Year 10

Year 10 Art: In Year 10, students will have 5 hours of Art lessons a fortnight. They will work on a range of projects designed to build confidence and skills and enhance their enjoyment of this subject.

• The elements of Art – a still life based unit
• Portraiture and identity
• Mock exam project

They will complete three portfolio projects from which the most successful work will be selected:

In Upper School Art lessons, students are expected to demonstrate a range of skills across all units including the following core skills, which are essential for GCSE success:

• Researching and responding to the work of other Artists and Photographers
• Developing independence and the ability to explore and experiment with a range of materials
• Practising and developing drawing from observation and recording impressions through annotation and photography

Year 10 Computer Science – We believe computing helps students understand the increasingly complex digital world. Our Lower School course develops key ICT, programming, digital technology, logical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

The Computing Department is supported by our website, offering key information about Lower and Upper School courses, including assessments, lesson objectives, and supporting resources for students.

In Upper School Computer Science, students are expected to demonstrate a range of key ICT, programming and digital technology skills as well as develop logical and computational thinking and problem solving skills. These are further learnt and developed through our curriculum and enrichment opportunities such as Ignite Days. Computing skills are central to the development of other subjects such as Design and Technology, Music and Media Studies.

The Upper School GCSE Dance is a highly popular Options choice amongst our girls and offers a challenging but highly enjoyable curriculum which develops the skills, knowledge and confidence of our dancers. Regular performances across the year encourage our GCSE students to perform as well as trips to performances to develop an appreciation of Dance.

GCSE Dance follows the AQA examination board course divided into a 60 % practical and 40% theory curriculum.

Students will develop the skills needed for the core areas through:

• Applying and adapting a wide range of skills and techniques effectively in performing and choreographing dance, including the ability to improve
• Developing physical skills and attributes safely during performance
• Developing technical skills accurately and safely during performance
• Expressive skills
• Mental skills and attributes during performance
• Acquiring additional knowledge, skills and understanding specific to duet/trio performances i.e. relationship content, musicality and sensitivity to other dancers
• Contact work exploration
• Recording information about their own dance pieces focusing on intention, style and use of accompaniment
• Creating dances for a range of purposes and in response to different stimuli
• Developing the ability to analyse, evaluate and appreciate dance
• Appreciating performances through peer and self evaluation

Year 10 Drama: The Edexcel GCSE in Drama builds on KS3 skills, encouraging students to: develop a personal interest in drama’s importance and be inspired by a broad curriculum; work collaboratively and creatively to generate and communicate ideas.

Explore social, historical, and cultural influences on drama; reflect on and evaluate their own and others’ work; develop practical, creative, and performance skills; build a foundation for future citizenship and potential further study; and actively engage in dramatic study to become effective, independent learners and critical thinkers.

Course Overview:

Our Upper School English curriculum follows the AQA GCSE English Literature and Language syllabus, which students begin in Year 9 and complete at the end of Year 11. This three-year model ensures thorough understanding and allows for dedicated revision. Students will explore diverse texts, including novels, poetry, drama (Shakespeare), media, and 19th-century non-fiction, building upon Lower School foundations to enhance their critical skills and appreciation for different genres.

These courses aim to inspire all students, providing appropriate challenge while remaining accessible. They will develop essential skills in reading, understanding, and analyzing various texts from the 19th to 21st centuries, as well as in writing clearly and accurately. Assessments include Paper 1 (Shakespeare and 19th-century novel) and Paper 2 (Modern texts and poetry).

Year 10 DT: Design and Technology GCSE is offered with a Product Design focus as it enables students to be able to go on and study A level D&T Product Design. Students are taught in both the workshop and the CAD/CAM suite, focusing on working with timber, metals and polymers whilst building on the KS3 technical knowledge of a broad range of materials and processes required for the exam.

Transferable skills include:

Year 9 Geography: In Geography, students study the key human and physical processes that are constantly shaping and re-shaping our world. Students learn to be critical, inquisitive and articulate and numerate, which are the skills needed to succeed in the modern world.

Students studying GCSE Geography follow the OCRB GCSE Geography for Enquiring Minds (course code: J384) taught across 5 hours per fortnight.

Termly projects will include:

GCSE History is a popular choice, taught over lessons in Years 10 and 11. Assessment in History is by 100% written exam at the end of Year 11. Students will study two papers, each of which contributes 50% of marks towards the final grade awarded (1 to 9):

Termly projects will include:

• Britain, Health and the People:
  Medieval/Renaissance
• Britain, Health and the People:
  The Industrial Revolution
• Britain, Health and the People:
  The Twentieth Century
• Conflict and Tension, 1918-39:
  The 1920s
• Conflict and Tension, 1918-39:
  The 1930s
• Britain, Health and the People/
  Conflict and Tension

Year 10 Maths: As a girls’ school, we address the common lack of confidence in maths among girls transitioning from primary school by providing a supportive and encouraging environment. While many students arrive with strong maths skills from various primary schools, our goal is to ensure excellent progress for all learners, regardless of their prior experience.

Termly projects will include:

Year 10 Music: Music at GCSE is an excellent opportunity for students to develop skills in a subject they enjoy. Surrounded by like minded individuals the chance to share experiences and earn from each other enhances the traditional delivery of the course. GCSE musicians are certainly senior musicians in the school and participate in many of the wide ranging music activities offered at Hayesfield.

Activities include:

Year 10 PE: In Upper School GCSE PE lessons, students are expected to demonstrate a range of skills across all activities including the following core practical skills, which can be adapted across activities:

Termly projects will include:

Year 10 PB – In GCSE Religious Studies students study different ethical and philosophical issues from a Christian, Muslim and personal perspective. Students are given the chance to develop their own attitudes to major ethical issues such as abortion, euthanasia, social cohesion, marriage and family life.

Students learn to think analytically, debate effectively and be able to develop their own thinking in relation to a variety of other viewpoints. They are given the time to think about the society we live in and the beliefs of Muslims and Christians and how this impacts on the way in which they lead their lives.

Termly projects will include:

• Christianity
• Islam
• Philosophy and Ethics (Full Course only)

Year 10 PSHCE: Key PSHCE issues that require frequent revisiting are also delivered as part of the tutorial programme. Key message assemblies and follow up tutorial sessions are scheduled yearly on key issues that impact young people in modern Britain, such as sexual violence against girls, gender stereotyping, BLM, PRIDE, democracy, tolerance, and the rule of law.

Termly themes are covered in the tutorial programme of: Black History Month, anti-bullying and healthy relationships, life skills, environment, mental health and pride and diversity.

We also use the school’s off-timetable Ignite Days to cover aspects of the curriculum in more depth such as resilience and positive mental health.

Termly Projects include:

Year 10 Science: Science is about understanding the natural world through engaging content and hands-on investigations. All students begin their GCSE Science journey in Year 9 (6 lessons a fortnight) and complete it over three years.

In Year 10, your daughter will be placed on one of these pathways: AQA Entry Level Certificate: For some students, taught alongside the foundation course. AQA Separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics): Leads to three individual GCSE grades. AQA Combined Science (Trilogy): Leads to two GCSE grades in Science.

AQA GCSE French and Spanish courses aim to inspire and challenge students of all abilities. The assessment and texts are designed to be accessible across the full range of learners. Equal time is dedicated to listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students will take either foundation or higher tier papers.

Termly projects will include:

• Writing and Reading
• Listening and Speaking
• Year 10 exams
  All skills