A-Level Subjects

If you feel ill, tell your teacher and they will email the school First Aider to attend. The first aider will decide whether you are well enough to go back to class or if your parents/carers need to come and take you home.

You will get more homework than you are probably used to getting at primary school. If you are struggling with any homework, you must speak to your teacher and they will help you. We also run a homework club after school to support you.

Yes, Solihull music service come into school to offer a range of music lessons which will need to be paid for.

Please discuss any worries with your form tutor. If necessary they will involve the pastoral staff who are dedicated to support you throughout school.

Please do not worry; this is one of the biggest concerns for all new pupils starting secondary school. At Light Hall, we have a team of anti- bullying champions who will support anyone who is worried. You will be introduced to our anti-bullying champions when you start with us.

Yes, please make sure you ride sensibly and wear a helmet. You will need a lock to secure your bike in the bike store

You can join as many clubs as you like. A few clubs go on at lunch times but lots take place after school and they are all free. The extra-curricular timetable will be put on the website each half term.

Yes, we encourage all students to bring a water bottle to school. We have water fountains in school where they can be refilled.

Yes, you can choose whether to bring in your own lunch or buy food from school.

Not necessarily, although you will be able to meet up with them at break times and clubs after school. Secondary school is a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.

We have a ‘bell to bell’ policy, mobile phones are allowed in school but they can only be used before the bell at the start of school and after the bell at the end of the school day. If you use it between those bells it will be confiscated and stored in the school safe until you collect it after school from the school reception. We do not accept any responsibility for mobile phones getting lost or damaged.

Retrace your steps to see if you can find the lost item in the classrooms that you have been in or in the playground. Lost property is located in the school reception office so check with the staff there to see if it has been handed in.

If you realise as soon as you get to school, you can go to the school reception and ask the staff there to contact home to see if it can be brought in, otherwise the PE department will lend you some spare kit.

Moving from primary school to secondary school can be a little daunting and there may be lots of things that you are not sure about. We have put together some frequently asked questions which may help address some of your concerns. Please do not worry; there will be lots of adults and students to help you settle in.

Special features of the course include outside speakers such as mothers accompanied by their babies, school nurse and representatives from organisations will be invited to talk to students. Some visits to playgroup and toddler groups are also included. Students will be given the opportunity of taking home overnight a ‘Real Care Baby’ to get a snapshot of the responsibilities and hard work of parenthood

A grounding for the following qualifications: – NVQ’s in “Early Years Care & Education”; NVQ’s in “Playwork Level 2-4”; CACHE “Certificate in Child Care & Education”; CACHE “Diploma in Nursery Nursing”; BTEC “National Diploma in Childhood Studies”. Some of these qualifications could lead to employment in playgroups, day nurseries and private nanny/family help. Others could lead to careers in nursing, teaching and other related professions.

A large section of this GCSE requires on-going individual independent study.

Controlled Assessment – 60%
One research task- which is based on the syllabus and one long and detailed project called “Child Study” based on the study of a child or children. Students will be responsible for finding their own child to study.

A written examination 1.5hrs – 40%

Researching, analysing, planning, observing, understanding and evaluating relevant areas of the subject.

Parenthood and pregnancy, physical development, nutrition and health, intellectual, social and emotional development. The family and the community.

To increase students’ knowledge and understanding of all areas of child development including pregnancy and factors which affect the young child.

Apart from being sturdy and large enough to carry school equipment, your child’s school bag can be of any colour or style.

Pen, pencil and ruler are the bare essentials. Students should aim to bring spare pens, a rubber and perhaps a calculator for Maths. They should bring those in a sensible pencil case and everything in a sensible spacious bag. Your child should bring a separate bag for PE.

There are boys and girls teams for all major sports. Information about trying out for the school teams will be provided to students near the beginning of term.

All the school’s major policies can be found on the Parent Information page.

No. Our school rules are that students are not allowed to bring mobile phones to school. This is primarily to protect your child from potential theft, particularly whilst travelling to and from school. If a student is seen with a phone in school, the phone will be confiscated and will be returned to parents when they come in to collect it.

Absolutely. We encourage students to walk and cycle to school for health and environmental reasons. We have some sturdy bike shelters to store bikes in. Please ensure that any bicycle left on site is securely locked up as you would whenever leaving a bike in a public place.  Students should ride safely and wear the appropriate safety equipment, ie a helmet, at all times.

