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Option Choices

As well as the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, there is a full list of additional subjects you can choose to study in Year 10 and Year 11.

Business

GCSE Business introduces students to how businesses work.

Students will explore realistic business scenarios and consider how to apply the concepts they have learned. A typical example of this would be when students are given financial information about a business from which they must:

calculate a variety of financial ratios
explain what the financial ratios reveal about the finances of the business
suggest solutions to improve the financial position of the business

Overview

The course covers the following topics:

Business in the real world – the purpose and nature of business, business ownership, setting aims and objectives, stakeholder, business location, business planning, expanding a business.
Influences on business – technology, ethical and environmental considerations, the economic climate, globalisation, legislation, competitive environment.

Business operations – production processes, the role of procurement, the concept of quality, good customer services.
Human resources – organisational structures, recruitment and selection of employees, motivating employees, training.

Marketing – identifying and understanding customers, segmentation, the purposes and methods of market research, the elements of the marketing mix.
Finance – sources of finance, cash flow, financial terms and calculations, analysing the financial performance of a business.

Assessment

The business qualification consists of two written exams. Each exam has a short section of multiple choice and short answer questions. Then there are longer questions based on a case study or business data.

Paper 1 – Influences of operations and HRM on business activity

written exam – 1 hours 45 minutes
90 marks
worth 50% of the overall qualification

Paper 2 – Influences of marketing and finance on business activity

written exam – 1 hour 45 minutes
90 marks
worth 50% of the overall qualification

Subject links

The Business GCSE has strong links with English, maths and geography.

Careers

Qualifications in business support learners to go into a variety of careers including setting up their own enterprise.

For further information, please contact Head of Business Matt Bryant info@ipswichacademy.org.uk.

Citizenship

The Citizenship course is divided into five themes:

A: Living together in the UK

Students are introduced to the idea that the UK is a diverse society of many different communities and groups who live together. They explore the nature of identity and multiple identities as well as how and why communities are changing. They consider the democratic rights, freedoms and values that we share, including human rights and the challenge of balancing competing rights.

B: Democracy at work in the UK

Students explore the idea of representative, parliamentary democracy in the UK including the voting and electoral system, the roles and responsibilities of MPs and how government is organised and kept in check. They will also consider the role of parliament in making and shaping law; the government’s role in managing public money; and how power is organised across the constituent parts of the UK.

C: Law and justice

Students explore why we need laws and how law affects us in our everyday lives. They consider how the justice system in England and Wales works in practice including the roles and power of the police and the courts. They also learn about the distinctive features of the criminal, civil and youth justice systems and some of the different approaches to settling disputes, addressing inequality, changing behaviour and tackling crime in society.

D: Power and influence

In this section students revisit key ideas about democracy, rights and responsibilities in Themes A–C as they explore ideas about power. In particular they consider power in relation to the ways in which citizens, governments and the media exercise power and influence in a range of local to global situations. They contrast representative democracy in the UK with a non-democratic political system and the limits this places on the rights and freedoms of citizens.

E: Taking citizenship action

Citizenship action may be defined as a planned course of informed action to address a citizenship issue or question of concern and aimed at delivering a benefit or change for a particular community or wider society. Taking citizenship action in a real out-of-classroom context allows students to apply citizenship knowledge, understanding and skills, and to gain different citizenship insights and appreciate different perspectives on how we live together and make decisions in society.

Students will build skills in:

Analytical and evaluative thinking
Public speaking and debating
Research and evidence-handling
Teamwork and project planning (through active citizenship work)
Understanding of political and legal structures

Assessment

Paper 1 – Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification, 80 marks

Section A Questions are focused on specification Theme A: Living together in the UK.
Section B Questions are focused on specification Theme B: Democracy at work in the UK.
Section C Questions are focused on specification Theme C: Law and justice.
Section D Extended-response questions related to two or more of specification Themes A–C.

Paper 2 – Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification, 80 marks

Section A Questions relate to the students’ own citizenship action, as specified in specification Theme E: Taking citizenship action.
Section B Questions require students to comment on others’ actions and relate to specification Theme D: Power and influence.
Section C Questions are focused on specification Theme D: Power and influence. One question will also link to content in one of Themes A–C.

Computer Science

Film Studies

Fine Art

GCSE Art and Design encourages creative thinking skills and develops visual literacy.

