KS4 Curriculum
art
Studying art and design at GCSE level enables students to become confident, independent learners. All students are supported in developing their own strengths and interests through exciting and extensive use of materials and thorough personal research. The course consists of structured project work, which enables students to further develop their skills, and more open ended starting points, whereby students can explore their own choice of themes. The final displays are exhibited in school and celebrate students’ work and achievements in a public setting.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA Art, craft and design 8201 |
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Nature of examination: Coursework =60% consisting of project work based on a series of themes. Exam=a practical project selected from a range of starting points provided by the exam board, culminating in a final piece. Paper name=The course consists of 2 units, the Coursework unit and the Externally assessed assignment. Length of paper= For the EAA students have a preparatory period of approx. 4 months and then complete a 10 hour final piece % of final grade= 40% |
biology
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in biology expands on the Key Stage 3 experience, with many of the topics covered building on the Key Stage 3 syllabus. Key Stage 4 begins to develop practical skills through the required practical element of the course, whilst also focusing on the exam skills demanded by the linear nature of the course. Students learn how to apply their biology knowledge to situations they may not have experienced before, thinking for themselves and working out how what they have learned fits in to the new scenario. There are numerous opportunities to investigate cutting edge developments in the field of biology such as stem cell research and human impact on the environment.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA GCSE biology 8461, GCSE trilogy 8464 | ||||||||||
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business studies
Business studies is a social science which is a broad subject encompassing the setup of a business, managing a business, accountancy, finance, marketing, economics and government policies. In general, you will investigate organisations that seek to provide us with the things we want or need. All students will get a broad understanding of the world in which we live and how businesses operate in this dynamic and changing environment. It is not only stimulating but uses the students own knowledge and experience to promote discussions and opinions.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA / 8132 |
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Nature of examination:GCSE Paper 1 – Influences of operations and HRM on business activity What is assessed Business in the real world Influence on business Business operations Human resources Written exam: 1hour 45 minutes 90 marks – 50% of GCSE Questions
Paper 2 – Influences of marketing and finance on business activity What is assessed Business in the real world Influence on business Finance Marketing Written exam: 1hour 45 minutes 90 marks – 50% of GCSE Questions
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chemistry
In key stage 4 chemistry students become familiar with core concepts which are built into several main topics. These are internally assessed with timely feedback allowing students to take ownership of their progress and set aspirational targets. There are also twelve required practical assessments for the students to undertake all of which link directly to the AQA specification. Inspirational teaching aims to instil enthusiasm into the students and uses real life examples of scientific content in order to promote further education and careers in science.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462 |
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Nature of examination: Two 2 hour examinations Paper 1 Paper 2 2 hours 2 hours 50% 50% |
Computing
The AQA specification has been created to get students working with real-world programming and provides a good understanding of the fundamental principles of computing. It provides an academically challenging specification for students of all ability levels. Units include: Algorithms; programming; data representation; computer systems; networks; cyber security; ethical, legal & environmental impacts, including data privacy; software development. There is a programming project, to be completed in lessons, as part of the GCSE qualification.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA Computer Science 8520 |
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Nature of examination:
Paper 1: Computational Thinking and problem solving 1 hour 30 minutes 80 marks, 50% of final grade A mix of multiple choice, short answer and longer answer questions assessing a student’s practical problem solving and computational thinking skills.
Paper 2: Written Assessment 1 hour 30 minutes 80 marks, 50% of final grade A mix of multiple choice, short answer, longer answer and extended response questions assessing a student’s theoretical knowledge.
Practical Programming Project This is a 30 hour mandatory project, which does not count towards the final grade. |
dance
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in dance focuses on the aesthetic and artistic qualities of dance and the symbolic use of movement to express and communicate ideas and concepts through the interrelated processes of performance, choreography and appreciation. Dance is a powerful and empowering form of non-verbal communication and it is both physical and expressive, which makes it similar to and different from other art forms and physical activities. Dance develops creative, imaginative, physical, emotional and intellectual capacities.