There are two buses that specifically service the school but they are not run by us. The route and running of them is organised by National Express. The phone number for the Yardley Wood Garage is; 0121 249 6499

There are individual tuition lessons for most instruments at Light Hall. A letter will be given to all students interested in continuing lessons at the beginning of the Autumn Term. Lessons are for 20 minutes at a time and follow a rotating timetable throughout the week so students do not miss large amounts of a specific lesson. There is a charge for lessons which is charged to families annually. However, there are free lessons for some minority instruments and students who are eligible for free school meals are also eligible for free music lessons.

Our comprehensive school uniform listing can be found on this page This includes uniform for PE.

There are many lockers in Light Hall School. Students have the opportunity to apply for a locker during Autumn Term. A payment is required. There are not enough lockers for every student so they are distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. A letter will go out to inform parents of when the lockers are available. Students can keep equipment and PE kit in their lockers. Hopefully, students will not leave the same unwashed PE kit in their locker all year!

Most schools the size of Light Hall will split the students into bands. There is no difference between the bands except that L Band students will be timetabled separately to H Band students. The bands are not a form of setting or streaming.

COMPONENT 2: Devising Drama.  Students work in groups to devise a piece of Drama from a selection of stimuli.  They also write a logbook based on the progression and evaluation of their practical work.

COMPONENT 3: Texts in Practice. Students work in groups to rehearse and then perform 2 extracts from one play.

COMPONENT 1: Multiple choice questions based on performance and stagecraft.  One section based on a play we have studied.  One section based on a play we have seen.

AQA – GCSE Drama

• Confidence
• Evaluative
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Improvisation
• Decision making/problem solving
• Dramatic terminology
• Predicting
• Expression/Body language
• Manipulating the Drama form
• Key skills developed are lighting/set/costume/sound effects

Your topics will be selected from the vast range of issues within society using texts, newspaper articles, plays, music, artefacts and poems.

Drama is a versatile subject which could be studied for its own sake, or to form the basis of a future interest in the Performing Arts.  Alternatively, you can develop transferable skills, which you can take into any profession. These include such fields as Retail, Media, Travel and Tourism, Sales, Marketing or any career that involves meeting people face to face.

None.

All examinations will be taken at the end of the course.

G.C.S.E. Pearson (Edexcel)

To develop an ability to think clearly and logically; to approach problems with confidence; to decide what is correct, suspicious or wrong; to be able to develop a coherent argument; and above all enjoy the patterns and elegance of mathematics.

UNIT 1: Catering skills related to food preparation and service
Controlled Task
Two practical tasks selected from a bank of six WJEC set tasks. Internally assessed using WJEC set criteria and externally moderated.
45 hours in total 60 %

What career opportunities could the course help to give me?
The qualification studied could lead to employment in any establishment that prepares and serves food, for example restaurants, hotels, schools, nurseries and hospitals. Also further study at a specialist college.

There are many career opportunities, which can follow Art training. Some examples are:-
Product Design; Fashion Design; Interior Design; Graphic Design; Advertising; Architecture; Jewellery; Furniture Design; Textiles Design; Web Design, Garden Design, Fashion buyer, Chef, food Technologist, environmental health officer, Nutritionist, Dietician, Automotive designer, Food Product.. to name but a few.

WJEC G.C.S.E. Catering
Researching, analysing, planning, making, observing, understanding and evaluating relevant areas of the catering industry.

What is involved with the examination?
UNIT 2: Catering, food and the customer
One Written Paper 1¼ hours paper which will be externally set and marked. All questions are compulsory and targeted at the full range of GCSE grades.

Resistant Materials GCSE  Welsh Board GCSE
This course is designed to develop an awareness of the nature and significant importance of Design and Technology in a rapidly changing society. It enables students to develop their application of knowledge, skills and understanding of Resistant Materials within an overall design and make based approach. This course combines practical skills with an understanding of aesthetics, social and environmental issues, function and industrial practices

Product Design Welsh Board GCSE
Design and Technology in Product Design is a recently developed GCSE course within the suite of GCSE specifications offered by the WJEC. The course provides opportunities for students to apply aesthetic, moral, social, economic and industrial awareness in their design work. Students are encouraged to use a range of communication skills, including verbal, graphical, ICT and modelling skills, to help their thinking and their ability to take action in the process of designing

Develop skills and techniques in effective communication, organisation and expression of ideas visually, working both independently and as part of a team.
Gain understanding of a wide range of  materials, media, techniques and processes in both 2D and 3D. As well as to develop practical skills in a variety of material areas.
To develop creative thinking skills.   Improve the understanding of art within the context of different cultures, society and industry.
To build self confidence and self esteem in Design and Technology and become a more reflective learner.

