Key Stage 4

At key stage 4, students will study English (Language and Literature), Mathematics, Science, and Core PE. 

It is our ambition for students to be provided with a curriculum that enables them to study a core suite of subject disciplines within the English Baccalaureate.  The English Baccalaureate includes English, Mathematics, Combined Science, a language and a Humanities.  

As part of the options process, students are also provided with the opportunity to read subjects including GCSE Art, GCSE Business Studies, GCSE Computer Science (2023-24 Y11 only), BTEC Dance, GCSE Food Technology, Hair and Beauty, BTEC Health and Social Care, Cambridge National IMedia, BTEC Music, GCSE PE (2023-24 Y11 only), BTEC Performing Arts, GCSE Photography, GCSE Statistics, and Cambridge National Sport. 

Curriculum overviews (Topics and content)

• 2023 2024 Curriculum Overview
• Havelock Journey Policy

Art

Head of Department:

Ms K Penrose

Business Studies

Co-Heads of Department:

Mr D Sylvester and Mr Z Eckley

Combined Science

 Head of Department: 

Ms L Marsden (lmarsden@havelockacademy.co.uk) 

Computer Science

Co-Heads of Department:

Mr D Sylvester and Mr Z Eckley

English Language

 Head of Department: 

Ms C Ferrier 

English Literature

 Head of Department:

Ms C Ferrier 

 Assessment Details:

Food Preparation and Nutrition

 Head of Department

Ms H Kita 

• Task 1: Food investigation (30 marks)Students' understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients.

• Task 2: Food preparation assessment (70 marks)Students' knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking, presentation of food and application of nutrition related to the chosen task.  Students will prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes within a single period of no more than three hours, planning in advance how this will be achieved.

Assessed

• Task 1: Written or electronic report (1,500–2,000 words) including photographic evidence of the practical investigation.
• Task 2: Written or electronic portfolio including photographic evidence. Photographic evidence of the three final dishes must be included.

Useful Links:AQA Command Words

French

Head of Department

Miss C Bentley

Course Summary:

At Havelock Academy, we will study the AQA GCSE French qualification.  This course will enable students of all abilities to develop their French language skills to their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts with confidence.

 Assessment Details: 

GCSE French has a Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4–9). Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.

Paper 1 - Listening

• Written exam: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier), 45 minutes (Higher Tier)
• 40 marks (Foundation Tier), 50 marks (Higher Tier)
• 25% of GCSE

Paper 2 - Speaking

• Non-exam assessment
• 7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time
• 10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time
• 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier)
• 25% of GCSE

Paper 3 - reading

• Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier), 1 hour (Higher Tier)
• 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier)
• 25% of GCSE

Paper 4 - Writing

• Written exam: 1 hour (Foundation Tier), 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier)
• 50 marks at Foundation Tier and 60 marks at Higher Tier
• 25% of GCSE

Useful Links:

BBC Bitesize GCSE French

AQA Command Words

Functional Skills (Mathematics)

Head of Department

Miss N Lennie 

Course Summary:

Mathematics is for everyone. It is diverse, engaging and essential in equipping our students with the right skills to reach their future destination, whatever that may be.  AQA’s Functional Skills qualifications allow students to explore Mathematics in real life situations enabling them to gain an appreciation of the beauty and power of it, in a context that they will be familiar with. The subject content covered includes:

• Use of number and the number system
• Use of measures, shape and space
• Handling information and data

Assessment Details:Paper 1 - Non-calculator

• Written exam: 30 minutes
• Paper based
• 20 marks
• 25% of the AQA Level 1 and 2 Functional Skills in Mathematics
• Set and marked by AQA

Paper 2 - Calculator

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Paper based
• 60 marks
• 75% of the AQA Level 1 and 2 Functional Skills in Mathematics
• Set and marked by AQA

Useful Links: 
BBC Bitesize Functional Skills Maths

Geography

Head of Department:

Mrs N Comfort-Sikora 

• Living with the physical environment
• Challenges in the human environment
• Geographical applications
• Geographical skills

Assessment Details: 

100% examination

Paper 1 - Living with the physical environment

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 88 marks (including 3 marks for spelling, punctuation, grammar and specialist terminology (SPaG))
• 35% of GCSE

Paper 2 - Challenges in the human environment

• Written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 88 marks (including 3 marks for SPaG)
• 35% of GCSE

Paper 3 - Geographical application

• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
• 76 marks (including 6 marks for SPaG)
• 30% of GCSE
• Pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before Paper 3 exam

Useful Links: 
BBC Bitesize GCSE Geography

Hair and Beauty

Head of Department:

Mrs M Hargreaves 

Course Summary:

Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy is an extremely popular vocational qualification that many of our students  are enthused by and aspire to. The aim of this qualification is to use the hair and beauty sector as a vehicle to develop students more broadly, so they are prepared and equipped with the knowledge, understanding and skills to pursue a career in any context.  This qualification includes two core units that can be applied to any sector or vocational area. In this qualification, our students will use hairdressing and beauty therapy and related industries (i.e. retail, leisure, fashion, marketing, media, business) to develop themselves and, in particular, the skills and attributes prized by employers, further education colleges and higher education institutions.

