Year 8 Choices Jane Austen College
Dear Student,
Choosing your Year 8 Options is such an exciting time, when you can really think about what the future may hold for you. Starting your GCSEs will put you on the pathway to achieving your goals. We are all committed to helping you making the right decisions and supporting you through the process. When deciding on your options you should ask yourself:
What do I enjoy? What subjects have I achieved well in already? What careers am I interested in?
You should also look closely at the GCSE courses. Think about whether the content looks interesting. Do you have the skills required? You should always avoid choosing something because:
Your friends are doing it. You like the teacher. Remember – you may get a different teacher for GCSE.
Our aim is to support you in becoming not just doctors, not just accountants, not just administrators, not just tradesmen, not just entrepreneurs, or whatever career you might aspire to, but also young people of integrity, of understanding, and of aspiration, young people who will live their lives to the full and play their part in making our society stronger. Your GCSEs are just part of your education. Your electives, the way you participate in the school community, the leadership roles you take on and the wider opportunities you take advantage of will all help you to be a happy, successful young person. The most important thing is that it is your decision. The choices have to be right for you. I am confident you will make the right ones.
Ms Claire Heald Executive Principal
Some helpful advice Choosing subjects you have achieved well in It’s worth considering this when choosing your GCSEs. You’re likely to enjoy the subjects you’ve been successful in previously. Being good at a particular subject area might help you manage your GCSE workload, too, because you’ll be able to complete work more quickly and get strong results. If you’re not sure if a subject might be right for you, you can talk to your teacher and ask for advice.
Should I base GCSE options on what I enjoy? It’s fine to consider choosing subjects you like at GCSE level. You’ll be studying that subject for several periods a week for the next three years, so it’ll definitely help if there are aspects of the subject you enjoy! This could work to your advantage, because if you enjoy a subject you are more likely to work harder and get a higher grade in it. It’s okay to do a subject just because you like it.
Should I choose a GCSE subject because my friends are doing it? It’s better not to choose a GCSE option just because your friends are taking it. Doing different GCSEs shouldn’t have any effect on your friendships – it will just mean you have lots to talk about when you’re together at other times. Plus, there’s a chance you’ll make additional new friends in the subject you choose, too.
Are my A-level choices affected by the GCSE choices I make now? Some A-level options don’t require you to have studied them at GCSE first – for example, psychology, economics, media studies or law – but for others you’ll need the GCSE, so check with your teacher to make sure. Some A-levels, like science, are no longer open to you if you choose a single science at GCSE. That’s one reason why all our students will take double award science or triple award science (physics, chemistry and biology). Our option blocks are designed to ensure that all students have a rich, broad curriculum that widens opportunities.
Will I get homework now I am taking my GCSEs? The simple answer to this is no, not for now. But you can expect to need to do some additional work at home in Year 11, as your GCSE exams approach. You will need to revise and the best revision doesn’t just happen right before the exams, it takes place over a longer period of time.
Do universities care about which GCSE options you choose? Most universities need you to have English and maths GCSEs… which is fine, because you’ll be studying them as core GCSE subjects anyway. For some degrees, or careers, their requirements for GCSE and A-level subjects aren’t too limiting. For example, most universities don’t mind which subjects you’ve studied before if you want to do a law degree – they just want you to have done well in the (usually ‘traditional’ or ‘facilitating’) subjects you chose. In some cases, you’ll need specific A-levels (and therefore the GCSEs you need to be able to do those A-levels) to get on certain university courses (e.g. the sciences, art, history or foreign languages).
What’s the difference between Triple and Double sciences? Triple award science is made up of three GCSEs, and students get separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics at the end of their three-years of study. This means they will leave Jane Austen College with 3 science GCSEs. Double award science, as it is commonly referred to, will be a qualification called Combined Science - Trilogy. This means that students will study units in all three sciences, take exams for all three sciences, but come away from Jane Austen College with 2 GCSEs equivalent in Combined Science. We have designed our curriculum to make sure that all students have the opportunity to take triple science. This means students have more choice and flexibility with their options and can make two ‘free’ choices, without having to use one of these to take triple science. It is likely that not all students will take the full triple science course - it is a challenging route to take. But we won’t limit this option too early and our science teachers will monitor student progress carefully to ensure they are on the right route.
