1. GCSE Options
January 2017

2. How many GCSEs should I be taking?
10 GCSEs is the standard number and this is what
we expect the vast majority of you to take
Some girls may only take 9 GCSEs, this has to be discussed with Mr Wahab and Ms Weatherston
We cannot accommodate anyone who wishes to take more than 10 GCSEs on-timetable, but we do offer Latin and (if enough uptake) Greek off-timetable

3. Does it matter how many GCSEs I take?
Taking less than 9 GCSEs can count against an application to one of the better universities There is absolutely no point in taking more than 10 GCSEs with the aim of bettering your chances of gaining entry to a top university As long as university applicants have 9 or more GCSEs all that matters is the grades. And please note that GCSE grades do matter very much to universities (much more than they used to)

4. What GCSEs do I have to take?
Mathematics
English Language
English Literature (however, a very small number of EAL students may take IGCSE EAL instead of GCSE English Language and Literature)
Theology
Science (double or triple award *) triple science is considerably more difficult than double – there is far greater content and so the pace of
lessons will need to be fast)
A minimum of one language

5. Options
So, if you are taking double award Science you will have 3 options left, and if you are taking triple award Science you will only have 2 options left
You can choose from any of the following:
History, Geography, Computer Science, PE, Art, Drama, Music, DT or a second foreign language

6. New GCSE grading
Please note that, from September 2017 all GCSEs & IGCSEs will be on a new grading system.
The new system will no longer use grades A*-U. Instead they will grade from 9 to 1 (9 being the top grade and 1 being the bottom grade). Grades 9 and 8 will be the equivalent of the old A*, 7 of A, 6 of B, 5 of low B/high C, 4 of a low C, 3 of a D and so on…

7. Double or Triple Science?
Both these options involve studying Biology, Chemistry and Physics, but double award Science results in 2 IGCSEs, whereas triple award Science results in 3
Further details are in the “GCSE Years” booklet. A web link directing you to this booklet will be included in the options form

8. Double Award Science
Taking Double Award Science at IGCSE does not negatively affect your chances of taking Science subjects at Sixth Form and beyond (as long as you are sufficiently good at science)
Every year we have girls who are academically strong in a lot of subjects and, therefore, take double award to maximise their GCSE choices elsewhere, but still end up doing one or more Sciences at A Level

9. Languages
The vast majority of pupils are required to take at least one language to GCSE. The normal options are French, Spanish, German or Latin
Chinese, Japanese, Russian and other languages may be available through private, off-timetable tuition, but they are not part of our curriculum offering
Some students may – after direct consultation with Ms Weatherston – be allowed not to do a language at GCSE, but there have to be very good academic reasons for this
You should also consult with Ms Weatherston or Mr Wahab if you are planning to do Latin as your only language
Latin (and possibly Greek – if enough people are interested) will be available as an 11th, off-timetable, GCSE. You should only attempt an 11th GCSE if you are academically very able

10. EAL Lessons
If – in the summer term of Year 9 - the EAL (English as an Additional Language) Department identifies you as a student who definitely needs further EAL lessons in order to access our curriculum, then you will have to take these lessons and drop to 9 options. If this is the case – we will contact you and your parents in the summer term
If your English is good enough to access our curriculum but you would like to carry on with EAL lessons to keep improving your English anyway, then this option will be available for you on the options form. But this will – of course – limit you to 9 GCSEs. Please remember that any student applying to a good UK university for whom English is not their first language needs to have got to IELTs level 7 by the end of their Lower Sixth year otherwise the UK Borders Agency will not allow you to study at university in this country

11. Completing and returning the options form
You do not have to post or the options form back to us
you simply click on “submit”
The deadline for completing and submitting the options form
is Monday 20 February

12. How do I ensure I am making the right choices?
Think maturely and honestly about your strengths, and about your future ambitions
Discuss choices fully with your parents over half term
If in doubt seek advice from Mr Wahab, Ms Weatherston or Mr Smith
Do not choose subjects on the basis of (i) what your friends are doing, (ii) which teachers you do or do not like

13. What happens if I change my mind after 20 February 2017?
We will be using the options received in February to construct the GCSE option blocks. These are the basis of all timetabling for next year. This process happens quite quickly and cannot be reversed after that
What this means is that you can change your mind at any time after February half-term, but we will only be able to accommodate your new choice if it fits both the option blocks we have created and our maximum class size for GCSE (20)

14. Very small subjects
We reserve the right not to run a particular subject if the total number of students selecting it as an option is below five
In the event that we decide not to run a subject we will, of course, contact students/parents who have chosen it very promptly to notify them and to discuss alternative options

15. Thank you for listening
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to Mr Wahab, Mr Smith or Ms Weatherston at any time between now and 20 Feb 2017

16. GCSE Options
January 2017