What are the important dates for my GCSE Option Choices?

How do I choose my GCSE subjects?

For some, the choice of subjects will be obvious but for others it will be less so.

This booklet, together with help from your parents, tutors and teachers should help you to make informed choices which are appropriate for you as an individual, whilst allowing sufficient flexibility to cope with any changes of direction that you might have in the future.

Future employers and university admissions officers will want to see that you have a range of skills and knowledge. They will also want to be sure that you can communicate effectively in discussions, and on paper, in more than one language; solve problems logically; manipulate numbers; use information technology efficiently and involve yourself in activities.

High achievement at GCSE is important evidence that they will use to make judgments about you. Universities are consistent in their advice: they prefer quality to quantity. We would urge you to pick subjects that you feel enthusiastic about and in which you feel you will succeed.

What subjects are available?

At Ashford School, students are given the opportunity to study up to 10 GCSEs. The core subjects you must study are: • English Language with most students preparing for English Literature (see subject page for details). • Mathematics. • Sciences (either as two or three GCSEs.See subject page for details). • A Modern Foreign Language. This represents seven subjects (or six if you take science and additional science). In addition to one modern foreign language, it is strongly recommended that you choose to study at least one humanity and one performance / creative subject.