Curriculum Information

Aims of the School Curriculum
Key Stage 3 Curriculum
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
The Sixth Form (Years 13 an 14)
GCE Applied A-level Courses
Sixth Form Enrichment

Aims of the School Curriculum

While fulfilling the requirements of the Northern Ireland Curriculum and Assessment Proposals, the curriculum in Thornhill College has been organised to provide a broad, balanced, relevant and coherent experience for each pupil.

Its objectives are to develop the young person as an individual, as a contributor to society, to the economy and to the environment.Consequently our pupils' curricular experience provides opportunities to acquire and develop the cross-curricular skills of Communication, Using Mathemetics, Using ICT, Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities.

All pupils follow a common programme for the first three years.
The subjects include :

• The school's programme of Citizenship facilitates participation in activities relating to Education for Mutual Understanding.
  
• English, Mathematics, Science and ICT are currently externally assessed at the end of Year 10 via the CCEA KS3 Tests.

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Key Stage 4 Curriculum

In these years pupils pursue GCSE courses. Pupils can select from three routes depending upon their interests and career planning.

All pupils follow a common core of subjects comprising:

• English;
• English Literature;
• A Language;
• Religious Studies;
• Mathematics;

• Science  (either Single Award Science, Double Award Science or three separate Science subjects).

Pupils then choose up to three subjects from a pool of options (shown right):

• Additional Mathematics
• Art and Design
• Business Studies
• Child Development
• Drama
• French

• Geography
• German
• History
• Home Economics
• ICT
• Irish
• Music

• Physical Education
• Spanish
• Technology and Design

The Sixth Form (Years 13 and 14)

Nearly all of the students who complete their GCSE studies at Thornhill College continue to study here during the Sixth Form. They are offered a wide variety of GCE AS-levels, A-levels and Applied A-level courses to select from those shown right.

In the interest of breadth and balance and depending on GCSE achievement, it is envisaged that in the first year of A-level study, students may follow four subjects and then continue with three or four subjects to A2 level.

Full GCE Applied A-level Double Award courses will be offered in:

• Business Studies
• Health and Social Care
• Science

Single Award GCE Applied courses will be offered in:

• Art and Design
• Biology
• Business Studies
• Business Studies (Applied)
• Chemistry
• Drama and Theatre Studies
• English Literature
• French
• Further Mathematics
• Geology (AS)
• German
• Government and Politics
• Health and Social Care (Applied)
• History
• Home Economics
• ICT

• ICT (Applied)
• Irish
• Mathematics
• Moving Image Arts
• Music
• Physical Education
• Physics
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Science (Applied)
• Sociology
• Spanish
• Statistics
• Technology and Design

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The Enrichment Programme is a modular scheme which allows pupils to broaden their experience by choosing one or more of the modules listed below during Year 13.

An important core unit within the Enrichment Programme is Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE). This is a compulsory module and is one of five compulsory modules that all students take during for two lessons each week.