GCSE | Two-Year Course | Pipers Corner School
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Pipers Lane,
Great Kingshill,
High Wycombe,
Buckinghamshire
HP15 6LP

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01494 718255

GCSE | Two-Year Course

Our Senior School curriculum is broad and engaging. We aim to create confident, independent, and successful young women who are equipped with the skills necessary to meet the opportunities and challenges of life in the twenty-first century.

Students in Year 8 make their GCSE option choices in the Spring Term, they are finalised in the Summer Term. Whilst the two-year GCSE course starts in earnest in Year 10, students in Year 9 are introduced to subject-specific skills, as well as more enhanced critical-thinking techniques through a personalised programme of learning. Students are encouraged to develop their intellectual curiosity to become focused learners in a face-paced and stimulating environment.

The GCSE Course

All students take the core subjects of English, Mathematics and two Sciences. They then select four optional subjects, which are chosen during the Spring Term of Year 8. Whilst the GCSE course doesn't start until Year 10, students in Year 9 embark upon the Pre-GCSE year, where they learn the study skills to equip them fully for the two-year GCSE course. Everyone receives the GCSE course guide (which is available by selecting the link below), with further details about the specific courses, what to expect and some handy information regarding each subject. Our Year 8 Tutors are always available to offer guidance during the options process.


GCSE course guide | 2026-2029

Students are continually supported throughout the GCSE curriculum, both in and out of lessons. For those students who want to be challenged and stretched academically, super-curricular activities are encouraged. These additional activities focus on the subject in greater depth, enriching student’s knowledge and understanding beyond the assessed curriculum. Studying nine GCSEs rather than 10 affords students the time to engage in both extra-curricular and super-curricular activities which are becoming increasingly more valuable to university applications and employers, whilst also having a significant impact on your overall Well-Being and development as learners and thinkers. Similarly, students who find some subject content more challenging occasionally you need additional support and our inspiring teachers hold lunchtime surgeries and clinics for many GCSE subjects to help develop knowledge and confidence in the topic.

We offer the following optional GCSE subjects:

Optional GCSE Subjects
Art and Design | Fine ArtArt and Design | TextilesBusinessDance
Design and TechnologyDramaFood Preparation and NutritionFrench
GeographyGermanHistoryICT
MusicPE (Academic)Religious StudiesSpanish

Compulsory non-examination subjects

Core Physical Education

During weekly double PE lessons, students in Years 9-11 are introduced to a more varied range of sports including Pickleball, Fitness Suite, Wellbeing walks and Handball. You will take an active role in playing, organising and leading activities and develop an appreciation of the importance of regular participation in physical activity. The varied range of activities hopes to promote lifelong participation in physical activity following your own interests, abilities and ambitions.

Religion and Worldviews

In Year 9, you will study topics such as Prejudice and Discrimination, and Poverty. In Year 10, the focus shifts to Peace and Conflict, New Religious Movements, and the impact of Government Policies. By Year 11, the course delves into more advanced topics, such as Medical Ethics, including debates on euthanasia, designer babies, and cloning.

Across all year groups, you will have the opportunity to explore and address profound ethical and philosophical questions. Although there is no formal examination at the end of the course, active participation, curiosity, critical thinking, and wider reading are highly encouraged in every lesson. The SPIRAL curriculum offers a rich and thought-provoking journey, building skills and knowledge to navigate complex issues in the modern world.

Life Skills | Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education and Citizenship

The main aim of Life Skills teaching and learning is to provide you with the knowledge, skills and understanding you need to lead confident, healthy, independent lives and to become informed, active, responsible citizens.

You will be encouraged to reflect on your own experiences and in doing so recognise your own worth, helping you to deal with the spiritual, moral, social and cultural issues you may face as you grow up and reach adulthood.

Life Skills will help you to understand and responsibly manage a wider range of relationships as you mature and show respect for the diversity of and differences between people, always aware of a common humanity.

Life Skills also aims to develop your wellbeing and self-esteem, encouraging belief in your ability to succeed and enabling you to take responsibility for your learning and future choices of courses and career.

Above all, our aim is to enable you to analyse, reflect, speculate, discuss and argue constructively about your understanding of issues.

Take your First steps

Visit Pipers Corner

Pipers Lane, Great Kingshill,

High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

HP15 6LP

Get directions

 

Chair of Governors

Mr F W Johnston BA, FCA

The Chair of Governors can be contacted via the PA to the Clerk to the Governors

Email: [email protected]

Call 01494 718255