GCSE Course Details 2022-2024

Welcome to the start of a new and exciting phase in your school journey!

Embarking upon GCSE studies at Newcastle High School for Girls is an exciting phase in your school journey. It allows you the opportunity to refine the range of subjects you will study in order to focus on areas where your interest and enjoyment lie. The subjects you choose should challenge you and inspire you to look beyond the classroom at ideas and topics that build upon the learning that takes place within lessons, deepening your understanding and developing further your expertise in each subject studied.

The choices you make now may affect A Level choices open to you in the future and it is therefore important that you take this into account when deciding which GCSE subjects to choose. At the back of this brochure is a table that indicates which A Level subjects have entry criteria that require you to have studied the subject at GCSE. Referring to this table when making your GCSE choices will help to ensure that you are aware of the implications of your choices.

This brochure contains information about all of the GCSE courses available to you. Some subjects are compulsory: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics and Science. For those opting for Separate Science, a language choice is also required. There is also a range of non-compulsory subjects for you to choose from to supplement the compulsory subjects.

The information in this brochure, along with the additional information you will gather at the GCSE Choices Evening, will help you make an informed choice when selecting the subjects you will study at GCSE. You will be fully supported when making these choices by your subject teachers, your Form Tutor and Head of Year and through the careers education programme delivered in School. It is important that you make the most of this support as you make your final GCSE choices.

If you have any questions about the GCSE options process or the subjects that form part of the options offer, please come to talk to us. We will do all we can to support you through the process and to ensure that the decision you reach is right for you and supports your future career aspirations. We wish you every success at GCSE and beyond and look forward to seeing your progress throughout Years 10 and 11.

Mrs A L Hardie Deputy Head (Academic)

Introduction to our GCSE Programme

Key Members of Staff

If you would like to discuss these subjects in further detail you are welcome to contact any of the staff listed below.

Head of Year 9 Mrs D Edmonds d.edmonds@ncl.gdst.net

Subject Head of Department

Email

Art and Design Miss A Goldie a.goldie@ncl.gdst.net

Classical Civilisation Mrs N Cameron n.cameron@ncl.gdst.net

Latin Dance Mrs D Hylton d.hylton@ncl.gdst.net

Drama Mrs A Dobson a.dobson@ncl.gdst.net

English Ms S Emmett s.emmett@ncl.gdst.net

Food Preparation and Nutrition Mrs A Dobson a.dobson@ncl.gdst.net

Modern Foreign Languages Mr G Bignot g.bignot@ncl.gdst.net

Geography Mrs S Mawhinney s.mawhinney@ncl.gdst.net

History Mr D Hyde d.hyde@ncl.gdst.net

ICT Mr L Willis l.willis@ncl.gdst.net Mathematics Mrs J Tasker j.tasker@ncl.gdst.net

Music Mr D Newey d.newey@ncl.gdst.net

Physical Education Mrs A Wilson a.wilson@ncl.gdst.ne

Religious Studies Mrs L Dodd l.dodd@ncl.gdst.net

Science Mrs E Waton e.waton@ncl.gdst.net

Subjects you will study in Years 10 and 11

Core Subjects

There are core subject areas that all girls study in Years 10 and 11. They are:

• English Language and English Literature

• Mathematics

• Science (Trilogy pathway or Separate Science pathway)

•French, German, Spanish, Mandarin or Latin (if following the Separate Science pathway)

Physical Education (non-GCSE) also forms part of the curriculum offer in Years 10 and 11.

Option Subjects

In addition to the core subjects, you must choose a further three or four additional option subjects, depending on your Science pathway. Girls following a Separate Science pathway must choose 3 additional subjects. Girls following a Trilogy Science pathway do not need to choose a language and therefore must choose 4 additional subjects:

Art and Design

Classical Civilisation

Dance

Drama

Geography

History

Home Economics

ICT

Spanish (if studying Trilogy Science or as a second Modern Foreign Language)

Music

Physical Education

Religious Studies

The following pages within this brochure provide the course information for each subject available at GCSE including your compulsory and option subjects.

Art and Design

GCSE Art and Design puts equal importance on all areas within Art and Design, covering topics such as drawing and painting, 3D work, textiles and graphics. This allows you to develop often diverse strengths to produce individual, personal work.

“The aim of Art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” (Aristotle)

What you will study

Year 10, Term 1

Within this term, you will develop a knowledge and understanding of how to use different materials by examining a variety of different artists’ and designers’ work. This will begin to help you to know your own strengths and areas of interest in Art and Design.

