GCSEStudies

2021

2023

GCSE CHOICES AVAILABLE FOR STUDY

Art & Design Biology Business ChemistryComputer Science Classical Civilisation DramaEconomics English Fast Track Triple ScienceFood Preparation and NutritionFrench Geography GratinHistory Latin Mathematics Music Physical Education Physics Product Design Technology Religious StudiesSpanish

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GCSE StudiesDEADLINE FOR PUPILS TO HAND IN THEIR PRELIMINARY CHOICES

Monday 22nd February 2021

Next September will see you embark upon the next stage of your academiccareer and, for the first time, you will be left with grades that stick. Weunderstand the importance of making the best decisions as well as the needto make the transition to GCSE courses as smooth as possible.

The programme that we have put together seeks to provide a range ofchoices that are right for you.

Over the years I have had many conversations with pupils and parents aboutcombinations of subjects and I suggest that the following questions areuseful when making that final decision:

1. Have I closed any future career or university pathways with this combination?

2. Is it a balanced portfolio of subjects?

3. Are these choices my own?

I urge you to make use of the experts available as you make these choices.Heads of Department, subject teachers, Housemasters, tutors, Directors ofStudies and Sixth Formers are all very happy to share their knowledge withyou. Ultimately it is down to you to make the choice and commit to making it work, but having early conversations will not only give you confidence inthe decision that you make, but enable you to gain from the experiences ofthose who have gone through this before.

The next two years will see you grow both in character and intellect and I look forward to watching you respond to all the successes and challenges that you will enjoy along the way.

Mr Salisbury

Contents Page no.Foreword from the Headmaster 3

Choosing Your GCSEs 4

GCSE COURSES Art and Design 6

Business 7

Classics 8

Computer Science 9

Drama 10

Economics 11

English 12

Food Preparation and Nutrition 13

Geography 14

History 15

Mathematics 16

Modern Foreign Languages 17

Music 18

Physical Education 19

Product Design Technology 20

Religious Studies 21

Science 22

Fast Track Triple Science 22

Biology 23

Chemistry 24

Physics 25

ELT26

The Flecker Library 27

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Foreword from the Headmaster

Although many begin thinking about theirGCSE subjects sooner, we ask pupils toactively start considering their GCSE subjectoptions in the Lent Term of the Fourth Form(Year 9), with the process completed early inthe Trinity Term. Most pupils will study ninesubjects, leading to ten GCSE exams.

The core curriculum studied by nearly allpupils is:

• English (leading to two GCSEs, in Literature & Language)

• Mathematics

• PSHE (not assessed)

• French* or Spanish* or English Language Training. (*We refer to these as Core French & Core Spanish)

• Double Science (studying all three sciences leading to two IGCSEs)

(It is possible to choose Triple Science as oneof the four options).

Pupils choose five subjects, in order ofpreference. We aim to give pupils their top

four choices, but they will occasionally begiven their 5th choice, instead of one oftheir top four. We do not have pre-formedoption blocks, because we want to givepupils as much choice as possible. Thissometimes means the 5th choice subject isneeded.

It is possible to study two modern foreignlanguages by selecting Spanish as one of thefour options, to accompany Core French. It isnot possible to do Core Spanish and thenchoose French as an option subject.

Those who have studied Latin this year maychoose this at GCSE; the most able cancontinue to study both Greek and Latin(Gratin).

The optional GCSEs are taken from thefollowing subject groupings:

• Humanities: Classical Civilisation, Business Studies, Economics, Geography, History, Religious Studies

• Languages: Spanish, Latin, Gratin

• Creatives: Art, Design Technology, Drama, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Music, Physical Education

• Computer Science

• Triple Science

The process is as follows:

During tutor periods in January andFebruary, pupils will discuss which subjectsto choose with their tutors. The Head ofCareers, Mr Dom Mochan and Head ofLearning Support, Mrs Marianne Watts areall very willing to assist in these discussions.

Choosing your GCSEs

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If you are advised not to take a particularsubject, this will be good advice. We arehappy for you to get in touch with us todiscuss, but final decisions about thesuitability of a course rests with theDirectors of Studies.

By Monday 22nd February the optionsneed to be submitted. The subjects must beentered in order of preference, so that thefifth subject is a pupil’s last choice.

Using all the pupils’ choices, four optionblocks are created, corresponding as closelyas possible to your preferences. (It doessometimes happen that a certaincombination may not be possible; for thatreason we ask you to put down a “5thchoice”). These option blocks will then bepublished – we will let you know when theywill be on the website. We appreciate thatpupils do change their minds and we will doour best to help, whilst keeping an eye onset sizes.

Please note:

For the top academic pupils, only, there isthe option of taking “Fast Track” Science. Allthree sciences are studied in the corecurriculum so that there are still four optionsto be chosen. Pupils will be advised if this isa sensible choice for them. It effectivelygives them an extra GCSE.

Gratin includes both Greek and Latin GCSEsas one choice, for the most able linguists.You will be advised if this is a sensible choicefor them. It effectively gives them an extraGCSE.

Alastair George & Miss Rhona DonaldsonDirectors of Studies

Art & DesignWhy study ArtThe two year course provides pupils witha wide range of “creative, exciting andstimulating opportunities to explore theirinterests in art and design in ways thatare personally relevant and trulydevelopmental in nature”. The Fine Artorientated approach presents broadopportunities to acquire knowledge andskills through practice in two and three-dimensional media including drawing,painting, printmaking, digitalphotography, ceramics and sculpture.

WHAT’S IT LIKE?Remove (Year 10)Pupils will experience a variety of activitiesand tasks throughout the year which willintroduce them to a wide range of Fine Artorientated approaches, techniques anddisciplines within Art & Design. The

emphasis is on learning through experienceand experimentation and should encourageindependent thinking as well as developingskills and confidence. Pupils can select thebest work produced throughout this year tobe submitted as part of their finalassessment portfolio for Component 1.

Fifth Form (Year 11)In the second year increasing autonomy isgiven, encouraging more personal andindividual responses to a set theme. Themain portfolio project for Unit 1 isundertaken during the Michaelmas Term.Unit 2 is undertaken in its entirety duringthe Lent Term.

Throughout the course the use of workjournals (sketchbooks) is essential and thesebecome the key record of visual research;observation; experimentation; thedocumentation and development of ideas;critical appraisal and contextual study. Thework journals encourage personalinvolvement from the pupils helping topromote a sense of ownership.

The course concludes at the end of thesecond week of the Trinity Term when allthe work is internally assessed andexternally moderated.

