Ascension : Starting GCSE Courses at Two Boats School - Article presented by Year 10 Students.
Submitted by The Islander (Christopher Short) 07.10.2010 (Article Archived on 21.10.2010)

Each year, we have a chance after the first few weeks of the start of our school year, to reflect on the courses that we have begun to study at GCSE level.

The courses that I am studying at school are English, Maths, Science, Geography, Art, DT, PE, Food & Nutrition and Careers.

The courses that I enjoy include Art, DT, PE and Maths. Art is enjoyable as it is relaxing and allows me to perfect my drawing skills to produce better work. Hopefully I will get  a good grade in Art. DT is enjoyable as it allows me to produce and create things in wood, plastics and metal and I like practical work. PE is enjoyable but mostly I like to work on my fitness.  I do like all of my sports. Maths is enjoyable but sometimes can be a little hard but I believe that there is nothing that can’t be solved if you put your mind to it.

Some courses are challenging, like Science, English and Geography. These are the most challenging because in Science there is a lot to remember as there are so many different things to know. English there is just a lot to write and with Geography there’s a lot to know too.

Coursework is a vital component of most GCSE courses and I feel that it would be great if homework is given on the correct days.

I hope I do well in Art, DT and Maths because to me and what I am aiming to be I think I need these subjects the most.

By Alec

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Th Courses that I am studying are English, Maths, Co-ordinated Science, ICT, Child development, Food, Geography, Careers, Art and P.E.

The courses that I enjoy include are Science, Child Development, Careers and Art.

I particularly enjoy Science and Careers because I know that they are the subjects that will be important when it comes to me getting a job. Studying Careers is slowly helping me to realise what it is I would like to do and has helped me realise who I am as a person.

Another enjoyable subject that I have chosen is Art because I am able to relax while learning new techniques and ways of showing the qualities to make my drawings 3D.

I have been having a lot of fun in Child Development learning the responsibilities of being a parent and the consequences of being a teenage mum. It has opened my mind to the many complications and joys of being a parent.

The courses that are challenging to me are English and Maths. These are challenging because I am expected to understand new concepts like standard form. I find that I am easily confused when letters are added to equations, which has made Maths challenging.

English is challenging because I have to use my imagination to create believable story lines and use the correct grammar. I find grammar hard because I am unsure of where things should be placed.

Coursework is a vital component of most GCSE courses and I feel that it would be great if we were given more time on tasks and there was wireless internet available at school so that during lessons and lunch times we can do tasks that require the internet without having to find a computer. Another thing that would be great is if we didn’t have a lot of homework because it can sometimes be a bit stressful and you don’t have much time to yourself when you go home.

I hope to do well in Science, English, Art and Maths because these are the things that will give me the grades that I need to get me a good job, and hopefully the opportunity to further my education at college.

Hopefully once I have my grades I hope to further my education, and then start a career in interior designing.

By Gemma

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Including the core subjects English, Maths, Science & ICT, I am studying Design & Technology, Art, Geography, Co-ordinated Science & Food & Nutrition.

   Art along with Technology, I.C.T. & H.E. are the courses that I enjoy. Food & Nutrition is enjoyable because I can improve my cooking skills, planning and time management in food preparation. In ICT, I learn how computers work & as it’s a big part of today’s life it helps with that too. Art is relaxing and I can improve my artistic skills. In Technology I find out how machinery and design work.

The courses that I find challenging are English and Art this is because they are both arts just in different ways. English takes me a lot of brain power where as Art I need a steady hand for the direct observational studies that I am currently working on.

Coursework is a vital component of most GCSE courses and I feel that it would be great if

1.        Coursework didn’t exist.

2.        If deadlines were easier to meet.

3.        If people gave questionnaires back on time.

4.        If there were more interesting subjects to write about.

I hope I do well in English, Math & Science because they are base subjects and I need these GCSEs to get into college.                     

By Josh

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