Upper school option booklet 2016

The first choice is your Modern Language 1 which you must have studied in the Third Year. If you only study one MFL in the Third Year you must pick that but If you study two or more you can choose.

You can then choose three additional subjects from the options. The first of which must be a humanities subject; after that you may choose any two other subjects, including a second Humanities HUMANITIES History Geography Economics Religious Studies

FURTHER OPTION SUBJECTS French Art German Computing Spanish Design Technology Italian Music Latin Sports Science Theatre Studies Classical Civilisation

There are three separate GCSE courses available in DT – Resistant Materials, Graphic Products and Textiles. If you opt for DT you will be asked to put them in order of preference.

The emailed letter to parents will explain how to access and complete the online form. The deadline for submitting the form is Friday 4th March.

Late completion could hamper your chances of allocation of your chosen options.

IGCSE & GCSE OPTIONS 2016

This term we are asking you and your parents to make choices about the range of subjects that you will study next year in the Fourth Year. You will continue to study those subjects in the Fifth Year, i.e. to GCSE level. The choices you made this time last year were limited to languages and creative subjects; this time they also involve History and Geography, plus four new subjects – Economics, Classical Civilisation, Sports Science and Computing.

Curriculum Overview: All Fourth Year pupils study the core subjects :

IGCSE & GCSE OPTIONS 2016

English Mathematics Modern Language 1 Biology Chemistry Physics Religious Studies** Physical Education & Games English leads to IGCSEs in both Language and Literature.

Pupils then choose THREE option subjects from History Geography Economics Religious Studies** French German Spanish Italian Latin

Classical Civilisation Art Computing Design Technology* Music Sports Studies Theatre Studies

*Three separate GCSE courses are available within Design Technology – your form should be marked in your order of preference. **Pupils who opt for RS will also study for the Higher Qualification in the Fourth Year. Pupils who do not opt for RS will still study for and sit the RS (Short Course) GCSE at the end of the Fourth Year.

Please note All pupils must include at least one of the Humanities subjects [History, Geography, Economics, Religious Studies] among their options.

It will not be possible to start a new language in the Fourth Year.

Remember the following points : There will be an opportunity to ask any questions you may have on Tuesday 5th January in the Dobson Theatre – especially about the way your choices might affect career ambitions.

You can choose to take a GCSE course in a creative subject even if you haven’t studied that subject in the Third Year. You can choose Classical Civilisation without having studied Latin or Greek in the Third Year.

When, in two years’ time, you are making A level choices, the only option subjects that you must have also taken at IGCSE or GCSE are the languages – modern and classical.

Every effort will be made to give all pupils their first choice of subjects.

However, it is impossible to guarantee that you will be given all your preferences. Various pressures mean that a few people may be unable to do their preferred combination, which is why we ask you to list alternatives. If there is a problem with your preferences, I will discuss it with you individually.

Take lots of advice – from your tutor, your teachers, heads of department, Mr Sheppard, or from me. Visit the Guidance Centre, and talk to Mrs Mandley.

Dr BM Waymark Deputy Head (Academic) bmw@kes.hant.sch.uk

IGCSE & GCSE OPTIONS 2016

You have to continue with at least one modern language through to IGCSE. If you currently study two modern languages you can continue with either or both to IGCSE. You cannot begin to study a new language in the Fourth Year.

IGCSE & GCSE OPTIONS 2016

Subject Options

ART The course encourages pupils to perceive, understand and express concepts and feelings in visual and tactile form; to develop manipulative skills and technical competence and to record from direct observations and personal experiences.

We follow the AQA Fine Art course which allows a broad range of skills to be explored from printmaking to painting, sculpture and digital media; essentially the spectrum of work you might see in a major art gallery.

Each year involves a trip to a major exhibition; recent visits have been to the Royal Academy, Tate’s Britain and Modern as well as to places of interest such as the Pitt Rivers in Oxford.

During the Fourth and Fifth Years, pupils are given two main projects or portfolios to carry out. These tasks are assessed throughout the course and these assessments, together with a piece of externally set work, are the essential elements of the course. The course is designed to be highly personal and encourages students to articulate their ideas and understand the cultural and contextual reasons artists continue to record the world around them. It is hoped that many of the skills practised and concepts understood during the two years will encourage the students to pursue the subject into the Sixth Form and beyond.