How important is it to get good grades in my GCSEs? If you want to give yourself a wider choice of options after school, getting good grades is important. Universities and colleges will probably only accept 5-9 (old A*-C grades) GCSE pass grades for most courses. If you think you might struggle to achieve these higher pass grades, ask for support from teachers in choosing a set of GCSE options that will help you focus on your strengths and what you most enjoy – since, if you enjoy a subject, you’re more likely to do your best and perform better in it. Nowadays, there are lots of different education and careers routes for after GCSEs and your teachers, mentor, and careers advisor will support you with making choices. This is a long way off though.
What’s the difference between ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ subjects? Some top universities consider certain A-level subjects to be ‘soft’ subjects. In other words, those subjects are considered less likely to push the skills and knowledge of their students. In contrast, ‘hard’ subjects – also known as ‘traditional’ or ‘facilitating’ subjects – are seen by both universities and employers as very useful subjects to study because they show how hard you can work and also teach skills that will be useful in all kinds of further education courses and careers. Examples of facilitating subjects are: English, maths, the sciences, history, geography and modern foreign languages. If you’re aiming for a top university you might find getting in a struggle if you haven’t picked A-levels like these. However it does really depend on the course you are applying for and you can research this nearer the time. Thinking about ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ A-levels while you’re still picking your GCSE options can be useful. However our option blocks are designed to ensure that all students have a rich, broad curriculum that widens opportunities, so you don’t need to worry about this too much. As you will be taking a language and a humanities subject anyway, this leaves you free to choose the subjects you would like to in the free choice options blocks.
When will I take my GCSE exams? For the vast majority of students, exams will not be taken until Year 11. We want to make students are really ready and have had a great learning experience before taking their GCSEs. We might make exceptions to this, but this will be rare and would only happen after talking to a student and also their parents to make sure it was the right thing to do. You can expect to take mock exams though - at least once a year to help you get used to exams. This helps students to feel prepared for the real thing so the real exams are less stressful.
Will ‘prep’ be different now I am taking GCSEs? Prep will be slightly different. You will still be able to do ‘improvement’ work and ask for ‘opportunities’ to take your learning further, but the projects will not be the same. Instead, you will have work linked to specific subjects. You may also find that you have subject specific prep sessions that extend the learning from your lessons. You will still be expected to develop your independent learning skills and value scholarship. If anything, taking ownership over your own learning will become even more important.
What is the English Baccalaureate? The English Baccalaureate (or E-Bacc) – though not a qualification in itself – is a measure of success in core academic subjects; specifically English, mathematics, history or geography, the sciences and a language. Students achieve the E-Bacc if they achieve a 5 (or old C grade) in these subjects. These are subjects most likely to be preferred for entry to degree courses and ones that will keep the most doors open for students. Taking the English Baccalaureate subjects ensures a broad foundation for learning and future study. Last year the government announced that all students should now follow an E-Bacc curriculum. Our options blocks are designed so that students can easily achieve the English Baccalaureate.
Option Blocks Each student’s curriculum will be made up of these 5 components:
Core subjects
Language
Option 1
Humanity
Option 2
Core Subjects - all students will take these subjects:
English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
Science (double or triple)
Core PE
Philosophy
Students will then make a choice of:
1 humanities subject 1 languages subject 1 subject from Option 1 1 subject from Option 2
How many GCSEs can be achieved?
Subject
Number of GCSEs
English Language
1
English Literature
1
Science (Double or triple)
Either 2 or 3
Mathematics
1
Philosophy
1
Core PE
no GCSE
Humanities Subject
1
Languages Subject
1
Option 1
1
Option 2
1
The Options Blocks Core
Humanities Option Block
Languages Option Block
Option 1
Option 2
Geography
Spanish
Art
Music
History
French
Dance
Drama
English Literature
Latin
Graphic Communication
Spanish
Maths
German
Compulsory English Language
Geography Business Studies
Science
Engineering Drama
Core PE Engineering
Computer Science
Philosophy Geography
Graphic Communication
Key Information Key dates Options Evening – February 8th 19.00 – 20.30 Deadline for handing in your choices form – March 3rd
Need advice? Come along to our Options Evening to find out more about all the subjects. You can also talk to:
Your form tutor
An academic mentor
Your head of House
Feeling worried? Making your Options choices should be a really positive experience but if you do feel anxious about it at all then please don’t worry - you have so many people here to help you. You can go to:
Your form tutor
A pastoral mentor
Your parents
English Language Students will draw upon a range of texts as reading stimulus and engage with creative, real and relevant contexts. Students will have opportunities to develop higher-order reading and critical thinking skills that encourage genuine enquiry into different topics and themes. This specification will ensure that students can read fluently and write effectively. Students will be able to demonstrate a confident control of Standard English and write grammatically correct sentences, deploying figurative language and analysing texts.
