Thorne Grammar School

School/College details
 
Thorne Grammar School, Doncaster
11 – 18 Mixed Comprehensive School
   

The qualification(s)

Throne Grammar School offered the new GCSE in Health & Social Care to two cohorts.
   

The Cohort(s) and approach

The first cohort followed a two-year route within the standard curriculum model of the school i.e. as a subject option.

The second cohort followed a one-year route outside the standard curriculum model.
The cohort (Year 10 students) was known as the ‘Express Tutor Group’.  They were not selected on academic ability but on attendance at school and attitude.  The group completed the course based on two one hour sessions per week and some block time, off timetable i.e. 4 half-day sessions.
    

Funding

The course was funded through DfES financial support to School offering vocational GCSE.  Staff were paid £25.00 per hour for their time in delivering the course after school hours.  As a result there was no shortage of staff willing to come forward to teach the course.
   

Results

The course has proved very successful.

The two-year student cohort have high levels of motivation and have been successful in external testing during Year 10 (first year).

The one-year student cohort performed outstandingly, particularly with regards to:

  • the value added on KS3 performance;
  • completion within one academic year and in Year 10;
  • the subject being an addition to the nine GCSE subjects already being followed.

Thirty-one out of thirty-six students achieved double ‘C’s or better.  Those who didn’t achieve the double ‘C’ or better intend to re-enter in Year 11 to hopefully raise their results.  Some students achieved double ‘A’s.
   

The future

Two groups are now running with the two-year route within the standard curriculum model.  Success has lead to popularity.

The one-year route outside the standard curriculum course is to be used as a targeted raising attainment strategy in Year 11.

How?

  • Forty students have been identified who are, at present, expected to achieve 3/4/5 GCSE at Grade C level (on Year 10 performance).
  • They have agreed to attend school for two extra sessions of 1 hour per week after school and complete the Health and Social Care double GCSE.

The benefits?

  • The aim is to ensure they achieve 5 A* - C so they can access level 3 Post-16 courses.
  • The spin-off for the school will be improved GCSE performance in 2005.