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GENERAL CERTIFICATE IN SECONDARY
EDUCATION (GCSE)
WHAT ARE GCSES?
GCSE courses are designed as a two year course of study for students in Years 10 and 11. GCSEs were
developed over twenty years ago as part of the reform of 14 -19 education. More recently the regulators in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland have made some important changes to the way in which GCSE courses
are structured and the way students are assessed. The changes are designed to ensure that GCSE courses
are relevant, stimulating, engaging and accessible to all students.
GCSE EXAMINATIONS AND CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS
Students who enter Year 10 from September 2016 will be assessed through a range of Controlled
Assessments throughout Years 10 and 11, as well as examinations in the summer of Year 11 (May/June).
Controlled Assessments have more recently replaced coursework. This, however, varies from one subject to
another and full details of what is required for each subject are included in this booklet.
GCSE GRADE STRUCTURE
The grade range at GCSE is 9 to 1. It is important to note that a student gaining a grade from 9 to 4 has
gained (or ‘passed’) a GCSE. There is an ungraded category U, (U meaning unclassified), which would be an
extremely rare occurrence as it would represent no progress in a GCSE course. This would not appear on the
final certificate issued by the examination board. For more information on the new grading system follow the
link
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/setting-standards-for-new-gcses-in-2017 .GCSE GRADES 9 TO 4
There is a major focus on gaining at least five GCSEs in the grade range 9 to 4 in the UK and we strive to
maximise attainment for all our students to gain GCSEs in these grades. Gaining at least five GCSEs in this
grade range will enable students to access a range of opportunities, particularly in more advanced academic
study. It is important to be aware that the highest attainment at GCSE (grade 9 to 5) in specific subjects is
needed for entry into Post 16 at FirstPoint School and other educational establishments.
GCSE RESULTS
The examination results are published by the examination boards towards the end of August. Every Year 11
student at FirstPoint School will be given details of how to access their results online, for which a password
is issued by the Examinations Officer. It is very important that the password is written down in several
places so that the student can locate it when they need it in August of Year 11 to access results.
ENTRY TIERS
In some subjects, students are entered for a ‘tier’ (the Foundation tier which targets grades 5 to 1; or the
Higher tier which targets grades 9 to 4. The decision about the appropriate tier will be fully discussed with
the students, parents, teacher and Head of Department. It is very important for the student and parents to
be aware of the reasons for selecting a tier as entry at Foundation or Higher has implications for the range
of grades accessible to the student. Where a student is borderline Foundation or Higher, the guidance of the
Head of Department and, if required, The Head of Secondary, must be fully taken into account.
ABSENCE FROM LESSONS AND LEARNING
It is important that parents do not take their children out of School on holidays (other than scheduled school
holidays) during Year 10 and Year 11 as essential teaching, learning and preparation for examinations may be
missed. It is rarely successful for students to study during family holidays and it is always hard for them to
‘catch up’ with work missed. Not being in the classroom and not being taught by a teacher can put students
at a real disadvantage.
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