GCSE Options Booklet 2026 by Chigwell School

GCSE Curriculum at Chigwell

ThefollowingarecompulsoryGCSEsubjectsatChigwell:

1. EnglishLanguage

2. EnglishLiterature

3. Mathematics 4. Biology

5. Chemistry

6. Physics

Inaddition,allpupilsstudyalanguage:

7. French,German,Spanish,Latin(orGreekandLatin)

Pupilsstudythreeoptionalsubjects:

8. Option1

9. Option2

10. Option3

Optionalsubjects–choosethreefrom:

➢ Art(FineArtorGraphicCommunication)

➢ DesignandTechnology

➢ Drama

➢ ComputerScience

➢ Geography

➢ History

➢ Music

➢ PhysicalEducation

➢ ReligiousStudies

➢ French

➢ German

➢ Spanish

➢ Latin(orLatin&Greek)

Additionalqualifications

WeareproudofourofferingofProjectQualificationsthroughouttheschool:theFPQinYear8, theHPQinYears10/11,andtheEPQinYears12/13.

Weverymuchhopethatmanyofourpupilswillseektodeveloptheiracademicinterests,skills, andambitionsinthisway.

GCSE Core Subject Details

English Language: (4EA1B) Edexcel IGCSE

Component1:Paper1(4EA1/01)

➢ Non-FictionTextsandTransactionalWritingExternallyassessed-2hours15minutes:60%

Component3:Non-examinedAssessment

➢ Portfoliooftwocourseworkessays:40%

English Literature: (4ET1B) Edexcel IGCSE

Component1:Paper1(4ET1B/01)

➢ ProseandPoetryExternallyassessed-2hours:60%

Component3:Non-examinedAssessment

➢ Portfoliooftwocourseworkessays:40%

AllpupilsareenteredforbothEnglishLanguageandEnglishLiteratureIGCSEs.Twogradesare generated.

Bothcourseshaveoneexaminationworth60%ofthemarkandonecourseworkportfolioworth 40%ofthemark.Courseworkissetandmarkedinternallythroughoutthetwoyearsbutissubject toexternalmoderationinMayofUpperFifthyear.

Wefollowtheinternationalcourseaswebelieveitenablesamorediversetextrangeandcertainly promotesthestudyofliteraturewritteninEnglishasopposedtoentirelyEnglishliterature.

Mathematics: (4MA1) Edexcel IGCSE

Assessedbytwopapers

➢ 4MA1/1H:2-hourpaper(calculatorallowed)

➢ 4MA1/2H:2-hourpaper(calculatorallowed)

Thereisnocoursework.

Biology: (4BI1) Edexcel IGCSE

Assessedbytwopapers

➢ 4BI1/1B:2-hourpaper

➢ 4BI1/2B:1hour15-minutepaper

Thereisnocoursework.

Chemistry: (4CH1) Edexcel IGCSE

Assessedbytwopapers.

➢ 4CH1/1C:2-hourpaper

➢ 4CH1/2C:1hour15-minutepaper

Thereisnocoursework

Physics: (4PH1) Edexcel IGCSE

Assessedbytwopapers.

➢ 4PH1/1P:2-hourpaper

➢ 4PH1/1P:1hour15-minutepaper

Thereisnocoursework

GCSE Optional Subject Details

Art and Design: Fine Art (J171), or Graphic Communication (J172) OCR GCSE

TheOCRGCSEArtandDesigncourseofferstwooptionsofspecialisedstudy:FineArtandGraphic Communication.Bothspecialismsareassessedandbroadlytaughtinthesameway.Eacharealso composedofacourseworkprojectworth60%andanexamprojectwhichisworth40%ofthe finalGCSEmark.