Year 10, Terms 2 and 3

Coursework - 60% of the overall mark

In the Spring Term, you will start your GCSE coursework project. You will develop ideas in a sketchbook and work on your own project development.

The project brief changes every year, but it is designed to enable you to follow a personal path towards your final coursework outcome. We endeavour to enable you to work to your strengths and follow an unendorsed course so that you can produce work with any creative outcome i.e. Textiles, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Photography or Sculpture.

Year 11, Term 1

In this term, you will produce your final piece developed from your project work in Year 10.

Term 2, Examination

You will start examination preparation, which begins with a list of suggested ideas for inspiration that comes from the Examination Board. You will work on this throughout the term and then create a final piece developed from this theme in the final examination. Again, this piece can be in any chosen medium and discipline. The final examination is 10 hours long and is taken over two days in the Art and Design department.

How you will be assessed

Coursework is developed over a period of two years. One unit of coursework is presented for Controlled Assessment. The unit is assessed by a team of Art teachers and a moderator from the Examination Board.

This makes up 60% of the final mark. The final examination is a controlled test, executed over a period of approximately six weeks. The examination makes up 40% of the final mark.

Classics

Step into the world of the Greeks and Romans to develop your skills of reasoning, enquiry, evaluation and creative thinking through studying ancient cultures which have had a massive influence on our own. In Classical Civilisation, explore the fantastic characters of Greek myth, and study religion in the ancient world through archaeological finds and evidence. Learn how modern culture has been shaped by ancient tradition through learning about Roman city life.

In Latin, explore an ancient language which is at the heart of our own and other modern languages and develop your understanding of how language works. Read some of the greatest literature ever written in its original form.

Classical Civilisation

All girls in Year 9 are eligible to choose GCSE Classical Civilisation as one of their Year 10 options. Knowledge of the Latin language is not necessary. Classical Civilisation is also offered at A Level, and is well regarded by universities.

Classical Civilisation is a wide-ranging course in which you study aspects of the civilisation and literature of both the Greek and Roman worlds. The subject is studied entirely in English - the literature is studied through English translations of the original Greek and Latin texts.

How you will be assessed

There will be two papers:

• Thematic Study: Myth and Religion

You will read some gripping stories from literature such as the Labours of Hercules and find out about how Greeks and Romans worshipped their Gods. Topics include Sacrifice, Festivals and Temple Buildings.

• Literature and Culture: Roman City Life

You will study topics on aspects of Roman Life such as entertainment, slavery, housing, education and family life.

Latin

The GCSE course is taught using Latin to GCSE by John Taylor. This course teaches you to read Latin in its cultural context. You will have the chance to read and form a personal response to some great works of Roman literature in their original form and learn more about a culture which is at the heart of our civilisation.

How you will be assessed

There will be three papers:

• Language skills (translation and comprehension)

• Literature (prose)

• Literature (verse)

The set books change periodically, but always include a gripping and interesting story from Roman History for the prose text. The verse text comes from Virgil’s Aeneid, which tells of Aenea’s journey and struggle to establish a new homeland after the fall of Troy. Stories studied might include the tale of the wooden horse, Aenea’s tragic love affair with Queen Dido or his visit to the underworld.

Dance

“Dance is a universal human activity that can be performed anywhere. Its benefits extend beyond the studio; it instils selfconfidence and discipline, it teaches you team building skills and fills you with joy. Dance in all its forms is both physically exhilarating and a rewarding experience and offers the opportunity to express emotions through movement and music which results in the overall feeling of well-being.” (Lynn Wallis, Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance)

GCSE Dance develops your skills, knowledge and understanding of a range of dance styles through the interrelated processes of performing, creating and appreciating dances. You will develop physical, technical and expressive skills through which you are able to communicate choreographic intention and develop your individual qualities as a performer. Critical appreciation of dance in its physical, artistic, aesthetic and cultural contexts will be developed throughout the course in preparation for the written examination. In addition to helping you acquire subject knowledge, Dance promotes an understanding of fitness and healthy lifestyle choices as well as transferable skills including time management, communication, teamwork and creativity.

What you will study

There are two components:

Component 1: Performance and Choreography (60%)

Performance (30%)

• Solo performance made up of two movement sequences set by AQA (approximately one minute in duration).