ASSESSMENT (AQA GCSE Art & Design Specification)

Component 1: Portfolio

“Candidates should submit a selection ofthoughtfully presented work thatdemonstrates the breadth and depth of thecourse of study and evidences coverage ofall of the assessment objectives. This shouldinclude more than one extended collectionof work that demonstrates an ability tosustain work from initial starting points orproject briefs to the realisation of intentionsand include evidence of research, thedevelopment of ideas and meaningful linkswith critical/cultural sources”.

Component 2: Externally Set Task

“Candidates are required to elicit a personalresponse from one starting point or projectbrief from the exam paper. They areexpected to develop their own workinformed by their preparatory studies andevidence coverage of all the assessmentobjectives”.

The allocated preparatory period (usually7weeks) is followed by “a 10 hour period ofsustained, focused study in whichcandidates are expected to develop theirown unaided work informed by theirpreparatory studies”.

Caroline Evans, Head of Art

Exam Board: AQAGCSE Art & Design (Fine Art)

Component 1: Portfolio of Work (60%)

Component 2: Externally Set Task (40%)

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The Economics and Business Departmentoffer two distinctive GCSEs, either Businessor Economics. Both courses provide abroad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhilecourse of study which will allow pupils togain insight into related sectors. Thecourses will prepare pupils to makeinformed decisions about further learningopportunities in Business or Economics at A levels and future career choices.

The Edexcel Business GCSE course is anengaging and inspiring qualification, which

reflects the demands of a truly modern and evolving business environment. Theaim is to enable pupils to develop ascommercially minded and enterprisingindividuals and help them succeed in theirchosen pathway. The course begins with anexploration of how and why businessesstart, moving through to issues businessesface and decisions they make as they grow.

Teaching is almost entirely conductedthrough real life examples and case studies.

Business GCSE Course Content

Theme 1 Investigating a Small Business

1. Enterprise and entrepreneurship

2. Spotting a business opportunity

3. Putting a business idea into practice

4. Making the business effective

5. Understanding the external influences onbusiness

Theme 2 Building a Business

1. Growing the business

2. Making marketing decisions

3. Making operational decisions

4. Making financial decisions

5. Making human resource decisions

Examination

There are two final examinations, with eachhalf of the course examined in a separatepaper, lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes each.The questions will be a mix of someintroductory multiple choice questions,followed by calculations then short andextended response questions. Writtenanswers and calculations will be based ontwo case studies given in the paper. There isno coursework.

Jonathan HardakerHead of Business

Business

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ClassicsLatin and Classical GreekPupils have the option to study either Latinas a single subject or to study both Latinand Classical Greek as discrete subjects butwithin an accelerated course, that is to say,on a reduced timetable (Gratin). Latin andGreek are no longer just the study oflanguage as an end in itself. New coursesabound in which continuous stories orinteresting passages that focus on thehistory of classical Greece and Rome formentertaining and instructive narratives.Whilst learning the language, pupils areintroduced to various aspects ofRoman/Greek civilisation. Naturally the skillsof fluent reading and accurate translationare a major part of the GCSE as is anappreciation of literary style and historicalbackground.

(1) Latin GCSE

Candidates for the OCR syllabus (J282) inLatin are required to sit three papers:-

Paper 1 is a compulsory language paperwhich takes the form of unseen translationand comprehension. In this wayunderstanding of Latin vocabulary,accidence and syntax is examined. Thiscomponent is worth 50% of the total GCSE.OCR produces a defined vocabulary list forthis examination.

Traditionally Papers 2 and 3 are set textpapers in which candidates are expected toanswer questions on prescribed literaryworks, one verse, one prose. Candidates areexpected to be able to answer questions onthe content of the texts that they havestudied as well as to be able to analyse andevaluate prescribed sections of the worksthat they are reading. Each literaturecomponent is worth 25% of the total GCSE.Authors studied at GCSE include Pliny theYounger, Livy, Caesar, Tacitus, Virgil, Ovidand Horace.

One of the Literature papers can besubstituted for a Roman Civilisation andCulture paper in which candidates answerquestions in English on aspects of theculture and social practices and values ofthe Romans. The set topics for examinationin 2021 are Roman Myths and Beliefs andthe Romans in Britain

(2) Classical Greek GCSE

Candidates for the OCR syllabus (J292) inClassical Greek are required to sit threepapers:-

Paper 1 is a compulsory language paperwhich takes the form of unseen translationand comprehension. In this wayunderstanding of Classical Greekvocabulary, accidence and syntax is

examined. This component is worth 50% ofthe total GCSE. OCR produces a definedvocabulary list for this examination.

Papers 2 and 3 are set text papers in whichcandidates are expected to answerquestions on prescribed literary works, oneverse, one prose. Candidates are expectedto be able to answer questions on thecontent of the texts that they have studiedas well as to be able to analyse, andevaluate prescribed sections of the worksthat they are reading. Each literaturecomponent is worth 25% of the total GCSE.Authors studied at GCSE includeHerodotus, Plutarch, Lucian, Plato, Homerand Euripides.

One of the Literature papers can besubstituted for a Greek Civilisation andCulture paper in which candidates answerquestions in English on aspects of theculture and social practices and values ofthe Ancient Greeks. The set topics forexamination in 2021 are Athenian Societyand the Olympic Games.

(3) Classical Civilisation GCSE

A two-year course with the OCR syllabus(J199) leads to an examination of some ofthe major cultural features of the Graeco-Roman world. Through the study andevaluation of primary source material, thelegacies of 5th Century Athens and ImperialRome are assessed. There are two writtenexamination papers, both of which areworth 50% of the total GCSE. Paper 1enables candidates to compare andcontrast the cultures of Ancient Greece andRome through a study of Myth andReligion. Paper 2 allows candidates toconcentrate solely on Greek or Romanmaterial. Options include the HomericWorld, Roman City Life or War andWarfare.

There is no controlled assessment in thisspecification and OCR provides a list ofprescribed visual, material and literaryculture for each of the components

Assessment: Latin, Classical Greek andClassical Civilisation GCSE qualifications aregraded on the scale of 9-1. Learners whofail to reach the minimum standard of 1will be unclassified (U).

Jon Allen, Head of Classics

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Why study Computing at GCSE?

The Cambridge CIE in Computer Science is afascinating but challenging introduction tothe world of Computer Science. Thesyllabus provides pupils with an in-depthunderstanding of how computertechnology works and a look at what goeson ‘behind the scenes’. The course will helppupils learn about critical thinking, analysisand problem solving, which can betransferred to other subjects and evenapplied in day-to-day life. A CIEqualification in Computing enables pupilsto proceed to further qualificationsincluding A level Computer Science andfuture careers in Science, Technology,Engineering or Mathematics.

What’s it like?

