Introduction

The aim of this booklet is to provide an overview of the various IGCSE courses that make up the core curriculum at Kingston Grammar School, and to begin the process of helping students choose their optional GCSE/IGCSE subjects.

The decision-making process is an important one and we hope that parents will be as fully involved as possible. The Third Year Parents’ Consultation Evening on Wednesday 26th January will provide an opportunity to talk to teachers about the academic progress of your child, and their suitability for individual GCSE courses. We will also be providing an online Options Presentation which will include some of the key considerations in determining subject choices, as well as addressing some of the most frequently asked questions. Every student will have the opportunity to discuss their options with their Form Tutor from the start of the Spring Term, right up to the deadline for handing in subject choices on Monday 21st February. If there are particular career or university considerations, then individual advice can be sought from Mr Fitzgerald, Director of Careers & Universities. See page 32 for contact details.

The core curriculum at KGS includes English Language and English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, and a Modern Foreign Language. In addition, students choose three subjects from the list of options. It is important to maintain academic breadth at GCSE, providing scope for the development of knowledge and understanding across a wide range of subjects, without overburdening oneself. The core curriculum is designed to do just that. Communication and numeracy are the foundations of success in all walks of life, providing the necessary transferable skills for success. In addition, the study of language and literature provides opportunities for the exploration of emotion, self-discovery and an appreciation of the fullness, variety and richness of human life. A rigorous approach to Mathematics provides students with the logical and analytical tools with which to approach a range of other subjects and careers. Given the fast-moving pace of science and the questions fundamental to human life raised by current scientific issues and dilemmas, a sound understanding of the basic principles of Chemistry, Physics and Biology are key to any good education.

The study of a Modern Foreign Language is a core aspect of being a ‘global citizen’ and can open doors to a multitude of careers in the modern world. An understanding of the way language works; an appreciation of the nuances of meaning; exposure to different cultures and the ability to communicate in a language other than one’s own are all key skills.

We currently follow the International GCSE (IGSCE) syllabuses in the majority of the core subjects. These remain the most popular qualifications within the independent school sector, and provide a curriculum that is intellectually challenging and the best fit for continuity with A Level specifications.

GCSE OPTION CHOICES

As you can see from the table on the next page, we offer a broad range of options at GCSE in addition to the compulsory core subjects. The range of optional subjects is deliberately wide to provide for a variety of tastes and ambitions. My advice is that students should play to their strengths and choose subjects they know they will enjoy and are good at, whilst maintaining a broad and balanced curriculum. Together, these will ensure that you continue to develop the essential skills that you will be expected to have both at university and in the world of work. When choosing, it is worth bearing in mind that GCSE results are used by universities and employers as helpful predictors for measuring applicants’ potential, so it is important that you choose subjects in which you are likely to do well. However, you shouldn’t necessarily assume that subjects will consist of entirely identical approaches or material that you have experienced to date. It is important to look carefully at the outlines of each subject, and to find out more about them: it might be that the things that have concerned you about a particular subject in the past are not a significant part of the GCSE course. GCSEs can be hugely rewarding but there is much hard work too and students should, where possible, opt for those subjects they have a passion for and a desire to succeed in.

It is important to keep as many opportunities as possible open for the future whilst also ensuring that the choices you make reflect your academic strengths and interests. In light of this you should discuss the options available to you with your parents and your teachers. We all want you to make the right choices so that you enjoy the next two important years of your education.

There are many questions that you are likely to have at this stage and there are responses to the most frequently asked questions in the following section of this booklet. The sections that follow this briefly outline all of the GCSE courses offered at KGS. These have been separated into two sections: the core subjects and the option subjects.

I hope that you find this booklet useful and would recommend that you keep it, as you may wish to refer to it during your GCSE course.

Please complete the GCSE form and return it to Miss B Creasey via your Form Tutor no later than Monday 21st February. Early returns are much appreciated.

Mr W Cooper Deputy Head (Academic)