Year 11 - GCSE/IGCSE (2nd year)

GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education) are the UK examinations sat around the age of sixteen. Courses are typically two years long and the final, public examinations in all subjects are taken at the end of the Fifth Form. There are elements of coursework or practical work in some subjects which contribute to the overall grade.GCSEs are graded on a 9 – 1 scale, where 9 is the best. A grade 8 is equivalent to the ‘old’ A GCSE grading, with a 9 awarded to the top 20% of students nationally who score between a 7 and a 9.CORE SUBJECTSWhile all students study Maths, English and Science as a core to their GCSE curriculum, the exact nature of the Core and the number of qualifications it equates to can be tailored according to the interests and abilities of each individual student. For example, this enables students who have the interest and ability to specialise in Maths and Science to study Triple Science and to complete the Maths GCSE early, before progressing to study the FSMQ. While students who find Science more challenging will take either Double or Single Award Science, enabling them to ‘weight’ their curriculum more heavily towards other areas of the curriculum. This innovative and flexible approach to the Core academic requirements allows students to personalise even the very heart of their GCSE curriculum.SUPERVISED STUDY PERIODS (SSPs)These are lessons in which students are free to work independently on their homework tasks or revision activities. They are not ‘free’ periods, so students are based in classrooms and supervised by a member of staff.Optional SubjectsStudents should select optional subjects – playing to their strengths – so that two years of enjoyment and success can be achieved. The optional GCSE subjects on offer are: Art, Computer Science, Dance, Design & Technology, Drama, French, German, Geography, History, Latin, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies, Sociology, Spanish, and most students will study English Literature.The subject blocks are based on initial feedback from the Shell year group and are decided in the Lent Term. Subjects appear in more than one option block in order to facilitate as many combinations of subjects as possible. Choices should be discussed with tutors and parents.Please note that GCSE optional subjects are available subject to demand.Four OptionsA majority of students at Ardingly College complete eight or nine GCSEs. Typically comprised of five GCSEs from the core (Maths, English Language, English Literature and Double Science) and three or four optional subjects. Those students who accept the invitation to study Triple Science will complete nine GCSEs but with six GCSEs from the core (Maths, English Language, English Literature and Triple Science). A small number of students will complete early entry language qualifications and ultimately achieve ten GCSE qualifications. However, a number of students will also follow programmes that result in eight or, in a small number of cases, seven GCSEs.