The units that make up this qualification include:  

• Understanding the hair and beauty sector (mandatory)
• Hair and beauty research project (mandatory)
• Business enterprise in hair and beauty
• Marketing and promotions in hair and beauty
• Hair and beauty science
• Responding to a hair and beauty design brief

Health and Social Care

Head of Department:

Mrs M Hargreaves 

Curriculum Summary:

The Health and Social Care Award gives our students the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. The main focus is on four areas of equal importance, which cover the:

• development of key skills that prove your aptitude in health and social care such as interpreting data to assess an individual’s health
• process that underpins effective ways of working in health and social care, such as designing a plan to improve an individual’s health and well-being
• attitudes that are considered most important in health and social care, including the care values that are vitally important in the sector, and the opportunity to practise applying them
• knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process and attitudes in the sector such as human growth and development, health and social care services, and factors affecting people’s health and well-being

This Award complements the learning in GCSE programmes such as GCSE English. It will complement the more theoretical aspects covered by GCSE Biology or GCSE Psychology by allowing you to apply your knowledge and skills practically in a vocational context.

History

Head of Department:

Mr C McMillan 

Curriculum Summary:

Students at Havelock will have the opportunity to study AQA GCSE History.  The GCSE History content comprises the following elements:

 The subject content for GCSE History states that the scope of study should include history:

from three eras:

• Medieval (500–1500)
• Early Modern (1450–1750)
• Modern (1700–present day)

on three timescales:

• short (depth study)
• medium (period study)
• long (thematic study)

on three geographical contexts:

• a locality (the historic environment)
• British
• European and/or wider world settings

British history must form a minimum of 40% of the assessed content over the full course. Students are required to study:

One period study:

This allows students to focus on a substantial and coherent medium time span of at least 50 years. The study will require students to understand an unfolding narrative of substantial developments and issues. The period study can be from any of the specified eras.

One thematic study

This enables students to understand change and continuity across a long sweep of history. The study must cover all three specified eras.

Two wider world depth study

One British and one European/wider world. Depth studies enable students to focus on a substantial and coherent short time span. The studies enable students to gain understanding of the complexities of a society or historical situation and the interplay of different aspects within it. Depth studies must be taken from different eras.

One British depth study including the historic environment

The study of the historic environment should focus on a particular site in its historical context and enable students to study the relationship between a place and historical events and developments. There is no requirement to visit the site. This study can be linked to any other part of the course or may stand alone.

Assessment Details:

100% examination

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

Section A: Period studies

Section B: Wider world depth studies

• Written exam: 2 hours
• 84 marks (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
• 50% of GCSE

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

Section A: Thematic studies

Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment

• Written exam: 2 hours
• 84 marks (including 4 marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar
• 50% of GCSE

Useful Links:

BBC Bitesize GCSE History

AQA Command Words

 Creative IMedia

Co-Heads of Department:

Mr D Sylvester and Mr Z Eckley

Curriculum Summary:

The Cambridge National qualification in Creative iMedia will equip our students with a range of creative media skills and provide opportunities to develop, in context, desirable, transferable skills such as research, planning, and review, working with others and communicating creative concepts effectively. Through the use of these skills, students will ultimately be creating fit-for-purpose creative media products. The Cambridge Nationals in Creative iMedia will also challenge all students, including high attaining learners, by introducing them to demanding material and techniques; encouraging independence and creativity and providing tasks that engage with the most taxing aspects of the National Curriculum.

Mathematics

Head of Faculty: Miss N Lennie (nlennie@havelockacademy.co.uk)

Curriculum Summary:

Maths is for everyone. It is diverse, engaging and essential in equipping students with the right skills to reach their future destination, whatever that may be.  The AQA GCSE Mathematics qualification enables students to engage with, explore, enjoy and succeed in maths. 

 Throughout the duration of the course students will cover the following topics:

• Number
• Algebra
• Ratio, proportion and rates of change
• Geometry and measures
• Probability
• Statistics

Assessment Details:

100% examination

GCSE Mathematics has a Foundation tier (grades 1 – 5) and a Higher tier (grades 4 – 9). Students will take three question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.

Paper 1 - Non-calculator

• written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 80 marks
• non-calculator
• 33% of the GCSE Mathematics assessment

Paper 2 - Calculator

• written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 80 marks
• calculator allowed
• 33% of the GCSE Mathematics assessment

Paper 3 - Calculator

• written exam: 1 hour 30 minutes
• 80 marks
• calculator allowed
• 33% of the GCSE Mathematics assessment

Useful Links:

BBC Bitesize GCSE Maths

AQA Command Words

 Music

Director of Music

Mr I Cooke 

Course Summary:

This course allows you to engage with the music industry and develop a range of relevant practical and technical skills. You will explore music product development and events management, and apply your knowledge in new and practical industry-related contexts. The qualification is 120 GLH, which is the same size and level as a GCSE, and is aimed at everyone who wants to find out more about the music industry. You will study the following two mandatory units, covering the fundamental knowledge, skills and understanding required for the music sector:

