Art and Design

*Please note that VAD strand students cannot apply for this option.

The Art and Design GCSE is a rigorous, broad based program of study that provides students with an exciting and wide experience of learning within a variety of mediums. Students are encouraged to develop their knowledge and understanding of the core skills. All project work is built around students creating independence and confidence.

Students are expected to be open minded and positive in their approach to making, challenging themselves through experimentation and dedicated commitment. All work will be assessed around four major areas: research, contextual analysis, experimentation and presenting a personal response.

Students experience a wide variety of materials & disciplines from paint, print, Graphics, 3-D, Photography and textiles. All students will develop their ability to draw and initiate projects through first-hand experiences. Students must research artists and use art history to extend their knowledge and understanding in order to support their own creative practice.

It is essential that students keep a sketchbook to document: ideas, drawings, experiences, photographs, collections, annotations and experimentations. These sketchbooks are a fundamental part of a student’s portfolio work for the course. It is expected that students complete a sketchbook for each project they undertake

Students will have the opportunity to exhibit their own work with other students within Visual Art & Design and are expected to be committed with their time to homework each week. It is expected that students will spend approximately 3 hours per week on additional coursework.

Students applying for GCSE Art & Design should have experience in developing their drawing skills.

Business

GCSE Business is a comprehensive and relevant qualification that supports the pathways and future aspirations for many BRIT students.  This course covers a wide variety of topics and underpins knowledge and expertise for those who become self-employed, start their own business or for students who have a thirst to understand more about the world around them.

The course content covers:

• Business in the real world
• Influences on business
• Business Operations
• Human Resources
• Marketing 
• Finance

GCSE Business is assessed by two, 1 hour and 45 minute exams, which include shorter multiple choice questions and longer case studies where students have to analyse and evidence their answers.   
 

 

Dance

Students create their own complete dance based on a chosen stimulus and learn the artistic skills needed to make successful choreography. Students select the number of dancers, aural setting (e.g., music) and develop original work that communicates to an audience. Students demonstrate the knowledge understanding and appreciation of performance, choreography and the professional dance works studied throughout the course.

Students must be committed to physically performing Contemporary Dance styles.

Drama

*Please note that Theatre strand students cannot apply for this option.

Over two years students explore and develop an understanding of theatre and drama techniques. The course offers a range of experiences including exciting and challenging opportunity to work collaboratively with others to explore a range of stimuli in order to create original performance pieces. Students will develop skills in group work, research and negotiation, while also developing creativity, performance and design skills. Students will consider the impact that they can make on an audience, as they develop the ideas that they want to communicate.

Students will demonstrate and use a wide range of acting and/or design skills to communicate their interpretation in performance. As theatre makers, students will be develop their knowledge and understanding of the ways in which drama can create meaning for an audience through performance.

Students will explore practically how a complete performance text might be interpreted and realised from ‘page to stage’. This exploration will give students an insight into how texts may be brought to life for an audience and the creative roles within this process.

Students will also analyse and evaluate their experience of a live theatre performance as informed members of the audience. They will develop skills to recognise the meaning created in the theatre space in order to communicate ideas to an audience.

Film Studies

*Please note that FMP strand students cannot apply for this option

Film is an important part of many people's lives. Those who choose to study it characteristically bring with them a huge enthusiasm and excitement for film which constantly motivates them in their studies. The GCSE Film Studies is designed to draw on students' enthusiasm for film and introduce them to a wide variety of cinematic experiences through films which have been important in the development of film and film technology. Learners will develop their knowledge of US mainstream film by studying one film from the 1950s and one film from the later 70s and 80s, thus looking at two stages in Hollywood's development. In addition, they will be studying more recent films – a US independent film as well as films from Europe, including the UK, South Africa and Australia.

Production is an important part of this specification and is integral to learners' study of film. Studying a diverse range of films from several different contexts is designed to give learners the opportunity to apply their knowledge and understanding of how films are constructed to their own filmmaking. This is intended to support learners in producing creative films as well as enable their production work to provide an informed filmmaker's perspective on their own study of film. The academic study of film is now well established and the frameworks for its study are broadly similar whether at GCSE, AS, A level or at higher education institutions.