Observational drawing, Production of 2D and 3D work in a range of material areas. Primary and Secondary Research. Technical use of materials and develop skills in a range of design and make  processes in 2D and 3D. Use of Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing processes. Preparing and making,  Food preparation

A range of themed based projects focused in different material areas throughout the year, including; Graphics and CAD/CAM based task, Resistant Materials, in metal, wood and plastic and Product Design tasks in a variety of media. Food Technology and Textiles.

Where possible we assign your child to a teacher who specialises in that particular doctrine to ensure that your son/daughter receives the most holistic and competent academic diet.

Year 10 and 11 – Coursework is worth 25% of the final grade. This comprises controlled assessments, which can only be completed in school under teacher supervision and exam conditions. A research element is necessary for completion at home however and must be done within a designated timeframe stated by y9our child’s teacher.

All examinations will be taken at the end of the course.

Core/Additional Science – 4 exams (Core Science – Units 1 and 2; Additional Science – Units 3 and 4) and 2 internal controlled assessments.

Triple Science – 6 exams (2 Biology, 2 Chemistry and 2 Physics) and 3 internal controlled assessments, one per subject area.

To encourage candidates to:

Develop independent learning skills.

Acquire a systematic body of scientific knowledge, and the skills needed to apply this in abstract situations.

Acquire an understanding of scientific ideas, of how they develop, of the factors which may affect their impact, and of their limitations.

Consider, analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific data and conclusions from primary and secondary sources.

Evaluate, in terms of their scientific knowledge and understanding and their understanding of the processes of scientific enquiry and of the nature of scientific knowledge, the benefits and drawbacks of scientific and technological developments, including those related to the environment, personal health and quality of life, and considering ethical issues where these arise.

Select, organise, present and interpret tabular and graphical information clearly and logically, using appropriate scientific terminology and conventions.

Use electronic (internet in particular collinsonlinelearning.com, CD ROMs, databases, simulations etc.) and/or more traditional sources of information (books, magazines, leaflets etc.) to collect data and ideas on a topic of scientific interest.

A Religious Studies qualification is widely recognized as particularly useful for careers working with people from different backgrounds e.g. journalism, law enforcement, legal professions,  medicine and health care professions, the armed services, and retail work.

Throughout the course the highest grades are kept for students who show evidence of extra research. This may involve using books, the Internet, newspapers/magazines and other sources of information such as seeking the views and reactions of friends and family

There is no coursework requirement for this course

Two examinations at the end of Year 11, both exam 90 minutes long.

AQA Religious Studies Syllabus B, Units 2 and 3.

Students from any or no religious background are equally valued. The course is particularly attractive to students with inquiring minds who enjoy listening to alternative points of view, discussing these orally and on the written page and who want to show their own beliefs and thoughts through clear and informed conclusions.

 Unit 3 (Year 9 and 10)

Matters of Death (e.g. euthanasia)
Drug Abuse
Crime and Punishment
Rich and Poor in Society 

Unit 2 (Year 10 and 11)

Animal Rights
Planet Earth
Prejudice and Discrimination
Abortion
War & Peace

Each topic studied focuses on Christian and Muslim responses.

All students in year 9 will begin this course in the Autumn Term of this year, while still in Year 9.  This is to enable us to teach the full GCSE to the students rather than entering them for a short course (half) GCSE only.  This course leads to a full GCSE qualification. The topics covered are of vital importance to students as they prepare for a full and active role as an adult in modern society. Therefore it aims not only to give students a good academic qualification but also to help develop their thinking as more mature young people.  

We have assembled some of the most effective strategies for your child to consolidate his/her knowledge based on the type of learner they are. They should try each strategy out to work out which is best for them, and we will work to develop this in school also.

In order for students to make progress in Science it is important that they develop independent learning skills. In this way they can build their knowledge, understanding and confidence with the course content. Once again we would like to reinforce the need to partake in independent study using resources such as GCSE Pod, collinsonlinelearning.com, BBC bitesize (for Core and Additional Science units mainly) and of course we would advise purchasing a revision guide that they actively use from the very start of their Science course.

Outside of school we encourage students to research their own interests in Science as this extends their experience, in turn allowing greater focus to be placed on building links in content in school as we help students achieve their potential. We also advise practising which revision techniques work for them and we have listed a series of various revision techniques your child could use based on their method of learning. You will find these in a separate section listed as ‘How can I help my child revise?’.

Academic acceleration and support classes are specifically designed to target individual needs and we would ask that you support us in allowing your child to participate in this extra-curricular provision.

