GCSE Courses at Ashbourne: A Home from Home

Ashbourne’s flexible GCSE programmes are designed to take students up to A level. GCSE students who follow this pathway, (around 90% of our candidates), typically attain the very best A level results at the college.

We teach each GCSE subject over one academic year. It is intensive but because the courses are so well structured and delivered it is possible to cover the whole syllabus, get in plenty of exam technique practice and have enough time for revision.

GCSE two-year programme

Students taking a two-year programme will complete all core compulsory GCSE subjects (English, Maths and Science) in Year 10. In Year 11, they choose two to four optional subjects to complete by the end of that academic year.

A level foundation
As GCSE core subjects are foundational for A level, Year 10 students need to attain a working grade 7 or above by the end of March to sit the official GCSE examinations. They will be able to complete the course again in Year 11, alongside their optional subjects, if they do not manage to meet this requirement. This will allow them to improve and consolidate their subject knowledge in order to get the best results and prepare sufficiently for A level.

A level head-start
Students consistently performing at a high level at the beginning of Year 11 may have the option to begin one or two A level subjects at this point. This provides a head-start in the A level programme potentially allowing students to more comfortably undertake four A levels: completing one A level in Y12 and three more in Y13.

Top-ranking universities recognise the challenge and commitment involved in taking 4 A levels like this. It is a great option if students are considering studying Further Maths as they will be able to complete A level Maths by Year 12. This is also a good choice for students to take an A level in their native language, e.g. Italian or Mandarin.

GCSE one-year programme

Students on a one-year GCSE programme starting in Year 11 complete both core and optional GCSE subjects in one year, then move on to our two-year A level programme.

GCSE subjects
GCSE students will need to study all of the core compulsory subjects. These are English Language, English Literature, Maths and Science Double Award (students will be awarded two GCSEs for Science).

Optional GCSE subjects that students can choose from include Art & Design, Computer Science, Drama, Economics, French, History, Music and Spanish.

Find out more about all the GCSE subjects on offer.

Physical and personal wellbeing
Physical Education (PE) is compulsory and takes place each week at an external sports centre and includes different individual and team sports.

Personal, Social, Health and Economics Education (PSHEE) is also compulsory. During PSHEE lessons students will learn life skills and discuss a wide range of issues including how to build and maintain healthy relationships, taking responsibility for their own behaviour and understanding how to look after their own physical and mental wellbeing.

Personal and career development
Ashbourne encourages and supports students to plan ahead at every stage of their academic career. As early as Year 10, students explore career options, look into university courses and personal development projects, during PSHEE lessons, that will help them pave the way for successful university applications, apprenticeships and careers. Find out more about university and careers preparation at Ashbourne.

The class sizes are small, typically fewer than 10, so students will get lots of individual attention from the teacher to go over their work. This also makes it easier to engage in lesson topics and discussions with classmates.

Students receive regular homework, attend weekly homework sessions with the teachers and sit half-termly mocks to help consolidate what they have learned and provide markers on how well they are doing so they know what more is needed to achieve their goals.

We work with students every step of the way to help them develop skills, deepen knowledge and ultimately prepare for the move to A level. They will then be among other hardworking, creative and ambitious students aiming for the very best results so they can get into top universities or career fields.

Ashbourne A level students consistently achieve outstanding results, 46% A*A (2023-2024), 51% A*A (10 year average). Around 63% of our students applying for degree courses in the UK go on to study at Russell Group universities, including UCL, King’s College London, Imperial, Warwick and Cambridge.

Ashbourne GCSE students are entitled to progress to our A level courses once they meet the grade criteria. They are also expected to abide by the College’s Student Behaviour and Exclusions Policy throughout their course as a condition of entry.

Everyone within the Ashbourne community plays their part to make the College a friendly, safe and fun environment in which to learn. Mutual respect, tolerance and collaboration reflects our grown-up approach to learning and is vital for student happiness, which we consider our most important goal.

Ashbourne students come from all over the world and bring a diversity of views, cultures and personalities to the table making it a truly vibrant and exciting place.

Students can feel as confident studying Maths and the sciences at Ashbourne as students do drama and art. This is especially attractive if students have a passion for both, as some of our students do.

A great many of our students take A levels in sciences and Maths because we have a very long and strong tradition in these subjects. In fact, unlike most schools, we offer and excel in teaching Further Maths, which is a gateway subject to a wide selection of highly competitive degree courses.

We also have exceptionally dynamic and successful faculties in performing arts and art. The A levels are geared towards professional development and aiming for leading UK art colleges or the stage.

Ashbourne College is quite different from traditional schools. We offer a university-style learning environment with dedicated and comprehensive support to help students succeed. They have much greater freedom of choice and are encouraged to think independently. There is no set school uniform and students and staff communicate on a first name basis. We believe this all contributes towards building confidence and enabling students to become the driver of their own success.

Getting involved in the many clubs, activities and events the College offers is a great way to make friends, discover new passions and develop their skills.

One of the real highlights for many students (and staff) is the Ashbourne Revue at Christmas in which anyone can showcase their talents and skills from dance, music and theatre to fashion, poetry and martial arts.

There is also a great selection of clubs featuring the successful Ashbourne Allstars football team, Bollywood dancing and Creative Writing, just to mention a few.

We are located next to Kensington Palace and Hyde Park and within walking distance from some great world-class attractions. London is a fantastic city with so much on offer – galleries and museums, architecture, theatre and film, festivals, restaurants, shopping – that we are really spoiled for choice.