This course is suitable for pupils who areinterested in learning how computers work,as well as for those interested inprogramming and creating applicationsrather than just using them. During thecourse they will gain experience of using avariety of different platforms includingRaspberry pi, desktop and mobile devices.Pupils will have the opportunity to createtheir own programs, mobile apps andcontrol real world systems. Computing is apractical subject and pupils are expected tocomplete a substantial amount of both

practical and theory work outside theclassroom.

A blend of traditional textbooks as well asaccess to online resources will be providedto support studies. Pupils will be based incomputer suites which are especiallyequipped to facilitate the delivery of thecourse. Pupils will be able to access theirfiles using Dean Close School networkedPCs and remote access via the Internet isalso available. A selection ofmicrocontrollers and associated kits will bemade available for possible use in GCSEprojects or co-curricular activities.

Assessment

The Cambridge CIE Computer Sciencespecification is formally assessed by meansof public examination. The specificationcontent is split between two papers.

Paper 1: Theory (60%) 1 hour 45 minutes

This written paper contains short-answerand structured questions covering a widerange of issues such as the differentfunctions and types of hardware andsoftware as well as how computers processdata, the representation of data incomputer systems and computercommunications and networking.

Paper 2: Problem-solving andProgramming (40%) 1 hour 45 minutes

This written paper contains short-answerand structured questions. 20 of the marksfor this paper are from questions set on thepre-release material set by the exam board.The paper focuses on programming,databases, algorithm design and problem-solving.

Darren Fitzgerald, Head of Computer Science

Computer ScienceExam Board: CIE 2 units

Computing Science Theory (60%) 1hr 45mins

Problem-Solving and Programming(40%) 1hr 45mins

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The IGCSE Drama course (Cambridge) isdesigned to introduce and develop a widerange of dramatic skills, an understandingof theatre and genres and acting techniquesand subsequently to explore and testdramatic skills through textual analysis,workshop and performance. The granderambition is that candidates will enhanceself-confidence, imagination, teamwork and life-skills in a wider forum as pupils gointo higher education, the workplace andthe world - and to foster a life-long love oftheatre.

The course will involve seeing liveproductions, and we aim to offer as wide avariety of theatrical experience as we can byseeing internal productions at School, alongwith visits to professional theatre: forexample, the RSC, the National Theatre, andexcellent local theatres in Cheltenham, Bath,Malvern, depending on repertoire andavailability. We are able to make increasinguse of live streaming of RSC and NTproductions at the school’s Bacon Theatre.

The examination specifically encourages:

• developing their performance skills, both individually and in groups

• understanding the role of actor, directorand designer in creating a piece of theatre

• considering ways in which ideas and feelings can be communicated to an audience

• discovering the performance possibilities of plays and other dramatic stimuli

• devising dramatic material of their own.

Component 1 (40%)Written paper: 2 hours 30 minutes

The questions on the paper will requirecandidates to have engaged with pre-released material from the perspectiveof actor, director and designer.

Section A (30 marks) Candidates answer6–8 short-answer questions on the extractfrom the play (20 marks) and 2–4 questionson the drama devised from their chosenstimulus (10 marks).

Section B (25 marks) Candidates answerone longer-answer question from a choiceof three on the extract from the play.

Section C (25 marks) Candidates answerone longer-answer question from a choiceof three on the drama devised from theirchosen stimulus. Externally assessed.

Drama

Component 2 (60%)Coursework

Candidates submit three pieces of practicalwork.

• One individual piece (3–5 minutes): one performance of an extract from a play.

• Two group pieces (maximum 15 minutes each): one performance of an extract from a play and one original devised piece.

This component tests the practical actingskills of the candidates. They will performthree pieces – one monologue and twogroup pieces, in which they will be expectedto show a high degree of performanceskills, and they will be marked on theirability to show a range of these; forexample, appropriate voice and accent,physicality, characterisation andinterpretation appropriate to the author’sintentions and genre of the play. Theirability to show stage truth is above all themain aim.

Expectations

Pupils will be expected to demonstrate astrong acting ability and a proven interestin and capacity for drama. For those whoenjoy performance, are prepared to risk inrehearsal and on stage, are adept inlearning lines and can organise themselvesand others to rehearse as a team outsidenormal lesson times, this is an excitingopportunity to shine in a subject which wehope will give them confidence and apassion for theatre.

Many pupils have extensive experience inschool plays, at the Cheltenham Festival ofPerforming Arts, and in Speech and Dramalessons, and this stands them in good steadfor the very specific discipline of drama atthis level. Those with limited dramaticexperience who show the necessarydramatic potential are equally welcomed –but are expected to throw themselves fullyinto the dramatic life of School in orderboth to reflect and enhance their new-found passion for the subject.

Anyone considering IGCSE Drama as anoption is advised to discuss their potentialfor success with the Director of Drama atthe earliest opportunity. This will involvebeing auditioned for the subject.

Lloyd Allington, Director of Drama

EconomicsThe Economics and Business Departmentoffer two distinctive GCSEs, either Businessor Economics. Both courses provide abroad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhilecourse of study which will allow pupils togain insight into related sectors. The coursewill prepare pupils to make informeddecisions about further learningopportunities in Business or Economics at A levels and future career choices.

Following the AQA syllabus, the Economicscourse seeks to teach pupils how markets

and economies work, enabling them todevelop an economic awareness to benefitthem personally and professionally for yearsto come. Through contemporary casestudies there is lots of opportunity to talkabout today’s economic issues, helping thepupils to learn communication, criticalthinking and analytical skills through tasksbased on anything from ways to cut thedeficit to weighing up the pros and cons ofinflation or being part of free tradeagreements.

Economics GCSE Course Content

How Markets Work

1. Economic Foundations

2. Resource Allocation

3. How prices are determined

4. Production, costs, revenue and profit

5. Competitive and concentrated markets

6. Market Failure

How the Economy Works

7. Introduction to the national economy

8. Government objectives

9. How the government manages the economy

10. International trade and the global economy

11. The role of money and financial markets

Examination

There are two final examinations, with eachhalf of the course examined in a separatepaper, lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes each.The questions will be a mix of someintroductory multiple choice questions,followed by calculations then short andextended response questions. There is nocoursework.

Jonathan Hardaker, Head of Economics

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All pupils undertake both IGCSE EnglishLanguage and English Literature.

The English course develops both languageand literature skills in tandem. Paper 1 ofthe IGCSE English Language tests the abilityto interpret meaning from unseen textsusing skills including summarising,comprehension, inference and analysis ofwriters’ technique. Paper 2 tests writing andcomposition through an evaluative responseto an opinion piece and descriptive writing,with a strong focus on controlled writingand technical accuracy.