This specification acknowledges the important role that dance plays in young people’s lives. Whilst many students will bring some previous experience of dance, others will have very little. This specification aims to value and build on whatever experience they have. GCSE students will study a range of dance styles which acknowledge aspects of the repertoire of dance that can be seen in the United Kingdom today.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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Theory
Practical
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Theory
Practical Choreography |
| Exam board: AQA Dance 8236 |
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Nature of examination: The GCSE dance course is based on 60% practical and 40% theory. The practical element of the course is split into 2 sections, 30% performance and 30% choreography. In the performance section the teacher selects two set phrases for each student to perform as a soloist, from the choice of the four set by AQA. The two remaining set phrases are then developed using actions, dynamics and spatial elements to generate dance content for a duet/trio performance based on a choreographic intent chosen by your teacher. The choreography section students must learn how to respond creatively to an externally set stimulus, to choreography their own complete dance. This can be a solo or a group dance and the student isn’t required to perform in their choreographed dance but may do so if they wish. To support the student’s ideas they must write programme notes of approximately 120-150 words. The theory paper is split into 3 sections, dance appreciation, critical appreciation of own work and critical appreciation of professional works. Paper name: Component 2: Dance appreciation Length of paper: 1 hr 30 mins 40% of final grade |
Design and Technology
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in design and technology prepares students to participate confidently and successfully in an increasingly technological world. Students will gain awareness and learn from wider influences on design and technology including historical, social, cultural, environmental and economic factors. Students will get the opportunity to work creatively when designing and making and apply technical and practical expertise. GCSE design and technology allows students to study core technical and designing and making principles, including a broad range of design processes, materials, techniques and equipment. They will also have the opportunity to study specialist technical principles in greater depth.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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During Y11 students will also complete a major piece of assessed work. The NEA (non-exam assessment) challenges students to develop a prototype in response to an exam board set contextual challenge. |
| Exam board: GCSE Design and Technology 8552 |
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Nature of examination: NEA (20 page portfolio with practical outcome) completed by March of the examining year. 50% of final GCSE Exam Paper 50% of final GCSE Paper name: Paper 1 Length of paper 2 hours 50% of final grade |
Drama
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in drama aims to really cement students’ knowledge in drama techniques, styles and practitioners to fully prepare them for both the practical and written exams. The curriculum aims to inspire and spark student’s imaginations in the hope that this then filters into their practical exams. Students will have two practical exams and one written; with this in mind, the theory for the latter is intertwined throughout the curriculum to keep the information fresh. As well as this, students will attend the theatre at least once during the GCSE course and will study a play text, allowing the students to see the world of theatre from different points of view.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA GCSE Drama (8261) |
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The GSCE course is divided into 3 components:
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english
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in English is built on delivering two essential GCSE qualifications: English Literature and English Language. These qualifications are of vital importance to the future employability of our students, and both enable them to move into the next phase of their development with invaluable communication, organisation, analytical and creative skills all at a recognised national standard. In English Literature students learn to infer meaningfully, analyse and evaluate. In English Language these skills are also developed alongside practical creative skills with daily life applications. Both subjects are taught in English lessons with a focus on one qualification and assessment at a time.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: (AQA/Language 8700) | Exam board: (AQA/Literature 8702) |
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Nature of examination: 2x written exams Section A – Comprehension Section B – Creative Writing
Paper 1 Explorations in Creative Reading 1 Hour 45 Minutes 50% of final grade Paper 2 Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives 1 Hour 45 Minutes 50% of final grade *AQA also offer a Spoken Language Endorsement assessed separately. |
Nature of examination: 2x written exams Paper 1 - Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel 1 Hour 45 Minutes 40% of final grade Section A - Shakespeare Section B – 19th Century Novel
Paper 2 - Modern Texts and Poetry 2 Hours 15 Minutes 60% of final grade Section A – An Inspector Calls Section B – Power and Conflict Section C - Unseen Poetry |
french
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum in French is built on developing the listening, reading, writing and speaking skills that pupils have acquired in Key Stage 3. Knowledge of both vocabulary and grammar is extended and consolidated. The GCSE qualification is of vital importance to pupils in terms of future study and employability, and will enable them to move into the next phase of their development with invaluable communication skills at a recognised national standard, which importantly allows access to the EBacc.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA GCSE French-Specification code-8658 |
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Nature of examination:4 examinations-Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking Listening Length of paper: Higher-45 minutes, Foundation- 35 minutes 25% of final grade Reading Length of paper: Higher-60 minutes, Foundation- 45 minutes 25% of final grade Writing Length of paper: Higher-75 minutes, Foundation- 60 minutes 25% of final grade Speaking Length of test: Higher-12 minutes, Foundation- 7-9 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time for each tier) 25% of final grade |
