The GCSE Curriculum (Years 10 and 11)

As for the Key Stage 3 years, St Lawrence College has the freedom to tailor and enhance the requirements of the National Curriculum to suit the specific needs of our pupils. As well as fulfilling the aims of providing a curriculum which is balanced and broadly based, promoting the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and of society and preparing pupils for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life we aim for academic excellence and a firm foundation from which to progress to further study.
Academic progress is very closely monitored, with regular assessment and feedback to ensure that pupils are achieving their fullest potential.

All pupils take a core consisting of English Language, English Literature, French, Mathematics and Religious Studies. (French can in certain circumstances be replaced with EAL or AEN specialist support). They must also take at least one Science subject which may be any combination of Biology, Chemistry and Physics or may be Combined Science as a single subject.

Other options are chosen from Art, Design Technology, Home Economics, ICT, Classical Civilisation, Geography, History, Latin, Music, Physical Education and Spanish.

The Religious Studies GCSE examination is taken at the end of the Fourth Form.

Thus, each pupil takes five core subjects, a science and four other options.
At St Lawrence College we believe that this is the optimum number which combines the necessary breadth with the best opportunity to achieve the highest possible grades.

To allow for the greatest level of choice in selecting subjects pupils expecting to enter the Fourth Form are asked to specify their preferred subjects early in the preceding Summer Term and then the option groupings are devised to satisfy as many of these preferred combinations as possible.

If you would prefer, you can download a copy of our curriculum handbook.