The department is well equipped with a dedicated IT suite running Adobe Photoshop as well as library containing some 3,500 art books covering individual artists and techniques from the Renaissance to modern fashion illustration and everything in between.

Head of Department: Mr G L Piggott glp@kes.hants.sch.uk

CLASSICAL CIVILISATION This course is ideal for students who have a passion for the classical world. A variety of topics can be studied, including Homer’s wonderful Odyssey and the vibrant community life of first century Pompeii. This course can stand alone or can supplement the study of Latin and Classical Greek. GCSE Classical Civilisation is also a valuable platform for pursuing the subject further at A level. There are four units. Students sit three one-hour papers and produce a controlled assessment of 2,000 words. The option topics, a mixture of Greek and Roman themes, are: 1 City Life in the Classical World - Athens or Rome 2 Epic and Myth - Homer Odyssey or Ovid Metamorphoses 3 Community Life in the Classical World - Pompeii or Sparta 4 Culture and Society in the Classical World (see below) This is the unit which is assessed through Controlled Assessment. This means that students carry out data collection and research supported and guided by teachers. OCR anticipates that students will require approximately fifteen hours of research/data collection time completed over a number of weeks. Analysis and evaluation of findings will be completed under formal supervised conditions and candidates will use their research to write approximately 2,000 words in response to the task set. OCR anticipates that students will require approximately five hours to write up the task, completed over several separate sessions. The topics include Sophocles Antigone, Aristophanes Lysistrata, the Olympic Games, Virgil Aeneid, Pliny Letters, or Roman Britain.

Head of Department: Mrs J M Meredith jmm@kes.hants.sch.uk

COMPUTING A modern course for a modern world. The GCSE Computing (OCR) course will provide students with an in-depth understanding of how computer technology works and a look at what goes on ‘behind the scenes’. As part of this, they will investigate computer programming.

The fun of computing. Through this study of computer programming, the course will help learners develop critical thinking, analysis and problem solving skills. For many, it will be a fun and interesting way to develop these skills which can be transferred to other subjects and even applied in day-to-day life. In this way, the course will stimulate interest and engagement with technology and technology-related careers.

Looking to the future. Information technologies continue to have a growing importance.

This means there will be a stronger demand for professionals who are qualified in this area.

If learners want to go on to higher study and employment in the field of Computer Science they will find that this course provides an excellent stepping stone. Learners who have taken a Computing GCSE and who then progress to study the subject at A Level or at university will have a sound fundamental knowledge of this subject area.

The critical thinking, analysis and problem solving skills developed are at the centre of a 21st century skill base, regardless of the discipline pursued.

Head of Department: Mr P J Mapstone pjm@kes.hants.sch.uk

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY ‘Young designers hold the key to the future. Design gives you the opportunity to shape every aspect of our lives in the twenty-first century.’ – Sir Terence Conran.

The GCSE courses offered in Design and Technology give pupils at King Edward's the chance to shape the future. All options encompass design, manufacture and evaluation and utilise a wide range of ICT tools including design packages and CAD/CAM, from 3D printing to laser cutting. These courses build on the foundation of work carried out in the Lower School; the GCSE courses in Design and Technology allow pupils to turn their thoughts and ideas into reality. Pupils should choose one of the three options available at GCSE: Graphic Products: Concerned with all aspects of two and three dimensional modelling.

Whilst this course is not exclusively computer-aided design, Graphic Design students will focus on the use of industry standard software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator as well as realising their virtual SolidWorks models using CNC equipment such as the 3D printer and laser cutter.

Resistant Materials: Pupils will develop their application of knowledge, skills and understanding of resistant materials (primarily woods, metals and plastics) applying these to designing and making a product of their own choosing at GCSE. Textile Technology: Pupils will develop a wide range of decorative and construction techniques all based around the design and manufacture of fashion garments. Students will undertake practical processes such as hand dying, embroidery, block printing and pattern cutting. Students will also learn how to create fashion illustrations both by hand and using Adobe Illustrator on the PC and Sketchbook Pro on the iPad. The above courses will complement any student's portfolio, whether science or humanities based. All of the courses are split 40% examination and 60% controlled assessment (a project carried out under supervision in School). We would also encourage further study up to A Level Design and Technology, leading on to university courses in subjects as varied as interior design, engineering, product design, robotics, architecture or computer design.