French / Spanish

Year 10 students can opt to study a full GCSE course in either French or Spanish.

Students will have the opportunity to consolidate their previous learning and extend their knowledge of their opted language to a GCSE level.

The 2 year course in French or Spanish is very engaging and motivating; it covers a variety of topics including family and culture, hobbies, interests, festivals, town and holidays, school and work ambitions as well as international events and environmental issues.

Grammar is also extensively covered in lessons where different tenses and various grammatical items are explained and adopted to help students achieve a high level of accuracy and confidence in their productive writing and speaking skills.

Students are assessed by the Edexcel exam board, at the end of year 11 in their 4 skills; Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Each component has a value of 25% towards their final GCSE grade.

Our Students are supported with great lesson and revision resources accessible at all times and are also given access to 3 digital language sites to help complete their homework and /or practise independently to help develop their language skills and achieve their full potential.

Read our  Modern Foreign Languages Map here

 

Graphic Design (Tech Award)

*Please note that IDD strand students cannot apply for this option.

Graphic design is a form of visual communication. It is the process by which visual information is given form and structure to communicate a message. Being a graphic designer is the profession of visual communication that combines images, words and ideas to convey information to an audience. It involves designing print or electronic forms of visual information for advertisement, publication or a website.

Graphic design should not be confused with art and design or product design. It is distinct from these subjects and should be treated as so. This qualification focuses on an applied study of the graphic design sector and learners will gain a broad understanding and knowledge of working in the sector.

Students studying this course will learn the principles of good design and apply these skills using professional Adobe design software. They will study units in digital design creating products that follow current industry trends; this work will be showcased in an online digital portfolio. It is also ideal for anyone else who really enjoys creating visuals on a computer.

Students need to have a level of competence in computing skills for this course.

History

History develops students critical thinking and analysis skills through Key Historical and concepts and perspectives, thereby enhancing BRIT students understanding of wider political, social and economic themes. These skills, such as independent research, empathy and critical analysis, are transferable to Creative and Performing Arts at BRIT and can be applied within the context of Performing and Creative Arts industries. We create an environment in which challenging and controversial subjects can be explored with empathy, sympathy and objectively, enabling students to form their own judgements.

This qualification is linear. GCSE History students must take assessments in both of the following papers in the same series:

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world 

America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality

This period study focuses on the development of the USA during a turbulent half century of change. It was a period of opportunity and inequality – when some Americans lived the 'American Dream' whilst others grappled with the nightmare of poverty, discrimination and prejudice.

Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975 

This wider world depth study enables students to understand the complex and diverse interests of different states and individuals and the ideologies they represented. It considers the role of nationalist movements in causing and sustaining conflict. It focuses on the causes and events of the Cold War in Asia and seeks to show how and why conflict occurred and why it proved difficult to resolve the tensions.

 

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day

This thematic study will enable students to gain an understanding of how the identity of the people of Britain has been shaped by their interaction with the wider world. It will consider invasions and conquests. It will also study the country's relationship with Europe and the wider world. It will consider the ebb and flow of peoples into and out of Britain and evaluate their motives and achievements. It considers the causes, impact and legacy of Empire upon the ruled and the ruling in the context of Britain’s acquisition and retreat from Empire.

Restoration England, 1660–1685

This option allows students to study in depth the restoration of the monarchy. The study will focus on the major aspects of Charles II’s reign considered from economic, religious, political, social and cultural standpoints of this period and arising contemporary and historical controversies.

Websites that we use to aid independent learning;

GCSE Pod;

https://members.gcsepod.com/teachers/dashboard

Kerboodle;

https://www.kerboodle.com/app/courses/46789

Quizlet

https://quizlet.com/latest

Read our  History Curriculum Map here

 

Music

*Please note that Music strand students cannot apply for this option.

This course offers students the opportunity to develop their musical skills not just as a performer, but also as a composer and as a rounded musician to appreciate and understand a large variety of musical styles and genres. An integrated approach highlights the importance of the relationship between composer, performer and audience.

The specification has three units based on the three skills of performing, composing and appraising. Students are required to perform and compose music using conventions, styles or idioms linked to at least one area of study and will also have the opportunity to follow their own musical interests in composition and performance.

