Course Descriptions
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Art
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In Year 10 learners extend their creative, imaginative and practical skills to enable them to communicate and express their experiences, ideas and insights. They learn to use primary and secondary observation techniques, and to investigate and interpret the codes and conventions of art, craft and design in contemporary societies, and in other times and cultures. Learners apply their findings to their own drawings, paintings, prints and sculptures.
Keeping a sketchbook during Year 10 is compulsory. It is used to document progress and development, and will be submitted as part of their final examination.
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Art & Design
(OCR National)
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In Year 10 learners extend their creative, imaginative and practical skills to enable them to communicate and express their experiences, ideas and insights, in relation to specified design briefs. They learn to use primary and secondary observation and research techniques, and to investigate the roles of the client, target audience and deadlines in the creative industries. By exploring a wide range of 2D and 3D Art and Design techniques and processes, examining the work of practitioners in both historical and contemporary society, learners apply their findings to their own designs. Keeping a sketchbook during Year 10 is compulsory. It is used to document progress and development, and will be assessed as part of each project.
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Business BTEC
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Learners are studying on a course that is 100% coursework comprising of 5 units in total studied over 2 years. Learners have completed unit 1 “Exploring business purpose” and are currently working on unit 3 “Business Finance” which looks at the financial issues faced by a new business start-up. This will be completed at half term and learners will go onto study a third unit which will be completed for the end of year 10. The last unit of this year encompasses a comprehensive study which compares the operations of The Charter School compared to Thorpe Park.
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Citizenship
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In Year 10 learners have started the GCSE Short Course in Citizenship Studies. The course is split into two distinct sections: Unit 1 – Citizenship Today: written exam equivalent to 40% of final grade, taken at the end of Year 11. Unit 2 – Participating in Society: coursework equivalent to 60% of final grade, completed between February and the end of Year 10. The exam covers three core themes: Human Rights, UK Power, Politics & the Media, and the Global Community. The coursework consists of a group-based practical research and presentation project and individual write up. It is run in conjunction with a national youth competition run by Youth Philanthropy Initiative, whereby learners can win £3,000 for their chosen local grassroots charity working on social issues.
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Design & Technology
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Product |Design includes the following assessed modules:
Controlled Assessment Coursework project (60% of grade) - This is to be internally assessed and externally moderated. The work will consist of practical work towards making a high quality finished product, research and investigation, analysis, generating a design specification, design development, modelling and testing, evidence of industrial practises and evaluation as well as use of ICT.
Written Paper (40% of grade) - Questions will test the application of knowledge and understanding, materials, processes, techniques, and the evaluation of commercial products and practises.
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Drama
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Year 10 learners will have worked on all aspects of the GCSE curriculum.
Unit One: Drama Exploration.
Learners use dramatic devices to explore different themes and issues. They have learnt how to use a variety of performance techniques to express their understanding and opinions. Written coursework of 2000 words will be completed on the practical work that has been completed in class.
Unit Two Exploring play texts and response to live Theatre
Learners work practically on a chosen play script. They explore the themes, style of the playwright and of performance. They will look at different explorative strategies practically in class. They will complete written coursework on this and visit the theatre to write a theatre review.
Unit 3 Performance
In groups learners will rehearse and develop a piece of theatre to perform to an external examiner and audience. They will be assessed on their practical skills.
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Economics
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GCSE Business and Economics learners are working on Unit 1 – Investigating small business in the first year of this course. This section covers the key issues and skills involved in enterprise. This section provides a framework for looking at the marketing, financial, human and operational issues in starting and running a small business. This material will be examined in a GCSE examination at the end of year 10. The course will then move onto GCSE Economics.
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Engineering
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BTEC level 2 extended certificate. There are 4 units to be completed in this course. The units learners are working on this year are:
Unit 1: Working safely and effectively in engineering
Unit 17: Fabrication techniques and sheet metal work
Two more units will be completed in year 11. All units are internally assessed and externally moderated.
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English
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For GCSE English and English Literature learners complete coursework in the following areas : speaking and listening; response to literature (including Shakespeare, a modern novel and poetry from the English Literary Heritage), and original writing. Coursework is worth 60% of the final grade in English and 25% in Literature.
Learners are also prepared for examinations in the following areas: understanding and responding to non-fiction texts; writing to argue, persuade and advise and writing to inform, explain and describe. Learners receive 2 GCSEs.
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French
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Learners continue learning to understand, speak, read and write in French. They are more confident using sounds, written forms and grammar, and use this knowledge with increasing competence to express themselves in role-plays, conversations and writing. They improve their understanding of French by listening to speech and talking about a range of different subjects.
Learners produce two pieces of written Controlled Assessment referring to present, past and future events.