Inlessons,pupilscreateaportfolioofworkinresponsetoanumberofsetthemes.Previoustopics havecoveredavarietyofsubjects,suchasStreetLife,DistortionandRebellion.Teachingisbased on one-to-one tutorials that support individuals and their needs. There is a great degree of freedomtodevelopandexploreyourownvisualideasandinterestsinGCSEArtandDesign,and pupilsareabletointerprettheirchosenthemesinanindividualmanner.Pupilsareencouraged touseawiderangeofpracticalapproachesandwhentheycreatetheirprojectstheyexperiment anddeveloptheirideasinwaysthatplaytotheirartisticanddesignskills.

WhenchoosingbetweenFineArtorGraphics,themaindifferencetoconsideristhatinGraphics, visualpiecesarecreatedtoinformanaudienceaboutaproductorservice;forexample,posters thatadvertiseafilm,amagazinecoveretc.Incontrast,inFineArt,artworksaremademorefor the purposes of personal expression and not for a client. In each specialism there are opportunitiestousedigitaltechnologiesaswellasmoretraditional,hand-madewaysofcreating work.BothFineArtandGraphicCommunicationwouldsuitacandidatewhoenjoysexpressing their own ideas, working independently and who has a curiosity about contemporary life and visual culture. GCSE Art and Design builds confidence, resilience, develops creativity and it enables pupils to investigate and respond to the world around them in a personal, fulfilling manner.

Computer Science: (J277) OCR GCSE

Component1:Computersystems

➢ Theorypaperwithmathscontent

➢ Writtenpaper:1hourand30minutes(50%)

Component2:Computationalthinking,algorithmsandprogramming

➢ PracticalprogramminginPython3.0

➢ Writtenpaper:1hourand30minutes(50%)

GCSEComputerSciencehelpsyouthinkabouthowcomputertechnologyiscreated,fromphysical devices(processors)tohowwebsitesandappsarebuiltusingprogramming.Itisabroadsubject thatcontainselevensmallertopics.You’lllearnhowtoprograminPythonandbeabletodevelop your skills to write algorithms. You’ll learn how computer systems are built and the effects of processor speed. You’ll learn about networks, the world wide web and the Internet – and how thesecanbeexploitedbyhackers.You’lllearnthemathematicsbehindcomputingthathasexisted forcenturiesthatgovernsthelogicusedbydeviceslikemobilephonestoday.Somepupilssaythat thisisadifficultGCSE.Thisisbecauseproblem-solvingisattheheartofComputerScience;you must be willing to get things wrong, work out why they are wrong, and how you can avoid mistakesinthefuture.Thisisanidealsubjectifyouarekeentobuildyourresilience,challenge thewayyouthinkandbecomeanadeptproblemsolver.

Design and Technology: (8552) AQA GCSE

Component1:WrittenPaper2hours(50%)

Pupilsstudyarangeoftheorytopics,mostlyinYear10,whicharedividedintotwomainunits:

1. TechnicalPrinciplesandDesigning&MakingPrinciples:

➢ TechnicalPrinciples:PupilswillcovertopicssuchasMaterials,New&EmergingTechnologies, Sustainability and Energy. These theory units often run alongside small practical projects designedtohelpconsolidatethetheoreticalunderstanding.

➢ DesigningandMakingPrinciples:Pupilsbuildupontheirknowledgeofestablisheddesigners, learngraphicaldesignskillsanddeveloptheirpracticalabilitiesthroughaproductmodelling unit.

Component2:Non-examassessment30-35hoursapprox.(50%)

In Year 11, pupils will select one of three design contexts set by AQA. All design contexts are extremelybroad,sopupilscanrespondinapersonalmanner.Pupilswillthengatherprimaryand secondary research to aid understanding of their chosen area, then design (through sketching, modellingandoptionalCADwork)asolutiontothechosendesignbrief.Theywillthenmakea workingprototypeusingtheirworkshopskillsandknowledge,whichcanthenbeevaluated.This projectwillbecompletedbyEasterofYear11toallowtimeforexaminationrevisiontotakeplace.

