Year 9
Guided by the requirements of the National Curriculum – but, as an Independent School with the freedom to go above and beyond – our Third Form (Year 9) curriculum provides a secure foundation for GCSE studies to be started the following year.
The core subjects of English, French and/or Spanish, Mathematics and the separate Sciences are supplemented with Geography, History, and Religious Studies, whilst greater breadth is achieved through Drama, Music, Physical Education, Art and Design Technology. For subjects such as Mathematics and French pupils are placed in sets according to ability levels.
In addition, all pupils follow a full PSHE/Careers and Enterprise/Study Skills course.
All pupils take English – most will take English Language and Literature, however, some may just take English Language (as advised by Head of English)
All pupils take Mathematics and Sciences. Sciences include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and this leads to either a Dual or Triple Award Science.
Option subjects:
Students must then choose from the following:
At least one Modern Foreign Language: French / Spanish
At least two Humanities: Geography / History / Religious Studies
At least two Creative & Performance subjects: Art & Design / Design & Technology / Drama / Music / Physical Education
GCSE (Years 10 & 11)
All pupils take a core consisting of English (Language and Literature or just Language), Mathematics and Science (Dual or Triple subject covering all three of Biology, Chemistry and Physics). AEN support is also available and all pupils follow a PSHE course.
Further options are chosen from Art, Business Studies, Design Technology, Drama, French, Geography, History, Music, Physical Education, Religious Studies and Spanish.
From September 2025, the usual number of GCSE subjects taken will be nine. Some pupils may take fewer GCSEs if they do not study English Literature and/or take Dual rather than Triple Science. At St Lawrence College we believe that this is the optimum number that combines the necessary breadth with the best opportunity to achieve the highest possible grades.
Suggested option blocks are shared in the Lent term, although pupils expecting to enter the Fourth Form (Year 10) are asked to specify their preferred subjects before the option groupings are finalised, to satisfy as many of these preferred combinations as possible. The blocks suggested have been devised with potential career pathways in mind
GCSE Option subjects:
As standard: English Language / English Literature / Mathematics / Sciences as Chemistry, Biology, Physics
A further three Option subjects can be chosen from the following:-
Native speakers of German may also take this GCSE as an extra subject in addition to their three option choices and will be prepared for the examination by the German teacher. A pupil from overseas taking EAL as the main English course can also choose Additional EAL as an option if more language support is needed.
Additionally, all pupils will have three games sessions a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and take part in extra-curricular activities at the end of the day on Wednesdays and Fridays.