Head of Department: Mr S H Barker shb@kes.hants.sch.uk

ECONOMICS The IGCSE syllabus seeks to explain the workings of the economies of developed and developing nations. It provides pupils with a grounding in the basic analytical skills and vocabulary of the economist, and encourages them to apply the subject’s core models and theories to contemporary economic problems.

Candidates must be able to think logically, handle data in various forms and express themselves with clarity and understanding. The topics for study include the determination of prices and wages in markets, unemployment, inflation, exchange rates, the balance of payments, money and financial institutions.

The course is both topical and relevant to the pupils’ lives, providing a valuable insight into a key area of current affairs. It is a useful stepping stone for those wishing to study the subject in the Sixth Form, although it is not a pre-requisite for A level Economics. There is no externally assessed coursework in this subject and assessment is by two examination papers.

Head of Department: Mr M A Walter maw@kes.hants.sch.uk

FRENCH French students sit the Edexcel IGCSE. The four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are all worth 25% and all examinations take place in the Fifth Year. The course is topicbased, with basic grammar forming an integral part of how the students acquire the language.

Topic areas include: Home and abroad, Education and Employment, House, home and daily routines, The modern world and the environment and Social activities, fitness and health.

Students are set by ability in the Upper School, but all follow the same textbook, and their learning experiences will be very similar. There are opportunities to watch and review films, get to know French music and learn about French culture. There is a strong emphasis on spoken French and students are able to work with the French assistants on a fortnightly basis.

The course is lively and up to date and French teachers work together to ensure that all students are challenged and encouraged to achieve their best in the subject. All students, regardless of what set they are in, can achieve the highest grades in the IGCSE examination.

The current textbook follows on from the work that the students encountered in the Lower School. Students can work in class or from home via the VLE programme, and there is a dedicated site to support their classwork and textbook. Listening exercises can be set as homework and, as the amount of foreign language IT material expands, more is being made available to our students. All students use the website ‘Vocab Express’ and ‘This is Language’ to help them to develop their vocabulary, practise key grammar points and work on their listening and reading skills. A number of excellent apps can also be used on iPads.

In October 2015 a group of 50 Fourth and Fifth Year students went to Paris for a four day trip.

The visit included two mornings of French lessons at France Langue Paris and afternoons spend exploring Paris and visiting the sites. This trip was very successful and may well become a biennial feature in the Upper School programme.

French has long formed a central part of our education system. It is the first or second language of many countries; France is our nearest continental neighbour and an increasingly important business partner and provides many leisure opportunities for all ages. Fluency in such a major language is increasingly an asset in many careers, and the aim of the next two years is to provide pupils with the confidence to communicate effectively and with a platform on which they can build at a later date. French teachers aim to encourage all good linguists.

The A level course is wonderfully stimulating and students can develop into linguists of the highest calibre. Our French students are increasingly leaving us to study French alongside subjects such as business, law, management and in some cases medicine.

Head of Department: Mrs J V Jones jvj@kes.hants.sch.uk

GEOGRAPHY The IGCSE course can be seen as a series of practical skills and key ideas which build logically on the work undertaken in the Lower School. These skills include the interpretation of maps at both 1:50000 and 1:25000 scales, atlas work and the geographical representation and interpretation of geographical data. The inclusion of oblique aerial photographs, satellite and weather maps provides a diverse range of teaching and learning activities which will encourage the development of a range of enquiry skills, including those relating to practical fieldwork investigations and the use of the internet and ICT. There is, however, no formal written coursework or controlled assessment.

The key ideas within the course are arranged as a series of units which are studied at a variety of scales ranging from the local to the international. A variety of topical case studies are integrated within the units to provide a sensible balance between both Physical and Human Geography. The topics studied on the Physical side include Plate Tectonics, Weather and Climate, Marine and River Processes, as well as Ecosystems. On the Human side of the subject the students study topics which include Settlement, Leisure Activities and Tourism, as well as Energy and Water Resources. The interaction of these processes is realised by studying the interrelationships between natural and human activities, which also considers resource conservation and management. As a whole, the teaching units constitute a balanced view of Geography that is relevant in today’s world, which is concerned with patterns in the landscape and the recurrent processes contributing to them; in particular the link between man and the land.