For GCSE English Language students will: • read fluently, and with good understanding, a wide range of texts from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, including literature and literary nonfiction as well as other writing such as reviews and journalism • read and evaluate texts critically and make comparisons between texts • summarise and synthesise information or ideas from texts • use knowledge gained from wide reading to inform and improve their own writing • write effectively and coherently using Standard English appropriately • use accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar • apply a wide vocabulary, alongside a knowledge and understanding of grammatical terminology, and linguistic conventions for reading, writing and spoken language • listen to and understand spoken language and use spoken Standard English effectively.
Course Structure There are three components to the GCSE course: Paper One: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing Paper Two: Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives Non-examination component based on Spoken Language. Possible careers English language is a core subject and is necessary for all careers / professions. Studying GCSE English language is particularly useful for the following careers: broadcasting; radio, film or TV production; advertising; market research; journalism. Exam Board AQA
English Literature Students will study one Shakespeare play, one 19th century novel, a modern drama text and a selection of poetry. In studying the texts students will have the opportunity to develop the following skills: • literal and inferential comprehension: understanding a word, phrase or sentence in context; exploring aspects of plot, characterisation, events and settings; distinguishing between what is stated explicitly and what is implied; explaining motivation, sequence of events, and the relationship between actions or events. • critical reading: identifying the theme and distinguishing between themes; supporting a point of view by referring to evidence in the text; recognising the possibility of and evaluating different responses to a text; using understanding of writers’ social, historical and cultural contexts to inform evaluation; making an informed personal response that derives from analysis and evaluation of the text • evaluation of a writer’s choice of vocabulary, grammatical and structural features: analysing and evaluating how language, structure, form and presentation contribute to quality and impact; using linguistic and literary terminology for such evaluation.
• comparing texts: comparing and contrasting texts studied, referring where relevant to theme, characterisation, context (where known), style and literary quality; comparing two texts critically with respect to the above.
Course Structure There are two components to the GCSE course; Paper One: Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel Paper Two: Modern Texts and Poetry
Possible careers Studying GCSE English literature is particularly useful for the following careers: teaching, journalism, editing, writing, research, publishing, librarian.
Exam Board AQA
Science – Double or Triple Science is a core subject and will be taken by all students. Science is an essential part of everyday life as it teaches students to think logically, to research their ideas and to explore the world around them. Science enables critical thinking and problem solving skills. The course will cover all 3 sciences and will give students a chance to explore units such as: the human body, chemical reactions and space. This course is suitable for all students. If you have ever looked at something and wondered how it works, or where it came from, then science is for you. Science teaches us to analyse and explore the world around us, it helps us to design and create new things. Science is essential for life.
Course Structure For Triple Science there are 2 exams for each subject. This means 2 exams for Biology, each worth 50%. This is the same for Chemistry and Physics. For Double Science there are 6 exams in total, (2 Biology, 2 Chemistry and 2 Physics), each exam is worth 16.7% Possible careers Medicine, Engineering, Veterinarian, Researcher, Teacher, Stunt co-ordinator, Astronomer, Robotics, Computer game design, Software engineering, Medical journalism and many more... Exam Board AQA
Mathematics All students will take Maths. It is diverse, engaging and essential in equipping students with the right skills to reach their future destination, whatever that may be. Students will develop sound technique with numbers, fractions, decimals, percentages and basic ratios. This means that students apply these fundamental skills in a variety of contexts that they can relate to. The GCSE will expand on what we have been learning in KS3 and encourage students to develop their analytical skills such as problem solving.
The course content can be broken down into 6 subsets of the GCSE, these are as follows:
Number Algebra Ratio, proportion and rates of change Geometry and measures Probability Statistics
The students have learnt elements of these subsets in Key Stage 3 and during their GCSE they will continue to develop on what they have learnt.
Course Structure The course will be assessed by 3 end of year exams; 2 Calculator & 1 non-calculator Each exam contributes to a third of the GCSE.
