English

This course is designed to encourage:

• An appreciation of and an informed personal response to literature in English in a range of texts in different forms and from different periods and cultures
• The interdependent skills of reading, analysis and comment
• Effective and appropriate written and verbal communication
• Wider reading and an understanding of how it may contribute to personal development.

Candidates will be required to demonstrate:

• Ability to respond to texts of different types and from different cultures in the three main forms (prose, poetry and drama)
• Understanding of the ways in which writers’ choices of form, structure and language shape meanings
• Ability to produce informed, independent opinions and judgements on literary texts
• Ability to communicate clearly the knowledge, understanding and insight appropriate to literary study
• Ability to appreciate and discuss varying opinions of literary works

Physics

This course is designed to:

• Encourage the understanding and application of scientific concepts
• Give an introduction to the study of physics
• Use scientific ideas and principles in a variety of situations
• Provide learning through experimental and practical means

Candidates will be required to demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding in relation to scientific phenomena, vocabulary and instruments
• The ability to handle, apply and evaluate information
• Experimental skills and investigations

French

The specification aims to:

• Develop understanding and skills of the spoken and written forms of French from a variety of registers
• Communicate confidently and imaginatively using accurate, complex and varied language
• Increase the sensitivity and positive attitude to language learning
• Develop critical insights into the contemporary society, cultural background and heritage of France and countries where French is spoken
• Learn about French history, geography, society, literature and cinema

Mathematics

This course is designed to encourage:

• Develop mathematical knowledge and skills
• Develop an understanding of mathematical principles and an appreciation of mathematics as a logical and coherent subject
• Acquire a range of mathematical skills, particularly those which will enable the student to use applications of mathematics
• Develop the ability to analyse problems logically and recognise when and how a situation may be represented mathematically
• Use mathematics as a means of communication with emphasis on the use of clear expression
• Acquire the mathematical background necessary for further study in related topic

Biology

This course is designed to:

• Encourage the understanding and application of scientific concepts
• Give an introduction to the study of biology
• Allow pupils to use scientific ideas and principles in a variety of situations
• Provide learning through experimental and practical means

Candidates will be required to demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding in relation to scientific phenomena, vocabulary and instruments
• The ability to handle information and solve problems
• Experimental skills and investigations

German

The specification aims to:

• Enable students to use grammar and spelling accurately and to understand grammatical structures
• Develop students’ writing and reading skills
• Learn about German literature including novels, poetry (from medieval to modern) and drama
• Develop critical insights into the contemporary society, cultural background and heritage of France and countries where French is spoken
• Learn about French history, geography, society, literature and cinema

Students have to demonstrate:

• An understanding of literature in the appropriate periods
• The correct use of grammatical skills
• The ability to produce different types of written assignments

Business Studies

This specification aims to:

• Develop students’ critical understanding of organisations, the markets they serve and the process of adding value
• Create students’ awareness that business behaviour can be studied from a wide range of perspectives
• Enhance awareness of the economic, environmental, ethical, govern-mental, legal, social and technological issues associated with business activities
• Enable students to acquire a range of skills including decision-making and problem-solvin

It is important that students understand:

• Organisations in different business sectors and environments
• The current structure of business and business practice
• The impact of information management and information communication technology on all functional areas of business
• How to identify business problems, plan appropriate investigations into such problems, and make justifiable decisions

Chemistry

This course is designed to:

• Encourage the understanding and application of scientific concepts
• Give an introduction to the study of Chemistry
• Use scientific ideas and principles in a variety of situations
• Provide learning through experimental and practical means

Candidates will be required to demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding in relation to scientific phenomena, vocabulary and instruments
• That they can handle, apply and evaluate information
• Experimental skills and investigations

Geography

This specification aims to:

• Develop awareness of geographical analysis of human and environmental issues
• Create an understanding of the human and physical attributes of geography
• Explain the cause and effect of human and physical processes over time and place
• Develop techniques of data collection and handling

History

Candidates will be expected to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the complexity of issues and themes within a historical period
• Distinguish and assess different approaches to, interpretations of and opinions about the past
• Express awareness of historical concepts such as change and continuity and cause and effect in the past
• Present a clear, concise, logical and relevant argumen
• Evaluate and interpret source materials as historical evidence and demonstrate facility in their use