• Solo/duet/trio performance which will include movement set by AQA which we will develop and manipulate to suit a group setting (approximately three and a half minutes in duration).

Choreography (30%)

• You will be given five starting points to choose from by AQA. You will choose one of these starting points and create a solo or group choreography for the assessment.

Component 2: Dance Appreciation (40%)

Written examination paper of 1 hour 30 minutes. You will be asked questions on the six professional works within the AQA Dance Anthology as well as your own experiences in performance and choreography. In lessons, all your practical work will be underpinned by theory to prepare you for the written paper. You will also study and analyse the professional works from the AQA Dance Anthology. The written paper will consist of a variety of questioning styles including multiple choice, short and extended answers.

How you will be assessed

Assessment is by written examination and practical examination at the end of the two year course. All practical assessments are performed live in front of a teacher and recorded. They are marked internally and moderated externally by the examination board.

Drama

GCSE Drama is all about understanding what it is like to put yourself in somebody else’s shoes. You will play many parts in imaginary situations. You will have the opportunity to create your own work as well as look at plays written by other people. You will enjoy this course if you want to study a subject that is both practical and creative. You may have done some acting before or helped out backstage on a production. You may have always wanted to have a go at making a play, performing, making costumes, building a set or operating the lights. Drama will also appeal to you if you enjoy working as part of a team because the course involves a lot of group work.

What you will study

Through speech and voice, presentation and group skills, communication and movement, you will explore the central topics of the course including using drama as a means of expression, how a playwright expresses ideas and explores ways of staging as well as through the performance of a scripted and a devised piece.

You will experience a variety of live theatre performances and learn to evaluate the skills used by performers and designers on stage.

How you will be assessed

There are three components to the GCSE qualification in Drama:

Text-based performance 20%

Here you will perform two extracts from a text and this will be externally assessed by a visiting examiner.

Devised performance 40%

You will devise a piece of theatre which you then perform. You will record the process in a portfolio. This is internally assessed and externally moderated.

Written examination 40%

Section A: You will practically explore a set text in class and then answer questions in the examination on this text.

Section B: You will attend a variety of theatre productions throughout the duration of the course and then you will evaluate one of these pieces of theatre in the examination.

English Language and English Literature

Being able to communicate effectively is the most soughtafter skill in the world today and the English Language is currently the dominant world language. In English, you will continue to learn, think and write critically about the ways that many forms of texts, from a presidential speech, to news articles, to a Shakespearean tragedy, reflect and shape our world. You will hone your skills as a writer, producing texts in a wide range of forms for an even wider range of audiences and purposes. You will develop your speaking and listening skills so that you can express yourself clearly and effectively within a group and as an individual. You will enjoy some of the most thoughtprovoking and moving texts in English from around the world. Most importantly, you will gain insights that will be valuable every day of your life and will give you a new and rich insight into the human condition.

The two GCSEs are taught in blocks of material, so that there is variety throughout the year.

English Language

“If the English language made any sense, a catastrophe would be an apostrophe with fur!” (Doug Larson)

What you will study

You will study themes, through which you will examine a variety of text on a particular subject, such as ‘love’ or ‘poverty’.

The course is equally split between reading and writing, with technical accuracy of your work taking a prominent part: it comprises 20% of your final grade.

How you will be assessed

There are two final examinations:

• Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing

• Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

The examinations will test unseen reading of fiction and nonfiction and both creative and non-fiction writing.

English Literature

“There is creative reading as well as creative writing.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

What you will study

The English Literature course includes the study of a modern novel or modern play, a play by Shakespeare, a selection of poetry and a 19th century novel.

How you will be assessed

The course is assessed through two final examinations, one of which has an unseen element. The answers are all essays on the texts that you have read. The two final examinations are on:

• Pre 20th century writers

• Modern poetry and drama or prose

Examination Boards

Food Preparation and Nutrition

This is an exciting and creative course which focuses on practical cooking and will ensure you develop a greater understanding of nutrition, food provenance and the working characteristics of food materials, whilst developing a range of complex practical cooking skills.

What you will study

The subject content is divided into the following sections:

• Food, nutrition and health – macro and micro nutrients, nutritional needs and health.

• Food science – why food is cooked and how heat is transferred to food. Functional and chemical properties of food.

• Food safety –- how to store, prepare and cook food safely.

• Food spoilage and contamination.

• Food choice – including factors which affect our food choice.

• Food labelling, marketing and sensory evaluation.

