gcse philosophy & ethics
IN GCSE Philosophy and Ethics we study big questions in philosophy and ethics from a Christian perspective. In the course student are not just studying the course content they are also studying and evaluating themselves and where they stand on these issues. Students are thinking through their own philosophies and their own ethical and moral standing on numerous different aspects of the world and of life. They will also be learning of and understanding other people's philosophies and views; whether that is of other people in the class or famous Philosophers, Theologians, and Historians.
This GCSE is a qualification for life and about life. It is assessed by 4x1 hour exam papers, two taken at a time on two different days. At the end of the GCSE course students world view and understandings of major issues will have been enhanced as well as their skills of debate and the ability to construct reasoned argument. This is an excellent all round qualification which lends itself to a wide range of different professions and careers.
Exam board- OCR
- Religion & Human Relationships
- Roles of Men and Women in the Family
- Marriage and Marriage Ceremonies
- Sexual Relationships and Contraception
- Belief about Deity
- Nature of God
- Belief in God
Religion and Medical Ethics
- Attitudes to Abortion
- Attitudes to Fertility Treatment
- Attitudes to Euthanasia and Suicide
- Using Animals in Medical Research
- The End of Life
- Body and Soul
- Life After Death
- Funeral Rites
- Religion, Peace and Justice
- Attitudes to War
- Violence and Pacifism
- Crime and Punishment
- Social Injustice
- Good and Evil
- Good and Evil
- The problem of Evil
- Coping with Suffering
- Sources and reasons for moral behaviour
- Religion and Equality
- Principle of Equality
- Attitudes towards racism
- Attitudes towards gender
- Attitudes to religion
- Forgiveness and reconciliation
- Religion and Science
- Origins of the world and life
- People and animals
- Environmental Issues
In year 7 students are introduced to many of the fundamental skills in geography. By exploring the local place, students develop data collection and presentation skills and begin to explain and evaluate their local environment. Following this, students explore the role of tourism in Jamaica's development. Students are introduced to GCSE terminology and topics such as development indicators, industry and the different reasons for our developed and underdeveloped world.
In year 8 students are introduced to numerous GCSE topics where they gain an understanding of the synoptic nature of geography and our world. Through exploring contemporary topics such as the One Child Policy, students are introduced to the issues of population growth and decline and the methods used to tackle such issues. By exploring the location of different ecosystems and the importance of the Tropical Rainforest, students begin to recognise the need for balance between economic growth and environmental protection of our earth's major biomes. Lastly, students study the physical landscapes of the coast and the processes which lead to coastal erosion and deposition.
In year 9 students explore the importance of economic develop of our world by exploring Africa. Here students develop an understanding of the importance of sustainable development to ensure that African countries are able to progress in the world's economy. Students study the contemporary issue of climate change and energy security. during this module, students will learn the causes and effects of climate change and how countries are responding to the threat of climate change with renewable energy methods. Lastly, students will explore the GCSE topic of natural hazards and will follow the GCSE AQA specification. Here students will gain a knowledge of the different tectonic hazards, how they occur, their effects, and how we are able to respond to the threat in our modern world.
Year 7: Skills: Vikings, Romans and Anglo-Saxons How life has changed: 1066 – Middle Ages
Year 8 Science and Superstition: Understanding the changing role of religion and science in life in England Power and Control: Effect of the change of authority from church to King to government Empire, Slavery and Abolition Jack the Ripper
Year 9: Titanic World War One – impact of war at home and on soldiers Rise of Hitler World War Two including the Holocaust Begin GCSE studies into conditions of Whitechapel in the 1880s.
In year 7 students study 2 terms of religious studies within their humanities lessons. The first term students explore 2 Abrahamic religions, Islam and Christianity. The lessons enable them to develop an understanding of Islam, its core belief systems and how the lives of its believers, differ from our own.
Students will also look at the festival of Christmas and how we celebrate it in a secular society versus how it is celebrated within Christianity.
The second term, students explore the religions of Sikhism and Buddhism. The lessons will enable the pupils to explore 2 of the dharmic religions. They will look at each aspect of the religion, including the core belief systems and how the lives of its believers, differ from our own.
