Malvern College Briefing on I/GCSE Choices For entry into the Remove in September 2018

GCSEs & IGCSEs At Malvern, like at most other UK independent schools, we offer a mix of GCSEs and IGCSEs. The ‘I’ denotes ‘international’ but IGCSEs are awarded by UK exam boards, just like GCSEs. Universities regard them as entirely equivalent.

How many I/GCSEs do the Remove/Hundred take? Most pupils will take 10 I/GCSEs: English Language English Literature Mathematics The equivalent of at least 2 Science I/GCSEs Plus 5 optional I/GCSE subjects

5 Optional Subjects (for most pupils) • Most pupils will take 5 optional subjects • It might be appropriate for a minority of pupils to take 4 optional subjects if their tutor and Mrs Swart, Head of Lower School: Academic, think that is right for them, for example, in order to fit Learning Enhancement lessons in to their timetable.

Modern Foreign or Classical Languages Except for pupils in the lowest FY French or Spanish set, pupils must choose at least one Modern Foreign Language (French, German, Spanish) or Classical Language (Latin or Classical Greek). Non-native English speakers may choose to study a Modern Language but do not have to do so.

More than the standard A significant minority of pupils take more than the ‘standard’ 10 I/GCSEs if they do Additional Mathematics (which doesn’t require them to use one of their 5 optional subject choices) or an additional language by private tuition.

REMOVE CURRICULUM, with number of lessons allocated ENG MATHS SCIENCE OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3 OPTION 4 OPTION 5 3 6 Life Skills & Ethics ‘Core’ Physical Education for those doing PE GCSE Tutor Period 1

Remove Curriculum Compulsory Subjects: • Mathematics IGCSE Biology, Chemistry, Physics (either as Dual Award Science IGCSE or Triple Award Science IGCSE) English Language IGCSE English Literature IGCSE Except for pupils in the lowest FY French or Spanish set, pupils must choose at least one Modern Foreign Language or Classical Language English as an additional language (for non-native English speakers) Life Skills & Ethics

Remove Curriculum Mathematics: All pupils will take IGCSE Mathematics with the top set taking Additional Mathematics as well Science: There is the choice of taking either Double Award Science or Triple award Science EAL: All non-native English speakers in the FY who currently take English as an additional language must continue with EAL in the Remove & Hundred. MUSIC, ART, PE, TECHNOLOGY, DRAMA & SPORT SCHOLARS DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE THOSE SUBJECTS FOR GCSE

Optional Subjects Apart from pupils in the lowest FY Maths set, pupils choose 5 optional subjects Pupils in the lowest FY Maths set usually choose 4 optional subjects. Non-native English speakers must choose EAL as one of their options.

Optional Subjects Triple Award Science Art and Design Music Drama Physical Education GCSE Design Technology French German Spanish

Optional Subjects Continued Greek Latin History Geography Religious Studies Computer Science

Timings Parents receive the information on choices via e-mail before Half-term in the Lent Term FY pupils receive GCSE booklet and have a briefing on GCSE choices in the week before Half-term in the Lent Term Pupils make their preliminary choices in Week 7 of the Lent Term Blocking of subjects will then commence • Choices refined later in the Lent Term & during the Summer term Refinements to the options blocks made to accommodate as many pupils’ first choices as possible

Pupils should talk to: Their parents Their tutor Their Housemaster/Housemistress Their teachers and Heads of Departments Mrs Swart (Head of Lower School: Academic) • Mr Gauci (Deputy Head: Academic)

I/GCSE Reform • The teaching of new I/GCSEs in all subjects began in September 2016 or in September 2017 • A new grading system of 9-1 (9 = the highest) has replaced the old A*-U scale for all subjects

New GCSE/IGCSE Grading Structure Old GCSE/IGCSE structure   A* A B C D E F G U New GCSE/IGCSE structure 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 U  4 and above = C and above Broadly the same proportion of candidates will achieve a grade 7 and above as currently achieve a grade A and above Broadly the same proportion of candidates will achieve a grade 4 and above as currently achieve a grade C and above