Compulsory GCSE Subjects

All students complete AQA GCSE English Language (8700) and AQA GCSE English Literature (8702). 

Our current set texts are: ‘Macbeth’, ‘A Christmas Carol’, ‘An Inspector Calls’ and the AQA Poetry Anthology: Power and Conflict cluster. 

All qualifications in English are 100% terminal examination and untiered, in line with national requirements. A number of staff within the department are GCSE Examiners, and we provide support sessions and masterclasses for students.

GCSE English at Grade 4 is vital for a whole range of employment options, college courses  and university degrees, including those at Leigh Academy Hugh Christie Sixth Form.

For most jobs, employers will look for good communication skills, both written and spoken, and the ability to read with insight and understanding.

Jobs using English specifically can include work in media, journalism, proofreading, publishing, the legal profession, advertising, book-selling, office administration, web design, editorial work, secretarial work, public relations, creative writing, management and teaching.

Course Outline:

There are 6 broad areas of study.

The course is made up of themes whereby practical problems, investigations and topics provide the stimulus for individual, group and class work. Activities involve applying mathematics to real-life problems as well as exploring and investigating within mathematics itself. 

A variety of teaching approaches and resources are used including published texts, worksheets, practical materials and computers. Students are expected to have scientific calculators.

Sparx maths is used as a home learning tool. 

You are grouped according to your level of attainment, using KS3 results and teacher assessment. Individual progress is carefully monitored and movement between groups takes place as, and when, appropriate, although constant movement between groups is deemed inappropriate

The assessment pattern is differentiated to enable students to show their ability. Students will be entered for either higher or foundation tier according to their expected level of achievement. The choice of sitting whether higher or foundation paper will be decided using the student’s capability, their mock grades, ability to cope with the level of work as well as topic assessments. The qualification will be graded and certificated on a nine-grade scale from 9 to 1 using the total mark across all three papers where 9 is the highest grade. Foundation tier will be graded from 1 to 5 and higher will be graded 4 to 9, note that grade 4 and 5 are achievable in either tier of papers. It is not possible to mix higher and foundation papers together.

The course is linear and the assessment comprises three papers lasting 90 minutes. Paper 1 is a non-calculator assessment and paper 2 and 3 are calculator papers.

The skills developed through the study of maths are in high demand from employers and universities. In addition to developing the ability to solve problems and think logically, the study of maths provides opportunities to develop team-working skills, resilience, effective communication of complex ideas and the ability to use your own initiative. Maths underpins most of science, technology and engineering and is also important in areas as diverse as business, law, nutrition, sports science and psychology. There are many opportunities to use maths to make a difference in society, for example through the analysis involved in medical research, developing new technology, modelling epidemics or in the study of patterns of criminal activity to identify trends.

Combined Science takes the raw mark from each of the six exams and adds them all together. Due to the amount of content covered in the course, students who study Combined Science are awarded two GCSE grades. The total mark of all six exams equates to a double grade – for example; 4-4 or 6-5. Students who write foundation papers can score grades 1-1 to 5-5, Students who write the Higher paper can achieve up to grade 9-9.

Foundation Tier

A great starting point for hard working students. Grades available range from 1-1 to 5-5. Questions are often structured with simpler language and exams are more about testing basic recall and moderate application. Every student completing Foundation should be aiming for a result of 5-5 (two grades of ‘5’) – achievable for most, with practice.

Higher Tier

The Higher Tier has grades available from 4-4 to 9-9, but any student that doesn’t achieve the minimum grade boundary for a 4-4 is awarded nothing or a ‘U’ for ungraded. We only enter students for higher grades when they demonstrate both excellent recall and proven application practice. Those who score strong 4’s and above can expect to be entered for the higher tier.

We assess every child individually prior to the end of Year 10 exams and will provide you with updated information on exam tier entry at that point.

Please note: Separate Science GCSE (Three separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics). These courses have content in common with Combined Science, plus further content. The students who select this option will have additional science lessons each week to cover the extra content. This must be chosen as an option choice.

Science is a valuable qualification for a variety of post-16 options. Employers value the combination of logical thinking, data handling, scientific knowledge and rigour of a science qualification. Those considering careers in construction, plumbing or becoming an electrician will benefit from the knowledge and skills developed with a science qualification. Students who meet grade requirements may go on to pursue A levels in physics, biology, or chemistry. 

The delivery of the lessons is mainly in Spanish or German and students are encouraged to use the language as soon as they enter the classroom. There are a range of resources available to support classwork and independent study. Homework is set on a weekly basis and will vary in skill and task depending on content and lesson work. All students will also have fortnightly vocab tests and are expected to learn the vocabulary which can be accessed digitally and via interactive websites that we subscribe to. This is key to being successful in the course.

The course structure is as follows:

1. Theme 1
2. Theme 2
3. Theme 3
4. Assessment

Students are assessed in the 4 skills above. There will be an exam in each skill which will take place at the end of year 11. Each exam is worth 25% of a student’s final grade. Students can either sit Foundation (grades 1-5) or Higher (grades 4-9) exam papers but they must sit all four skills at the same tier. We only enter students for higher tier that demonstrate great attitude both inside and outside the classroom and that have secure vocabulary knowledge.  No exam can be retaken. No dictionaries or any other support are allowed in any of the exams.