In year 8 pupils look at a range of thematic issues starting with one of the key questions in life "where do we come from". Students will explore all aspects of evolution from a scientific and religious perspective. The rest of the year, students examine, how religions began, religious art, festivals and why they are celebrated, rites of passage; finally looking at what happens when we die.
In year 9 students explore a range of ethical and philosophical issues, starting with medical ethics. Students then move on to examining key issues such as the arguments for the existence of God, does equality exist, how belief affects behaviour, considering whether religion is dangerous and finishing the year with the topic of good and evil.
Geography is the only GCSE where you can travel the world from your classroom. At Heanor Gate we follow the Edexcel GCSE curriculum.
The first unit is 'Living with the physical environment' and includes natural hazards, the living world and physical landscapes in the UK. The second unit is 'The Challenge of the human environment' and includes urban issues and challenges, changing economic world and the challenge of resource management.
Students also take part in a variety of fieldwork and gain a range of geographical skills.
At GCSE we follow the edexcel specification which studies time periods from the early Middle Ages to the modern period. The course offers both chronological and thematic studies. Specification. The units studied are:
Crime and Punishment 1000-Present Elizabethan England Year 11: American West Nazi Germany
Students follow the AQA A level in geography. There are two units covered in Y12, which includes physical geography looking at hazards and glaciation and a human geography paper encompassing a unit on changing places. Geographical skills and fieldwork skills are also assessed within the second paper and play a key part in the teaching and delivery of the course. Students study both near and far places and are expected to be fully involved in both local and residential fieldwork. This year the residential trip included looking at glaciation in the Lake District as well as Keswick in Cumbria and how the place has changed over time.
We study A Level history and follow the OCR specification. This is a two year course but we enter Students at the end of Y12 for the AS examination as well. The unit content covered in Y12 is examined in Y13 as part of the A Level but using different assessment criteria which are developed over the Y13 course in preparation.
Theme 1- British Period Study and Enquiry (50% AS and 25% A2)
England 1547–1603: the Later Tudors
Assessment: Written examination: (90 minutes AS and A Level)
This is a source based assessment based on themes from within their studies
Theme 2 - Non British Period Study (50% AS, 15% A2)
Assessment: Written examination: (90 minutes AS, 60 minutes A Level)
This is a depth study examining a period of history which assessed through extended essay and interpretation based questions.
Unit 3 - Thematic study and historical interpretations 40% A2
The development of German Nationalism from 1789-1919
Assessment: Written examination: 2 hour 30 minutes.
This is a thematic study over a period of at least 100 years, and three in-depth studies of events, individuals or issues that are key parts of the theme. Learners will develop the ability to treat the whole period thematically, and to use their detailed knowledge of the depth study topics to evaluate interpretations of the specified key events, individuals or issues.
Unit 4 - Topic based essay (20% A2)
3000-4000 word essay (non-exam) Internally assessed, externally moderated
Learners complete a personal investigation of their choice that may arise from within the units studied elsewhere or from personal interest which develops an issue of historical disagreement. Within this they examine a range of different interpretations and arguments to develop their own understanding and opinion.
ks5 government & politics
In A Level Government and Politics students examine the processes and institutions of government as well as the political processes and issues in both the UK and USA. Students explore the structures of government and how the different branches of interact as well as examining the issues of reform- both past and future. They examine the roles of different political actors from parties to pressure groups and examine the methods and influences on voting in both countries. The theoretical basis for both elements are studied alongside the up to date examples which are used to support their thinking. Students develop their skills of analysis and critical thinking as well as participating in political debate, both informally and formally, about current affairs and their implications. An interest in politics and current affairs is vital and this course helps students develop their own understand and opinions.
The course is assessed through h examination only. Two in Y12 (AS units) each 80 minutes long and two in Y13 of 90 minutes long.
Exam board Edexcel
AS- Y12- Government of the UK
People and Politics of the UK
A2- Y13- Government of the USA
People and Politics of the USA