Year 11 - GCSE/IGCSE (2nd year)

At St. Francis’ we are proud of the breadth of opportunity we provide and the individual focus that helps to ensure that every student can fully realise their potential.
We aim to ensure that each student achieves the highest level of which they are capable and leaves St. Francis’ a well-rounded individual, ready to embrace the next stage in their life.


Children enter the Senior School at age 11 and are selected on their academic potential. Although we achieve a high level of success at GCSE and A Level, we are not solely interested in academic excellence; developing social skills, an appreciation of the arts, and ability in sports are equally important. Our expectation is that all students will fully embrace and contribute to our DREAMS ethos and values.

Having made GCSE choices, students focus on their subjects. However, this is not a narrow curriculum as most will study nine subjects at GCSE level. We aim to ensure that students have a broad and balanced programme of study without specialising too narrowly ahead of A Levels. The core subjects taken by all students are: English Language, Mathematics, A minimum of one science, Games (non-examination), Personal Development (non-examination), HPQ (Higher Project Qualification).

Students have formal assessments at the end of each unit of work, together with more formal end-of-year examinations. GCSE Mock examinations take place at the start of the Spring Term of Year 11. In class, teachers prioritise ongoing use of formative assessment to enhance student progress. Students are allocated homework according to the published homework timetable. Parents receive formal written reports once a year. They are also invited to attend Parents’ Evening once a year, (twice in Year 11) as well as receiving academic tracking grades regularly throughout the year.