They start practising for their speaking Controlled assessment in the summer term.
Topics studied in Year 10 include : Home Life and Relationships, Going out and Hobbies, School and Work, Town and Countryside, Life in French speaking countries.
At the end of Year 10 learners will be able to use the present, perfect, imperfect, future and conditional tense.
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Geography
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Year 10 GCSE Geography learners have begun to develop their knowledge and understanding of contrasting places, environments and themes. They have developed a depth of knowledge about the physical process which impact on our human world. Through studying topics such as plate tectonics, climate change, water world, biospheres, extreme climates and rivers, they explore the challenges that our dynamic planet poses to different groups of people and evaluated their reactions. Year 10 have developed their skills; identifying geographical and topical issues as well as analysing an array of resources and viewpoints; applying them to exam questions. The two units studied in year 10 include ‘Dynamic Planet' and ‘Researching Geography’. At the end of year 10 learners will be ready to submit their controlled assessment coursework based on fieldwork in Epping Forest. In the summer they will sit an exam worth 25% of their overall grade.
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Health & Social Care
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In the BTEC Level 2 Extended Certificate in Health and Social Care, a wide range of Health and Social Care related subjects are studied. For instance you will learn about the different physical, social and emotional needs individuals have and how to meet these needs; how to communicate with a wide variety of people from all cultures and the aspects of diet which lead to good health. A valuable aspect of this course is the work experience; this will take place during your year 10 work experience week, with a variety of local health and care providers. It is a course that is recognized and respected by employers and professional institutions.
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History
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Learners studying GCSE Modern World History (Edexcel) in year 10 have the opportunity to develop their historical skills of Interpretation, evaluation and analysis.
The GCSE is spread across the two years, with learners taking their controlled assessment unit at the start of the year; this is the new type of coursework and is worth 25% of the overall grade, its focus is on the impact of war on Britain between 1914 and 1945. Learners then move onto the first examined unit of the course which is International Relations 1900-1939, with the learners sitting an exam on this unit in the summer of Year 10 and is worth 25 % of the overall grade. This leaves a further two exams to be taken at the end of Year 11 each being worth 25% of the overall final grade.
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ICT – GCSE
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Learners studying the GCSE Information and Communication Technology (OCR) will enhance their digital literacy, be equipped with up-to-date ICT skills, and develop their knowledge and understanding of the rapidly developing digital world around them. The GCSE is spread over 2 years, with learners focusing on two controlled assessments during Year 10, worth 60% of their final grade. Learners have been completing on the first of these, Creative Use of ICT, which requires learners to design an internet safety themed computer game using object-oriented programming. The second unit, requiring learners to build spreadsheet or database solutions for an awards ceremony will start in February.
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ICT – OCR (Core)
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Learners are currently undertaking the Level 2 National First Award in ICT, which is part of the OCR Nationals suite of qualifications. The course is worth 1 A-C grade GCSE equivalent in this subject, and is formed of 3 separate units, although some learners may be able to gain further GCSE’s in this subject by completing further units during the course. In Year 10, learners have been completing the first of these units, Animation for the Web, which focuses on the use of Adobe Flash to produce and edit an animated web banner, and a second unit, Database Design and Use. Some learners are covering additional units in their RE lessons, which will contribute to a second GCSE equivalent in this subject.
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ICT – OCR (Option)
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Learners are currently undertaking the Level 2 National First Certificate in ICT, which is part of the OCR Nationals suite of qualifications. The course is worth 2 A-C grade GCSE equivalents in this subject, in addition to the 1 A-C GCSE equivalent gained via core ICT. It is formed of an additional 4 units, although some learners may be able to gain further GCSE’s in this subject by completing further units during the course. In Year 10, learners have completed the first of these units, Spreadsheets, and a second unit, Web Graphics. Some learners are covering additional units in their RE lessons, which will contribute to a fourth GCSE equivalent in this subject.
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Mathematics
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Yellow and Green Pathway - In Mathematics we follow the OCR Board. Learners are doing a Double Award GCSE in Mathematics, called Application of Mathematics and Methods of Mathematics. Methods of Mathematics provides learners with a rich background of pure Mathematics, whilst the Applications GCSE enables learners to understand the importance of Mathematics while analysing problems related to the real world. Learners will write one exam from each GCSE in year 10, worth 40% of the final grade. They will write the second exam of each GCSE in year 11, worth the final 60%.
Blue Pathway – In the blue pathway learners will follow the Modular OCR syllabus. The course encourages learner to engage in conceptual thinking, while looking at how Mathematics is applied in the real world. The course is divided into 3 units (A, B and C) and together they cover topics in algebra, number, geometry and data handling. There is an exam at the end of each unit. Units A and B are worth 25% of the final grade each, and Unit C is worth 50%.
