Deputy Head Academic
Dear Member of the Third Form,
Middle School Curriculum 2024/25
I am very pleased to present this curriculum document to you. It contains information on the Middle School courses on offer at Denstone College commencing September 2024.
There is a lot of information in this document that should help you in deciding upon your most appropriate options. In the coming weeks you will all have the opportunity to discuss your choices with relevant staff at school. Take some time to read this booklet carefully and seek available advice; your GCSE options are an important decision!
All GCSE and IGCSE examinations are sat at the end of the course (i.e. the summer term of the Fifth Form), while non-exam assessment (NEA) tasks also take place in some subjects at different times throughout the Fourth and Fifth Forms. There is a noticeable step up in the skills and complexity involved in all subjects at this stage of your education. A number of changes have been made in recent years to the curriculum for Middle School pupils to reflect recent government reforms and changing specifications and grading with a view to helping you achieve an appropriate balance of subjects and workload over the next two years. As such, it is important that you take time to read and discuss this information carefully so you make the best decisions for your own requirements in terms of subjects to study.
Remember to return your options form to Mr Bell (Deputy Head Academic) via your house tutor no later than Friday 8th March. There is no benefit to returning this information early; we would rather you spent time giving your options sufficient thought. The Third Form Parents’ Evening on Thursday 15th February will give you an opportunity to discuss options and current academic progress with your teachers. There will be further opportunities in the summer term to reflect on the courses you have chosen and to make changes to these choices, where possible, before the start of your Fourth Form studies in September.
Yours sincerely,
T J Bell