Understanding the curriculum

Important decisions have to be made at school by the end of Year 10, and the decisions you make may influence what you do in the future. There are subjects you must study, which are designed to provide a broad and balanced curriculum and there are also some subject choices that you can make for yourself.

Curriculum

The curriculum in Northern Ireland is made up of Religious Education and eight Areas of Learning:

Language and Literacy
Mathematics and Numeracy
Modern Languages
The Arts
Environment and Society
Science and Technology
Learning for Life and Work
Physical Education

The eight Areas of Learning are made up of groups of subjects that cover broad portions of the curriculum. You will follow subjects selected from each Area of Learning during your compulsory school years.

While there is no actual requirement to study English, Mathematics and Science it is almost certain that schools will meet the requirements of learning areas by compulsory study of (at least) English Language and Maths. All pupils should do PE as it is one of the compulsory Areas of Learning for Key Stage 4.

Be careful about selecting the most appropriate science course. There are three possibilities:

single award balanced science
double award balanced science
all three of Physics, Chemistry and Biology

If you are considering following a science pathway then you will need at least double award science. By taking a single award GCSE in science, you may not be able to follow the path you want.

Double Award GCSEs are available in some schools. These are vocationally related qualifications. A Double Award GCSE is equal to two GCSEs grades A*-G. These are available in Leisure and Tourism, Manufacturing, Applied Art and Design, Applied ICT, Applied Science, Engineering and Health and Social Care.

A small number of schools offer other GCSEs with a work focus. These courses are being offered by the local examination body, the Council for the Curriculum on Examinations and Assessment (CCEA). The courses available are:

GCSE Hospitality
GCSE Journalism
GCSE Learning for Life and Work
GCSE Construction
GCSE Financial Services

Another new course by the CCEA is called Occupational Studies. There are 14 work areas represented in the suite of courses and they are offered jointly by schools with their local college of further and higher education.

Examples include:

construction
engineering
design
digital technology
hospitality

Young people are awarded a grade for what they produce and not by taking a test. If you enjoy practically based courses then these could be for you.

Making Choices

When you have included all the compulsory subjects there will be room for other choices within your timetable. Before you choose you should:

make sure that you have accurate and up-to-date information
talk to those who can give you good reliable advice like your careers teacher/adviser
discuss the options with your parents and teachers
take time to visit the careers library

Your school may have a computer with a careers database which lists further and higher education courses. It may be useful to check this out. Your Form teacher, who might know you better than your other teachers, might be able to discuss your strengths and weaknesses with you.

Factors to consider when making your subject choices

There are a number of factors you might like to consider when you make your subject choices. Some decisions are more important than others like:

choosing the subjects you need
choosing subjects you like and are good at
thinking about your interests and what comes naturally to you

Choosing the subjects you need

For example choosing which science at GCSE means deciding between three different options we have already talked about above. If the right choice of subjects is not made at this stage, it may be difficult to put things right later on when specific subjects will become necessary.

Choosing your subjects for A/AS Levels and GCEs in Applied Subjects

Choosing subjects you like and are good at

Nearly everyone performs better when they are doing something they enjoy and are good at. You should take this into account, but always keep in mind your preferred course or career when you leave school.

Interests and Aptitude

You may already know what you hope to do after your GCSEs. Whilst it may be too early to make final career decisions you may have an idea of the broad area which interests you which could be clerical, active, social, practical, scientific or artistic for example. Some subjects will be more relevant to each area.

Routes after 16

Even at this early stage it is helpful to have thought about the options available after your GCSEs. You may decide to remain in education either in school or in a college of further and higher education.

Some schools offer mainly GCE AS/A level courses while others offer a mixture of A/AS and GCEs in Applied Subjects. Colleges of further and higher education offer a much broader range of vocational or work-related courses, including those which lead to National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) and many others.

GCE AS/A levels and GCEs in Applied Subjects

Many young people after they are 16, choose to follow GCE A/AS levels or in what are often described as academic subjects. Other young people however choose GCEs in what are now referred to as Applied Subjects or a mixture of these. The Applied Subjects are said to be more work-related and relate to certain occupational sectors.

You may select a number of subjects to study to AS Level in year one of a two-year programme. At the end of year one you may drop one or two subjects and carry on the remainder to A level and/or GCE in Applied Subjects level. In addition, many of you will also add to your qualifications by taking up to three Key Skills (Communication, Application of Number and ICT).

The subjects you do well in at GCSE or other courses will influence your choice of advanced study. While it is possible to undertake new subjects, in some instances it may be difficult to cope with the advanced study in a particular subject or area if you have not studied the subject for GCSE; languages and sciences would be good examples.

When choosing your GCSEs think about the A levels you might want to study.

National Vocational Qualifications

National Vocational Qualifications, or NVQs, are usually taken by young people in the workplace, although some NVQs such as hospitality and catering may be obtained in colleges of further and higher education.