Drama: (1DR0A) Edexcel GCSE

Pupilschoosebetweenacting,lights,sound,setdesignandcostume(includingmakeup).They chooseaminimumofoneoptionbutcanchoosetwooptionsastherearetwoperformances

Therearethreecomponents:

Component1:Devising(40%)

➢ Pupils are given a stimulus and create their own 15 to 20 minute performance using improvisation.

➢ Pupils write 2000 words of coursework, explaining and evaluating how they created the dramaandhowitwasperformed.

➢ Light,Sound,Costume(includingmakeup),setdesignandActingaretheoptions.

Component2:PerformancefromText(20%)

➢ Pupilslearntwoextractsfromonetextandperformthemtoavisitingexaminer.

➢ Light,Sound,Costume(includingmakeup),setdesignandActingaretheoptions.

Component3:TheatreMakersinPractice(40%)

➢ Thisisawrittenexamthatlasts105minutes.

➢ Therearetwosections:

▪ SectionAfocuseson“BlueStockings”byJessicaSwaleandrequirescandidatestoanswer questionsonactinganddesign

▪ SectionBfocusesonaplayyouhaveseenperformedandwillaskquestionsonbothacting anddesign.

Geography: (8035) AQA GCSE

TheAQAGCSEsyllabusissplitintothreepapersthathavebeendesignedtodevelopthe pupil's understandingofboththenaturalandhumanenvironments

1. Livingwiththephysicalenvironment:Hazards,LivingWorld(RainforestsandDeserts)and PhysicalLandscapes(RiversandCoasts).

2. Challengesinthehumanenvironment:Urbanisation,ChangingEconomicWorldandResource management

3. Geographicalskillsandapplications:Pre-releasebooklet,cartographicskillsandphysicaland humanfieldwork.

Thepupilsdevelopthefollowingskillsduringthecurriculum:

➢ AO1: Demonstrate knowledge of locations, places, processes, environments and different scales

➢ AO2:Demonstrategeographicalunderstandingofconceptsandhowtheyareusedinrelation toplaces,environmentsandprocesses;theinterrelationshipsbetweenplaces,environments andprocesses.

➢ AO3: Apply knowledge and understanding to interpret, analyse and evaluate geographical informationandissuestomakejudgements

➢ AO4: Select, adapt and use a variety of skills and techniques to investigate questions and issuesandcommunicatefindings

History (8145 A15) AQA GCSE

“A historical education achieves a number of goals at once: it trains the mind, enlarges the sympathies and provides a much-needed historical perspective on some of the most pressing problemsof ourtime.”JohnTosh

TheHistoryDepartmentatChigwellaimstoencourageanappreciationofthepast,promotingthe enjoymentofitsrediscovery.Weencourageourpupilstoembracethestudyandunderstanding ofallaspectsofpasthumanexperience,individualandcollective.

Throughitsteachingstyle,theHistoryDepartmentencouragesfullparticipationandenjoyment bypupilsinlessons,whetherindebates,classdiscussion,groupwork,role-playsorchallenging independent study. The focus of class and homework ranges from short-answer responses to extendedwriting,withacommonemphasisonhandlingsourcematerialandcompletingresearch. We teach pupils how to work independently and then to present the results of their study to others. Chigwell pupils are encouraged to question: Do we know for sure? How do we know? Whereistheevidence?Cantheevidencebeinterpreteddifferently?Istheevidencetrustworthy?

AtGCSElevel,thepupilsmustcompletefourtopicsandwillsittwoexampapersattheendofthe course.

Paper1

Germany1890-1945:Democracyanddictatorship–lookingatGermanybefore,duringandafter the FirstWorld War, the ‘GoldenEra’of the mid 1920’s before studyingthe rise of Nazism and GermanyunderNazicontrol.WealsolooktotakethepupilstoGermanytofurthertheirstudies inthesummertermoftheLowerFifth.

