1. Malvern College Briefing on GCSE Choices
For entry into the Remove in September 2017

2. How many GCSEs do the Remove/Hundred take?
Most pupils will take 9 or 10 GCSEs:
English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
The equivalent of at least 2 Science IGCSEs

3. 5 Optional Subjects (for most pupils)
• Most pupils will take 5 optional subjects
• A pupil may take 4 optional subjects if their tutor and Mrs Swart, Head of Lower School: Academic, think that is appropriate for them, for example, in order to fit Learning Enhancement lessons in to their timetable.

4. 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.

5. A significant minority of pupils take more than the ‘standard’ 9-10 GCSEs if they do Additional Mathematics or an additional language by private tuition.

6. 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.

7. ‘Core’ Physical Education
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 1
Tutor Period 1

8. 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)
‘Core’ Physical Education lessons (as opposed to PE GCSE)
Life Skills & Ethics

9. Mathematics: All pupils will take IGCSE Mathematics with the top set taking Additional Mathematics as well
Science: There is the choice of taking either Dual 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.

10. MUSIC, ART, PE, TECHNOLOGY, DRAMA & SPORT SCHOLARS DO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE THOSE SUBJECTS FOR GCSE

11. 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.

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

13. Optional Subjects continued:
Greek
Latin
History
Geography
Religious Studies
Computer Science

14. Timings
Parents receive the information on choices via before Half-term in trhe 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

15. 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)

16. GCSE Reform
• The teaching of new GCSEs in almost all subjects began in September • A new grading system of 9-1 (9 = the highest) has replaced the old A*-U scale (except for English Literature). • All GCSEs will be linear with no modular assessment. Examinations will only be available in the summer, with the exception of November retakes available in Mathematics and English Language.

17. New GCSE/IGCSE Grading Structure
Old GCSE/IGCSE structure
A* A
B C D E F G U
New GCSE/IGCSE structure 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

18. ‘Working at grades’
• All year groups will be given ‘working at’ grades, which reflect the level of the work a pupil is currently working at. • The ‘working at’ grades will be based on evidence obtained from work in class, Hall, coursework and tests, on the topics covered so far and reflect a pupil’s current level of attainment in the period under assessment.

19. ‘Working at grades’
Pupils will be given a ‘Working at’ grade in every subject, twice a term, except for the Hundred in the Summer Term where it will be just once
For the Remove & Hundred, the ‘working at’ grades are matched to the new IGCSE/GCSE grades (9-1)
It is important to note that in the Remove we may expect for many pupils the ‘working at’ grades to be below the final IGCSE/GCSE grades achieved

20. Predicted grades
For the Remove, there will be predicted grades in November and in May (following internal examinations)
For the Hundred, there will be predicted grades in January, following their trial examinations