• Food provenance – environmental issues associated with food and the sustainability of food.

Food preparation skills will be taught through a variety of cooking activities, mainly carried out during the first year of the course, including general practical skills, knife skills, cooking methods, sauce making, dough making and use of raising agents.

How you will be assessed

Written examination 50% of GCSE

100 marks - multiple choice questions (20 marks)

Five questions, each with a number of sub questions (80 marks)

This will assess your theoretical knowledge of food preparation and nutrition.

Non-examination assessment (NEA) 50% of GCSE

Task 1: Food investigation (15%)

You will show your understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. Practical experiments are a compulsory element of this NEA task.

Task 2: Food preparation assessment (35%)

You will prepare, cook and present a menu of three dishes within a three hour period relating to a chosen task and will plan in advance how this will be achieved.

Task 1 will be carried out at the start of the Autumn Term of Year 11.

Task 2 will be carried out in the Autumn and Spring Term of Year 11.

Both tasks will involve producing a written portfolio with photographic evidence of experiments you have carried out and practical dishes you have created.

Geography

Cambridge IGCSEs are international in outlook, but retain a local relevance. The IGCSE Geography course offers you the opportunity to develop lifelong and transferable skills, including:

• An understanding of the processes which affect physical and human environments

• An understanding of location on a local, regional and global scale

• The ability to use and understand geographical data and information

• An understanding of how communities around the world are affected and constrained by different environments

What you will study

You will travel the world from the classroom, exploring case studies from the UK, newly emerging economies and lower income countries. Topics of study are wide-ranging and are based around three themes:

Theme 1: Population and settlement:

• Population dynamics, migration, structure, density and distribution, settlement and service provision, urban settlements, urbanisation.

Theme 2: The natural environment:

• Earthquakes and volcanoes, rivers, coasts, weather, climate and natural vegetation.

Theme 3: Economic development:

• Development, food production, industry, tourism, energy, water, environmental risks of economic development.

How you will be assessed

The IGCSE will be assessed over three different examination papers at the end of Year 11. These are outlined below:

Paper 1 – Three Themes (see above) 1 hour 45 minutes (45%)

You will answer three questions each worth 25 marks. The paper has three sections and you will need to answer one question from each section.

Paper 2 – Geographical Skills 1 hour 30 minutes (27.5%)

The interpretation and analysis of geographical information, decision making and the application of graphical and other techniques as appropriate. You will answer all questions.

Paper 3 – Coursework- Centre based assessment (27.5%)

Teachers set one school-based assignment of up to 2000 words. Marked out of 60.

History

History not only deals with the past but shapes the present and the future. History is all around us and is integral to the way in which we live. Through analysing source materials, debating and discussion and the application of thinking skills, topics covered in GCSE History are brought alive and you will be able to engage wholeheartedly with the past.

What you will study

We follow the Edexcel GCSE specification which comprises five different components:

• Thematic study covers Medicine in Britain, c 1250 - present. This includes a historic environment study of the British sector of the Western Front, 1914 18: injuries, treatment and the trenches.

• Period study covers Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941 91.

• British depth-study focuses on Early Elizabethan England, 1558 - 88.

• Modern depth-study is Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918 - 39.

A residential trip to Berlin is offered as part of this course.

The general aims of the course are:

• To develop and extend your knowledge and understanding of specified key events, periods and societies in local, British, and wider world History and of the wide diversity of human experience.

• To engage in historical enquiry to develop as an independent learner and as a critical and reflective thinker.

• To develop the ability to ask relevant questions about the past, to investigate issues critically and to make valid historical claims by using a range of sources in their historical context.

• To develop an awareness of why people, events and developments have been accorded historical significance and how and why different interpretations have been constructed about them.

• To organise and communicate your historical knowledge and understanding in different ways and reach substantiated conclusions.

How you will be assessed GCSE History will be assessed by three examination papers taken at the end of Year 11. These will require you to answer structured essay questions and critically evaluate sources and interpretations.

ICT

Recent research by the Chamber of Commerce has found that whilst young people embrace technology, many are unable to transfer these skills to the workplace.

Through studying the Cambridge IGCSE in ICT, you will become a more independent and discerning user of ICT, able to make informed decisions about its use. You will have opportunities to acquire and apply creative and technical skills, knowledge and understanding of ICT in a range of contexts. You will also develop your understanding of new technologies and their impact on society. You will take a practical approach, developing and evaluating ICT-based solutions of your own to solve problems. At the same time you will focus on ensuring that your practice is safe, secure and responsible.