Thesecondtopiconpaper1isConflictinAsia,1945-1974andchartsthestartoftheColdWar beforedetailedstudiesoftheKoreanandVietnamWarstakesplace.

Paper2

ComprisesofabreadthstudyofMigration,empireandthepeoplec790-2016,whichtakespupils fromtheVikinginvasionallthewaythroughtotheargumentsforandagainstBrexit,including theScrambleforAfrica,theIndianRebellion,TheHundredYears’WarandWindrush.

Thesecondcomponentonpaper2seesthepupilscompleteamedievaloption,whichisthereign of King Edward I and the way in which he impacted society in England, including changes to education, the law, the invasion and castle building programme in Wales, alongside William Wallace.

Latin: (C990PA/B) WJEC Eduqas; Classical Greek: (J292) OCR

PupilscanchooseLatinGCSEor'Gratin'whichcombinesLatinandAncientGreekinoneoption block.

LatinGCSEbuildsonwhatpupilshavestudiedinKeyStage3,developingtheirunderstandingof LatinlanguageandtheRomanworld.Itisabroadcourse,developingpupils'languageskillsas wellastheirknowledgeofRomanliteratureandcivilisation.TheexamboardweuseisEDUQAS. Therearethreecomponentseachassessedbyanexamandnocoursework.

Component1:Language(50%):

➢ Buildsonwhathasbeenstudiedalready

➢ Setvocabularylistof440words.

➢ Morecomplexgrammarisintroduced.

➢ 1 hour 30-minute exam consists of a story (usually from a myth), with comprehension questions and translations, plus three sentences in English to translate into Latin (limited vocabularyandlanguage,5%ofthewholeGCSE)

WecontinuewiththestoryofSuburaniduringyear10,thenusestoriesfrommythandhistory forconsolidationduringyear11.

Component2:LiteratureandSources(30%)

➢ Theme:Heroesandvillains.

➢ ExtractsfromeightdifferentRomanauthors,writingaboutRomansgoodandbad,realand mythological.

➢ Amixtureoffactandfiction,poetryandprose.

➢ Also,material/physical/archaeologicalevidence.

➢ Developliteraryandhistoricalanalysisskills.

➢ Studyanddiscusstextsandtopictogether.

➢ 1hour15-minuteexam,consistingofcomprehensionquestions,analysisquestionsandone 16-markextendedquestiononthetopicasawhole.Textsandvocabularyareprovided.

Component3:eitherLITERATUREorROMANCIVILISATION

➢ Literature:Choiceoftwotopics,onefromhistoryandonefrommythology.Thetextsfor 2028havenotbeenannouncedyet,butprevioustopicshaveincludedthestoryofHannibal crossingtheAlpsandthestoryofPerseusandAndromeda.

➢ Civilisation:SlaveryintheRomanWorldORRomanfestivalsandworship,delvinginto Romansocialandculturalhistory

➢ Pupilshaveafreechoice,withthechanceforindependentlearning,developingresearch skills.

➢ Onehourexam,withamixtureofknowledgeandanalysisquestions,withone12-mark extendedresponsetothetopicasawhole.Forliterature,textandvocabularyareprovided.

Why choose Latin?

➢ Interestingandengagingcontent

➢ Developslinguisticunderstanding,widensvocabularyandstrengthensgrammar.

➢ Buildsculturalliteracy,tounderstandhowthelegacyoftheRomansstillaffects21stcentury Britain.

➢ Improvescommunicationandanalysisskills

➢ Variety: There is a lot of different content, not just language, but history, literature and philosophyiscoveredaswell

GreekandLatincanbestudiedinoneoptionblock.

➢ GreekGCSEisstartedfromscratchafterMayhalfterm.

➢ PupilshavetwoLatinandoneGreeklessonaweek.

➢ PupilsendupwithtwoseparateGCSEs.

➢ Intense,butdoable,designedtostretchthemostablelinguists.

