A place to grow

Key Stage 4 Curriculum

 Our core aims for the Key Stage 4 Curriculum are that it:

  • Is broad and balanced across a range of vocational and academic subjects and qualifications
  • Allows students to pursue individual learning pathways in areas of particular talent or interest such as the expressive arts or humanities
  • Provides clear links to further study and future employment

At Bacon’s, our GCSE curriculum requires that ALL students study 

  • English Language 
  • English Literature
  • Mathematics 
  • Science (either Triple or Combined)
  • Religious Education

Core PE and PSHE will also be delivered to all students but these do not count as GCSEs. 

Students on Pathway 1* and 1 are also expected to study:

  • Geography or History, and
  • French or Spanish

Depending on the Pathway that a student is allocated to, students may choose to study options from the following subjects:

 Geography
 History
 French
 Spanish
 Art
 Product Design
 Textiles
 Graphic Design
 Media Studies
 Drama
 BTEC Dance
 BTEC Music
 GCSE Business
 BTEC Business
 Computer Science
 BTEC IT/ Creative iMedia
 GCSE PE
 BTEC PE

There is also provision for students to access extra support in literacy or numeracy, and a suite of potential Functional Skills qualifications, if these are deemed appropriate.


Core+ lessons are intervention lessons in English, Maths and Science that are provided to support students who experience difficulties in at least one of their optional subject choices.


Students can also request to be entered for qualifications in their ‘home’ languages.


More detail regarding each qualification can be found in the Subject Information Sheets for GCSE and A-Level, and in our Prospectus.

More information regarding the GCSE options process, Pathway Allocations and addressing common queries can be found in the Year 9 Options Booklet which can be found here.