What you will study

The syllabus has been completely re-written in line with government recommendations to include computing elements alongside the more traditional ICT topics. The programme has been developed to encourage you to develop lifelong skills including:

• understanding and using applications

• using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to solve problems

• analysing, designing, implementing, testing and evaluating ICT systems, ensuring that they are fit for purpose

• understanding the implications of technology in society, including social, economic and ethical uses

• awareness of the ways ICT can help in home, learning and work environments.

How you will be assessed

The course is assessed through three papers taken at the end of Year 11:

Paper 1 – Theory (40%) 2 hours

Paper 2 – Document Production, Data Manipulation and Presentations (30%) 2 hours

Paper 3 – Data Analysis and Website Authoring (30%) 2 hours 30 minutes

Mathematics

Mathematics is a tool for Engineering, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences whilst also being an Art and an international language. An understanding of the different aspects of Mathematics and the skills that this subject brings are the keys to success in many areas of the modern world. The awe and wonder of mathematical concepts such as infinity and why you can’t square root a negative number makes Mathematics a fascinating subject and one that should stretch the mind and develop an inquisitiveness about the everyday world in which we live.

What you will study

We aim to develop the ability to think and communicate mathematically: precisely, logically and creatively. We seek to promote positive attitudes to Mathematics, including confidence, enjoyment and perseverance, together with an awareness of Mathematics both as a subject in its own right and in relation to other disciplines. We aim to develop in each girl:

• an understanding of and respect for Mathematics

• an appreciation of the place of Mathematics in society

• a high degree of skill in routine mathematical manipulation

• the capacity to engage in problem solving with confidence

• the capacity to apply Mathematics to real-life situations

To be successful, you need an open and enquiring mind and must be prepared to think and develop an ability to answer questions such as:

• Will this bus get me there in time?

• What is Pythagoras’ Theorem and how is it used?

• Can you prove that the sum of the angles in a triangle adds up to 180°?

This is a linear course which includes topics which will help to prepare you for study in A Level Mathematics.

At the same time the course provides accessible topics for girls who find Mathematics a more demanding subject.

Topics covered will include: Number; Ratio; Proportion and Rates of Change; Algebra; Geometry and Measures; Statistics and Probability. Topics will be taught in such a way as to develop skills in problem solving and application of mathematical techniques.

How you will be assessed

There is no coursework and assessment is based upon the results of three examination papers. Each paper is worth an equal proportion of the final assessment and the first paper is a noncalculator paper.

Examination Board – Edexcel GCSE

Subject

Modern Foreign Languages

The ability to understand and communicate in other languages is increasingly important in our society and in the global economy. Languages contribute to the cultural and linguistic richness of our society, to personal fulfillment, mutual understanding, commercial success and international trade as well as global citizenship. GCSE languages will teach you skills useful in communicating with others, in travelling and meeting new people, and will be beneficial if you would like to try living or working among cultures across the world or even just across the Channel in Europe.

French, German, Spanish and Mandarin are all offered at GCSE. If you are taking separate Sciences you must choose at least one language. Latin can count as your language choice. Trilogy Scientists (who take the equivalent of two GCSEs in Science), do not need to study a language, although they may choose a language as one of their subject choices.

What you will study and how you will be assessed

The emphasis is on communication through the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. The GCSE syllabus offers learning opportunities that are realistic and relevant to real life. All four skills are tested with equal emphasis placed on the productive skills of writing and speaking as well as reading and listening to the language studied. The syllabus is centred on three themes:

Theme 1: Identity and culture

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

There are examinations for each of the skills with a variety of question styles.

• Listening Examination 25%

• Reading Examination 25%

• Writing Examination 25%

• Speaking Examination 25%

The writing examination requires you to communicate effectively in a range of task types for a variety of purposes, culminating in extended pieces of work on some of the studied topics.

In Year 11, you benefit from the opportunity to take part in extra conversation class which improves your confidence and ultimately your enjoyment and fluency. The speaking examination is conducted by your teacher. The conversation lasts for up to 12 minutes, with three component parts: a role play, a response to a stimulus card and an extended conversation.

We organise a variety of events and opportunities for you to use your language skills beyond the classroom for all of the Modern Foreign Languages we offer at GCSE.