GreekGSCEstartswiththealphabetandfromtherepupilslearntherequiredgrammar,syntax andvocabulary(400words).TheythengoontostudyextractsfromHomerandHerodotusin year11.TheexamboardweuseisOCR.

Thereare3componentsinGCSEGreek,eachassessedbyanexamandnocoursework:

➢ Language(50%)

▪ 1hour30-minutepaper.

▪ Storyfrommythorhistory,withcomprehensionquestionsandtranslation.

▪ TranslationfromEnglishintoGreek(5%ofthetotalGCSE),fromalimitedvocabulary, grammarandsyntax.

➢ Proseliterature(25%)

▪ 1hourpaper

▪ storiesfromHerodotusaboutthehistoryoftheGreeks.

▪ comprehension,translationandanalysisquestions,withone10markextended responseonthestoryasawhole.

➢ Verseliterature(25%)

▪ 1hourpaper

▪ extractfromHomer'sepicpoetry(Iliad-TrojanWarorOdyssey-Odysseus'adventures onhiswayhomefromTroy)

▪ comprehension,translationandanalysisquestions,withone10markextended responseonthestoryasawhole.

Why choose Greek and Latin?

ThisencompassesallthebenefitsofstudyingLatin,plusgivesyou:

➢ anexcellentintellectualchallenge;

➢ accesstofoundationalworksofwesternliterature,intheiroriginalform;and

➢ anextraGCSE.

Modern Languages: (4FR1) French, (4GN1) German (4SP1) Spanish Edexcel IGCSE

ForModernForeignLanguages,wefollowtheIGCSEEdexcelcourse.Thespecificationisrigorous initsassessmentandallowspupilstodevelopallfourlanguageskills(reading,speaking,listening andwriting).PupilssitthisexaminYear11.Thereisnocoursework.Eachofthefourskillscount for25%oftheoverallgradethatisawarded.

Topicsstudiedinclude:

➢ PersonalRelationships

➢ Holidays

➢ SchoolLife

➢ TownandLocalArea

➢ Work

➢ Health

➢ FreeTime

➢ TheEnvironment

Pupilshavetheopportunitytopractisetheirlanguageskillswithourlanguageassistantsoncea weekinFrench,GermanandSpanish.

Music: (1MU0) Edexcel GCSE

Component1:Performing(1MU0/01)

➢ Non-examinedassessment:internallymarkedandexternallymoderated(30%)

➢ Soloperforming

➢ EnsembleperformingApproachestoperforming

Component2:Composing(1MU0/02)

➢ Non-examinedassessment:internallymarkedandexternallymoderated(30%)

➢ Developingmusicalideas

➢ Compositionaltechniquesandstrategies

➢ Ensuringtechnicalcontrolandcoherence

➢ Methodsofnotatingcompositionscores

Component3:Appraising(1MU0/03)

➢ Writtenexamination:1hourand45minutes(40%)

➢ Musicalelements

➢ Musicalcontexts

➢ Musicallanguage

Music GCSE is not only for the experienced musician, but for anyone who has instrumental or singinglessons.

Performing, (which does not have to be in front of an examiner) makes up 30% of the course. Historically,anyperformingexperienceaspartofourownLive@6!concertsandperformances, choirsandensembles,inoroutoftheschoolwillbesufficientforpupilstoreachfullmarks.Ifthis ispartofyourweeklyroutine,thenMusicshouldbeonyourlistofchoices.

Practically,you need to be about grade 4 bythe end of the GCSEcourse, that’s two years away. Compositionconstitutesanother30%ofthecoursemarks.Youwillbetaughttocomposemusic using computers as a tool for performance and publication. Only two finished works will be submittedtotheboardformoderation.Similartoperformance,yourcompositionalideaswillbe refinedandwilldemonstratecreativity,reflectionandresilience,aswellasdevelopingconfidence andpresentationskills.