Skills of inference, close literary analysis and the opportunity to practise descriptiveand directed writing are also fostered by the IGCSE English Literature course. Our selection of texts is challenging andenjoyable; as a Department, we seek toshare our own love of reading and we selectand teach texts with this in mind. The settexts for English Literature are Jane Eyre byCharlotte Brontë, New Selected Poems byCarol Ann Duffy, Macbeth by Shakespeareand The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Thesetexts are explored through close analysis,class discussion, group work and dramaactivities. Where possible, pupils are giventhe opportunity to see productions of ourset plays. The coursework componentenables pupils to explore aspects of texts ingreater detail and with more independence.

IGCSE Cambridge Exam Board outline:

First Language English (0500)

EXAM - Paper 1 (Reading Passages Extended) 50%

EXAM - Paper 2 (Directed Writing and Composition) 50%

Literature in English (0475)

EXAM - Component 1: Poetry and Prose (closed book) 50%

EXAM - Component 3: Drama (open book) 25%

COURSEWORK - Component 5: Macbeth and Jane Eyre 25%

Emma Gillet, Head of English

English

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This is a new GCSE designed to equipstudents with the knowledge,understanding and skills required to feedthemselves and others affordably andnutritiously. Pupils will learn a wide range ofcooking and presentation skills alongsidethe principles of food science, nutrition andhealthy eating enabling them to makeinformed decisions about food andnutrition throughout their lives.

The core syllabus will be taught via acombination of hands on practical foodscience investigations, practical cookerysessions and classroom based theorylessons, covering the following six topics:

The core syllabus includes six topics:

• Food commodities

• Principles of nutrition

• Diet and good health

• The science of food

• Where food comes from

• Cooking and food preparation

The GCSE is taught in our new state-of-theart Cookery School where pupils will work ina commercial kitchen environment with firstclass equipment and facilities. All

ingredients are provided enabling pupils tocreate a wide range of dishes which theycan take home to enjoy with family andfriends.

Year 1 (Remove) will include a combinationof theory, practical cookery and foodscience investigation lessons designed tounderstand the core syllabus and master awide range of practical cookery skills.

Year 2 (Fifth Form) will focus on completionof two ‘non-examined assessment’ tasksworth 50% of the final marks.

Assessment 1: The Food InvestigationAssessment (15% total marks) is a scientificfood investigation which will assessknowledge, skills and understanding of thescientific principles underlying thepreparation and cooking of food.

Assessment 2: The Food PreparationAssessment (35% total marks) will requireyou to prepare, cook and present a menu toassess your skills in planning, preparation,cooking and presentation of food.

A final written examination (1 hour 45minutes) worth 50% of the final marks is satat the end of fifth form to examine thecandidates understanding of the coreprinciples of food preparation and nutrition.

This course would suit pupils who have agenuine interest in food, cookery and thenutritional properties of what we eat. Youmust be prepared to cook and try a varietyof recipes and foods, and have a desire tofind out more about our food and theimpact that diet has on good health. It willalso suit pupils who enjoy hands onpractical learning and who would benefitfrom a GCSE which has 50% of the marksexamined by Controlled Assessment ratherthan final examination.

Gemma Larkin - Lawton, Head of CookerySchool

Food Preparationand Nutrition

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In 2020, pupils face the ever increasingchallenge of making sense of the rapidlychanging world in which they live. Wecannot open a newspaper or watch thenews without being confronted daily withissues of local, national and global concern:climate change.

Geography, more than any other subject,considers the inter-relationship between arange of issues including: economic, social,environmental, political and cultural. As aresult geographers tend to be informedand aware. They have developed aknowledge and understanding thatenriches their lives and enables them toconfidently play their part in shaping theworld.

The aim of this course therefore is todevelop pupils’ understanding and interestin the environmental issues of the modernworld, stressing how Geography has amajor role to play in explainingcontemporary global issues such as famine,flooding, pollution, over population,migration and socio-economic disparities.Pupils also gain a thorough understandingof the evolution of the physicalenvironment and how people interact with it.

The field is the geographic laboratorywhere young people experience at first

hand landscapes, places, people and issuesand where they can above all learn andpractise geographical skills in a realenvironment. In addition, at the beginningof the 21st century fieldwork appears to be even more crucial in the school curriculum,especially with its contribution tosustainability and citizenship. Fieldworkvisits to Swanage and Bristol are therefore

an integral part of this course not only as a fundamental basis for one of the modules but it also allows pupils toobserve in detail and try to measure andquantify the real world rather than study itfrom the isolation of the classroom.

Claire Bourne, Head of Geography

At GCSE, the new AQA syllabus is followed:

Paper 1 - 35%

Physical Geography topics including:• The challenge of natural hazards• The living world• Physical landscapes in the UK

Paper 2 - 35%

Human Geography topics including:• Urban i ssues and challenges• The changing economic world• The challenge of resource management

Paper 3 - 30%

Geographical applications• An exam paper based on pre-release sources with extended writing• Exam questions based on fieldwork (human & physical)

This curriculum will follow the new 9-1 grading system

Geography

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Why Study History?

“To be ignorant of whatoccurred before you were bornis to remain always a child”Cicero

What Will I Learn?GCSEs fall at such a formative period inpupils’ “growing up”. In the HistoryDepartment, we believe that the study ofHistory for IGCSE will not just provide pupilswith knowledge and academic skills, butthat it will help them to become informed,intelligent, empathetic adults and citizens.

History is an eternally valuable subject. Theacademic rigour and value placed on ahistory qualification is highly regarded byemployers and educational establishmentsalike. They appreciate the range oftransferable skills provided through thestudy of the subject, chiefly the ability tounderstand and analyse issues and events toa high degree of competence. Success inHistory provides pupils with the ability toexpress their views with clarity andconfidence, to analyse and evaluateevidence in a sophisticated manner, and toconstruct and communicate arguments inan organised, concise, logical andpersuasive fashion.

History helps you to understand the worldand to see how and why it has developed inthe way that it has. It provides you with thecontext to understand the world aroundyou and the society that we live in, andhelps you to see how other people might

view the world differently. A number of thetopics that we study at IGCSE have a clearinfluence on contemporary affairs orprovide us with the opportunity to seesimilar scenarios from the past, whetherthat is the methods of authoritarian rule inStalin’s Russia, the impact of racial tensionand economic crises on America, the rivalrybetween superpowers in the Cold War orthe turbulent relationship between Israeland the Palestinians. History helps you todevelop the skills to look beyond theheadlines, to ask effective questions and toexpress your own opinions. But, mostimportantly, the pursuit of historicalknowledge of people and events isextremely interesting and fun! Lessons willinvolve a range of activities, from sourcework to discussion, from structured writtenanswers to game play. We encourage pupils

to fully participate in lessons and to expresstheir own opinions on historical andcontemporary issues.