Possible careers Maths contributes to a whole world of careers, in particular look for jobs in the financial sector, but also be aware that many professions require maths GCSE e.g. architects, doctors, lawyers etc.
Exam Board AQA
Core PE At Jane Austen College we aim to deliver a high-quality physical education curriculum to inspire all students to succeed and excel in competitive sport and other physically-demanding activities. The curriculum will allow for students to become physically confident in a way which supports their health and fitness. Students will be presented with opportunities to compete in sport and other activities to build character and help to embed values such as fairness and respect.
Use and develop a variety of tactics and strategies to overcome opponents in team and individual games such as football, hockey, netball, rounders, and rugby. Develop their technique and improve their performance in other competitive sports, such as athletics and gymnastics, or other physical activities like dance. Take part in further outdoor and adventurous activities in a range of environments which present intellectual and physical challenges, which encourages students to work in a team, build on trust and develop skills to problem solve, either individually or as a group. Evaluate personal performances compared to previous ones and demonstrate improvement across a range of physical activities to fulfil their full potential. Continue to take part regularly in competitive sports and activities outside school through electives, community links or sports clubs.
Philosophy The study of Philosophy at KS4 builds upon the knowledge and skills students have acquired in KS3. As no exam boards currently offer a GCSE in Philosophy, students will study the Edexcel GCSE in Religious Studies. The course gives a worthwhile opportunity to understand beliefs and ideas in the context of philosophical and ethical issues, as well as gain a qualification. Students will need to dedicate time to developing a holistic knowledge of two religions: Christianity and Islam, so that they are well-equipped to spend philosophy lessons applying ideas and articulating their own views.
Course Structure The course will be assessed by 2 written exams at the end of the course; Paper One: Religion and Ethics Paper Two: Religion, Philosophy and Social Justice Possible careers The transferable skills gained from a study of Philosophy, such as analysis of ideas, critical thinking and communication, make it a subject that could be relevant to a host of careers. Here are some notable examples: education, law, public service, medicine/ nursing. Exam Board AQA
This course is suitable for all students who have studied Philosophy at KS3. Lessons may particularly appeal to those who enjoy debate and discussion, with an appreciation for critical analysis of different ideas and beliefs. Through philosophy we will also cover essential aspects of personal, social and health education. The course also covers important social, moral, spiritual and cultural aspects of the school’s curriculum.
French The GCSE French course builds upon the foundations set in Year 7 and 8. Students will extend their knowledge of the language by studying a number of topics and developing a sound grammatical base. They will be able to understand and respond to spoken and written French with increased accuracy as well as be able to give and justify their opinions on a number of topics. Students will need to dedicate time to learning vocabulary and practising skills in order to be successful.
Course Structure This course is suitable for students who have studied French at KS3 and who are interested in furthering their knowledge of the language and culture of French speaking countries.
The course will be assessed by 4 exams at the end of the course; Paper One: Listening Paper Two: Speaking Paper Three: Reading Paper Four: Writing Possible careers French is particularly relevant to careers in; travel and tourism, journalism, education, the European Union, translation and interpretation and any industry with international links. Exam Board AQA
German The German GCSE course is a three-year linear course which starts in Year 9 and is open to all students without previous knowledge. This course is suitable for students who are interested in learning languages and would love to face a new challenge. During the first year of the course, students will develop their knowledge of the language creatively with a focus on gaining a sound grammatical base. Students will develop their skills further in Years 10 and 11 in a variety of contexts, extending their ability to understand and respond to spoken and written German as well as developing their translation skills. They will practise speaking, writing and translating German with increased accuracy.
Course Structure The course will be assessed by 4 exams at the end of the course; Paper One: Listening Paper Two: Reading Paper Three: Speaking Paper Four: Writing Possible careers German is particularly relevant to careers in travel and tourism, journalism, education, the European Union, translation and interpretation and any industry with international links. Exam board
This course is suitable for students who are interested in learning languages and would love to face a new challenge. It is a fast moving course and due to the pupils limited previous experience of German, students will need to dedicate time to learning vocabulary and practising skills in order to be successful.
Latin Study of Latin at KS4 builds upon the foundations set up in KS3. Students will further their understanding of cases and tenses, as well as learning more complex structures. Students will need to dedicate time to learning vocabulary and endings so that they are wellequipped to tackle the literature in its original form. The study of literature is exceptionally rewarding as students begin to focus on the techniques employed by the author to convey a particular message. The texts also serve as a window into the culture, values and social structures of Roman society and complement the continued work on Roman society.