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Media Studies
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The course is designed to enable learners to develop a critical understanding of the role of the mass media in society. In year 10 learners are introduced to the key concepts of the course (Media Language; Representation; Audience and Institutions) through both written and practical assignments. Learners study aspects of Film and Television; the Music Industry; Advertising and the Print industry. They are given opportunities to develop and apply a range of ICT/video skills.
The work builds towards producing a portfolio of 3 assignments, all composing of a written and practical element, which represents 60% of the total marks. The Controlled Test, based on a pre-released topic at the end of Year 11, accounts for the other 40%.
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Music
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During Y10 learners cover all 4 of the exam Areas of Study in their composing, performing and listening and appraising exam revision work. The set works to be studied are:
· AoS1 - Western classical music 1600-1899 : And the Glory of the Lord: Handel, Symp No40,Movl :Mozart, piano Prelude No15,Chopin
· AoS2 - Music in the 20th Century : Peripetie:Schoenberg, Something’s Coming:Bernstein, Electric Counterpoint,Movlll:S.Reich
· AoS3 - Popular song in context : All Blues:M.Davis, Grace:J.Bueckley, Why Does My Heart:Moby
· AoS4 - World music : Skye Waulking Song:Capercaille, Rag Desh (Indian classical raga), Yiri:Koko
The Solo Performance Controlled Assessment examination takes place during Y10, generating up to 15% of their final mark. The first composition again up to 15% of the final grade, worked on under Controlled Assessment conditions.
The Y10 Listening and Appraising written exam takes place in the summer term. The results from all 3 areas, composing, performing and listening, are amalgamated to give the grade for Y10 work.
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PE
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In Year 10 learners have been assessed in their ability to combine skills and techniques with consistency and precision. Learners are also expected to self-reflect, and analyse the specific skill related activities of others within a practice and competitive environment. As part of the short course theory component learners in the core will gain experience from answering scenario type questions as part of the AQA syllabus. There are option groups. One has to complete 3 units of the OCR Level 2 National in Sport over 2 years. This is 100% coursework. The other group are studying the double award GCSE PE AQA syllabus. Four modules (two practicals and two examinations have to be completed over two years). This is worth two GCSE's.
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RE (GCSE)
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At KS4 all green pathway learners follow the Edexcel GCSE RE (short course) “Religion and Life”. The course consists of four thematic units in which learners engage with religious and non-religious perspectives : “Believing in God” looks at why people do and do not believe in God; “Matters of Life and Death” explores the issues of life after death, abortion and euthanasia; “Marriage and Family Life” looks at issues around relationships, marriage, family life and divorce; “Community cohesion” focuses on prejudice and discrimination based on race, gender and religion. The course is assessed by one exam paper at the end of Year 11.
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RE (OCR)
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At KS4 blue pathway learners explore religious and ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia and relationships. They then use ICT skills to create a podcast and a piece of desktop publishing on those topics. If these units are completed satisfactorily, along with their core ICT units, they will be awarded an additional ICT OCR National qualification that is the equivalent of a GCSE.
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Science
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Learners follow the single award 21st Century Science course in Year 10 which is assessed by four exams and two pieces of coursework. The course is split into nine modules which are : You and your Genes, Air quality, The Earth and the Universe, Keeping Healthy, Material Choices, Radiation and Life, Life on Earth, Food Matters and Radioactive Materials. They learn the processes of ‘How Science Works’ which enables learners to acquire an understanding of scientific ideas and how they develop over time. They learn the process of scientific enquiry and the nature of scientific knowledge.
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Science BTEC
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This qualification gives learners the opportunity to learn about the concepts in chemistry such as hydrocarbons, endothermic/exothermic reactions and how elements bond together. In biology they study about ecosystems and sustainability and how we can protect the habitats of animals and plants. In physics they study electricity and forces and different types of energy. They complete 16 assignments and have to pass all of them in order to gain the BTEC qualification. This is equivalent to two GCSE grades.
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Spanish
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Learners continue learning to understand, speak, read and write in Spanish. They are more confident using sounds, written forms and grammar, and use this knowledge with increasing competence to express themselves in role-plays, conversations and writing. They improve their understanding of Spanish by listening to speech and talking about a range of different subjects.
Learners produce two pieces of written Controlled Assessment referring to present, past and future events.
They start practising for their speaking Controlled assessment in the summer term.
Topics studied in Year 10 include : Home Life and Relationships, Going out and Hobbies, School and Work, Town and Countryside, Life in Spanish speaking countries.
At the end of Year 10 learners will be able to use the present, perfect, imperfect, future and conditional tense.
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Last Modified: 23/02/2012