Examination Board – AQA

French, German and Mandarin: Core subject language option if following Separate Science Pathway. Not available if following Trilogy Science Pathway.

Spanish: Core subject language option if following Separate Science Pathway. Optional subject if following Trilogy Science Pathway or can be studied as a second language if following Separate Science Pathway.

Music

GCSE Music gives you the opportunity to explore your creative, intellectual and academic responses and understanding of Music in a fun and inclusive environment.

You will learn how to listen to and appraise music - working out what makes the music you love appealing. Then you will compose some of your own, using all the techniques you have been learning.

Performance is important too, and you will be guided through the best way to perform, which pieces to choose, and how to overcome any nerves you might have.

GCSE Music is fun, demanding and exciting!

What you will study and how you will be assessed

Unit 1 – Performing Music (30%)

You will perform two pieces of music, at least one of which must be with an ensemble. You will record these in Year 11 - giving you plenty of time to prepare.

Unit 2 – Composing Music (30%)

You will compose two pieces of music to a ‘brief’ - this can be anything from a pop song to a string quartet.

Unit 3 – Listening and Appraising (40%)

You will study a number of pieces of music which you will write about in the examination at the end of Year 11. These are pieces from classical music, jazz, pop songs, and film scores.

You will learn all about them - why they were recorded, what makes them so great, and why they are important. You will also complete an ‘unheard music’ section, where you will use all the skills you have learned in order to assess music you have never heard before.

Physical Education

The content of the course has been designed to allow you to study Physical Education in an academic setting. You will critically analyse and evaluate physical performance and apply your experience of practical activities in developing your knowledge and understanding the science behind sport. The course allows you to explore a range of activities in the role of performer, including both team and individual activities. You will be presented with opportunities to try new sports, such as climbing, which can be used as one of your assessed practical sports.

What you will study

The content of the course is divided into three components. Each component is further subdivided into topic areas which comprise of detailed content associated with those topics.

Component 1: Physical Factors Affecting Performance

1.1 Applied Anatomy and Physiology: Skeletal system, muscular system, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, movement analysis and the effects of exercise on body systems.

1.2 Physical Training: Components of fitness, methods of training, preventing injuries.

Component 2: Socio-Cultural Issues and Sports Psychology

2.1 Socio-Cultural Influences: Drugs in Sport, Ethics in Sport, Violence in Sport, Media and Sponsorship in Sport.

2.2 Sports Psychology: Classification of Skill, Goal Setting, Mental Preparation, Types of Feedback.

2.3 Health, Fitness and Wellbeing: Diet and Nutrition, Physical, Emotional and Social Factors.

Component 3: Performance in Physical Education

3.1 Practical Performance of three activities taken from the two approved lists:

One from the ‘Individual’ List: (e.g. Badminton, Rowing, Climbing, Dance, Gymnastics, Athletics, Swimming). One from the Team’ List: (e.g. Football, Netball, Hockey, Rugby, Basketball).

Lessons

Four theory lessons and one practical lesson per fortnight.

How you will be assessed

60% of the course is assessed through two written examination papers.

30% of the course is assessed practically via three different sports (team sport, individual sport, and either a team sport or individual sport). This is tailored to your interests and includes the vast range of sports on the GCSE PE approved list.

10% of the course is assessed via a piece of coursework.

You will analyse a sports performance of your choice, identifying strengths and weaknesses of the performance and recommendations on how to improve it.

Religious Studies

Do you like analysing difficult concepts and taking the time to reflect upon deep issues? Do you find yourself thinking about big questions, such as: Does God exist? What happens after we die? Should euthanasia be legalised? Why aren’t murderers put to death for their crimes? Would you like to meet with people from a variety of cultures to discuss different beliefs in an open forum? If so, then Religious Studies is the course for you!

In Religious Studies, the subject matter is deep and the issues profound, dealing with deep questions about existence, morality and the meaning of life. It suits people interested in both Sciences and the Arts, and having a wide spectrum of background knowledge and opinions often leads to the most interesting discussions in class. You will enjoy this popular and exciting course if you have an open-minded approach to religious and philosophical questions and a willingness to consider different points of view.