Spanish and German is a very valuable qualification in today’s globalised world. Employers value the knowledge and skills developed by the learning of a second language, so it is not only sought after in jobs that require the language (translator, teacher, international journalist, pilot,…) but also by businesses that want to expand internationally or that have international business. It also opens many doors for individuals wanting to explore jobs in other countries.

Component 1: Global Geographical Issues

• Hazardous earth
  Global atmospheric circulation, tectonics and atmospheric hazards.
• Development dynamics
  Measuring development, why are some countries more developed than others?
• Challenges of an urbanising world
  An increasingly urbanised world which leads to both challenges and opportunities

Component 2: UK Geographical Issues

• The UK’s evolving physical landscape covering
  Coasts: Influences of geology and processes.
  Rivers: Physical processes on river landscapes.
• The UK’s evolving human landscape
  Changes to our urban and rural living environments with a focus on London.
• Geographical investigations
  One human (urban or rural areas) and one physical (either coasts or rivers) fieldwork.

Component 3: People and Environment Issues

• Making Geographical Decisions
  People and the biosphere: How do we use the planet?
  Forests under threat: How are people impacting the world’s forests?
  Consuming energy resources: From fossil fuels to clean energy – what are the impacts of our energy choices?

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is a vital component of the course. All students will be involved in fieldwork in the local area. This will include one day of physical fieldwork in the South East and one day of human based fieldwork in London.

• Paper 1: 1 hour 30 minutes written examination: 94 Marks, 37.5% of the qualification
• Paper 2: 1 hour 30 minutes written examination: 94 Marks, 37.5% of the qualification
• Paper 3: 1 hour 30 minutes written examination: 64 Marks, 25% of the qualification

Studying Geography opens doors to a wide range of careers, including:

• Environmental Consultancy
• Urban and Regional Planning
• Climate Change and Sustainability Roles
• Energy and resource development
• International Development
• Government and Policy making
• GIS (Geographical Information Systems) Analysis
• Transport and Logistics
• Travel and Tourism 
• Teaching and Education

Geography is regarded as a facilitating subject, meaning it is highly respected by universities and employers. The skills developed through this course—such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and data analysis—are transferable across many industries.

Paper 1: Thematic study and historic environment – Option 11 – 1 hour 20 minutes, 52 marks (including 16 for the historic environment)

Medicine in Britain, c.1250-present and The British sector of the Western Front, 1914-1918: injuries, treatment and the trenches

This topic focuses on the development of medicine in relation to British society. Students will focus on: medieval beliefs, treatments, and healers; the impact of the Renaissance; the revolution in medicine occurring in the 18th and 19th centuries; and the impact of modern medical developments including antibiotics and the NHS. The historic environment section features source skills and is based on a close study of medical conditions, treatments, and experiments during the First World War.

Paper 2: Period study and British depth study – Options B4 and P4 – 1 hour 50 minutes, 64 marks

Henry VIII and his Ministers, 1509-1540

This topic focuses on the reign of Henry VIII and covers his attitude towards kingship. The rise and fall of Wolsey, including his domestic policies, foreign affairs, and failure to secure Henry’s annulment. The Break with Rome including why Henry broke with thousands of years of tradition and split from the Catholic Church. Finally, the rise and fall of Cromwell, his reforms of government, finance, and religion, including the dissolution of the monasteries.

Superpower relations in the Cold War, 1945-95

This topic follows the growing tensions between East and West in the years immediately following World War II. After focusing on Berlin, Hungary, and Cuba as flashpoints, the course then moves on to consider detente and the collapse of the USSR.

Paper 3: Modern depth study – Option 31 – 1 hour 30 minutes, 52 marks

Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-1939

In this topic, students learn about the immediate aftermath of World War I and its effects on the new Weimar Republic in Germany, including the challenges it faced and how society changed. Students then learn about Hitler’s rise to power, the Nazi dictatorship, and life in Nazi Germany.

Having a History qualification will strengthen your future applications. It is a highly respected subject among employers, valued for its emphasis on critical thinking, analytical skills, and the ability to evaluate evidence and construct well-reasoned arguments. History opens doors to many different pathways including careers in law and politics, media and journalism, education and academia, intelligence and investigative agencies and business and management. 

You will be in groups depending on your chosen pathway. Pathways will consist of traditional sports as well as more recreational activities.  Students will also have the opportunity to make use of the schools fitness room.You can expect from your lessons, skill development, game play, coaching of tactics, opportunities to officiate, learning how to use fitness equipment and planning to improve/maintain fitness levels.

Students are not assessed for n Core PE at Key Stage 4, However, they will be expected to participate to the best of their ability and will have opportunities to develop personal skills and qualities as a performer, official, leader and coach. 

Although there is no qualification that can be ascertained in core PE, it provides opportunities for pupils to develop personal skills such as knowledge, structure, communication, organisation, target setting, effective use of language and qualities such as independence, leadership styles, teamwork, confidence, competence, motivation, enthusiasm and humour all of which future employers look for when at an interview.

Topics Covered:

• Physical and Mental Health
• Social Justice and Equality including the Protected Characteristics
• Healthy Relationships
• Relationships and Sex Education online and offline
• Online Safety
• Attitudes to Life and Death
• Citizenship and Fundamental British Values
• Responding to global issues

There is no formal assessment for PSHRE. Students will be focused on developing key employability skills such as effective communication, compassion, empathy and the ability to consider different perspectives to a topic. Students will be guided through formative assessment within their lessons so they are knowledgeable about areas of strength and areas they can develop.