geography
The KS4 curriculum in geography follows the Edexcel B Exam board curriculum, pupils are exposed to a wide range of human and physical topics within geography designed to provide them with a better understanding of their role in an increasingly interconnected world. The first component of this qualification requires pupils to gain an understanding of a wide range of global geographic issues including development, the challenges of a rapidly urbanising world and global hazards (climatic and tectonic). The second component focuses upon Geography within the United Kingdom, examining the wide range of physical processes that have shaped our inland and coastal environments, as well as the human processes that impact upon both our urban core and rural peripheries. Moreover, as part of the second component pupils are required to carry out and understand the process of conducting a fieldwork investigation which is examined through unseen exam questions. Finally, the third component of the GCSE requires pupils to analyse and interpret a resource booklet based around the topics of energy issues, biomes and forests under threat, this culminates in an extended decision making exercise in which students construct an argument based around a data response.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: Edexcel GCSE 1-9 Geography B |
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Nature of examination: 100% examination based assessment Paper name: Global Geographical Issues Length of paper: 1 hour 30 minutes % of final grade: 37.5% Paper name: UK Geographical Issues Length of paper: 1 hour 30 minutes % of final grade: 37.5% Paper name: People and Environmental Issues Length of paper: 1 hour 30 minutes % of final grade: 25% |
Health and Social Care
Btec health and social care is two year course delivered alongside biology. This course is offered to students who may prefer a more coursework based scientific route. The course is designed to develop student’s awareness of health and social care practices including job roles and key care values. The exam unit which is sat in February of year 11 assesses health indicators and life stages as well as students’ knowledge of interpreting data.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: |
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Pearson- Health and Well Being 2 hour exam. 40% of overall grade. |
history
GCSE history will help you understand how the world you live in was shaped, and make you consider today’s society in a different way. It uses the past to develop skills vital for the future, such as spotting bias in sources, communicating clearly and articulating an argument. With a key focus on migration it helps us understand different cultures and develop an empathy for those forced to migrate even today. In depth studies of the USA allows students the time to consider political issues such as capitalism and communism and exploring the role of Hitler in World War Two helps students to consider the notion of power and propaganda.
Employers and universities regard History qualifications very highly – GCSE history may just be your ticket to a better future…
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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America 1919 – 1973 Opportunity and inequality
Conflict and Tension – 1918 - 1939
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Migration, Empire and People
Norman England
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| Exam board: AQA History (8145) |
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Nature of examination: 2 x written exam papers Paper name Paper 1 – understanding the Modern World
Length of paper: 1 hour 45 minutes % of final grade: 50% Paper 2 – Shaping the Nation
Length of paper: 1 hour 45 mins % of final grade 50% |
Mathematics
The importance of a GCSE in mathematics can be reflected upon by the fact that nearly 97% of the jobs now require the candidate to pass GCSE in mathematics. GCSE mathematics not only helps in imparting mathematical skills to the student but also enables students to become fluent in their understanding of mathematical knowledge and concepts. It helps students apply mathematical techniques to real-world problems. The study of mathematics can satisfy a wide range of interests and abilities. It develops the imagination. It trains in clear and logical thought. It is a challenge, with varieties of difficult ideas and unsolved problems, because it deals with the questions arising from complicated structures. Yet it also has a continuing drive to simplification, to finding the right concepts and methods to make difficult things easy, to explaining why a situation must be as it is. In so doing, it develops a range of language and insights, which may then be applied to make a crucial contribution to our understanding and appreciation of the world, and our ability to find and make our way in it.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: GCSE AQA 8300 |
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Nature of examination: Externally assessed examinations covering any part of the specification Paper 1 Non Calculator. Papers 2 and 3 Calculator allowed Length of each paper 1hr 30 mins Each contributing 33.33% of the final grade |
music
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in music will give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in music and express themselves as a performer. BTEC music and GCSE music are very similar; however, GCSE music has more of a focus on theory and analysing classical, and other forms of music; whereas, BTEC music is more vocational and has an increased practical element. BTEC music is designed to prepare students for taking part in the world of work in the music industry, whereas GCSE music is more theory based. Both subjects are a solid foundation for further and higher education in music and are pathways to BTEC Level 3 and A Level music, as well as university degrees in music.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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BTEC Music:
GCSE Music:
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BTEC Music:
GCSE Music:
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| Exam board: Edexcel: BTEC Level 1/2 First Award in Music & Edexcel: GCSE Music | |
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Physical Education