What you will study and how you will be assessed GCSE Religious Studies aims to give you the opportunity to:

• explore religions and beliefs, reflect on fundamental questions, engage with these questions intellectually and respond to them personally

• develop your interest in, and enthusiasm for, a rigorous study of religion and its relation to the wider world

• adopt an enquiring, critical and reflective approach to the study of religion and ethics

• reflect on and develop your own values, opinions and attitudes in the light of your learning

Girls who take Religious Studies GCSE will complete two 1 hour 45 minute examinations at the end of Year 11. The two papers are outlined below:

Paper 1: The Study of Religions; beliefs, teachings and practices

• You will study two world religions, Christianity and Islam. You will consider the key beliefs and practices of these two influential religions and their place in the modern world.

Paper 2: Thematic Studies

You will study four philosophical and ethical themes:

• Religion and Life – including issues surrounding the origins of life, such as evolution and the Big Bang theory, and the value of life, such as abortion and euthanasia.

• Religion, crime and punishment - including issues such as the causes of crime and types of punishment, including the death penalty.

• Religion, human rights and social justice – including issues such as discrimination, religious freedom, the status and role of women in society and the exploitation of the poor.

• The existence of God and Revelation – including the classic philosophical arguments for the existence of God and the Problem of Suffering.

Science

The word science comes from the Latin “scientia”, meaning knowledge. What does that really mean? Science refers to a system of acquiring knowledge. This system uses observation and experimentation to describe and explain natural phenomena. What is the purpose of science? Perhaps the most general description is that the purpose of science is to produce useful models of reality.

Triple Science

You have the option to study all three separate science subjects: Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each separate GCSE has been developed with the advice of learned societies, science advisers and teachers to stimulate interest in science and provide an excellent grounding in preparation for further study at A Level and beyond. At the end of the course, three separate GCSE qualifications are gained in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Biology

Biology is a fascinating and exciting subject. From the intricate design of individual cells to the vast and varying habitats on the planet, a study of Biology will help you to understand why DNA is so amazing and how we fit into the world around us. Without Biology, there would be fewer medicines to cure diseases, less food and many of the planet’s plants and animals would have become extinct. Pick up a newspaper and Biology will never be far from the headlines, from stem cell research and MRSA, to the clearing of rainforests. This course will help you understand the issues involved and allow you to be able to weigh up the scientific evidence presented in order to answer the questions which are being asked of Biologists every day.

What you will study

The topics covered will include: Cell Activity, Tissues, Organs and Organ Systems, Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins and Enzymes, Human Biology, Homeostasis, Infectious Diseases, Plants as Organisms, Variation and Inheritance, Adaptation and Interdependence, Evolution, Energy and Biomass in Food Chains.

Chemistry

“For me, Chemistry represented an indefinite cloud of future potentialities which enveloped my life to come in black volutes torn by fiery flashes, like those which had hidden Mount Sinai. Like Moses, from that cloud I expected my law, the principle of order in me, around me, and in the world. I would watch the buds swell in spring, the mica glint in the granite, my own hands, and I would say to myself: 1 1 1 will understand this, too, I will understand everything.” (Primo Levi)

This quotation from Primo Levi sums up beautifully the idea that Chemistry is a continually evolving subject, which allows us to understand the world better and that there is always something new to be discovered. It involves investigating the world around us in order to predict what might happen when one chemical collides with another. The skills required to do this enhance

progress in all walks of life such as the production of new medicines, the synthesis of molecules to conserve raw materials, the search for alternatives to fossil fuels and much more.

What you will study

The topics covered will include:

Trends within the Periodic Table, Purifying Water, Energy from Reactions, Analysing Substances, Making Ammonia, Alcohols, Carboxylic Acids, and Esters.

Physics

The word Physics is derived from the Greek translation of “ta physika”, natural things. It is the natural world that surrounds us in our daily lives that Physics tries to describe, often mathematically. Whether we are observing distant galaxies or subatomic particles, we try to understand how they work and make predictions about future outcomes. Physicists are curious people, excited by physical phenomena, not introverted and only interested in human experience. All the inventions and technology that make up our busy lives and have helped make our nation so innovative and productive come from Physics. Physics is not only in engineering and technology, Physics is everywhere: in music, media, art and literature. Look at the world around you in a new way; think Physics!

What you will study

The topics covered will include:

Forces and their Effects, Turning Moments, Hydraulics, Wave Properties, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, Electricity, Optics, Red Shift, Ultrasound, Heat Processes and Star Life Cycle.

How you will be assessed in Triple Science

You will take two, equally weighted, 1 hour 45 minutes examinations in each subject at the end of Year 11 (six papers in all). Examinations are the only means of assessment.

