Fourth and Fifth Form Curriculum Book The Fou t h a n d Fifth Foat Clifton m 1 FOURTH & FIFTH FORM CURRICULUM BOOK Dear Fourth and Fifth Form Students This booklet gives you information about the wide range of academic subjects that you may study for GCSE. Many of these subjects are compulsory but in addition you will study other GCSEs of your choice. Making these choices may not be an easy decision and it is very important that you spend time exploring the options to gain an understanding of what is involved in the study of each subject. If you are finding it difficult to decide what is best to do next then do please come and see me or Mr Simmons (Deputy Head Academic) and we will be happy to discuss the options with you. Dr Tim Greene, Head Master Fifth Foat Clifton m Contents Time to branch out 3 Facilities 36 Art & Design 61 Joining the Fourth 7 Classics 37 Art 62 & Fifth Form Latin 38 Art, Craft & Design 63 The co-curriculum 15 Ancient Greek 39 Design & Technology 64 Science 23 Classical Civilisation 40 Learning Support 67 Biology 24 Humanities 41 Learning Support 68 Chemistry 25 lessons Geography 42 Physics 25 General provision 68 History 43 Facilities 26 Your choices 69 Religious Studies 44 Mathematics 27 Computer Science 45 English & Modern 29 Business & Economics 47 Foreign Languages Economics 48 English Language 30 & Literature Business Studies 49 French 31 Physical Education 51 German 32 Music, Drama & Dance 55 Spanish 33 Music 56 Mandarin 34 Drama 57 English as an 35 Dance 58 Additional Language FOURTH & FIFTH FORM CURRICULUM BOOK 2 Time to b anch out 3 FOURTH & FIFTH FORM CURRICULUM BOOK The Fourth and Fifth Form years Entering the Fourth Form is the Pupils are also immersed in the moment our pupils begin to have broader life of the school - across greater choice over their studies, sports, music, drama, dance, the visual as well as the activities they pursue arts, community and pupil-led activities outside of the classroom. The Fourth ranging from societies to bands. We are and Fifth Form years are a time for extremely proud of our facilities and our pupils to explore their interests in more exceptional teachers and coaches, who depth, to look to the future beyond help pupils develop and improve their school, and to take more responsibility skills, from beginner to literally ‘world- for their studies and co-curricular class’. activities, albeit with expert and sympathetic guidance. The support network at the school is extensive. Housemasters/mistresses, The academic curriculum continues tutors and teachers, our specialist with a set of core subjects, together learning support teams, our health with a wide range of optional subjects professionals, and our Chaplain work which we endeavour to offer in as broad together to help pupils navigate these a combination as possible. Inspirational vital, formative academic years. The teaching, excellent facilities, new careers education and work-related technology and activities such as field learning available to our pupils also trips, group projects and co-curricular help to shape their ambitions as they events all serve to bring these studies start to think about the opportunities to life. The academic curriculum available to them in the Sixth Form and aims to provide for the needs of the beyond. individual, but it also ensures that every pupil is given access to a core of knowledge and cultural experience that enables them to develop, both as learners and as people. A fantastic place to study Clifton College’s spectacular 19th Our pupils are individuals with their century buildings reflect our long history own abilities, talents and levels of and share their architectural style with confidence, but whatever their starting many of Britain’s other great schools and point we ask them to aspire to the very universities. Behind these facades we highest standards they can achieve. have superb modern learning facilities, Our learning support and EAL teams including high-tech classrooms and our provide additional tuition as needed, newly refurbished science block, with while those pupils who excel at a more than 10 laboratories. subject have accelerated learning opportunities. The Percival Library is a beautiful Grade II listed building that houses more than The dedication of our pupils, combined 15,000 books, as well as a computer with the quality of our teaching, has suite; this and other specialised proved a potent recipe for academic buildings, such as the Joseph Cooper success in recent years. In 2018, more Music School and the Redgrave than a third (36%) of GCSE grades were Theatre, provide our pupils with A*s, 8s or 9s while, on average, 98% inspiring surroundings and are central of the pupil body goes on to higher to the Clifton educational experience. education with 79% attending Russell Group and 1994 Group universities. FOURTH & FIFTH FORM CURRICULUM BOOK 4 An all-round