Key Stage 4 covers students in Years 10 and 11 when they are aged between 14 and 16 years-old
We aim to ensure that all 14-16 year olds have the opportunity to pursue a course of study or training where they will learn in a style that suits them and in curriculum areas / training programmes that motivate them. Whatever pathway they are on, whether in school, or at the College of Further Education, we want young people to be working towards nationally accredited qualifications and schemes that have real standing with students, parents, employers and the public, which will prepare them to progress into further education and higher education and which place a premium on good basic skills and the wider skills needed for employment.
The Headteacher of a school will determine the curriculum model for his / her school to include the curriculum content, its organisation and where appropriate the nationally accredited qualification routes for students.
From August 2017 some GCSEs will be graded differently (initially English and Maths with other subjects to follow in subsequent years). Instead of the usual A*-G grades they will be awarded grades of 9 to 1, where 9 is the highest. For further information on this new grading system please click here
We have also provided a guide for you to download from this page.
AQA have also produced the following video explaining the changes.
GCSE Grade Boundaries
Each year exam boards publish their grade boundaries for every subject.
The following video from exam board Edexcel also explains how grade boundaries are set.
The Curriculum Entitlement Key Stage 4
It is expected that every student will study the Core Curriculum of the Bailiwick of Guernsey Curriculum Entitlement 14-16 as set out below. The Core as a whole will take up to half the available curriculum time. Students will then choose how they wish to spend the remainder of their time. The choice will comprise:
- The opportunity to study an arts subject, design technology, a humanities subject and a modern foreign language.
- An Alternative Nationally Accredited Programme
No single institution can be responsible for delivering the full curriculum and qualifications entitlement on its own - offering the range of opportunities will require collaboration between educational institutions and a range of agencies, services and employer organisations.
Core Curriculum
- A nationally accredited course in English, Maths and Science
- ICT
- Work-related Learning and Careers Education
- PSHE and Citizenship
- Physical Education
- Religious Education
The additional curriculum entitlement must include
At least one option from the following
- Arts
- Design and Technology
- Humanities
- Modern Foreign Languages
- and/or an alternative accredited programme
Cross Curricular Themes and Skills
- Spiritual, moral, social and cultural development
- Financial capability
- Enterprise education
- Education for sustainable development
Key Skills
- Communication - speaking, listening, reading, writing
- Numeracy - application of a number
- ICT
- Improving their own learning and performance
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Thinking skills - information processing, reasoning, enquiry, creative thinking, evaluation