• the music industry 
• managing a music product

You will build on the knowledge gained in the mandatory units, and explore two sub-sectors of the music industry, by choosing a further two units, covering areas such as:

• introducing live sound
• introducing music composition
• introducing music performance
• introducing music recording
• introducing music sequencing

Assessment Details:

Unit 1: The Music Industry

• exam unit
• 25% of the total qualification

Unit 2: Managing a Music Product

• three internal units
• 25% of the total qualification

Unit 4: Introducing Music Composition

• two internal units
• 25% of the total qualification
• Unit 5: Introducing Music Performance
• two internal assessments
• 25% of the total qualification

Performing Arts/Dance

Subject Leader:

Mrs N Potton

Course Summary:

The Pearson BTEC Level 1/Level 2 Tech Award in Performing Arts, is for learners who want to acquire technical knowledge and technical skills through vocational contexts by studying acting, dance or musical theatre as part of their Key Stage 4 learning. The qualification recognises the value of learning skills, knowledge and vocational attributes to complement GCSEs. The qualification will broaden the learners experience and understanding of the varied progression options available to them.

What does the qualification cover?

The Award gives learners the opportunity to develop sector-specific knowledge and skills in a practical learning environment. The main focus is on four areas of equal importance which cover the:

• development of key skills that prove your aptitude in Performing Arts such as reproducing repertoire or responding to stimuli
• process that underpins effective ways of working in the Performing Arts, such as development of ideas, rehearsal and performance
• attitudes that are considered most important in the Performing Arts, including personal management and communication
• knowledge that underpins effective use of skills, process and attitudes in the sector such as roles, responsibilities, performance disciplines and styles. 

 Photography

Head of Department: 

Ms K Penrose

Course Summary:

The GCSE Art and Design is a broad based course, designed to develop students’ skills in a wide variety of media, materials, techniques and processes. Students will be introduced to new ways of creating artworks whilst building on existing skills. During the course, students are encouraged to work more independently, generating their own ideas and choosing the direction of their work.

Assessment Detail:

Component 1 - Portfolio

A portfolio, that in total, shows explicit coverage of the four assessment objectives. It must include a sustained project evidencing the journey from initial engagement to the realisation of intentions and a selection of further work undertaken during the student’s course of study.

• Non-examined assessment (NEA)
• No time limit
• 96 marks
• 60% of the total GCSE

Component 2 - Externally assessed assignment

Students respond to their chosen starting point from an externally set assignment paper relating to their subject title, evidencing coverage of all four assessment objectives.

• Preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time
• 96 marks
• 40% of  the total GCSE

Useful Links:
BBC Bitesize GCSE Photography

 Physical Education

Head of Department: 

Miss K Lamb 

Curriculum Summary:

The exam board have worked closely with teachers and the Youth Sport Trust to develop a new GCSE Physical Education specification that will inspire teaching and learning. New and contemporary topics will help students of all abilities to develop a well-rounded skill set, and prepare them for progression to further studies.  The updated specification focuses on all areas of sport and physical activity, with the strong maintenance of practical physical assessment.  This is balanced with a rigorous theoretical base, where students will study wider elements of sports psychology and the human anatomy. Students will have the opportunity to encounter a number of sports in practical sessions, and will be encouraged to participate in wider school enrichment activities based around sport and physical activity, as well as continuing with practical core PE sessions.

Assessment Detail:

Paper 1: The human body and movement in physical activity and sport

• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
• 78 marks
• 30% of the total GCSE

Paper 2: Socio-cultural influences and well-being in physical activity and sport

• Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
• 78 marks
• 30% of the total GCSE

Non-exam assessment: Practical performance in physical activity and sport

• Assessed by teachers
• Moderated by AQA
• 100 marks
• 40% of the total GCSE

Useful Links:

BBC Bitesize GCSE Physical Education

AQA Command Words

Religious Studies

Head of Department:

Mr C McMillan (cmcmillan@havelockacademy.co.uk)

Curriculum Summary:

The GCSE in Religious Studies covers a range of the major world religions, six contemporary ethical themes and two textual studies, ensuring students have a diverse choice of intriguing subjects to explore. Students will be challenged with questions about belief, values, meaning, purpose and truth, enabling them to develop their own attitudes towards religious issues. Students will also gain an appreciation of how religion, philosophy and ethics form the basis of our culture. They will develop analytical and critical thinking skills, the ability to work with abstract ideas, leadership and research skills. All these skills will help prepare them for further study.

Assessment Detail:

100% examination

Component 1

• Buddhism and Christianity 

Component 2

Either four religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes or two religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes and two textual studies themes. Religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes:

• Theme A: Relationships and families.
• Theme B: Religion and life.
• Theme C: The existence of God and revelation.
• Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict.
• Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment.
• Theme F: Religion, human rights and social justice.
• Theme G: St Mark's Gospel – the life of Jesus.
• Theme H: St Mark's Gospel as a source of religious, moral and spiritual truths.

Sport

Statistics