Watch the introductory video

The discipline of drawing is at the foundation of other skills in Art. It is used as a tool, by which students can analyse, record and translate the world around them. Critical studies enhance and underpin practical teaching, where students engage with artists, designers and architects of contemporary and historically significant, as well as culturally diverse contexts.

Analysing wider issues and concepts, developing critical thinking and imitating the processes, methods and media used by artists, inspire students to embrace their own creativity and individual self-expression.

The course aims to:

Widen student’s knowledge and understanding of media and techniques.
Improve skill-base by developing students use of techniques.
Introduce students to a wide variety of artists from the timeline of art history.
Guide students on how best to use inspiration from different sources.
Provide students with opportunities to express their creativity through visual language.
Develop students’ abilities to record, refine, experiment, develop, research and present.

The course covers the following structure and topics:

Nature and Decay – Students will explore the theme through various artist starting points – street artist ROA, ATM and Kate Malone. Students will have valuable opportunities to develop their observational skills in a wide range of media such as photography, printmaking and clay. Students will analyse and reflect throughout the project, which in turn will inform their own personal responses.
I, Me, Mine – Students will progress onto an independent project where they will have an opportunity to direct their portfolio in a more personal way. Students will start with observational skills including photography and drawing. Observational and explorative work will be developed through a wide range of media and techniques including oil paints, printmaking, 3D, textiles and photography. Students will explore the meaning of identity throughout and produce a personal response of their own choice.

Assessment

Personal Portfolio (60% of overall mark)

You will need to create a personal portfolio of work in response to themes set. Your work must comprise of supporting studies and personal responses. You will be working on your personal portfolio until December Year 11.

Externally Set Exam (40% of overall mark)

You will spend your lesson time creating a project exploring a theme you have chosen from the exam paper. You will explore this theme through investigative work, experimental and preparatory studies and a personal response. Your personal response will be created in a 10 hour exam at the end of your prep period.

All work is internally marked and externally moderated.

Subject links

Art allows students to develop transferable skills, such as problem solving, communication and critical thinking skills, which will prepare you for further study or the world of work. These skills are also important in many other GCSE subjects.

Careers

Careers in Art and Design are many and varied and here are just some of them:

Interior designer; architect; set designer; fashion designer; gallery curator; ceramicist; restoration painter; fine artist; illustrator; tattoo artist; animator; graphic designer; web designer; games designer; digital designer; police composite artist; court room artist; photographer; costume designer; toy designer; mural artist; art director; make-up artist; landscape architect; art therapist; textile designer; jewellery designer; art editor; prop maker; artist teacher; picture framer; medical illustrator; glass designer; arts administrator; shoe designer; car designer.

Industry’s demands for an increasingly innovative and globally competitive workforce make learning in the subject ever more relevant to young people. Even if you do not pursue an Art and Design job career, by taking the subject for GCSE can be to your advantage, e.g. Artists are required in the police force (composite artist), archaeologists, engineering (drawing and designs), nutritionists, scientists, journalists.

For further information, please contact Head of Faculty Emma Aves info@ipswichacademy.org.uk

Further Maths and GCSE Statistics

French

Geography

Health and Fitness

Health and Social Studies

History

Hospitality and Catering

This course allows any student that enjoys learning about the wide world of Hospitality, Catering and Nutrition to develop their knowledge of the third largest employment industry.

During this course you will have the opportunity to experience elements of the industry first-hand through external visits and professional taster experiences at IA.

The course includes:

Hospitality and catering links through experiences and knowledge application.
Guests chefs and external visits.
A specific KS4 dedicated kitchen with versatile equipment, allowing us to cover a wide range of cooking styles.
A gateway to travelling through college avenues and then onto working in the UK or even abroad if that’s something of interest. Chefs and Hospitality staff are in demand, not just in the UK but across most countries.

This course will also develop the following skills:

Practical skills — time management, cooking knowledge, event planning and organisation
Presentation skills — dress code, food hygiene, plate presentation and personal appearance
Personal skills — showing evidence of progression, improved confidence and enjoyment
Interpersonal skills — communication, individual drive and group work.

Assessment
This course concentrates on two units over the two years. Unit 1 will be studied mainly in year ten and Unit 2 in year 11. Resit opportunities may be available for both assessments.

Unit: 1

Type of moderation: external examination – January of Year 11 (Resit in June of Year 11) – weighting: 40%

Unit: 2

Type of moderation: Coursework – Starting in September of Year 11. Then supported by a practical cooking assessment – November of Year 11 – weighting: 60%

Subject links
Hospitality and Catering has strong links with science, business, PE, life skills and world of work.

