This document provides information for students about choosing their GCSE options. It explains that students must select either a broad range of subjects or subjects that will allow them to pursue a particular career path. The options include core subjects like English, maths, and sciences, as well as subjects like art, computer science, and languages. Students are advised to carefully read the options booklet, speak to teachers, and not make choices based solely on ease or liking a teacher. The timeline for selecting options and sign-up sessions are also outlined. The document discusses course details and considerations for subjects like English, sciences, computer science, and languages.

1. Year 9 GCSE
Options Information
Evening

2. What will you do?
 Broad and balanced curriculum
 Subjects that allow you to follow a
variety of career paths
 Subjects that inspire you to carry-on to
A-level and beyond

3. How do you go about making
these choices?
 Read through the options booklet
carefully, preferably with your parents!
 Ask your subject teachers for advice
 You can also ask your tutor, HoYs
(9,10 or 11), Mr Reddin or Mr Ryce

4. Choosing GCSE subjects
Don’t…
 choose subjects because they are ‘easy’
 choose subjects because you like a
teacher
 avoid subjects because you dislike a
teacher/think a teacher dislikes you
 It is important to get this right first time –
it is difficult to change courses once you
have started!

5. Options form

6. Options form

7. Process
 There are a number of core subjects
◦ Mathematics
◦ English (English and English Literature)
◦ Science (Double Award or Triple Award)
◦ RS
◦ Modern Foreign Language (French,
German, Spanish)

8. Options – You select up to 3
GCSEs from the following
 Art & Design
 Computer Science
 Classical Civilization
 Design &Technology
 Drama
 Food Technology
 French (German or Spanish can be chosen as a core Second
Language)
 Geography
 History
 ICT
 Latin
 Media Studies
 Music
 Physical Education
 Triple Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics

9. GCSE Options
Grade Specifications September 2016
New Specification
9-1
Existing Specification
A-G
Art & Design Classical Civilisation
Biology I-GCSE Design and Technology
Computer Science Information & Communications Technology
Chemistry I-GCSE Media Studies
Drama
English Language
English Literature
Food Preparation and Nutrition
French
German
Geography
History
Latin
Mathematics
Music
Physical Education
Physics I-GCSE
Religious Studies
Spanish

10. Timeline
 Provisional choices to be made by
Wednesday 10th February
 GCSE option blocks produced by
Tuesday 23rd February
 Choices will need to be made by
Tuesday 1st March

11. Drop in Sessions Sessions
The following drop in information
sessions will take place for Year 9
students:
 Media Studies (Tuesday 9 Feb,
1.15pm in M1)
 Academic PE (Monday 8 Feb 1.15pm
SS1)
 Classical Civilisation (Friday 5 Feb)

12. English Language and Literature
or English Language Only?
 More Information:
1. Most students will be awarded 2 GCSEs.
2. English Literature examinations are now closed text
and this might be a consideration for some students.
3. English Language GCSE demands that the students
understand and appreciate 19th century English
Literature texts . Therefore, the two courses will be
taught to all students for at least the first term in Year
10.
 Future Opportunities:
1. The study of English Literature at A Level will only be
open to those who study both GCSEs.

13. Modern Foreign Languages
 If students are taking a MFL then we
strongly recommend that they spend
some time in the target language
country. We offer:
 a residential trip to Berlin
 a homestay visit to France, typically
Nice or Montpellier,
 a residential to Salamanca in Spain
 All take place in the Easter holidays

14. GCSE Computer Science
 Challenging and academically
rigorous
 Considered a “fourth” science
 Opportunity for students to further
develop transferable skills in:
◦ Critical Thinking
◦ Analysis
◦ Problem Solving

15. GCSE Computer Science
 Topics Studied
◦ Computer Systems
 Physical Networks
 Network Security
 Systems Architecture
◦ Computational Thinking
 Algorithms
 High and low level programming
 Logic
◦ Programming Project

16. International GCSE
Option Choices in
Science
International GCSE

17. I-GCSE choices in Science
 I-GCSE Double Award
 Physics, Chemistry and Biology are
taught as separate subjects, with
separate teachers
 The examinations will give two I-
GCSE grades:
 Double Science I-GCSE

18. I-GCSE choices in Science
 I-GCSE Triple Sciences
 Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Also
taught separately. The examinations
will give three I-GCSE grades:
 Biology I-GCSE
 Chemistry I-GCSE
 Physics I-GCSE

19. Double Science
 There will be in total 12 periods of
Science per fortnight
 The students are taught in ability
groups (sets)
 The Double Science curriculum will
allow access to any Science A levels –
providing the grades are good enough

20. Triple Science
 Students choosing this route will study
Science instead of an option subject
 18 periods of Science per fortnight
 More rigorous than Double Science
 There will be no sets – the most able
Science students study Triple Science
and so the groups will be of a similar
ability level

21. I-GCSE
 The assessment is through
terminal papers only
 There is no coursework
assessment of practical work in
the Sciences. Scientific method
and experimental technique are
assessed as part of the written
examinations
 The course content has more
breadth and depth than GCSE and
is deemed to be a good

22. Edexcel I-GCSE
Double Award
 Single tier. The examination
comprises paper 1 from Chemistry,
Biology, and Physics. Three 2 hour
papers in total
 Graded 9 - 1
 Students are awarded two I-GCSE
grades
 Provides a sound foundation for
progression to A level science

23. Edexcel I-GCSE
Triple Science Award
 This course is a more intensive course
than Double Science.
 Single tier. The examination
comprises 2 papers in each science,
one of 2 hours and one of 1 hour.
 Graded 9 -1
 Students are awarded 3 I-GCSE
grades, that are completely separate.
 Provides a thorough foundation for
progression to AS and A level science

24. Which to choose?
 Seek the advice of Science teachers
before deciding which option to
choose.
 The Triple Award is an option aimed
at those students who see science as
a particular strength of theirs.
 Double Science will provide a
balanced science education, suitable
for students of all abilities. It is likely to
be taught at a slightly slower pace.

25. Summary
 Students should consider their options
carefully and discuss with parents and
relevant teachers
 Complete the option form – this creates
the blocks
 Triple Science will not be suitable for the
majority of students. Almost half the
student body will not do English
Literature
 Trips – enrich the curriculum
 Make a positive first step towards 6th
form study

26. Year 9 GCSE
Options Information
Evening