If Geography is to be studied in the Sixth Form then it would be beneficial, though not essential, to follow the IGCSE course. An integral part of the course is a four day residential field course based in Osmington Bay near Weymouth, which takes place in July at the end of the first year of the two year course.

Further information may be found on the Department’s web pages.

Head of Department: Miss L J Grant ljg@kes.hants.sch.uk

GERMAN The new EDEXCEL IGCSE German course in the Fourth and Fifth Year at King Edward’s is a natural progression from the Third Year German experience, with a firm emphasis on providing pupils with the skills for effective communication, whether in School or beyond.

As German is the EU language with the largest number of native speakers and Germany is the world’s largest exporter, German should be considered an important language both within Europe and on a global stage. Knowledge of German makes you an unusual and therefore highly marketable commodity!

During the German course in the Upper School, you will study topics that are chosen to be relevant to young people and will give you the ability to survive in everyday situations in a German-speaking country. You will also acquire all the basic grammatical constructions needed to communicate accurately and to access a top grade at this level.

We use a new, fully resourced coursebook which is further supplemented by articles from a wide variety of other sources, by language software and DVDs. In addition, we will regularly use online resources which may be accessed in School using individual devices or computers and at home via our VLE or e-learning Moodle courses. There is also regular speaking practice with a foreign language assistant, who is a native speaker and this really helps to build oral confidence.

The EDEXCEL IGCSE course is assessed at the end of the Fifth Year in 3 units: Paper 1: Listening, Paper 2: Reading and Writing, and Paper 3: Speaking.

There is no coursework or controlled assessment at any stage.

The German course also provides a window on the civilisation and culture of Germanspeaking countries and seeks to stimulate interest in travel abroad to the country of study.

The well-established Mutterstadt Exchange, which has been running since 1999, is open to Fourth Year pupils and will follow e-mail contact with our partner school, the IGS Mutterstadt. Fourth Year pupils may also go on the Aachen Christmas Market trip in December if places are available.

Whether you are considering the EDEXCEL IGCSE course with a view to continuing the language at Advanced Level or to complement and balance a study of other disciplines, e.g.

Science and Mathematics, it is a stimulating option that offers variety and challenge and will suit all those who are enjoying their Third Year course.

Head of Department: Mr M G Kukla mgk@kes.hants.sch.uk

HISTORY IGCSE History provides a fascinating and varied introduction to many of the major historical, political and economic issues and events that have helped to shape the world in which we live today and, in terms of the skills required and the chronological startingpoint, is designed to flow on naturally from the 3rd Year work on the First World War. History at IGCSE goes far beyond simply learning facts and dates. Rather, it requires judgement and analysis of why important events took place, and why they should be seen as significant, together with a willingness to discuss and debate different explanations and interpretations. History is very much for those who have an interest in the great events that have created the world we live in today and who enjoy the challenge of cut and thrust discussion. It provides not only interest but also huge enjoyment to those who study it.

We take the IGCSE Modern World History course, which covers a variety of topics from the twentieth century. IGCSE History has two main factual units. The first centres on Germany from 1919-1945. This includes the analysis of the impact of the First World War on Germany and an in-depth study of Nazi Germany, covering both the rise to power of Adolf Hitler and the nature of Nazi rule in Germany from 1933-1945; the Nazi Police state, the social policies of the Nazis, the impact of World War II on Germany and, chillingly, finishing with the Holocaust. The department runs a hugely popular trip to Berlin for the Fifth Year IGCSE historians in the spring half-term break in an effort to bring the nature of Nazism more alive.

The course continues with the study of International Relations throughout the twentieth century. This involves investigation of the causes of World War Two, with a particular focus on Nazi foreign policy, and the study of the Cold War from 1945-1991, under the title of “Superpower Relations”, covering such absorbing topics as the nuclear arms race, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Fall of the Berlin Wall.

Excitingly, the IGCSE syllabus has just been updated and now includes a study of events in the Gulf from 1970-c.2000, taking in the rule of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the events of the First Gulf War and the causes of the second. It is hard to think of anything at present more relevant.

There is no Controlled Assessment unit for IGCSE History and the question format ranges from short answers to more developed pieces of writing. The days when History involved nothing but writing essays several pages long are now long gone. Anybody who has coped effectively with the writing requirements of Third Year History lessons at King Edward’s will find absolutely no difficulty in moving on to IGCSE.