Careers
Hospitality and Catering will provide opportunities for careers in areas such as:

Hospitality:
Front of house staff at any business that has contact with customers (receptionist, head waiter, bartender, etc)
Managing – any business that serves food, beverages, and/or offers entertainment and/or offers accommodation. Massive field of establishments on offer
Hospitality manager
Events planner/manager
Teaching
Airlines – hostess, travel planner, holiday organiser
Personal assistant
Public service
Catering
Food manufacturing inspector
Chef
Caterer
Baker
Food technologist
Food scientist
Armed services

iMedia

Creative iMedia will inspire and equip students with the confidence to use skills that are relevant to the digital media sector and the wider industry.

It’s a vocational qualification, equivalent in value to a GCSE and contains both practical and theoretical elements.

Most of the qualification is assessed by coursework that is set and marked by the teacher and then moderated by the exam board. This will be done throughout the two-year course. You will complete project work, research, completing practical tasks and meeting deadlines. One of the units that all students must complete is Creative iMedia in the media industry, this unit is an external written exam.

The students will then complete a coursework unit on Visual identity and digital graphics. To finish off the coursework, they will complete one of the following units of coursework:

Characters and comics
Animation with audio
Interactive digital media
Visual imaging
Digital games

Assessment

iMedia is assessed by two coursework units and a written paper.

Component: R093

Weighting: 40%

Title: Creative iMedia in the media industry

Length: 1 hour 30 minutes

Assessment type: Written paper

Method: External assessment

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Component: R094

Weighting: 25%

Title: Visual identity and digital graphics

Assessment type: Portfolio

Method: Internal assessment

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Component: A choice between R095-R099

Weighting: 35%

Title: A choice between:

Characters and comics
Animation with audio
Interactive digital media
Visual imaging
Digital games

Assessment type: Portfolio

Method: Internal assessment

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Subject links

The iMedia course has links with English, Art, Business and Computer Science.

Careers

By developing applied knowledge and practical skills, this course will help give you the opportunity to progress on to A Levels, a Cambridge Technical in Creative Media, an apprenticeship or university. Creative iMedia could be first step of a career as a Games Developer, Comic Book Writer, Graphic Designer, and more.

For further information, please contact Head of Faculty Satnam Badhasha info@ipswichacademy.co.uk

King's Trust Achieve Programme

Music

The WJEC Eduqas GCSE in Music offers a broad and coherent course of study which encourages learners to:

engage actively in the process of music study
develop performing skills individually and in groups to communicate musically with fluency and control of the resources used
develop composing skills to organise musical ideas and make use of appropriate resources
recognise links between the integrated activities of performing, composing and appraising and how this informs the development of music
broaden musical experience and interests, develop imagination and foster creativity
develop knowledge, understanding and skills needed to communicate effectively as musicians
develop awareness of a variety of instruments, styles and approaches to performing and composing
develop awareness of music technologies and their use in the creation and presentation of music
recognise contrasting genres, styles and traditions of music, and develop some awareness of musical chronology
develop as effective and independent learners with enquiring minds
reflect upon and evaluate their own and others’ music
engage with and appreciate the diverse heritage of music, in order to promote personal, social, intellectual and cultural development.

Assessment
The course is based around 3 components:

Performing (30%) – This unit will be internally assessed. You’ll perform at least two pieces of music with a combined time of between 4-6 minutes. One of these will be a solo performance, whilst the other will be an ensemble performance.

Composing (30%) – This unit will be internally assessed. You will compose two pieces with a combined time of between 3-6 minutes. One of these compositions is in response to a brief.

Listening & Appraising (40%) – This unit will be externally assessed. You will study a range of different musical forms and features through studying from range of different musical genres and periods. You will sit a listening exam at the end of Year 11.

Subject links
Music has links to almost any subject. With the variety that this course has to offer, there will be something for everyone to appreciate.

Careers
As well as having a number of opportunities within a multi-billion pound industry (the music business is worth around £5.2 billion to the UK economy), the skills that you gain from learning to play a musical instrument can be transferable to a range of different applications, and are highly valued by top universities and employers.

Option Choices

Business

Citizenship

Computer Science

Film Studies

Fine Art

Further Maths and GCSE Statistics

French

Geography

Health and Fitness

Health and Social Studies

History

Hospitality and Catering

iMedia

King's Trust Achieve Programme

Music

PE

Performing Arts

Religious Studies