC Level 3 National in Applied Science.

Both routes are useful for university applications and courses.

Board:

Level: GCSE 

Staff to contact:  Ms Akintunde

What will you learn?:

You will learn the main academic theories of the three sciences and how to apply the knowledge gained in different scenarios.

These topics include:

C1. The Earth (Rocks, fuel and Metals); Oils and the Atmosphere (Alkanes, Global Warming)

C2. The Building Blocks of Chemistry (Atoms, Bonding, Massess of atoms); Rates, Salts and Electrolysis

C3. Looking for Patterns (Periodicity and Energy from reactions); Analysis, Ammonia and Organic Compounds

In separate sciences (chemistry; biology and physics) the content taught will better prpare you for the A level separate sciences.

How will you be assessed?:
75% from modular examinations and 25% controlled internal assessments (ISA).

What next?:
If you achieve a minimum B grade as well as Bs in mathematics and English, you can go on to complete 'A' levels in any of the three sciences.

With lower grades you can do the BTEC Level 3 National in Applied Science.

Both routes are useful for university applications and courses.

Board:

Level: GCSE 

Staff to contact:  Ms Akintunde

What will you learn?:

You will learn the main academic theories of the three sciences and how to apply the knowledge gained in different scenarios.
The topics covered include:

P1: Energy; Waves and the Universe
P2: Forces and Motion; Electricty, Radiation, Atoms and the Stars
P3: Medical applications of Physics; Making Things Work

In separate sciences (chemistry; biology and physics) the content taught will better prepare you for the A level separate sciences.

How will you be assessed?:
75% from modular examinations and 25% controlled internal assessments (ISA).

What next?:
If you achieve a minimum B grade as well as Bs in mathematics and English, you can go on to complete 'A' levels in any of the three sciences.

With lower grades you can do the BTEC Level 3 National in Applied Science.

Both routes are useful for university applications and courses.

Examination Board:  N/A        
      
Staff to contact: Ms A. Hine and Ms K. Clark    

Course Content:
This course seeks to build on the skills and knowledge gained by the students in their Key Stage three course.  The emphasis in the work is the development of the individuals, both personally and as a member of society.  Students also examine those issues important in the development of citizenship and harmony within the local and wider community.  throughout the course students will develop their own self esteem and be able to make informed devisions in regard to:

• Personal health
• Sex and relationships
• Sexually transmitted diseases / AIDS
• Discrimination
• Power and Politics
• Parenting
• Career pathways
• CVs and applying for jobs
• Preparation for work experience
• Progress file
• Crime and Community
• Personal finance and economic wellbeing
• Issues from different religious perspectives

In conjunction to the PSE/Citizenship/RE component of the Year 10 course, students study a number of integrated careers units of work (work, college, training).  These focus upon career paths, the construction of a CV and extensive preparation for students' 2 week block of work experience.  Students also study the benefits of going to university.

Group Organisation and Setting:
All PSE classes are grouped according to mixed ability - students split their time between PSE and careers.

Books/Other Materials/Visits/Field Trips etc:
•    Text/work sheets
•    Films/videos
•    Outside speakers
•    Games/group work
•    Newspaper/magazines
•    Practical demonstrations
•    Role play
•    2 week work experience placement

Assessment:
There is no formal assessment

How Parents Can Help:
•    Research and discuss Career pathways with students.
•    Discuss with pupils relevant issues from the course.
•    Encourage pupils to watch current affairs programmes and read a newspaper.