The qualifications for all of the core subjects are IGCSEs, which are an international equivalent of GCSEs and recognised as such by universities and employers. The following subjects are taken by all pupils. All courses conclude with examinations at the end of the Fifth Form. All pupils are prepared for the IGCSE in English Language. Pupils will also submit work for the Living Texts qualification. A natural development of our internal literature course, this is an alternative to GCSE English Literature. It should be noted that, whilst the award is not the equivalent of a GCSE, Grades (from A* downwards) and certificates will be awarded by the OCR Examination Board. Pupils will read a wide selection of texts and complete analytical and creative responses to what they read. Teachers have the freedom to choose texts and set appropriate tasks, thereby developing further the skills needed to study English effectively and independently. Some GCSE courses contain a coursework element. Coursework is independent work completed by pupils during the course which is submitted for formal assessment to the examination boards. Marks from coursework are combined with marks from examinations to form the overall grade. The proportion assessed by coursework varies from subject to subject. Similarly, rules for completion of coursework vary from subject to subject, including the amount of preparation, help available from teachers, the possibility of re-submission of marked pieces of work and time available for working on the piece outside the classroom. There is one fundamental rule for all pieces of coursework, which is that the work submitted must be the pupil’s own. Pupils who do not adhere to the rules for one subject may be considered to be cheating by the examination boards with the possible result that they will be failed for all of their GCSEs.
All pupils are prepared for the IGCSE in English Language. Pupils will also submit work for the Living Texts qualification. A natural development of our internal literature course, this is an alternative to GCSE English Literature. It should be noted that, whilst the award is not the equivalent of a GCSE, Grades (from A* downwards) and certificates will be awarded by the OCR Examination Board. Pupils will read a wide selection of texts and complete analytical and creative responses to what they read. Teachers have the freedom to choose texts and set appropriate tasks, thereby developing further the skills needed to study English effectively and independently.
Some GCSE courses contain a coursework element. Coursework is independent work completed by pupils during the course which is submitted for formal assessment to the examination boards. Marks from coursework are combined with marks from examinations to form the overall grade. The proportion assessed by coursework varies from subject to subject. Similarly, rules for completion of coursework vary from subject to subject, including the amount of preparation, help available from teachers, the possibility of re-submission of marked pieces of work and time available for working on the piece outside the classroom. There is one fundamental rule for all pieces of coursework, which is that the work submitted must be the pupil’s own. Pupils who do not adhere to the rules for one subject may be considered to be cheating by the examination boards with the possible result that they will be failed for all of their GCSEs.