GCSE Options
GCSE OPTIONS
It is important that pupils follow a curriculum which is both broad and balanced. Many will choose a language, one of the humanities and a practical subject as part of their options, although this may not be a suitable choice for all pupils. This ensures the widest possible range of opportunities for subsequent Advanced Level studies and career decisions. Our general advice, however, is for pupils to select subjects for which they show an aptitude and which they enjoy.
Pupils at Stover generally study for nine GCSEs but the number can vary slightly according to the talents of the pupil and the exact choices made, as some subjects require more lessons than others. The selection of a sensible range of optional subjects is a matter which will take pupils, parents and teachers some weeks. Every effort is made to accommodate each pupil's choices and at the outset of this procedure we have no set combinations in mind.
We find that the pupils' requirements change from year to year and it is only when we have gathered in the provisional option choices that we can begin work on making up groupings of subjects from which final selections can be made. These are our option blocks and we must create these in order to be able to construct a workable timetable. We do our very best to satisfy everyone's demands but in the end there may be a few pupils who are not able to take every single subject which they first chose. Furthermore, if there is a very small demand for a particular subject it may not be possible to run it.
Coursework is a key element in many GCSE specifications. These are specific assignments, which pupils complete during the two years of the course, and the marks for their coursework contribute towards the final results; the importance of the coursework element varies from subject to subject. Increasingly these assignments are being completed as controlled assessments in lessons.
‘Tiers of entry' is a term used later in this guide. Many subjects have papers with two tiers of difficulty. We always enter pupils for GCSE papers in which the individuals have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. Where there is a Higher Tier, the papers will be quite challenging and the top grade achievable is A*. Foundation Tier has more straightforward questions but allows pupils still to gain a Grade C if they do well in the examinations. Decisions on entry tiers are generally not made until Year 11.
‘Short courses' are available in ICT and Religious Studies. These carry through to Year 11, as do all the other subjects, so are not short in duration but they have more limited content and are each worth half a GCSE.
Core subjects, studied by all
- English GCSE or Access to the Curriculum in English (ACE), leading to PET and FCE
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Mathematics GCSE
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Science GCSE
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ICT Short Course GCSE
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PE (Games), non-examination
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Life Skills, incorporating Citizenship, Relationships, Health Education, Study Skills,
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RE and Careers, non-examination
Optional subjects Pupils select optional subjects requiring up to 20 lessons per week.
| Four Lessons Per Week |
Two Lessons Per Week |
| Art |
Home Economics |
English Literature |
| Drama |
Music |
Religious Education Short Course |
| French |
Physical Education GCSE |
|
| Geography |
Seperate Sciences |
|
| German |
Spanish |
|
| History |
Design Technology: Graphic Products
|
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For more details about our GCSE options please download our GCSE Option booklet Sept 2010
Information on all the examination subjects offered is contained in this guide but if you have any questions relating to the Options Programme please contact Mrs Kearney, Senior Teacher Academic.