GCSE (Years 10 and 11)

Selecting GCSEs marks a significant milestone in your child’s education. While adhering to subject specific national curriculums (including AQA and EdExcel), our teachers maximize the benefits of our distinctive setting in the Yorkshire Dales.

At Sedbergh, this period is about far more than examinations. Our teachers combine rigorous national curricula (AQA and EdExcel) with the exceptional opportunities offered by our Yorkshire Dales setting—bringing learning to life through real-world application, exploration, and reflection. In keeping with Sedbergh’s philosophy, small class sizes and expert teaching ensure every pupil receives personalised support, nurturing confidence, curiosity, and a lasting love of learning as they take this important step toward their aspirations.

Our biology and geography pupils frequently explore the grasslands, woodlands, and freshwater locations on our campus, or venture into the nearby fells. English Literature pupils delve into the works of the evocative poets originating from the region. Our artists frequently draw inspiration from our stunning natural environment and the minimal light spillage of our rural location enables our physicists to view astronomical phenomena in the night skies.

Our intention is to maintain as broad a curriculum as possible to keep pupils post-GCSE options as open as they can be. All pupils study a foundational set of core, traditional, subjects to which they add a language, a humanities subject and another specialised subject such as Computer Science or Music.

Core Subjects

All pupils study the following subjects:

  • English (or English as an Additional Language)
  • English Literature – we endeavour to create a culture within the School which encourages reading and the enjoyment of literature, both at an academic and an extra-curricular level. We hope very much that, upon leaving Sedbergh, the experience of studying English will have helped all pupils mature and develop into enlightened citizens of the world.
  • Mathematics – at all levels, problem solving work is encouraged within the learning process. Our pupils are inspired by the opportunity to take the UK Senior and Intermediate Mathematical Challenges and we have had great success in recent years with many pupils achieving Gold awards.
  • Biology – our Biology Department is staffed by an enthusiastic and experienced team of Biology specialists. Our courses include plenty of laboratory practical work and field visits. We are fortunate in having grassland, woodland and freshwater sites within the School grounds.
  • Chemistry – the Chemistry Department concentrates its efforts on engaging students with a subject which lends itself to awe and wonder like no other.
  • Physics – Physics at Sedbergh combines a traditional course with an emphasis on real-life applications and interesting experimental work. It is exciting that our location within the national park allows us to emphasise topics such astrophysics which is facilitated by the dark skies that surround us.

GCSE Options

Four additional subjects are chosen, which normally include a language, a humanity and two other subjects from the list of all options offered at GCSE. The aim is to maintain as broad a curriculum as possible in order to keep post-GCSE options open.

Pupils choose one subject from each block below.

Languages
  • French
  • Latin
  • Spanish
Humanities
  • Classical Civilisation
  • Geography
  • History
  • Religious Studies

Note:
All pupils will have one lesson a week in PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education)
Learning Support lessons, in place of one option, is a possibility for some pupils
English as an Additional Language lessons can also take the place of one option

Other Specialised Subjects

  • Art
  • Computer Science
  • Design (RMT) or Design (Silversmith)
  • Drama
  • Music
  • Physical Education (PE)
  • Photography

Academics

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