Course Structure The course will be assessed by 3 written exams at the end of the course; Paper One: Language Paper Two: Literature Paper Three: Culture
Possible careers Latin itself is used in the fields of medicine and law. It is particularly useful in journalism and archaeology. Exam board OCR
This course is suitable for students who have studied Latin at KS3 and who are interested in furthering their knowledge of the language and culture, particularly through the study of original Latin texts. Latin is the kind of subject which supports almost every kind of career, because it develops literacy and the ability to evaluate and analyse texts and sources. The close attention to detail that is so important in translation is a skill that is valued across many domains and one which employers appreciate.
Spanish The Spanish GCSE course is a three-year linear course which builds upon knowledge of topics and grammar studied in Year 7 and 8. This course is suitable for students who have studied French or Spanish at KS3 and who are interested in furthering their knowledge of the language and culture of Spanish. However, given the fast pace necessary to cover the course in 3 years rather than 5, students should speak to their teacher if they wish to study a language that they have not been learning at KS3.
Course Structure The course will be assessed by 4 exams at the end of the course; Paper One: Listening Paper Two: Reading Paper Three: Speaking Paper Four: Writing Possible careers This qualification provides a foundation for the further study of Spanish at AS and A2. It is the basis of lifelong language learning. It is, of course, invaluable for foreign travel. Languages can be studied on their own or combined with many subjects such as Law, Business, Literature, History, Science, IT and Engineering. Studying a language promotes the development of communicative, interpersonal and presentational skills as well as increasing job opportunities. Exam Board AQA
During the first year of the course, students will extend their knowledge of the language creatively with a focus on gaining a sound grammatical base. Students will develop their skills further in Years 10 and 11 in a variety of contexts, extending their ability to understand and respond to spoken and written Spanish as well as developing their translation skills. They will practise speaking, writing and translating Spanish with increased accuracy as well as be able to give and justify their opinions on various issues.
Art and Design Students will be introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of 2/3 dimensional media, techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies. Students will critically analyse art, craft and design from past and present times, and will respond to these examples through practical and critical activities. The course will have a strong focus on drawing and the fundamental skills of art and design. Students will complete mini projects in fine art, photography and textiles, before specialising in one (or two) for a longer more focussed project.
Course Structure The course has 2 units: Unit 1 is worth 60%. Unit 2 is worth 40% with 10 hours of controlled assessment.
Possible careers Possible creative paths after studying Art and Design include; Architecture, Animation Illustration, Fashion design, Photographer, Game designer, Art therapy, TV and Film Make-up artist
Exam board
AQA
This course will suit you if you like to use different materials and processes to develop your visual skills; if you are creative, enthusiastic and imaginative. If you are willing to take risks and try out new ideas, and if you enjoy communicating your ideas and opinions and challenging issues then this may be the course for you.
Business Studies This course will develop students' ability to recall, select, communicate and apply their knowledge and understanding of concepts, issues and terminology in a variety of contexts. Through planning and carrying out investigations and tasks they will develop the skills to analyse and evaluate evidence by making reasoned judgements and presenting appropriate conclusions.
Key skills covered in this subject include;
using a critical approach to distinguish between fact and opinion, build arguments and make informed judgements
Course Structure The course will be assessed by 3 components throughout the course; Written Paper: Setting up a business
developing and applying knowledge,
Written Paper: Growing as a business
understanding and skills to
Controlled Assessment: Investigating Businesses
contemporary issues in local, national and global contexts
appreciating the range of perspectives of different stakeholders in relation to business and economic activities
considering the extent to which business and economic activity can be ethical and sustainable
recalling, selecting and communicating their knowledge and understanding of concepts, issues and terminology
analysing and evaluating evidence, make reasoned judgements and present appropriate conclusions.
Possible careers Can support many more subjects and help you to start your own business, advise others on their businesses and help you understand how to improve and support the company you work for in the future. Could lead to careers in: human resources, retail, marketing and sales. Exam board AQA
Computer Science This course will cover three key aspects of Computer Science: Key principles of computer science, Computational thinking, algorithms and programming and a programming project. The course will help you learn about critical thinking, analysis and problem solving. Computer Science will include units such as: algorithms, problem solving, encryption, and writing code among many more.
