Key Stage 4
Towards the end of Year 9 pupils and parents will be provided with information about the courses available in Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) at school. This is an important time when pupils, parents and teachers work together to ensure that the best possible course is followed for the final two years of compulsory education bearing in mind the pupil's ability and career interest. We meet the requirements of the National Curriculum and at present all Year 10 and 11 pupils study a common core of subjects which consists of Mathematics, English, Science (Double Award), French, Design and Technology, Religious Studies, Physical Education and Information and Communication Technology. In addition pupils can choose two further subjects from a wide range of options to study in school. Links with Newcastle College provide further and varied opportunities for some pupils.
Pupils will end this stage of their education by taking public examinations during Key Stage 4. This can be traditional GCSEs, Vocational GCSEs, OCR National Certificate, BTEC First or Entry Level. It is normal at Madeley High School to be entered for at least nine GCSE equivalent examinations. The courses presently offered are:
AQA GCSE
Art and Design
D&T (Food Technology)
D&T(Graphic Products)
D&T(Resistant Materials Technology)
English
English Literature
Applied Performing Arts
Applied Performing Arts (Dance) (BTEC First)
Science
Statistics
plus Entry Level Certificate (English & Science)
EDEXEL GCSE
Engineering (Double Award) *
Health & Social Care (Double Award) *
Music
OCR GCSE
Applied Art (Double Award) *
Business (OCR National Level 2)
French
German
Geography
History
Home Economics (Child Development)
Information and Communication Technology (OCR National Level 2)
Mathematics
Physical Education (Games)
Religious Education (Full and Short Courses)
plus Entry Level Certificate (Mathematics)
WJEC
Entry Level Certificate (Life Skills)
* Taught in conjunction with Newcastle College
Individual requirements are also met, where possible. In the past entries have been made for Cantonese, Mandarin, Russian and Latin.
We regularly review the suitability of the examination courses that are offered which can lead to a change to a different examining board.