Curriculum
Key Stage 4
PARENT
INFORMATION 2014
UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM DECISIONS
PLAN OF ACTION
Monday 20th January 2014
Upper School Curriculum Evening to present
Year 9 Parents with new curriculum structure
Wednesday 22nd January 2014
Careers Convention
Week beginning Monday 3rd Feb 2014
Upper School Curriculum presented to Year 9
Students.
Week beginning Monday 3rd Feb 2014
Upper School Curriculum Booklets go home
Monday 20th January to
Tutorial work associated with decision
Wednesday 26th Feb 2014
making / Upper School Curriculum
Wednesday 12th Feb 2014
Year 9 Full Reports/Parents Evening
Wednesday 26th Feb 2014
Year 9 Curriculum Evening (6.00pm to 8.00)
to explain and answer questions about the
Upper School Curriculum.
Friday 28th Feb 2014
Final decision (Forms to be returned to Form
Tutors)
April / May 2014
Upper School Option blocks and groups
Completed. (Students / Parents informed).
Any parents and / or students who wish to discuss the Upper School Curriculum should contact Mr.
Sturrock or Mr Brown to organise an appointment. (All Senior Staff, Leaders of Learning and Form
Tutors will be available for consultation at the Year 9 Curriculum Evening on Wednesday 26th Feb
2014)
Representatives from the Careers Service (Connexions), and Usworth Sixth Form College will also be
available for consultation at the above meeting.
THE UPPER SCHOOL CURRICULUM
KEY STAGE 4 2014 - 2016
Your son/daughter is moving through into Year 10 in September 2014 and, of course, into Year 11 in
September 2015. In National Curriculum terminology these two years (Y10 and Y11) are known as Key
Stage 4 (KS4).
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As you will no doubt be aware a number of subjects are compulsory for all students as part of
the National Curriculum.
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At present English, Mathematics, Science, Information & Communication Technology, Religious
Education and PE must be followed.
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PSHE , Health and Sex Education, Citizenship and Enterprise Education are also compulsory
and are part of our cross curricular and Tutorial programme.
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Functional Skills in Literacy, Numeracy and ICT are also compulsory but are incorporated into
our English. Mathematics and ICT programmes.
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We are required to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum to all pupils. In order to achieve
this we make Humanities, which incorporates elements of History, Geography, RE and
Citizenship, part of our core.
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We have always attempted to provide an education which is broad, balanced and relevant.
What is studied at Key Stage 4 must lay the basis for future routes forward, whether they be in
immediate employment, training or further education.
The major qualification at Key Stage 4 is still GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education).
The school also offers a range of vocational qualifications (BTEC’s and OCR Nationals in a range of
subjects).
The Government is keen for students to follow a combination of academic subjects, which
they call the English Baccalaureate. To obtain this award, students must obtain GCSE’s at C
or above in English, Mathematics, 2 Sciences, a Foreign Language and a Humanities subject
(presently History or Geography)
Students will be able to follow all the above subjects as part of their core curriculum, except
a modern foreign language. French, the modern foreign language which we offer will have to
be selected as one of their three option subjects if they are to obtain this new highly
prestigious English Baccalaureate. (We are expecting over 50% of the year group to follow
this pathway.)
The school is also at the forefront of other new educational developments. Students at Biddick
Academy have the opportunity to study some vocational subjects. These courses give young people
the opportunity to learn in an exciting, creative and enjoyable way, combining class work with
hands on experience, in state of the art facilities at our Harraton Centre.
What follows in the rest of this booklet is an explanation of the practicalities of completing your
daughter/son’s Key Stage 4 Curriculum. Information about subject content is available in a
separate booklet, “Key Stage 4 Upper School Curriculum Course Description”. Every parent has
received a copy. (If you have not received a copy please contact the school immediately).
Biddick Academy is committed to working in partnership with all parents. Please do not hesitate to
contact us if you have any worries or concerns. We aim to provide the best possible education for each
student.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
Each student MUST follow a “core” of subjects which includes:-
English Language and Literature
4 periods
Mathematics
4 periods
Science
5 periods
Physical Education
2 periods
GCSE Humanities with GCSE History or Geography -
4 periods
Tutorial (including Citizenship/Sex & Health
Education/Careers Education
1 period
Option 1
3 periods
Option 2
3 periods
Option 3
3 periods
_________
Total
29 periods
The ‘Core’ Curriculum
English
All students will follow a course in GCSE English. Some students have the opportunity to follow a
second GCSE in English Literature.
