GCSE Subjects

Young people in mainstream schools usually decide in Year 9 (age 13 to 14) which subjects they want to study in Year 10 and 11 (when they are aged 14 to 16).

If appropriate, these will be the subjects they will take for GCSE exams.

An education provider will be able to give information about other accredited qualifications available if a young person is not working at GCSE level. Special schools have a curriculum tailored to the needs of their pupils. Some focus on teaching life skills. Most offer fewer opportunities to gain recognised qualifications like GCSE's or vocational courses.

Help in Exams

Talk to the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) and/or the school’s examination officer about extra help in exams. For example, extra time, a computer, or a smaller/ individual room. This should be done as soon as possible. The extra help is known as Access Arrangements.

Some Access Arrangements can be given by a school or college based on a young person’s normal way of working. Access Arrangements like extra time are given by exam boards. Students must reach certain thresholds in approved assessments that are completed by official assessors to be granted these. A young person’s school or college can arrange these assessments.

Access Arrangements allow students with special educational needs, disabilities, or temporary injuries to access exams without changing the demands of the assessment. Ideally, Access Arrangements should have been discussed and in place for exams/assessments taken in year 10.

Access Arrangements must be appropriate to the exam and the student. For example, a student with dyslexia may need extra time for a written exam, but not for a practical one.

Any kind of Access Arrangement must reflect the student’s normal way of working, except in the case of injuries. For example, a student would only be allowed to use a laptop in exams if they normally use one in class. The arrangement must not suddenly be granted at the time of the exam. Talk to school or college if further help is needed for example, with exam stress.