What Is Required of Pupils?Our primary requirement is an interest inHistory, along with motivation and hardwork. We value these attributes as much as the ability to communicate clearly inwritten form.

Jonathan Sheldon, Head of History

Exam Board: Edexcel IGCSEYear 10Dictatorship and conflict in the USSR under Stalin, 1924-1953• Why Stalin comes to power• Stalin’s economic policies – Five Year Plans and Collectivisation• The Red Terror – purges, show trials, the cult of Stalin and themanipulation of history

• Life in the Soviet Union 1924-41• The Second World War and its Aftermath, 1941-53

The USA 1918-1941• The roaring Twenties – consumerism, leisure, flappers• Increased social tension in the 20s – the Red Scare, the Ku KluxKlan, prohibition and the gangsters

• The USA in Depression, 1929-33• Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1933-41• Opposition to the New Deal

Year 11

A World Divided: Superpower Relations 1943-72• Reasons for the Cold War• Early Developments in the Cold War 1945-49 – The Iron Curtain, the Berlin Airlift and the Division of Germany

• The Cold War in the 50s – Korea, Hungary, nuclear tension• Three Crises – The Berlin Wall, Cuba and Czechoslovakia• The Thaw and moves towards Détente, 1963-72

The Middle East: Conflict, Crisis and Change 1917-2012• The build-up of tension in Palestine, 1917-46• The creation of Israel, the war of 1948-49 and the Suez Crisis of 1956

• Tension and Conflict 1956-73• Diplomacy, Peace, then wider war 1973-83• The attempts to find a lasting peace, 1987-2012

History

Once every two years the historydepartment runs a residential tripfor GCSE and A level pupils in theOctober half term. For example, therecent trip to Berlin, exploring itshistory during the Nazi period andthe Cold War.

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All pupils take the IGCSE in Mathematics.The Edexcel IGCSE is now a well-established qualification that embracesthe best practice of O level and GCSE. Itis particularly popular in the independentsector as it is stable and free of politicalinterference and is a better preparationfor Sixth Form study. Since Dean Closeadopted it, the percentage of our pupilsstudying Mathematics in the Sixth Formhas significantly increased.

What will you gain by studyingMathematics?

Mathematics gives you the mental toolsnecessary to make sense of the modernworld. Just as languages provide thebuilding blocks and rules we need tocommunicate, Maths uses its own language,made up of numbers, symbols andformulas, to explore the rules we need tomeasure or identify essential problems.Maths helps us find patterns and structurein our lives. Practically, Maths helps us put aprice on things, create graphics, buildwebsites, build skyscrapers and generallyunderstand how things work or predict howthey might change over time and underdifferent conditions.

Edexcel IGCSEs are graded in the same wayas GCSEs. Pupils will be entered either atHigher tier, where the grades available are

from 9 to 4 or at Foundation tier, where the grades are from 5 to 1. Pupils will allfollow a common syllabus and a finaldecision on which tier individual pupils cantake can theoretically be delayed until afterthe January Trials in the Fifth Form. It mustbe pointed out that the Higher Tier hastwice as much to study and a lot of this isfar more challenging maths.

The syllabus is broadly the same as theGCSE, however there is less focus onnumber work like ratio and proportion andmore focus on algebra. This, we stronglybelieve, provides a better preparation forSixth Form A Level study. Also both IGCSEpapers allow the use of a calculator which isin line with the new A Levels wherecalculators are also fully permitted.

Note for Remove Set 1

Whilst in the Fifth Form, set 1 students willalso study the AQA Level 2 in FurtherMathematics course. This is a uniquecurriculum designed to stretch andchallenge high achieving mathematiciansand will start to introduce topics from ALevel including further calculus,trigonometry and matrices.

Exam Board: IGCSE Edexcel

Two equally weighted written exams - No coursework

Richard Sayers, Head of Maths

Mathematics

At GCSE all pupils study French or Spanishas a compulsory language. Many choose totake both languages. Languages are achallenging yet worthwhile subject forstudy at GCSE and a highly respectedqualification. At a time when we are at acrossroads in Europe, a command offoreign languages remains a skill which ishighly valued by UK and overseasemployers as well as a satisfying personalachievement and life skill.

GCSE French and Spanish pupils follow theAQA syllabus. The examination tests fourskills: listening, speaking, reading andwriting. There is a Foundation Tier (grades1–5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4–9).Students must take all four papers at thesame tier. The main topics of the courseare:

Theme 1: Identity and culture Theme 2: Local, national, international andglobal areas of interest Theme 3: Current and future study andemployment

The course places emphasis on the use oflanguages in the real world and includesrole plays in the speaking exam, translation,and exposes students to a range of texttypes. The course textbook used is OxfordUniversity Press AQA GCSE French/Spanish.

There is a wide range of online tools tosupport the course.

It is strongly recommended to spend sometime in France or Spain if you are studyinglanguages to GCSE. Study trips toMontpellier, France and Salamanca, Spainrun in alternate years. Both are available toall Fourth, Remove and Fifth Formers.

Exam Board: AQA GCSEListening-25% Speaking-25%Reading-25% Writing-25%

Josh Sumner, Head of Modern ForeignLanguages

Modern Foreign Languages

17 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

MusicWhy study Music at GCSE?

• Explore your creative side in composition

• Get academic credit for your existingperforming skills

• Develop your listening awareness

• This course will make you listen to musicin a completely different way andenhance your appreciation of all styles

• Prepare to have your existing musicaltastes challenged and converted as youare introduced to a huge variety ofmusical styles and cultures

• Broaden your horizons!

This GCSE will be graded and Certified on anine grade scale from 9 to 1, where 9 is thehighest grade. The two-year course withEdexcel aims to develop an understandingand appreciation of music throughperforming, composing and appraising.Such is the breadth of the course thatpupils of differing musical experiences andabilities can enjoy the practical andtheoretical aspects of the course.

Performance accounts for 30% of theGCSE. Therefore candidates will need tostudy at least one instrument/voice and will be required to perform one solo piece and one ensemble piece. Theseperformances can take place at any stageduring the GCSE year.

Composition also accounts for 30% of theGCSE and two compositions are presentedfor assessment at the end of the course.Candidates must write one composition to a brief set by the board and one freecomposition. The brief accommodates alltastes from classical through to pop andethnic music.