Head of Department: Mr N J Diver njd@kes.hants.sch.uk

ITALIAN In the Upper School a GCSE course in Italian is offered, and it will be an exciting continuation of the Italian studied in the Third Year. We will continue to use the Amici course, which provides a solid grammar base along with a lively approach to Italian life.

This will be accompanied by other resources such as access to authentic Italian materials online, DVDs and language magazines. There will be regular listening and speaking practice and students will be given the language skills for effective communication on a wide variety of contemporary topics. We make use of the School’s VLE, Moodle, where students can work independently, and from home, to further their language capabilities. They also have the opportunity to work with the language assistant on a weekly basis in order to develop communicative skills and this enables students to practise using the language for a variety of purposes. The assistant will also help them prepare for the Controlled Assessment element of the GCSE course.

A study visit to Italy will be offered in the Spring Term, which students are encouraged to make the most of. The culture of Italy is rich and varied and students will be encouraged to develop a good knowledge of its historical importance in Europe.

This is a stimulating course and a great opportunity to develop skills in one of the most beautiful European Languages.

Please note, Italian is not offered as an A level subject at King Edward’s.

Teacher in charge: Mrs S Rugge-Price srp@kes.hants.sch.uk

LATIN By the end of the Third Year, students have covered most basic elements of Latin grammar and syntax and are ready, in the Fourth year, to put them into practice by reading some Roman authors in the original, which is the whole aim of the Cambridge Latin course. To stop Latin at this point is almost like learning to drive and never taking the test! All that has already been covered in the first three years of Latin represents a major part of the GCSE course, and it is a shame not to put this knowledge to good effect: students are already well on the way to a qualification.

We now use WJEC as our board and students will receive two awards, Latin Literature and Latin Language, equivalent to two GCSEs. A variety of authors is read in the Fourth and Fifth years, depending upon the specification in any particular year, but this will include some poets, such as Martial, Virgil and Ovid, and some prose writers, such as the provincial governor Pliny or the historian Tacitus. The selection of works is carefully chosen so that the subject matter is interesting and gives a taste of some stimulating authors. Translation skills are widened and passages studied for literary and cultural comment. Those interested in mythology are likely to enjoy some of Ovid's stories from the Metamorphoses, while historians find that Tacitus' description of the outrageous behaviour of the Emperor Nero or Pliny's eye-witness account of the eruption of Vesuvius are totally gripping!

Language work continues throughout the course, and a great deal of practice is given in the technique of answering comprehension questions. Grammar and vocabulary are constantly being consolidated and refined. The variety of skills developed by this GCSE are easily transferred to benefit other subjects, both linguistic and historical, and its broad range ensures that it is full of interest and guaranteed to keep active minds busy.

Head of Department: Mrs J M Meredith jmm@kes.hants.sch.uk

MUSIC The GCSE course, based on the OCR specification, offers an exciting way to study music. It has three elements: Listening Candidates are required to demonstrate an understanding of musical styles from traditional orchestral music to dance music, contemporary music, jazz, rock and pop. A knowledge of basic musical theory is also required. This element is assessed by means of a written examination with recorded musical extracts.

Performing During the course candidates develop their performing skills on their instrument and submit a solo and ensemble performance as controlled assessment.

Composing With step by step teaching, candidates learn how to compose in a variety of musical styles.

Two compositions are submitted as controlled assessment tasks for final moderation.

Candidates also learn how to improvise effectively on their instrument.

Head of Department: Mrs H Freemantle hf@kes.hants.sch.uk

RELIGIOUS STUDIES (Philosophy & Ethics) The Religious Studies GCSE is a new course for 2016 and is a result of a government consultation on Religious Studies. The previous “Philosophy and Ethics” GCSE course no longer exists but many of its components are to be found within this new course.

The course is challenging, thought-provoking and relevant. It is accepted as an academic GCSE by the top Russell Group of universities as it is a qualification that helps develop skills of analysis, empathy and academic argument. In this course students will be able to study and consider some of the major moral issues in modern life whilst exploring religious, philosophical and theological arguments from a variety of historical contexts. The course will help them to understand how and why religious faith and other belief systems affect a person’s moral choices. They will have ample opportunity to examine their beliefs and the beliefs of others and to discuss a range of religious, philosophical and ethical questions about the meaning and purpose of life for humanity. By the end of the course students will have specific and sound knowledge of the beliefs of both Christianity and Islam, the influence of these beliefs, teachings and practices within Great Britain, as well as an excellent grounding in the philosophy of religion and religious ethics.