Course Structure There are 3 aspects to the assessment: 40% written exam paper 40% written exam paper 20% non-examined programming project Possible careers This GCSE could help on the way to becoming; software developer, software architect, software engineer, computer programmer, application architecture and development consultant, database administrator, games developer, information systems manager, IT consultant, multimedia programmer, systems analyst, systems developer, web designer, web developer. Exam board OCR
The course is designed to give you an in-depth understanding of how computer technology works and what goes on 'behind the screens'. You don't need to have studied the subject before, but it may give you an advantage if you want to study the subject beyond secondary school. This course is for logical and computational thinkers.
Dance The Dance GCSE is taught and assessed in four units, looking at both written and practical work. Students will look at creating a solo piece of practical work along with some duo and group performances. Choreography is a key element of this course and students will need to think creatively to devise their own routines based on a stimuli and trying to develop motifs within their work.
Course Structure Unit 1- Critical Appreciation of Dance Written paper (externally assessed) Unit 2- Practical exam set dance Solo performance (externally assessed) Unit 3- Performance in a duo/ group dance Controlled Assessment Unit 4- Choreography Task ASolo composition Task B- Choreography solo/ duo/ group Possible careers - Further Level 2 or Level 3 courses in Dance and Performing Arts including A-level Dance - Higher education in Dance, Performing Arts and PE - Professional training - Community activities. Exam board AQA
Dance experience would benefit students wanting to take study this course as technique is important when performing dance skills. Students who share a passion for dance would suit this course as prior knowledge and understanding of dance skills would benefit them during the written tasks as well as the practical elements of dance.
Drama Students will work towards three different components: one based on devised work, one based on the performance of two published plays; and a final exam including a textual study and the evaluation of live theatre. This will be delivered mostly through practical workshop-style lessons in which students will need to offer their own ideas to a range of stimuli and texts, to create successful performances.
Course Structure The Drama GCSE is composed of 3 components; Performance One: Devising Performance Two: Performance from Text Examination Possible careers Drama focuses on communication and collaboration which are vital skills in many industries. This course could lead on to further study of drama or careers in acting, stage management, arts administration, teaching, theatre, directing and many more.
Exam board Edexcel
Engineering GCSE in Engineering introduces student to the process of engineering in the market place, with particular reference to design and the construction of design briefs in a range of business and industrial contexts. This GCSE course offers students access to 'real-life' aspects of engineering practices. They also have the opportunity to work with a range of materials to manufacture useful, wellengineered and designed products. This subject gives a more practical approach to learning and broaden the opportunities for students.
Pupils will study;
Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) Computer Aided Design (CAD) new components and materials career pathways what is involved in working towards a brief to meet your client’s needs how businesses convert briefs for customers into design specifications and choose an appropriate solution how businesses make a production plan and choose appropriate materials, parts and components for the process how businesses check the quality of products; a risk assessment in the workplace how modern technology is used in the design and manufacture of products, how new technologies impact on peoples’ work and the working environment.
Course Structure This course is composed of 2 component; Written Assessment: Product Study & Manufacturing and Materials Controlled Assessment: Designing, Communicating and Manufacturing an Engineering Product A portfolio, Mechanical, Pneumatic or Electronic Possible careers Possible future careers include; all engineering sectors, architects, skilled manual workers – e.g. electricians, mechanics, plumbers, builders, designers, CAD drafters, CAM operators, technicians, welders, fabricators and surface finishers Exam board AQA
Geography Would you like to learn about: Why our coastline is disappearing to the sea? How are cities going to cope with population growth and increasing migration? What is the story of our UK landscape, going all the way back to the last ice age? What are the negative impacts of our changing climate for people and the environment? What threats do Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems face? What strategies can be used to tackle uneven development in the world?
This course has been designed for students to understand more about the world, the challenges it faces and their place within it. It will enable students to develop a holistic understanding of geography with skills being integrated throughout the whole course, alongside the content that will be taught. The aims of the course are to build on students KS3 knowledge and to extend their knowledge of locations, places, environments and processes. Fieldwork will be an integral part of this course, which has been designed to enable students to develop new geographical insights into two contrasting environments. Fieldwork must be completed outside of the school grounds and therefore there will be compulsory local trips to collect the necessary fieldwork data. We also hope to offer students the opportunity to take part in a residential fieldtrip, so that students can see a range of different environments and develop a greater understanding of Geography.