MATHEMATICS
All Students will follow the GCSE Mathematics Course.
SCIENCE
We are fully committed to a balanced course. It is expected that most students will follow the
Government recommendation by taking at least two GCSE’s in Science. Students who intend to go
on to ‘A’ level in science are strongly recommended to follow a Triple Science route. This means
they should select an additional science as one of their option choices. Students will be guided
by their teachers as to the appropriate route to take. More information is provided in the course
description booklets.
HUMANITIES
This is an integrated course and leads to two GCSE qualifications for most students. Students will
gain GCSE Humanities and GCSE History or Geography.
Some students may follow Humanities only.
All year 9 students have already started their GCSE Humanities course
The GCSE Humanities course provides a good grounding for ‘A’ level studies in the Humanities field
which includes History, Geography, Religious Education, Sociology, Politics, Economics etc.
Students wishing to follow a specialist RE GCSE course will need to select Philosophy & Ethics as
one of their option subjects.
Some students may want to study both GSCE Geography and GCSE History. They will have to select
one of them in the Option block
Tutorial
All students will follow a tutorial course which will include study skills, citizenship, health and sex
education as well as Careers Education.
Physical Education
All students will follow the National Curriculum Physical Education curriculum which will allow
some opportunities to select areas of interest.
Students wishing to follow a GCSE or BTEC course in Physical Education or Dance must select them
as one of their additional subjects.
The Additional Subjects
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Your son or daughter must choose three of the additional subjects: One subject from
each option block must be selected.
French must be one of the selections for English Baccalaureate students
Single GCSE Subjects (3 Periods)
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Art & Design (Unendorsed)
Art & Design (Fine Art)
Art & Design (Digital Art/Photography)
Triple Science
Food & Nutrition
Product Design (Textiles)
Business Studies
ICT
Computer Science
Product Design
GCSE PE
Philosophy & Ethics
Engineering
Music
Drama
History or Geography (Most students will follow Humanities with History or Geography
in the Core. Students wishing to study both can select the other one in the options)
French (Must be selected by English Baccalaureate students)
Level 2 Certificate in Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy
Certificate of Personal Effectiveness Award (Level 1)
Double Subjects (3 Periods but count as 1
option choice)
GCSE Media Studies (Double Award)
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GCSE Health & Social Care (Double Award) -
Counts as 1 option but worth 2 GCSE’s
Counts as 1 option but worth 2 GCSE’s
BTEC Qualifications (LEVEL 2)
Btec First Award in Performing Arts (Dance)
Counts as 1 option worth 1 GCSE
Btec First Award in Sport
Counts as 1 option worth 1 GCSE.
Btec First Award in Construction
Counts as 1 option worth 1 GCSE.
Involvement in extra curricular work is required in Music/Drama/Dance and Sports related
courses.
Students should obtain three level 5’s in English, Maths and Science to gain entry onto Btec courses.
Consideration may be given to students who obtain less than this if they have a specific aptitude in
one of the areas.
BTEC Qualifications (LEVEL 1)
Some students who do not obtain three level 5’s in English, Maths and Science, may have the
opportunity to follow a vocational course in:
Engineering (With a Motor Vehicle Context)
Level 1
Construction
Level 1
Note:
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It may be possible for some students to do one subject less and have three study periods in
order to consolidate their learning in other areas.
Courses will only run if sufficient numbers select the subject.
Some combination of subjects may not be possible to timetable.
The school has a limited number of places on courses based away from school.
What Qualifications are Available?
GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary
Education)
The GCSE qualification is the main focus of most subjects in Key Stage 4. It is at present nationally
recognized as the major form of accreditation at 16.
Assessment is generally through Examinations and Controlled Assessment Tasks. The percentage
breakdown in each subject is outlined in the course descriptions. This does vary considerably
between subjects. Some courses have modular examinations throughout the course as well as a
final examination.
ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE
GSCE success at grade C or above in the following GCSE subjects
English
Mathematics
2 Sciences
A Modern Foreign Language
Humanities (History or Geography)
BTEC
BTEC’s, offer a practical approach, that can be lacking in more traditional routes, by applying
learning to real-life situations. Students have to undertake a number of units for which they
present evidence, based on actual work and studies. This allows them to demonstrate their skill
and knowledge. The BTEC includes an appropriate element of external assessment. This is not
necessarily an exam – it could be a task, a test or a performance, depending on the subject.