The course will comprise of two components  

The study of two religions; beliefs, teachings and practices The study of religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes: Four from the following list will be studied:

a) Relationships and families b) Religion and life c) The existence of God and revelation d) Religion, peace and conflict e) Religion, crime and punishment f) Religion, human rights and social justice.

Studying the new Religious Studies course provides students with fascinating topics, topics that generate great interest and debate. It also is a subject that provides great satisfaction and enjoyment to those who study it. The course allows students to develop an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to study; if a student can engage intellectually and reflectively with material and then respond personally, they are fully equipped learners and prepared for any academic challenge ahead.

Head of Department: Mrs H E M Searles hems@kes.hants.sch.uk

SPANISH An IGCSE level qualification in any language is extremely valuable nowadays, but one in Spanish will guarantee you have an excellent basis for communication with the over 400 million native Spanish speakers around the globe.

Even those who opted to study Spanish as a second modern language in the Third Year will be able to survive linguistically in most ordinary day-to-day situations in a Spanish-speaking country and be able to continue studying the language at IGCSE level. During the Fourth and Fifth Years, skills are built up gradually with exposure to many different forms of Spanish, from spoken and written journalistic material, interviews and extracts from films to short stories. Spanish students will sit the Edexcel International GCSE examination at the end of the Fifth Year and, to prepare for this, they will have to cover a number of topics which are relevant to today’s young people and master skills that sometimes get close to A level. Regular use is made of the media centres, enabling students to listen to much genuine Spanish material and also allowing them to improve their IT skills. Students are allocated a fortnightly slot when they can practise their oral skills with the language assistant and prepare thoroughly for the oral examination.

The content of the course not only teaches about the Spanish language, but also gives a considerable amount of information about Spanish and South American life, history and culture. Much of the language used is genuinely communicative, not merely classroom routine, and we aim to produce genuine fluency in spoken and written language, as well as a knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, things Spanish and Hispanic. Students will be well prepared not just for IGCSE, but also for the real world. Pupils who wish to study Spanish in the Sixth Form must take the IGCSE course in the Fourth and Fifth Years.

Fourth Year students are invited to travel to Spain for five days at the beginning of the Easter holidays and take part in a homestay programme in the South of Spain. There, students stay in families and attend daily Spanish lessons in a specialist language school.

Something to look forward to if they follow on to A Level is the week-long, and always very popular, trip to the university town of Salamanca.

Head of Department: Mrs E M Ladislao eml@kes.hants.sch.uk

SPORTS SCIENCE The Physical Education course follows the IGCSE specification and offers an opportunity to study both the theoretical and practical aspects of sport and human physical performance.

The focus of the course is on fostering enjoyment of physical activity and competitive sport, whilst developing an increased understanding of how body and mind work in a competitive or sporting situation.

The course consists of: 40% Theory, assessed by written examination, and 60% Coursework, based on sporting athletic performance and written analysis The theoretical aspects of the course include anatomy and physiology, factors affecting physical performance, sports psychology, sociology of sport, health and safety in sport, sports injuries and rehabilitation, diet and nutrition. The practical elements will be assessed across both team games and individual sports; activities pursued outside School may be included in assessment but have to be filmed following a strict criteria. Candidates will be expected to demonstrate improvement in personal performance levels, to develop the skills required for performance analysis of sports, and to plan, design and execute a fitness training programme.

Head of Department: Mr M G Mixer mgm@kes.hants.sch.uk

THEATRE STUDIES The GCSE course in Theatre Studies is 60% practical and 40% written. Pupils study the work of different theatrical practitioners, look at a variety of different live performances and study a set text from the perspective of actor, director and designer.

Pupils develop an understanding of the range of skills associated with the theatre and have the opportunity to put them into practice. There are regular performances of work where pupils have the opportunity to devise their own pieces as well as perform extracts from published plays.

Regular theatre trips develop practical and critical abilities of both the aesthetic, technical and historical aspects of drama and theatre, whilst working in small groups encourages self -motivation and fosters empathy and sensitivity.

GCSE Theatre Studies is recognised as a rigorous GCSE and is well respected by universities.

Head of Department: Mrs C L Piggott clp@kes.hants.sch.uk