education Clifton provides a secure, attractive Combined Cadet Force or community As in any organisation or community, and challenging environment for young work, and develop their own portfolios we welcome a vast range of people to become well-rounded and of activities and interests from the vast personalities, as well as girls and boys capable individuals. The extensive range available (we have everything of different nationalities and religious offering of sports, activities and events from caving to code breaking). faiths. Clifton pupils learn how to value that take place outside of the classroom and respect ‘difference’, how to find are more than ‘add-on extras’. They Programmes such as sport, music the common ground that invariably form part of the well-rounded education and drama cater for pupils of all outweighs it, and how to live and work that is the ‘Clifton lifestyle’. abilities, giving them opportunities successfully with others in the many to take up new interests, hone their roles and environments they will soon Throughout the Fourth and Fifth Form skills and compete or perform. Recent occupy. years, pupils’ days are busy, active alumni have left to pursue careers as and fulfilling and they learn valuable professional musicians, actors and skills and discover new enthusiasms sportspeople, and beneath this ‘elite’ and talents. Alongside their lessons, level, we also have hundreds of pupils they take part in compulsory sports enjoying what, for many, will become and outdoor sessions, as well as the lifelong passions. 5 FOURTH & FIFTH FORM CURRICULUM BOOK Home is where the House is Outside of lessons and school activities, much of life revolves around our unique House system. These Houses are exclusively for girls or boys and are a home from home for both our day pupils and boarders. While all lessons and many school activities are ‘co- educational’, we believe that a single-sex House system provides the ‘best of both worlds’ for our pupils. Pupils remain with their House throughout their time at the school. Essentially the House becomes their ‘family’ and provides a ready social hub of brothers or sisters, although there are plenty of inter-house friendships – alongside the keen inter-house rivalries in fields such as sport, debating, drama and not forgetting dance! The House system also forms the bedrock for pupil welfare. The Housemasters/mistresses are all experienced Clifton teachers. They lead each House and, together with Assistant Housemasters/mistresses, House Tutors, and their wider support network, are responsible for the all-round wellbeing of the pupils in their care. Sundays are generally our ‘rest days’. Other than homework, pupils can relax - although this can mean many things, as the school’s gym and sports facilities remain open and many of our pupil-led groups, clubs and societies use the time to meet. Clifton itself is a peaceful suburb of Bristol, set between the hustle and bustle of the city’s shopping areas and the wide-open spaces of the Downs. The school buildings surround the world- famous Bristol Zoo - and the sounds of the animals are part of the patchwork of everyday Clifton life. FOURTH & FIFTH FORM CURRICULUM BOOK 6 Joining the Fou th and Fifth Fo m 7 FOURTH & FIFTH FORM CURRICULUM BOOK The curriculum At Key Stage 4 (age 14-16) pupils follow Our aim is to satisfy all these needs and a number of courses to GCSE or IGCSE.* to provide a programme of academic Some pupils will choose a curriculum that work, sport and cultural activity that is is as broad and varied as possible. Others challenging, fulfilling and enjoyable. will wish to follow particular interests The subjects available this year are listed and talents. Some will want to study as below: many subjects as they can, while others * Please note: throughout this booklet the term ‘GCSE’ is will do better by focusing on a narrower used to refer to both GCSE and IGCSE qualifications. curriculum. The Core Curriculum Options English (both Language Ancient Greek English as an Additional Language & Literature) Art Geography Mathematics Art, Craft & Design History Biology* Business or Economics Latin Chemistry* Classical Civilisation Learning Support Physics* Computer Science Music A modern language ** Dance (French, German, Mandarin Physical Education or Spanish) Design & Technology Religious Studies Personal, Social & Health Drama Education A second modern language * Science may be taken as two or three GCSE subjects (see page 24). **We expect all pupils to study at least one modern language. However, there may be exceptions to this, for example in the case of an entrant to the Fourth Form who has never previously studied a modern language. Please consult the Deputy Head (Academic) in such circumstances. Additional languages In some cases, pupils can be prepared for examinations in other languages, such as Russian, Hebrew, Japanese or Polish.