Students develop knowledge and understanding of music through four interrelated areas of study:

1: Musical Forms and Devices

2: Music for Ensemble 3: Film Music

4: Popular Music.

Students must be able to perform to a high level on at least one instrument and have an understanding of Music theory.

Photography (Art and Design)

The Photography GCSE is an extremely focused course that provides students with a broad understanding of lens-based mediums. Students will experience using film, video, digital imaging, and analogue photography and developing processes. Students have the opportunity to develop work across the following areas in order to create a portfolio of coursework: Studio photography, location photography, experimental imagery, Installation, moving image, film, video and animation. Students are expected to be open minded, to work with the professionalism and develop a level of confidence that enables them to take photographs independently outside of the school environment.

Students will be expected to create a personal portfolio for the coursework. This consists of practical work, experiments, research and development, which will be relevant to a chosen theme(s), project(s) or task(s). This portfolio will be assessed and will be worth 60% of the final grade.

Students will be expected to conduct photo shoots outside of school hours as homework and develop sketchbook and blogs to support the progress of their project. All students will be expected to annotate their work on a regular basis and engage with critical and contextual language and illustrate their ideas through rudimental drawing techniques.

We encourage students to acquire their own equipment, however this is not an essential requirement. Student will be able to hire equipment when necessary.

Sociology

Sociology GCSE Option

Students follow a two-year course in Sociology, the study of British society.  The main aim of the course is to increase students' knowledge and understanding of the social world, in which they live. 

They study the following modules in Year 10:

‘Sociological Approach’ and ‘Research Methods' – in these units students learn about the main concepts of the subject, the views and findings of key sociologists and evaluate the types of sociological research;

'The Family' – in this unit students learn about the diverse forms of family life in Britain; how and why the family has changed, and how far there is now equality in the home.

‘Education’ - in this unit students learn about the role of schools, factors that affect achievement and how Government policies have sought to raise achievement.

They study the following modules in Year 11:

‘Crime and Deviance’ - in this unit students learn about criminal and deviant behaviour and the justice system, explanations for crime and deviance and the key factors that different sociologists believe affect whether someone becomes deviant or criminal.

‘Social Stratification’ - gaining an understanding of the social class system and inequality, poverty and factors that affect a person’s life chances, political power and power relationships.

Assessment of GCSE Sociology – TWO papers at the end of Year 11

• Written paper 1 – Family and Education - 1 hour 45 minutes 
• Written paper 2 – Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification - 1 hour 45 minutes 

Read our Sociology Curriculum Map here

Textile Design (Art and Design)

During their two-year Art Textile design course students experiment with a vast range of processes including applique, batik, machine embroidery, use of the heat press, surface pattern design and manipulation, pattern making and pattern adaptation. Students will learn how to construct garments using both hand sewing and sewing machines. Learning skills in textiles is only the starting point for many of our students, our facilities and equipment are available to students to extend their hours in the classroom, as we appreciate this is a time-consuming course to choose and requires practice and hard work. Textiles students can see the PA students creating costumes for performances with opportunities for peer learning across year groups.

 

Students explore the world of the Visual Arts to inspire and generate their own art practice. Students create a body of work throughout their two year course (60%) and sit a final 10 hour exam (40%) in year 11. As this is an Art and Design qualification, the students’ projects will develop through contextual references, looking at a vast range of artists and imagery for inspiration. Students also produce own primary research in the form of own photos, drawings and mark making. Students will learn CAD to manipulate imagery and create repeat pattern work. Students have a theme for the starting point of each project and it develops with a range of workshops using the students own generated imagery to create a series of outcomes, these textiles experiments and mock ups are developed and refined through practical work, using designs and written reflections. The final outcome for the project combines processes learnt and could be in the form of a garment, or accessory with a range of surface manipulations and decorations, or a textiles artwork.

The class work created from the start of Year 10 can be submitted as part of the 60% Portfolio grade, in Year 11 students have approximately 16 weeks to do the 40% Exam Project which has the choice of 7 starting points set by AQA, this leads up to the final outcome created during the 10 hour exam.