Listening and appraising accounts for40% of the GCSE and is assessed through a13/4 hour written paper which involveslistening and responding to extracts fromeight set works in addition to questions onunfamiliar pieces of music. The set worksfall into four areas of study.

n Instrumental Music 1700-1820n Vocal Musicn Music for Stage and Screenn Fusions

Pupils taking GCSE Music should beprepared to be involved in appropriatemusical activities and attend concerts toenhance their musical awareness.

Pupil comments.

“You get to study a lot of different styles ofmusic so there’s something for everyone”

“The structure of the course with its threeseparate components of listening,composition and performance makes eachlesson really varied”

“Class size is really small so you get lots ofindividual attention”

Dom Franks, Director of Music

Music combines academic rigourwith practical and creative skillslike no other subject.

18 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

19 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

Physical EducationFor pupils who enjoy the sporting life atSchool, PE IGCSE is a really good option.Fifty percent of the course is practicallybased, with opportunities to improve skillsand performances in four different activityareas. Learn how skills and techniques aredeveloped, how the skeletal system andmuscles work, how biomechanics influenceperformance, how to lead a healthy, activelifestyle, and how schools, as well as socialand cultural factors, affect participation inthe theory content of the course.

This course should enable candidates to:

1) Become increasingly physically competent through being actively engaged in a range of physical activities.

2) Become increasingly effective in their performance in different types of physical activity and roles.

3) Develop their ability to engage independently and successfully in the processes of different types of physicalactivity.

4) Develop and maintain their involvement in physical activity as part of a healthy, active lifestyle.

The CIE PE IGCSE is broken down in to twomodules. These modules are based on theinteraction between the theory and practice

of Physical Education. Pupils areencouraged to participate in physicalactivity in a number of different types ofactivity and in different roles withinactivities through practical performance.They are also required to underpin theirpractical performances with theoreticalknowledge of the anatomical,physiological, psychological and socialdemands of physical activity and how thesefactors affect physical competence andparticipation. Pupils learn how to usemethods of practice to improve theirperformance in physical activity and theimportance of being physically active aspart of a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

The assessment is divided into twocomponents:

• Practical coursework which accountsfor 50% of the final IGCSE mark;

• One written examination, whichaccounts for 50% of the final mark.

Over the two years, pupils will be assessedeffectively in four different selected areas.

The written examination componentconsists of a one hour 45 minute paper satin the Trinity Term of Year 11. It covers awide variety of topics includingunderstanding the different factors thataffect participation and performance,physiology of the body, health and safety

training, and understanding the reasonsand opportunities for taking part inphysical activity.

We would welcome anyone who has a keeninterest in sport and is good practicallyacross a range of activities, as well aswanting to learn the theory side.

Rhona Donaldson, Head of PE

Exam Board: Cambridge

One written examination (50%)

Practical coursework made up of 4 activities (chosen from 20options) (50%)

What is IGCSE Product DesignTechnology?It is product design technology with aspecialist focus on the use of tools andtechniques to produce 3D workingprototype products. Pupils will be involvedin the study of materials and components,production processes, industrialapplication, social, moral, ethical andenvironmental issues of product design,product analysis, designing and makingprocesses.

They will then apply this knowledge andunderstanding when designing and makinga 3D product and an A3 portfolio of designwork. Resistant Materials projects are oftena high quality, working product supportedby a portfolio of ideas and designs.

Will you enjoy the course?Yes if you want to study a subject that isboth technical and creative; is relevant tothe consumer society you live in;encourages you to be a discerningconsumer; enables you to design and makeproducts; places an emphasis on practicalwork; develops a full range of skills that willbe useful in other subjects you study and inlater employment.

How does it follow on from what wehave studied previously in the FourthForm?So far pupils have had a wide experience ofmaterials. They have produced small-scaleproducts and design folders using thesematerials. The course follows on directlyfrom the work done throughout their timeat Dean Close. Pupils will produce productsand design folders and be examined ontheir knowledge and understanding.However the products and folders will belarger and more sophisticated than thoseproduced previously. There will be a lotmore time to design and develop productsand at the same time develop an in-depthunderstanding of the materials andprocesses involved.

What about exams?There are two exams at the end of thecourse, worth a combined 50% of the

overall grade. They consist of a commondesigning paper and then a specialistmaterials examination and consist ofquestions on knowledge andunderstanding of designing, materials,processes. The other 50% of the grade willbe based on the coursework projectproduced during the Fifth Form.

What skills will you develop?Pupils will review and develop skills from allyour previous design technologyexperiences. The course places emphasis onthe design and manufacture of qualityproducts. We will look at commercialproducts and form opinions as to theirability to satisfy consumer needs. They willalso be asked to consider how those needsrelate to social, ethical and environmentalissues. Above all the course will encouragethem to be imaginative and experimental incombining materials, skills and techniquesas well as developing a goodunderstanding of industrial process ofdesigning and making products. They willbuild confidence in your ability to workwith materials to produce quality productsand solve practical problems producedduring the Fifth Form.

What can you do with an IGCSE inProduct Design Technology?It will provide a good base for careers ingraphic design, computer graphics and artand design, as well as careers in productdesign, industrial design, engineering of alltypes as well as architecture.

Dom Evans, Head of Product DesignTechnology

ProductDesign Technology

20 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

21 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

“The good life is one inspired by love and guided byknowledge”. Bertrand RussellWhy Study Religious Studies?

Religious Studies engages with the greatquestions of meaning, purpose and justicethat have intrigued humans in allcivilizations; it does so by exploring,critiquing and learning from the diversereligious and philosophical traditions thathave emerged in response to thesequestions. It is believed that throughlearning about a wide range ofperspectives, we can better understandothers, hold our own beliefs up to scrutinyand confidently apply those views to theburning issues of our day. GCSE ReligiousStudies greatly enhances pupils' ability tothink critically about an issue and be ableto express an informed point of view bothverbally and on paper.

The main advantage of GCSE ReligiousStudies is that it prepares you for life withthe tools for thinking critically about thebig questions raised by religious andphilosophical claims and ethical decisionmaking. It is also excellent preparation for:A level Social Sciences (Law, Sociology andPsychology), A level Religious Studies,History and English. Jobs that appreciatethe skills that GCSE Religious Studies

develops, are in medicine, the Police, theArmed Forces and the caring professions.

What will I learn?

Pupils will follow the OCR Full Course GCSE.

Part One: Pupils are required to study twoof the largest and most important majorworld religions, Christianity and Islam. Thefocus of study for each religion is on‘Beliefs and teachings’ and ‘Practices’.

Part Two: Pupils are required to studyethical, theological and philosophicalquestions on a range of topics.

