KS4 Options
Students make excellent progress and achievement in all subjects is exceptionally high” - OFSTED 2014
“Teaching is outstanding." - OFSTED 2014
"Teachers teach the way that we learn, rather than us having to learn the way they teach." - KS4 Student
GCSE Options Booklet 2019 - 2021
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
All students will have the opportunity to study the English Baccalaureate. This curriculum recognises students who are able to pursue a broad range of academic subjects at GCSE to a high standard. This set of qualifications is recognised by employers and university admissions tutors as a way of selecting students for jobs or for university places.
To achieve the EBacc, students must gain a GSCE grade 9-5 in six subjects.
These subjects must include:
- Mathematics
- English Language
- 2 Sciences (2 from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Computer Science, Combined Science (2 GCSEs)
- 1 Humanity (1 from History or Geography)
- 1 Language (1 from Spanish or French)
All students at Barton Court follow a KS4 curriculum that allows them to study the Ebacc.
The EBacc will be ideal preparation for Post-16 study and in particular the study of the AQA Baccalaureate (the A Level Baccalaureate), and provides all students with a broad range of academic subjects upon which to build any future career options.
What does the KS4 curriculum look like?
All students continue to study a core curriculum of 9 GCSEs for three years, in Years 9 – 11:
- English Language
- English Literature
- Mathematics
- Science (Triple Award or Combined Science)
- French or Spanish
- History or Geography
- Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (includes Religious Studies GCSE and the statutory elements of Personal Social Health Economic Education)
- Core PE (non-examined)
In addition to this suite of academic subjects that all students will be expected to study at GCSE, students will have the freedom to choose two additional subjects to study throughout Years 9, 10 and 11. These subjects cover a wide range of choice from the creative arts, to an additional humanity or language.
“The school provides students with an outstanding curriculum that effectively meets their needs and aspirations” - OFSTED
“The school is a happy and harmonious community where students are motivated to achieve as well as possible and develop into confident and successful young adults” - OFSTED
“Students’ achievement is outstanding” - OFSTED