Trilogy Science

In Trilogy Science, you will study all three major branches of science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics and gain two GCSEs on completion. This award gives you an excellent foundation in overall Science so the option of taking A Level in a science subject is still available.

What you will study

Topics studied broadly cover those in Triple Science and include Plants as Organisms, Evolution, Rates of Reaction, Crude Oils and Fuel, and Nuclear Physics.

How you will be assessed in Trilogy Science

The course is assessed in a linear format by six 1 hour examinations, two papers of equal weighting in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics i.e. six papers each worth 16.67% of the total marks. There is no Controlled Assessment.

Physical Education

PE remains an important part of the core curriculum throughout the GCSE years. During this time greater diversity and choice is incorporated into the programme with the aim of developing a lifelong participation in regular physical activity to support a healthy lifestyle into and beyond young adulthood.

During your PE lessons in Years 10 and 11 you can choose between a range of activities, including Trampolining, Football, Volleyball and Badminton alongside Netball and Hockey, Handball and Cricket to name a few. You will usually take part in two different activities each half term.

There is also an emphasis on health related fitness where we explore how to maintain and develop fitness, both from a sport specific and lifestyle point of view.

Careers and A Level Choices

The Year 9 Careers Education Programme is designed to equip you with the necessary information needed to make considered decisions and provides an opportunity for you to begin thinking about the wide range of factors that influence decisions about GCSE subjects.

In Years 10 and 11 we build on these foundations. A great deal of time is dedicated to providing you with further insight and knowledge about yourself so that you can then make equally sound decisions about which A Level subjects to take.

In Year 11, you will focus on gaining work experience to help you to appreciate more fully what is involved in the careers that you may wish to explore in further detail. The process of getting a placement also provides you with valuable skills in making contact with employers. In addition, you will attend the Sixth Form Choices Evening where you will hear advice from Year 13 girls about how they made their A Level choices. There will also be a series of A Level subject talks and you will attend sessions on Making Your A Level Choices, and be provided with information about how to use various online resources to inform your final choice of A Levels.

GCSE Requirement for Sixth Form

Girls are required to attain at least nine GCSEs, and at least six of these should be at Grade 6, 7, 8 or 9 (or B, A, A*).

In addition, girls wishing to study certain subjects at A Level may be required to achieve a particular grade in a specified GCSE subject or subjects, as shown below.

A Level Subject GCSE Requirement

Art and Design – Fine Art Grade 6 or above in Art is preferred.

Art and Design – Graphic Communication Grade 6 or above in Art is preferred.

Art and Design – Textile Design Grade 6 or above in Art is preferred.

Biology Grade 7 or above in Biology or Grade 77 or above in Trilogy Science is required. Grade 7 or above in Mathematics is preferred.

Business Studies Grade 6 or above in Mathematics and English is preferred.

Chemistry Grade 7 or above in Chemistry or Grade 77 or above in Trilogy Science is required. Grade 7 or above in Mathematics is preferred.

Classical Civilisation

No specific GCSE requirements.

Dance Grade 6 or above in Dance is preferred.

Drama and Theatre

No specific GCSE requirements but should have acting or design experience.

Economics Grade 6 or above in Mathematics is required. Grade 6 or above in English is preferred.

English Literature Grade 6 or above in English and English Literature is required.

French Grade 7 or above in French is preferred.

Further Mathematics Grade 9 in Mathematics is preferred.

Geography Grade 6 or above in Geography is preferred.

German Grade 7 or above in German is preferred.

History Grade 6 or above in History is preferred.

Information Technology Grade 6 or above in ICT or Computing is preferred.

Latin Grade 6 or above in Latin is required.

Mathematics Grade 7 or above in Mathematics is required.

Music Grade 6 or above in Music is required and ABRSM Music Grade 5 or equivalent is preferred.

Philosophy No specific GCSE requirements.

Physical Education Grade 6 or above in Biology and Physics is preferred. Must be participating in Sport outside of school at a club or county level.

Physics Grade 7 or above in Physics or Grade 77 or above in Trilogy Science is required. Grade 7 or above in Mathematics is preferred.

Politics No specific GCSE requirements but prior discussion with relevant member of staff is needed.

Psychology Grade 6 or above in Mathematics, Biology (or Grade 66 or above in Trilogy Science) and English is required.

Religious Studies Grade 6 or above in Religious Studies is preferred.

Spanish Grade 7 or above in Spanish is preferred.