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in physical education tackles a variety of complex and demanding physical activities. We provide opportunities for pupils to participate in a range of activities that promote personal fitness and encourage healthy active lifestyles. Students can build on their lessons by taking part in the many enrichment opportunities provided and by joining local clubs to continue their development. A leadership programme is embarked on by all students teaching the importance of communication, teamwork, health and safety and effective planning. This results in students delivering coaching sessions to classes in the junior school and evaluating their delivery.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA/8582 |
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Nature of examination: The GCSE is comprised of 2 exam papers, a practical component and coursework. For the practical you must compete in 3 different sports, either 2 team and 1 individual or 2 individual and 1 team sport. Coursework is an evaluation and analysis of one performance to bring about improvement. Practical and coursework combined makes up 40% of the final grade. Paper name: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport Length of paper 1hr 15min 30% of final grade Paper name: Socio-cultural influences and well-being in physical activity and sport Length of paper 1hr 15min 30% of final grade |
physics
The key stage 4 curriculum in physics expands on the Key Stage 3 experience, with the core principles of physics covered in much more detail. Key Stage 4 begins to develop practical skills through the required practical element of the course, whilst also focusing on the examination skills demanded by the linear nature of the GCSE courses. Students learn how to apply their physics knowledge to situations they may not have experienced before, thinking for themselves and working out how what they have learned fits in to the new scenario. There are numerous opportunities to investigate cutting edge developments in the field of physics such as how scientists are searching for extra-terrestrial life in the solar system and beyond.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA GCSE physics 8463, GCSE trilogy 8464 |
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Nature of examination: Linear examinations – all examined at the end of the 2 year course GCSE Physics 8463 Paper 1 1 hour 45 minutes 100 marks 50% of the GCSE Topics 1-4: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure. Questions Style: Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response. Paper 2 (May draw on an understanding of energy changes and transfers due to heating, mechanical and electrical work and the concept of energy conservation from Energy and Electricity.) 1 hour 45 minutes 100 marks 50% of the GCSE Topics 5-8: Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics. Questions Style: Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer and open response.
GCSE Trilogy 8464 (Physics aspect) Paper 1 1 hour 15 minutes 70 marks 16.7% of the GCSE Physics topics 18–21: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure. Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response. Paper 2 1 hour 15 minutes 70 marks 16.7% of the GCSE Physics topics 22–24: Forces; Waves; and Magnetism and electromagnetism Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response. |
PSHE
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in PSHE is contained in 6 drop down days, during which students are off timetable and follow a programme devised to cover a variety of issues relating to both the physical and mental health of the students. They also support the future focus of our students to help them meet the GATSBY standards, and ensure that our students can make informed decisions about the future.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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Four key days across the school year which focus upon:
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Two key days in the Autumn term which focus upon:
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Religious Studies
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in religious studies focuses on Christianity and Judaism and studies the beliefs and practices within these religions. It develops students’ knowledge and understanding of religious beliefs, teachings, practices, and sources of wisdom and authority, including through their reading of key religious texts, other texts, and scriptures of the religions they are studying. It develops students’ ability to construct well-argued, well-informed, balanced and structured written arguments, demonstrating their depth and breadth of understanding of the subject. It provides opportunities for students to engage with questions of belief, value, meaning, purpose, truth, and their influence on human life and challenges them to reflect on and develop their own values, beliefs and attitudes in the light of what they have learnt and contributes to their preparation for adult life in a pluralistic society and global community.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: Eduqas Route A |
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Component 1:Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern World Written examination: 2 hours 50% of qualification Component 2: Study of Christianity Written examination: 1 hour 25% of qualification Component 3: Study of a World Faith: Judaism Written examination: 1 hour 25% of qualification |
Spanish
The Key Stage 4 curriculum in Spanish is built on developing the listening, reading, writing and speaking skills that pupils have acquired in Key Stage 3. Knowledge of both vocabulary and grammar is extended and consolidated. The GCSE qualification is of vital importance to pupils in terms of future study and employability, and will enable them to move into the next phase of their development with invaluable communication skills at a recognised national standard, which importantly allows access to the EBacc.
| Year 10 | Year 11 |
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| Exam board: AQA GCSE Spanish -8698 |
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Nature of examination: 4 exams-Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking Listening Length of paper: Higher-45 minutes, Foundation- 35 minutes 25% of final grade Reading Length of paper: Higher-60 minutes, Foundation- 45 minutes 25% of final grade Writing Length of paper: Higher-75 minutes, Foundation- 60 minutes 25% of final grade Speaking Length of test: Higher-12 minutes, Foundation- 7-9 minutes (plus 12 minutes preparation time for each tier) 25% of final grade |