Thefinalexamisalisteningandappraisingpaperwhichconcentratesoneightsetworks,which includes Star Wars Main Title, Defying Gravity, Killer Queen, works by Purcell, Bach and Beethoven as well as two fusion works: Release by Afro Celt Sound System and Samba Em PreludiobyEsperanzaSpalding.

Studyingmusicwillgiveyouopportunitiesforhigherorderthinking,byconsideringideaswhich go beyond language, within a sociable, friendly context and surrounding. This is great braintrainingwhichwillhelpyouinotherareastoo.Youwillgainadeepunderstandingofanumberof transferable skills and practice applying these to new situations, developing analytical and problem-solvingskills.

Physical Education: (8582) AQA GCSE

Pupils will study the AQA GCSE PE curriculum and will be assessed through three different components:

Component1(30%):TheHumanBodyandMovementsinPhysicalActivityandSport

Component 1 studies several body systems such as the skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular and respiratorysystems.Italsostudiesbiomechanicsandphysicaltraining.Withinphysicaltraining, pupilswilllearnaboutthedifferentcomponentsoffitness,differingmethodsoftrainingandthe effectsofexercise.

Thisisawrittenexam(Paper1)satattheendofthecourselasting1hourand15minutes.

Component2(30%):Socio-CulturalInfluences,PsychologyandHealth

Component 2 focuses on sports psychology, socio-cultural influences, the link between health, fitnessandwellbeingaswellasassessingtheuseofdatawithinsport.

Thisisawrittenexam(Paper2)satattheendofthecourselasting1hourand15minutes.

Component3(40%):Practicalperformancein3differentsportsandwithinwrittencoursework.

Component 3 is a non-examined assessment. This is internally assessed and externally moderated.Pupilswillbeassessedinarangeofsports,andtheirthreebestsportswillbeselected. Onesportmustbeindividual(e.g.swimmingortennisetc),onesportmustbewithinateam(e.g. football,netballetc)andthethirdsportcanbeeitherwithinateamorindividual.Thelistofsports is extensive and is available on the AQA website. Sports are assessed either within School or throughvideoevidence.SportsthatcannotbecompletedwithinSchoolmusthavevideoevidence (e.g.skiingorgolf).Eachsportisoutof25marks;theywillbeassessedwithinisolatedskills(10 marks)andwithincompetitivematches(15marks).Pupilswillbeassessedwithinthesesports intheircorePElessons,gamessessions,schoolfixturesandwithinmockmoderationsthroughout thetwoyears.

The coursework is a written piece evaluating their own sporting performance, highlighting strengthsandweaknessesandthenplanningtrainingsessionstoimprovetheirmainidentified weakness.Thisisthenjustifiedwithrelevanttheorythroughout.

Thecourseworkandeachsportareworth10%oftheiroverallgrade,accumulatinginComponent 3representing40%oftheoverallgrade.

Itisvitalthateachpupilhasaminimumofthreesportsthattheyfeelcomfortabletobeassessed within.Itisrecommendedthatpupilsarecompetingoutsideofschoolwithintheirsportand/or representingtherelevantschool‘A’teamwithinthatsport.Examplesofpopularsportsthathave beenchosenfromthecurrentcohortare:

➢ Football

➢ Netball

➢ Cricket

➢ Hockey

➢ Athletics

➢ Badminton

Golf

Swimming

Religious Studies: (8062MA) AQA GCSE

TheeighttopicsthatarestudiedfortheRSGCSEare:

1. ChristianBelief

2. ChristianPractice

3. IslamBelief

4. IslamPractice

5. RelationshipsandFamilies–

6. ReligionandLife-MedicalEthics

7. CrimeandPunishment

8. HumanRightsandSocialJustice

Thereisnocoursework,andthecoursewillbeassessedbytwoexamsattheendofyear11.

Pupilswilldevelopkeyskillsofanalysis,evaluation,argumentation,logicallyreasoning, appreciationofreligiousandethicaltraditionsandverbalandwrittencommunicationskills.