KS4 Curriculum Model
| Year | English | Maths | Science | RE&PSHCE | PE | Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D | Option E | Total |
| 10 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | Extra curricular | 30 |
| 11 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | time | 30 |
ENGLISH, MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, PE AND PERSONAL EDUCATION ARE MANDATORY SUBJECTS WHICH PUPILS MUST CONTINUE STUDYING DURING KS4.
English is a course that leads to two GCSE outcomes for all pupils, one in English Language and one in English Literature. Mathematics is a course that also leads to two GCSE outcomes, one in statistics taken in the summer of Year 10 and one in mathematics. An additional level 2 qualification in Further Maths is also offered as an after school option in Year 10.
The science course covers the three main sciences: biology, chemistry and physics. The outcomes for some pupils are three separate GCSEs, but some may achieve two GCSEs in combined science. It is taught by two or three teachers. This means that pupils spend double the time on science as they do on most other subjects.
At Hardenhuish we run a free options choice system, where all the available subjects are listed for pupils to rank order up to four choices, and the timetable for each year group is written to achieve those choices.
As part of their timetable, some pupils may study three option subjects and have extra lessons in English and/or maths together with academic mentoring to maximise achievement across their courses, especially in the all-important core subjects.
Option Subjects
The following optional subjects are currently offered at GCSE level:
- French
- Spanish
- Geography
- History
- Religious Studies
- Business Studies
- Computing
- ICT*
- Art
- Dance
- Drama
- Music
- Design Technology (with a specialism in resistant materials, systems and control or textiles)
- Food Preparation and Nutrition
- Catering and Hospitality*
- Physical Education
- Sports Studies*
- Health and Social Care*
The subjects marked with a * are alternative qualifications equivalent to a GCSE. The courses in ICT, Sports Studies and Health & Social Care are all Cambridge National Awards. The Catering & Hospitality course is a WJEC level 1/2 award.
We strongly recommend that pupils choose a broad and balanced curriculum which includes a modern foreign language and a humanities subject, although this is not compulsory. However, some pupils who have specific strengths and a clear idea of what they want to do after Year 11 may benefit from choosing more than one course in a particular subject area. There are a few restrictions on pupils’ option choices. These are that pupils may choose: only one subject from DT, Food and Catering, only one of computing or ICT, up to two expressive arts subjects and either PE GCSE or Sports Studies.