Frequently Asked Questions

How many GCSEs should I take?

There is no set number.  The Government has several performance measures for schools, one of which measures the best eight of each student’s grades, so clearly this is a number below which a student should not fall.  In addition to this, at Heart of England we believe that students should leave open as many future options as possible; therefore, students will achieve 10 GCSEs in total by the end of Y11.  This number is on a par with local schools.

Why do I have to study a language, or History or Geography?

A modern Foreign Language and History or Geography are part of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) suite of subjects. These are the subjects which at A level, according to the Russell Group, open more doors to more degrees. They provide a sound basis for a variety of careers beyond the age of 16.  In the Government’s response to the EBacc Consultation they say:

 ‘They also enrich pupils’ studies and give them a broad general knowledge that will enable them to participate in and contribute to society. A recent study found that pupils in a set of 300 schools that increased their EBacc entry, from 8% to 48%, were more likely to achieve good English and mathematics GCSEs, more likely to take an A level or an equivalent level 3 qualification, and more likely to stay in post-16 education.’

Therefore, even if you know already that you do not plan to do A levels, there is good evidence that this suite of subjects will help raise your achievement overall.  We also want to ensure our pupils are able to compete with educational high performers in a local and global economy.  In line with the government’s ambition that 75% of year 10 pupils in state-funded mainstream schools will start to study GCSEs in the EBacc combination of subjects by September 2022, the majority of our students will study these subjects.  It still leaves students free to choose two other subjects, so far from limiting their choice we are preventing them from limiting their choices in following years.

We believe that pupils of all abilities can benefit from studying the full range of subjects the EBacc offers; they provide an academic foundation for young people, help to keep their options open and enrich their studies and interaction with the world around them.  For some students an alternative curriculum pathway might be more appropriate due to a range of factors and parents/carers of these students are invited to apply for the Reduced Core.

Can I refuse for my child to study a subject that’s part of the Core Curriculum e.g. Science or a language

The Core Curriculum is set by the Leadership Team and agreed by the Governors and is in line with equivalent schools nationwide.  This curriculum provides the highest quality of education for our students and is complemented by the opportunity for students to follow their passions and pick two subjects that they enjoy and feel that they will achieve most in at Key Stage 4.  Students should feel pleased that their teachers believe they can study this collection of subjects and achieve well at them and should approach the curriculum with a mature, can-do attitude.  As already stated, parents and carers can apply for their child to study the Reduced Core, but we recommend encouraging children to think long term.  As you can see from the Reduced Core information on page 5, there are some subjects that no one can opt out of studying. 

If I apply for the Reduced Core, will I definitely get it?

The government leaves it up to schools to make decisions on a case-by-case basis regarding who should study the Ebacc, with schools taking a range of factors into account.  This could include things such as SEN needs or additional numeracy and literacy needs.  No student is excluded from following the Ebacc, and pupil ability on its own does not determine whether a student should enter the EBacc.  We will look at all applications and if we think that a child is making choices that aren’t in his or her best interests then a supportive conversation will be had to ensure that they have understood the information, advice and guidance around options.  Once we are satisfied that good decisions are being made for good reasons then an application for the Reduced Core will probably be successful.

Will I sit GCSE exams?

We hope so!  You will study GCSEs which will be awarded a 1 – 9 grade (with 9 being the highest) rather than A – F.  The current GCSEs are designed to be linear, with external exams at the end rather than internally assessed coursework, although practical subjects retain some controlled assessment which is done during the course and counts towards your grade.  You need to read each subject description thoroughly to see exactly what the assessment arrangements are.  All of the qualifications that you choose will have some externally examined element and all exams will be at the end.  There will be no resit opportunities; you need to make sure you get it right first time around! The 2020 and 2021 exam series were changed due to the Coronavirus pandemic but we are confident that by the summer of 2025 (when you sit your exams) everything will be back to normal.

On the next page is a table showing the weighting of exam and Non-Examined Assessment (NEA) that make up each GCSE.  All NEAs will be completed before the main exam period starts.

Does it matter if I don’t know what I want to do for a career?

Not at all!  You do not have to choose subjects with a career in mind but do select carefully so that you do not restrict your career options.  The longer a career choice is delayed the better – there is more chance to change your mind.

How do I make my Options?

These will be entered online via a portal called Tools. More information on how to do this will be given in due course.

Exam versus Non-examined assessment (NEA) – the weighting of new GCSEs

Subject	Exam (written)	NEA
Business Studies	100%
English	100%
Geography	100%
History	100%
Maths	100%
Modern Languages	100%
Religious Studies	100%
Science	100%
Computer Science	100%
Art	40%	60%
Art Photography	40%	60%
Design Btec	25%	75%
Drama	40% written, 30% practical	30%
Food & Nutrition	50%	50%
Health & Social Care	40%	60%
Media Studies	70%	30%
Music	40%	60%
PE	60%	40%
Product Design	50%	50%

Links

• Exam versus Non-examined assessment (NEA) – the weighting of the new GCSEs