There are a number of revision support materials available on Frog, these include guidance on ways students can revise, materials to aid revision and study (including past exam papers and question break downs to show which questions have occurred most frequently in the last 3 years) and a large amount of carefully selected videos to support the learning of the most difficult concepts in Science.

Triple Science – Students following this course will sit 2 exams for each of the GCSEs e.g. Biology units B1, B2, B3 and a second paper titled Biology units B4, B5, B6. Students will therefore sit 6 exams in total.

Core/Additional Science – Students following this course will sit 4 exams. Core Science is comprised of two examinations that cover units B1, C1, P1 and units B2, C2, P2 respectively. Additional Science exams cover the unit 3 and 4 content.

Science is compulsory for all students at KS4. Students in the top two sets in both year halves will study the Triple Science course. All other students will follow the Core / Additional Science course.

PE, Sport and Leisure is one of the fastest growing industries. Increased leisure time and the escalating trend to be fit and healthy have influenced the vast increase in demand, and subsequent career opportunities in management, administration, coaching, teaching, medical, commerce and retailing.

With a PE qualification, students can progress to BTEC Nationals, ‘A’ level PE and then onto Higher Nationals and Foundation Degrees and finally progressing to higher education to study various types of degrees. Both could lead into jobs related to sport and leisure.

Pupils will study for two exam papers.  One paper is on anatomy and physiology (36%) and the other on Health and Performance (24%).  They will also be assesed on one individual sport, one team sport and a further sport of their choice. 

If you enjoyed the GCSE Music course then you can consider pursuing the subject at AS or A2 Level. Your listening skills will enhance the aural perception needed in language examinations. Your performing skills will give you confidence in playing to an audience – useful if you intend to pursue, for example, drama or law. In addition, you may wish to study A Level Performing Arts or Music Technology.

You have already gained many of the basic skills needed for this course in your music lessons over the last three years.

You have been introduced to creating music of your own in class and this is developed on the GCSE course as you choose two topics for composition. For example, this could be a popular song and a dance track, a classical piece or some world music. There is a wide choice and it can be tailored to your own musical interests and strengths.
You have already listened to a variety of music in class and these skills are developed as you study some set pieces taken from the classical, 20th century, popular and world music areas of study.
You enjoy making music, either as a soloist or in a group. The GCSE course encourages you to perform music of your own choosing and in any style, as a soloist and also in a group. To take this course, you must be able to offer just one instrument/or voice.

Performing : You will need to play one solo and one ensemble piece.

Composing : You will need to compose and record two pieces.

The Listening and Appraising component is assessed through an exam. Students listen to pieces from a variety of musical genres and write responses to given questions about different musical elements.

OCR GCSE in Music

You will learn how to improve your performing skills, and through your work in composing you will gain an insight into how music is constructed from initial ideas through to the finished product. You will also learn how to analyse music in a variety of styles and discover the social and historical context in which music has been composed over the last 400 years or so.

If you enjoy performing music in your own time and learning an instrument, having singing lessons or enjoy creating music on computers or in a recording studio, then this is a good subject to choose! If you would like to create music of your own, then composing will give you the opportunity. If you want to broaden your knowledge of all types of music, including classical, popular and world, then this exciting course will give you an appreciation of the diversity of musical styles which exist today!

Yes, weekly activities include: Choir; Ukulele and Guitar Club, Jazz Band, Soul Band, Musical Theatre Club, Orchestra & Rock Band. These weekly clubs culminate in our fantastic Christmas and Summer concerts.

There are also other one-off opportunities, including performing at the Cavern Club, Warwick Arts Centre and various other venues with Solihull Music Service.

We also collaborate with the Light Hall Drama department to put on a yearly whole school production. In the past these have included We Will Rock You, Bugsy Malone, The Wizard of Oz and many more!

Yes. Individual or group lessons are available on a range of instruments, with visiting teachers from Solihull Music Service. These lessons currently cost £111 per term for individual lessons or £80.50 per term for group lessons (2017/18). See your classroom music teacher to get information about these lessons.

In Key Stage 3 two forms in every year group study Spanish.  In Key Stage 4, Spanish is  a very popular option and it has a very impressive track record at GCSE, with many students going on to study the subject at A level and beyond.

¡HOLA! Spanish is the world’s third most widely-spoken language (after English and Mandarin Chinese). Its popularity has risen steadily as more and more people choose to spend their holidays – and buy homes and businesses – in Spain and as the countries of South and Central America increase in prosperity and importance.

In Key Stage 3 all L band pupils learn French and some pupils in H band study French in Years 8 and 9 as a second Foreign Language. In Key Stage 4, although French is now an optional subject, it is still seen as a subject with a lot of prestige.

