Skip to main content
Click here to visit our Year 6 transition page.
Home Home
Main navigation
  • About

    About our school

    Vision and values
    Sixth form
    Culture and wellbeing
    Safeguarding
    Key information and policies
    Ofsted and results

    Our community

    Staff
    Governance
    Ark schools
  • Curriculum

    Our approach

    Curriculum overview
    Digital
    Reading
    Special educational needs
    Exams
    Homework

    Subjects

    List by subject
    Choosing GCSEs

    Extended curriculum

    Overview
    Performing arts
    Sport
    Clubs
    Duke of Edinburgh

    Careers & destinations

    Our careers programme
    Bursaries
  • Admissions
  • Parent Hub

    Parent handbook

    Parent handbook

    Key information and resources for parents, carers and families.

    Parent hub

    Quick links

    Reporting absence
    Term dates
    School meals
    Uniform
    Payments

    Communication

    My Child at School (MCAS)
    Parent engagement
    Parent bulletins
    Parent letters
    Guides and resources
  • News
  • Calendar
  • Jobs
  • Contact
User account menu
  • Student Hub
  • Support us

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Curriculum
  3. Subjects
  4. Choosing GCSEs

Choosing GCSEs

Booklet
Course Options
EBacc

Options Booklet

  • Options Booklet 2025 (1.17 MB)

Course Options

Each pupil must take the core subjects of:

  • English Language & English Literature
  • Maths
  • Combined Science
  • Religious Education

Pupils can then choose subjects from:

  • English Baccalaureate
  • Art & Design
  • Computer Science
  • Design Technology
  • French
  • Geography
  • History
  • Hospitality & Catering
  • Photography
  • Physical Education - GCSE
  • Spanish
  • Triple Science

English Baccalaureate (EBacc)

At Ark Alexandra we believe every pupil should have the opportunity to attain the English Baccalaureate.

The EBacc is not a qualification but it is an indicator that an academic curriculum has been studied. Subjects within the EBacc group are considered essential to many degrees and open lots of doors for pupils’ future study and careers.

There is strong evidence to show the importance of the English Baccalaureate in helping pupils further their success. A study by UCL Institute of Education found that studying subjects included in the EBacc provided students with greater opportunities in further education. A further study done by the Sutton Trust found that studying the EBacc can help improve a young person’s overall performance in English and mathematics.

To achieve the EBacc pupils must take the following subjects:

  • English
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • Humanity (History or Geography)
  • Language
Footer
  • About
    • Welcome
    • Culture and wellbeing
    • Our community
    • Policies and reports
  • Curriculum
    • Our approach
    • Subjects
    • Extended curriculum
    • Careers and destinations
  • Admissions
    • Secondary
    • In Year
  • Parent Hub
    • Term dates
    • Attendance
    • School meals
    • Uniform

Image
Living Wage logo

info@arkalexandra.org
01424 439888

Ark Alexandra Academy,  Park Avenue, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 2PG

© Ark Schools | Privacy