Working in partnership for the people of Herefordshire
11-19 Integrated Services
Herefordshire Council
6 St Peters Street
Hereford
HR1 2LE
Office Tel No: 01432 269404
Email: 14-19@herefordshire.gov.uk
-
Local site: information for young people in Herefordshire
-
Government site: Department for Education
-
Local site: Connexions is a service offering careers advice, information and guidance to all 13 to 19 year olds (up to 25 years old with additional needs)
-
Government site: public services all in one place
![[Link to external links statement]](/images/Structure/externallink.gif "External Links Disclaimer"){kind=small}
GCSEs
One of the oldest qualifications around, the General Certificate in Secondary Education is 22 years old, and is taught over two years.Grades are awarded based on performance in course work and final exams, although recent changes mean a number of GCSEs no longer include coursework. They are available in more than forty academic subjects.
Applied GCSEs can also be studied alongside academic GCSEs or the new diploma qualification- these provide more of a 'hands-on' approach than traditional GCSEs, encourage you to apply your knowledge and understanding of a subject in a practical way, and many are double the size of traditional GCSEs.
GCSEs are available as short courses as well. These are equivalent to half a full GCSE, so can be taken in half the time. However, if you learn more slowly than others, you can spread a short course out over the same length as a traditional GCSE. Short courses also allow more able students to take extra subjects, like a second foreign language.
For more information please speak to your school, college or Connexions, or contact the Learning and Curriculum Team at Herefordshire Council. Alternatively you can access information from the Department for Education