1 Year I/ GCSE Programme

GCSEs represent the first step on the pathway towards a UK university. Padworth College’s GCSE programme is taught over periods of one and two years, commencing in September.

All students at Padworth are taught our innovative Virtue lessons, which help students develop our 5 Key Virtues of Kind, Engaged, Self-Discipline, Reflective and Team Player. As such, we are able to develop students’ capacity to study well and learn the skills required to excel academically and as a person.

All students are also taught Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE) by a team of specialists.

Requirements

NUMBER OF SUBJECTS

Students study 5 IGCSE subjects following a Science Pathway or Humanities Pathway.

The core subjects for both pathways are English as a First Language or English as a Second Language and Mathematics.

Students enrolled on the Science Pathway also study Chemistry, Physics, Biology or Art.

Students enrolled on the Humanities Pathway also study Business Studies, Geography, History or Art.

Own Language IGCSE is also available.

ENGLISH REQUIREMENT

Minimum of IELTS 5.

A student’s English proficiency can be judged through sitting the Password English language test that forms part of the admissions process at Padworth, or through sitting the IELTS test.

Students who do not meet the IELTS requirements can join the College’s full-time Padworth Preparation Programme in September, January or April (for three, two or one term respectively), prior to entering into the 1 Year IGCSE Programme the following September.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENT

The minimum entry requirement is 5 passes at a school level equivalent to Year 10 in the UK. Our admissions team will be more than happy to provide advice on the equivalence of international qualifications.

AGE REQUIREMENT

The normal expected age of entry at the start of the course is 15-16 years.

Students who are not 16 on the first day of the academic year (taken as 1 September) are classed as ‘Compulsory School Age’. Such students receive a higher level of supervision at Padworth for the duration of the academic year.

Art and Design

Art and Design

GCSE Art and Design features a wide range of titles including Art, Craft and Design, Fine Art, Graphic Communication and Textile Design.  There is some flexibility to tailor the specific content offered.

The qualification is designed to inspire and bring out the best in students, whilst equipping them with the skills to continue the subject with confidence at A Level

Biology

Biology

The core content follows a coherent and logical story through biology, with ten required practical activities linked to core content to help develop understanding through hands-on experience.

Subjects to be studied include: Cell Biology; Organisation; Infection and Response; Bioenergetics; Homeostasis and Response; Inheritance, Variation and Evolution; Ecology; and Key Ideas.

Business Studies

Business Studies

Students will be given the opportunity to explore real business issues and how businesses work. They will consider the practical application of business concepts and will have the opportunity to explore theories and concepts in the most relevant way, through the context of events in the business and economic world.

Areas to be studied include: Business in the Real World; Influences on Business; Business Operations; Human Resources; Marketing; and Finance.

Chemistry

Chemistry

This course offers an exciting and enriching learning experience for students, providing them with a solid foundation in the fascinating world of chemistry. It equips students with essential scientific knowledge and critical thinking skills that are not only valuable within the field of chemistry but also applicable to various aspects of everyday life. By studying chemistry, students develop a deep understanding of the fundamental principles governing matter, its composition, and its interactions. They explore the intricacies of chemical reactions, delve into the mysteries of the periodic table, and investigate the impact of chemistry on the environment and society. Through hands-on experiments and practical activities, students gain invaluable laboratory skills, fostering their scientific curiosity and honing their ability to analyze and solve problems.

English Language

English Language

English Language is a foundational GCSE on which A Level and university courses build. It teaches the power to communicate clearly with precision. It enables the student to think critically; to write creatively and to evaluate analytically. Students explore a challenging anthology of non-fiction which covers such topics as dyslexia, mental health and the importance of self-reliance. Ten poems and short stories are also studied: from Keats to Wilfred Owen; and Maupassant to Susan Hill; giving students the opportunity to experience a wide variety of differing ideas and perspectives. Creative writing and essay writing are also taught so that students can put what they have learned into practice and grow in their written expression.

Geography

Geography

Students will actively engage in the process of geographical enquiry to develop as effective and independent learners, and as critical and reflective thinkers with enquiring minds. Students will undertake, under supervision fieldwork. During the course they will develop knowledge and understanding of geographical concepts and appreciate the relevance of these concepts to our changing world. The topics studied are river environments, hazardous environments, economic activity and energy, urban environments and development and human welfare.

History

History

Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of interesting and important periods of history, reflecting upon significance, critically examining sources and developing an awareness of different interpretations. In other words, students will learn what has happened, explore explanations of why things happened, be able to discuss both the significance of events and individuals and be able to deploy evidence to support their own explanations and interpretations. The units studied are as follows:

  • Germany: Development of Dictatorship, 1918–45.
  • A Divided Union: Civil Rights in the USA, 1945–74.
  • Russia and the Soviet Union, 1905–24.
  • Changes in Medicine, c.1848 – c.1948.

Mathematics

Mathematics

In I/GCSE Maths, students will be provided with the essential numeracy skills to be applied not only in most of their future studies, but also in their daily life.

The scope of the subject is wide and it is present in most of the I/GCSE subjects across the board like Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Business, so its command is key to success in building a holistic understanding of all the subjects that will shape the overall knowledge of the student as an individual.

Physics

Physics

GCSE Physics covers a number of topics including forces, waves, radioactivity, electricity and magnetism.

You will learn how to apply maths to real-world problems and explore new areas such as particle physics, quantum mechanics, cosmology and medical physics. Perhaps more importantly, you will develop skills that can be transferred to just about any other area of work, from setting up a business to saving the planet. Even if you don’t go on to become a physicist, learning to think like one will help you get to the root of any problem and draw connections that aren’t obvious to others. Physics won’t give you all the answers, but it will teach you how to ask the right questions!