Oundle School
The Option Subjects
Art
Chinese*$
Design Technology
Drama
Electronics
French*
Geography
German*
Greek
History
Latin
Music
Religious Studies
Spanish*
Sport Science
*We require all pupils to take at least one modern foreign language (French, Spanish, German or Chinese). Please note that the GCSE and subsequent examinations in French, German and Spanish have similar requirements and are of comparable standards of difficulty in all three languages. It is usually advantageous for pupils to continue to study the language which they have studied the longest. Please note that the Chinese course does not lead to a GCSE.
$ Chinese is offered to linguistically able, determined and ambitious pupils in the Fourth Form. The aim is not to reach Chinese GCSE in two years, but rather the course will focus on the new Asset languages scheme (www.assetlanguages.org.uk) with Preliminary level Asset the target after two years, and the possibility of sitting Chinese GCSE in the Lower Sixth.
The GCSE Curriculum
We aim to provide a broad and challenging curriculum for all pupils in the Fourth and Fifth Forms. The core curriculum is supplemented with the choice of five option subjects.
Preliminary discussions will take place before the Parents' Reception on Sunday 4th May with final choices submitted to Hsms during their House period the following Wednesday 7th May, 2008.
A note about Coursework at GCSE, and Educational Support can be found here.
The course handbook can be downloaded here (76 KB .pdf document).
The Core Subjects
The qualifications for all of the core subjects are IGCSEs. IGCSEs are an international equivalent of GCSEs and are recognised as such by universities and employers. The following subjects are taken by all pupils:
English
All pupils are prepared for the Edexcel IGCSE in English Language. Pupils also follow an expansive English Literature course developed by the English Department, for which there is no external assessment.Mathematics
All pupils will take the IGCSE course, normally taking the examination in the Fifth Form.Sciences
All pupils are prepared for the IGCSE in Science. Biology, Chemistry and Physics are taught as separate subjects to all pupils. In the Fifth Form the decision will be made as to which pupils take the three Sciences as separate subjects (Triple Award) and which take the Dual Award Science examination, which is equivalent to two GCSEs.
Ethical Issues
In addition to their examined courses, all pupils follow an Ethical Issues course for one lesson a week in the Fourth Form. This course has several elements: moral issues facing society today (the beginning and end of life, war, race relations, human rights) and a short course on the formation of human relationships. There is no formal assessment of this course.
A Note about GCSE Coursework
Many GCSE courses contain a coursework element. Coursework is independent work completed by pupils during the course which is submitted for formal assessment to the examination boards. Marks from coursework are combined with marks from examinations to form the overall grade. The proportion assessed by coursework varies from subject to subject. Similarly, rules for completion of coursework vary from subject to subject, including the amount of preparation, help available from teachers, the possibility of re-submission of marked pieces of work and time available for working on the piece outside the classroom. There is one fundamental rule for all pieces of coursework which is that the work submitted must be the pupil’s own. Pupils who do not adhere to the rules for one subject may be considered to be cheating by the examination boards with the possible result that they will be failed for all of their GCSEs.
A note about Educational Support
Educational Support continues to be available to pupils on an individual basis in the Fourth and Fifth Form.