Salut!  Knowledge of French is an important asset in the Business world as France is the sixth largest economy in the world and is, with Spain, our main holiday destination.

We recommend the use of:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/education/examspecs/z9p3mnb (bbc bitsize)
https://corbettmaths.com/contents/ (excellent free videos and resources)
https://vle.mathswatch.co.uk/vle/ (Student will be given a login and a password)
http://www.mathsgenie.co.uk/gcse.html (Excellent free revision resources)

To support students’ developments we offer Edexcel Certificates & Additional Mathematics.

You will probably be taught by two or three different members of the I.C.T. department (one during your 4 core lessons and different teacher(s) for your 10 option block lessons). It may also involve studying at another institution; Light Hall is part of the Solihull Consortium so teaching is often delivered jointly with Lyndon School and the Grace Academy

The I.C.T. skills necessary for most jobs and everyday life will be covered during the compulsory ‘Award’ time. Please remember that everyone in your year group will be studying for the Award (equivalent to 1 G.C.S.E). This optional Diploma course is intended mainly for students who wish to enter the I.T. industry.

As with the O.C.R. Nationals on the previous page, it will be hard work completing all the units in the allotted time. Some portfolio work will need to be completed out of lesson time, particularly the ‘Planning’ and ‘Evaluation’ aspects. There will also be ‘catch-up’ sessions after school which students will be expected to attend if they are falling behind.

Units 2 to 7 of the ‘Principal Learning’ all involve completing a piece of coursework.
You will also be required to complete a Project that should take approximately 60 hours.

You will need to take a ‘Functional Skills’ examination in Maths, English and I.C.T.
Unit 1 of the ‘Principal Learning’ is also an externally set examination    

You will develop a variety of I.C.T. skills, which should help you to enhance your work in a variety of subject areas. You will also gain an insight into how I.T. supports business, how various organisations use I.T., and how I.T. can help to improve efficiency.

The Diploma will have three components:

Principal learning – students develop knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes relevant to the I.T. business sector and are given opportunities to apply these to work roles or situations and within realistic contexts. There is a strong business emphasis to the course.
Additional/specialist learning – students choose from a range of approved qualifications. This is most likely to be a G.C.S.E. subject in which a C Grade must be obtained.
Generic learning – students develop and apply the skills and knowledge necessary for learning, employment and personal development. This includes ‘Functional Skills’ in Maths, English and I.C.T., Personal Learning and Thinking Skills such as team work, self-management and reflective learning, 10 days of Work Experience and an ‘Extended Project’. 

Diplomas are new qualifications introduced to recognise achievement at ages 14-19. They provide an exciting opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding in applied, sector-related learning contexts.
This course is intended for students who have a real interest in Business and the I.T. industry and students will need to be capable of working at least a C Grade at G.C.S.E. They will also need to achieve Level 2 Functional Skills in I.T., Maths and English in order to gain the full Diploma qualification.

O.C.R. National Certificate in I.C.T.

Develop candidates’ skills, knowledge and understanding in contexts that are directly relevant to employment situations, thereby enhancing their employability within the Information and Communication Technology sector
Develop candidates’ ability to work autonomously and effectively in an Information and
Communication Technology context
Encourage progression by assisting in the development of skills, knowledge and
Understanding that candidates will need to access further or higher education programmes or occupational training on a full-time or part-time basis 

Information and Communication Technology is offered in three formats:

  O.C.R. National Award

A compulsory course taking 4 hours per fortnight

 O.C.R. National Certificate

An optional qualification taking 9 hours per fortnight

  Diploma

An optional qualification taking 14 hours per fortnight

You need to develop your skills relating to sources and their value to a historian.

You need to be able to assess for yourself how useful a source is in relation to the topic you are studying. The words listed below must be part of your vocabulary and need to be used whenever you are asked to use evidence to support your ideas.

Biased  |  Reliable  |  Unreliable  |  Useful

The examination papers require an understanding of analysis skills to achieve the highest grades although basic literacy skills will help achieve a GCSE grade.

History is useful for anyone looking for a career involving communication, thinking and decision making e.g., journalism, tourism, police, social service, teaching, computing, law.

Background reading for the coursework, watching relevant films and TV programmes, using IT e.g. the Internet to widen knowledge.

OCR SHP History

You will further develop your thinking skills by analysing sources as well as  your ability to understand cause and effect, to justify your decisions and opinions, to follow your own research.

An overview study of the development of Medicine through time and an in depth study of Nazi Germany, 1919-45.

2 papers – Paper I: 2 hours long and Paper II: 1½ hours long – worth in total 75% of the final mark