Course Structure This course consists of 3 examined papers at the end of the course. Paper 1: Physical Environment Paper 2: The Human Environment Paper 3: Geographical Investigations Possible careers If you decide to study geography further, it could lead to the following jobs: cartographer, environmental consultant, town planner, International Aid/ development worker, nature conservation officer, tourism officer, transport planner
Exam board Edexcel
Graphic Communications Students studying this course will be introduced to a variety of experiences exploring a range of graphic media techniques and processes, including both traditional and new technologies. There will be aspects of drawing (though only basic illustrative skills are required), photography and computer based work throughout the course. Students will cover some of the following aspects: illustration, advertising, packaging design, communication graphics and design for print.
Course Structure The course is made up of 2 units. Unit 1 is worth 60%. Unit 2 is worth 40%, with 10 hours of controlled assessment. Possible careers If you decide to study Graphic Communication, it could lead to the following jobs: Graphic designer, Animator, Illustrator, Art/design teacher, Gallery/Museum curator, Computer Game designer, Web designer, Advertising
Exam board Edexcel
If you enjoyed and excelled at the playing cards project in Y7 and the fairy tale book cover project in Y8, then this course could be for you. If you are interested in the way things look, like magazines, websites, comic books, packaging and book illustration then this course may be for you too. A keen interest in art/design, creating and drawing is desired, and hard work and determination is essential.
History Our exciting new programme of study engages and inspires as well as providing students with a solid, thorough and wide ranging historical knowledge and skills. This course would be suitable for anyone who enjoys learning about the past and who is capable of being a critical and reflective thinker. A love of history, reading and investigation would also help, but anyone who loves learning and challenging their misconceptions - history helps you understand the world around you!
Course Structure We will cover topics such as;
‘Medicine in Britain, c1250–present’ ‘The Black Death’ ‘The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18: injuries, treatment and the trenches.’ ‘Henry VIII and his ministers, 1509– 40’, ‘Conflict in the Middle East, 1945– 95’ ‘Weimar and Nazi Germany’
This course consists of 3 examined papers at the end of the course.
Possible careers The types of careers that history can lead to are, media, publishing, journalism, social work, civil service, teaching, law, Museum work and PR.
Exam board Edexcel
Music Students will learn to perform, compose and appreciate different types of music, developing critical and creative thinking, cultural, aesthetic and emotional awareness, and the ability to make music individually and as part of a group. The key content of musical elements, musical contexts and musical language are taught through the areas of study and set works to show real examples of how these are used within different types of music. Students investigate, analyse and evaluate music and its features. Building on this, and by using practical methods, students are encouraged to take a more holistic view of their knowledge, performance and compositional skills.
Course Structure The course comprises 3 components that are assessed at the end of the course; 
A solo and ensemble performance

Two compositions, one in response to a brief set by the examination board Listening exam

Possible careers Professional musician, Music therapist, Jobs in the performing arts industry, Instrumental teacher, Music teacher, Sound technician/music producer, Arts administrator, Film composer, Musicologist and academic, Live sound engineer, Tour manager, Events production, Music publisher. Exam board. Edexcel
The course suits students who are either musicians or singers. Whilst it is not a prerequisite to have studied music prior to the course, it is advisable that students pursue learning an instrument/singing in order to meet the requirements of the performance assessments. The work we cover at KS3 should prepare students well for the demands of the course, and studying over three years gives them a chance to rigorously develop the skills and knowledge required. We would encourage students with a keen interest in and passion for music to seriously consider taking the GCSE.
Student options Please indicate your preferred options below. This must be completed and returned to student services by Friday the 3rd March. We will make every effort to place students in their 1st preferred subjects. However, due to timetabling restrictions this may not always be possible. We have therefore requested students choose up to three options per block. In the unlikely event that a student is unable to study their preferred subjects this will be discussed with them and their parent/carer as soon as possible.
Student full name
______________________________________________
Student signature
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Parent/carer name
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Parent/carer signature
______________________________________________
Humanities – please
rd
tick preferred.
1st
Languages – please tick to select a 1st and 2nd preferred.
1st
2nd
Art Dance Graphic Communication Business studies Drama Engineering Geography
Option 2 – please tick to select 1st to 3rd preferred.
3 preferred.
Geography History
French German Latin Spanish
Option 1 – please tick to select 1st to 2nd 3rd
1st Music Drama Graphic Communication Spanish Engineering Geography Computer Science
2nd 3rd