The four topic areas to be studied are:

• Relationships and families (including Abortion and Euthanasia)

• The existence of God, gods and the ultimate reality (including the Teleological and Cosmological Argument)

• Religion, peace and conflict (includingthe Just War Theory and Pacifism)

• Dialogue between religious and non-religious beliefs and attitudes (including Multi-Culturalism and Secularism)

The course is assessed by two 2 hourexams. There is no coursework.

Dominic Mochan, Head of Religion,Philosophy & Ethics

OCR Full Course

Two 2 Hour PapersEach part of the course carriesequal weight.

Religious Studies

There will be a few pupils with real academic flair who want tokeep up with all three sciences and also leave room in the weekto study a wide range of other subjects.

What Exams Will There Be?If you opt for this, you will take three full IGCSE science examsafter the two year course, but you will have all that contentsqueezed into only two option blocks. Effectively you will study3 subjects in the time that most people take to study only 2. Thisis likely to be quite a challenge, requiring a high level ofmotivation and ability; but we believe that it will benefit anumber of pupils.

Who Will Teach It?You will have three teachers, a subject specialist from each ofBiology, Chemistry and Physics.

What About Prep?You are likely to get more prep from this option than from otherroutes, since you will have proportionately less contact time withyour teachers.

Who Is Eligible For This?This option will only be available to the most able scientists andmathematicians of the year group. We anticipate a set size ofapproximately 15. Only pupils who have managed to exceed aminimum score in their internal exams for the three sciences willbe accepted into this set.

Will It Create Problems With Coursework?No. There is no coursework in any of the science IGCSE courses.

When moving from the Fourth Form into Remove everystudent will learn aspects of all 3 sciences Biology,Chemistry and Physics. The choice each individual studentwill have going into the Remove is as follows:

Option 1: “Fast track” IGCSE in each of the three sciences,leading to three IGCSEs, on a reduced number of lessons pertwo week cycle. This means that the student will still havefour other choices. This is a challenging option and will onlybe open to pupils who are invited to make this choice. This ispart of a student’s compulsory curriculum.

Option 2: “Triple award” Similar to option1, but this time thestudent will have the normal number of lessons per two weekcycle set aside for 3 separate subjects. It leads to threeIGCSEs. This counts as one of the student’s four options, aswell as the science element of their compulsory curriculum.We will advise if this is a good option for a student.

Option 3: “Double Award” Two thirds of each of the threesciences is studied, leading to two IGCSEs (called Science(Double Award).) This is part of a student’s compulsorycurriculum. A student taking Double Award could still take A level sciences, provided they make good progress.

Aron NeedsHead of Science

Fast TrackTriple Science

Scienceat Dean Close School

22 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

Why Study Biology at IGCSE?Biology is the study of life, coveringeverything from the evolution of life on theplanet, the chemicals that make us up, tothe structure of our bodies and the way inwhich we affect our environment. It linkswell to Geography and the other sciencesand is an essential GCSE along withChemistry if you want to pursue any careerin the biological sciences, agriculture,medicine, dentistry, veterinary science orany other allied subject. An IGCSE inBiology Sciences will inform you aboutyourself; how you are made, survive and

reproduce. It will also teach you about thebiology of plants and how we areultimately dependent on whole ecosystemsand other species for our food, oxygen andother resources. From evolution to geneticmodification, Biology IGCSE covers all ofthe major aspects of this rapidly developingsubject, informing you about issues thatwill affect all of our lives.

What’s It Like?Biology is a practical subject withinvestigations carried out throughout thecourse. ICT and data handling skills,important skills in the modern laboratory,are developed and you will be encouragedto research and evaluate current issues inthe press including looking at cloning,selective breeding and geneticmanipulation. You will look at the benefits

and drawbacks of biological developmentsin relation to social, environmental andeconomic issues.

What’s Required of the Pupil?To study Biology you must be interested inthe subject and want to find out more. Anenquiring mind is much better suited to ascience subject where pupils are given theopportunity to carry out practical work, askquestions and carry out further researchand reading. It is strongly advised thatpupils also study Chemistry and Physics,Chemistry being essential if a pupil intendsto pursue Biology to A level. You will beprovided with an IGCSE textbook andrevision guide, but Biology is a subjectoften in the press and we encourage pupilsto read around the subject.

The Biology CurriculumAt Dean Close, we study for the EdexcelIGCSE course. The main topics of the courseare:

• Nature and variety of living organisms• Structures and functions of livingorganisms

• Reproduction and inheritance• Ecology and the environment• Use of biological resources

Andrew Martin, Head of Biology

Exam Board: Edexcel IGCSE

Paper 1: 110 marks (2 hours)Paper 2: 70 marks (1 hour 15 mins)

Science - Biology

23 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

Why Study Chemistry at IGCSE?Chemistry is a must-have qualification foranyone wishing to study sciences at a higherlevel, particularly any medical courses. Itencompasses a wide range of subjects fromthe study of matter at its most basic levels todesigning materials for our modern life. AnIGCSE in Chemistry shows that you have awide range of skills including mathematics,using abstract models and practical skills.

What's it Like?IGCSE Chemistry is a challenging course. Weplace a strong emphasis on practical workand most topics have opportunities forpupils to see the theory workingexperimentally. Many of our new pupils havelimited practical experience so we start witha series of simple experiments to teach themhow to work safely and effectively in alaboratory. The three year course also meansthat we have time to do some practicalinvestigations outside of the specification.

What's Required of the Pupil?To excel at IGCSE Chemistry the pupil mustbe willing and able to engage with thecourse. We encourage questions anddiscussion and hold clinics twice weekly foranyone who feels they need extra help.

The Chemistry CurriculumThe Chemistry course will cover a wide rangeof chemical topics including:

• Basic atomic Structure

• Bonding in chemical substances

• Organic chemistry (Oil refining,polymers and the production ofalcohol)

• Industrial Chemistry

• Chemical calculations

• Rates of reactions

• The chemistry of groups 1 and 7 of theperiodic table

A full specification can be found atwww.edexcel.com

Exam Board: Edexcel IGCSE

Two written papers

There is no form of courseworkor controlled assessment.

Paper 12 hours 110 marks (61.1%)

Paper 21 hour 15 mins 70 marks (38.9%)

Dale Chapman, Head of Chemistry

Science - Chemistry

24 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

Why Study Physics at IGCSE?Physics is one of the most highly respectedqualifications you can have at GCSE level.It is an essential stepping stone towardsstudying Physics or Engineering at a higherlevel, and a very useful subject for anyoneaspiring to study science A levels. Do youfind yourself asking questions like: Whydoes this happen? How does that work? Ifso, you may find some of the answers in aPhysics IGCSE course.

What Is It Like?Physics for some is just ‘Maths with astory’. For others, Physics is an extension ofcommon sense, and the course will simplyallow you to make that sense of some ofthe things you have been wondering about

for a while anyway. Others will find thatthe Physics IGCSE course opens their mindsup to questions that have never occurred tothem before. You will spend time doingpractical experiments and ponderingtheoretical problems. Work is done bothindividually and in small groups.

What’s Required of the Pupil?You should be competent at maths, andkeen to think hard. Many physics problemsrequire two or three stages of logicalthought, so you need to be the sort ofperson who does not give up easily. Youneed to have a curiosity about the worldaround you, and about why it behaves as itdoes. You will be provided with an IGCSE

textbook and revision guide as well asvarious online tools to help with the course.

The Physics CurriculumThe IGCSE syllabus can be found atwww.edexcel.com. Here is a list of some of the topics we study:• Forces, Motion and Energy• Space • Waves (mostly light and sound)• Matter (solids, liquids and gases)• Electricity and Electromagnetism• Radioactivity and particles (includingnuclear power and medical uses)

• Astrophysics

Mark McKechnie, Head of Physics

Exam Board: Edexcel IGCSE

Two written exam papers

No practical work/controlled assessment

Paper 1 2 hours 110 marks (61.1%)

Paper 211/4 hour 70 marks (38.9%)

Science - Physics

25 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

26 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

Dean Close School welcomes internationalpupils to all year groups, many of whomarrive in Remove (Year 10) to begin the GCSEprogramme. We recognise that pupils arrivewith different levels of English and theEnglish Language Training (ELT) team worksclosely with subject teachers to provideappropriate language support for pupils toachieve good grades at GCSE level.

Academic support

The ELT department prides itself on itsflexibility and dedication to individual needs.Students for whom English is a secondlanguage are assessed during the first coupleof weeks after arrival to identify particularlanguage strengths and weaknesses. Eachpupil has an individual programme of ELTand we monitor progress to ensure they areon track and able to access the curriculumfully. We are able to offer a high level offlexibility and offer support in a range ofways:

• Small group / individual lessons*

• Subject-specific ELT study sessions

• A minimum of three GCSE Extra English ELT lessons per week timetabled to replace Modern Foreign Language lessons

• Additional individual ELT sessions arranged at any point during the school year

• A drop-in ELT Study Centre open at lunchtimes and after lessons for exam preparation, vocabulary / grammar exercises, academic support and wider reading

• Cambridge First Certificate, Cambridge Advanced English, IELTS Skills and Trinity ISE I & II exam preparation

NB* Some courses may incur an additional fee

In Remove and Fifth Form, pupils attendGCSE Extra English ELT lessons where theydevelop skills to pass GCSE EnglishLanguage. Please note that achieving a passin English Language (“C” grade) is aminimum requirement for university in theUK and increasingly many universities requirea higher grade.

Pastoral Support in our InternationalCommunity

The ELT department also provides advice andmentoring for our international pupils. Oneof our main aims is to facilitate integrationinto the school community and help pupilsachieve an all-round education. Workingwith subject teachers and boarding houses,we develop pupils’ self-confidence and competence in English, so they settlequickly and enjoy all aspects of school life.

The Overseas Induction Weekend

All new pupils are encouraged to attend theOverseas Induction Weekend prior to the

start of the academic year in order tofamiliarise themselves with the school and tomeet key members of staff. This opportunityprovides pupils with a positive and confidentstart. For details of current additionalcharges for language support outsidetimetabled ELT sessions, parents andguardians of international pupils are invitedto visit the school website.

(*Please note: whilst we endeavour toaccommodate individual preferences, due totimetable constraints it is not always possiblefor parents / guardians to choose teachinggroup sizes. Depending on level of English,some courses may form a complusory part ofan offer or a place).

Rachael Vest, Head of ELT

English LanguageTraining

27 | GCSE Studies 2021 ~ 2023

Flecker Library &Careers ServiceThe Flecker Library is Dean Close School’scentral nexus of discovery, explorationand development, and the base for ourcareers provision. Our purpose: tosupport learning, to cultivate advancedacademic & professional development,and to champion the unmatched potencyof reading. Our dedicated goal: toempower pupils through a wide-ranging,specialist information and careers service.

Within its warm, wooden boughs, theFlecker Library offers both a haven forimagination, study and research, and aprofessional environment facilitated bytechnology and modern innovation. Our upto date catalogue of academic non-fiction,biographies, young adult novels,contemporary fiction, graphic novels andliterary classics, readily supports reading andresearch for both learning and leisure.

The Library catalogue can be accessed bothon and off site, providing users with theability to search for and reserve resourcesthey wish to borrow. As well as being hometo over 14,000 books, pupils also haveaccess to journals, magazines and dailynewspapers, and a regularly updated DVDand digital media library. From the latestblockbusters to the classics of FrenchCinema, there is a vast range of films anddocumentaries with which pupils cansupplement their learning.

The ground floor of the Library affordsample space for individual learningunderneath the vaulted ark of the FleckerHall, while the first floor hosts a full IT suitefor independent work and research. Oursecond floor is designated for Libraryteaching and Upper School group work,offering further presentation facilities andadditional computers. Dedicated Wi-Fienables pupils to work on their own devices.Extending our physical limits, pupils haveaccess to a comprehensive selection ofonline academic journals, digital periodicals,subject-specific study centres,encyclopaedias, careers resources, and astreaming portal for feature films anddocumentaries. Staffed by three dedicatedand specialist Librarians, we are available allday to assist in learning, resource discoveryand research.

Career Skills & Exam Success

Success at GCSE requires range ofknowledge, key skills and application ofunderstanding. Success beyond requires theopportunities, power and mind-set todevelop and choose effectively. Workingclosely with their subject teachers andpersonal tutors, we provide pupils with theprospects and assistance to extendawareness, challenge thinking and developkey skills, vital for both successful study atGCSE level and as a firm foundation for theacademic and professional demands thatfollow. Over the course of their studies,pupils participate in a range of workshopsand seminars, including essentials regardinglearning, revision & exam strategies andcareer exploration and employabilitydevelopment. Added to this are a varyingrange of optional initiatives andentrepreneurial opportunities, such as thenational Student Investor Challenge andYoung Enterprise, that extend and inspirepupils’ thinking, global awareness, and skilldevelopment outside the classroom and intothe worlds that await them.

We are an ever-changing library for anever-changing world. Visit us now atdcslibrary.com.

Zach Suckle, Head of Library & CareersThe Flecker Library

DEAN CLOSE SCHOOLShelburne RoadCheltenhamGloucestershireGL51 6HE

Telephone 01242 258044Email registrar@deanclose.org.uk

www.deanclose.org.uk