International GCSEs are popular with home learners because most subjects can be taken without coursework. This makes taking exams very much easier and simpler and removes the need for on-going assessment by a school or college.

All our IGCSE courses are based on Cambridge International Exams (CIE) syllabus specifications. We are a registered CIE international exam centre and, as such , are able to provide exam facilities to students satisfactorily completing our courses. (Note: We are not registered for Special Needs)

Alternatively, there are currently eleven CIE centres in the UK willing to accept private candidates. When enrolling, you will be sent a list of these centres so that you can arrange an exam venue near you.

Most of our courses are, however, also suitable for students wishing to prepare for Edexcel IGCSE exams. Edexcel allows students to sit exams as private candidates and there are currently 15 exam venues in the UK from which to choose.

All our IGCSE courses contain full information about the syllabus, a study planner, textbooks that adequately cover the topics required, regular tutor marked assignments to give you feedback on your progress and a complete mock exam (either CIE or Edexcel) to enable you to know at which level to register for the exam.

IGCSE Physics (Core level)

In selecting courses suitable for home educators, we are always mindful of the facilities available and likely access to specialized materials and knowledge. For this reason, although the learning materials provided for physics and biology cover the higher level curriculum, our packs and assignments concentrate on core level which we consider more appropriate for learning without access to a laboratory. Core level covers grades up to and including C.

This is a standard GCSE Physics course in content, covering Forces and Motion, Work and energy, Density and pressures, Molecular motion and heat, Light and sound waves, Electrical energy, magnets and currents, Electrons and atoms. For home educators there is a special 'Alternative to Practical' paper allowing the whole syllabus to be assessed by examination (see Biology.) For Core level, there are three papers in the final exam. This course also covers the Edexcel specification.

IGCSE Agriculture

The course will appeal to anyone interested in farming and takes a wide-ranging look at agriculture - from the soil to crops, livestock, farm buildings and equipment and even farm accounts.

The syllabus is international - even some of the textbooks are African! - but students are encouraged to apply general principles to local conditions, especially in selecting a project.

Our pack covers the theoretical aspects of the course. Students are expected to support their studies by gaining practical experience locally on their own farms/smallholding's or by assisting at other farms. The course gives a very thorough grounding to anyone intending to make a future in Agriculture.

This course is only available to CIE students and is taken in the October exam session only.

IGCSE Environmental Management

This is one of our most popular courses, ideal for home learners interested in the environment. It investigates how natural systems work - in the air, in water, on land and in living organisms. It then looks at how man has used and abused these systems and, finally, considers ways in which we can protect our world in the future. The course covers many diverse topics including Greenhouse Effect, Acid Rain, the Rain Forests, over-fishing, over-population, the Green Revolution etc. and calls upon students to look positively for solutions both globally and locally.

There are many readily available videos to support learning and most areas of the country are able to offer a range of venues eg the Eden Project in the West Country, the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales for those wishing to include field trips.

The course is suitable for students 14+ and, as a rough guide, involves some 100 hours of study. Environmental Management is an ideal subject for anyone seriously interested in sustainable education. There are three exam papers for this subject to be taken by all students.

This course is only available to CIE students.

IGCSE Mathematics

For many colleges, universities, training schemes and employers, GCSE Maths is considered an essential entry requirement.

This is a standard GCSE Maths syllabus but has the advantage of being assessed by exam only - this means no in-school assessment of coursework. It is available at either core or higher level.

Topics included are : number work, ratio, percentages, time, money and measures, personal and household finance, graphs, algebra, indices and functions, geometry, symmetry, circles, angles, trigonometry, statistics, probability, vectors, matrices and transformations.

IGCSE English Language

This is an English language course that will very much appeal to many home-educators being almost wholly concerned with the use of language.

There are no 'set books' and no literary criticism elements. The aim is 'to enable students to communicate, understand and respond accurately, appropriately and effectively; to encourage students to appreciate a variety of language;

to promote students' personal development and understanding of themselves and to complement other areas of their study by developing skills of analysis, drawing inferences etc.'

A worthwhile course to provide a basic qualification required by many employers and institutions of further education. Study guide - approximately 100-150 hrs assuming average starting skills.

The course has 12 assignments. Examination by two papers either at Core or Extended level. This course also covers the Edexcel specification.

IGCSE Accounting

This is a particularly worthwhile course for anyone needing to deal with accounts, be they personal, private accounts, business accounts or club accounts which just about includes everybody!

It aims to enable students to understand the principles and purposes of accounting, to develop a knowledge of accounting concepts, conventions, procedures and terminology; to develop an understanding of the aims and activities of business and non-trading organizations and to develop numeracy, literacy, communication, presentation and interpretation skills.

Above all, the course seeks to encourage attitudes of accuracy, orderliness and logical thought, essential in the presentation of accounts.

IGCSE History

IGCSE History is concerned with two main areas of study. The main theme is international relations in the 20th century.

Starting with the 1919-39 period, after the First World War, it follows through the factors that have helped shape our modern world.

The second theme is an in-depth study of the Industrial Revolution, examining the period largely from a social

and economic standpoint, analysing the impact of technological change on the lives of ordinary people.

This includes a look at working conditions, housing, health, the improvements brought by better roads and new railways . It also looks at the struggle by working people to improve their lot.

For anyone interested in history, this course has a lot to offer. Suitable for students 14+, it involves some 150 hours of study. Exam by three papers. This course also covers the Edexcel specification.

IGCSE Core Biology

Cambridge International Examinations Board is the only Board to make science subjects really accessible to all. Standard GCSE syllabuses all involve coursework or practical, in-laboratory, tests which are not available to home educators. However, with CIE, students are able to take an 'Alternative to Practical' paper. This presents laboratory-type questions in which students are required to demonstrate and awareness of laboratory procedure, an ability to suggest how experiments

might be carried out and and awareness of how to interpret data.
Topics covered by the syllabus include food chains and webs, nutrient cycles, population growth, ecosystems, inheritance, reproduction in plants and humans, nutrition, respiration, nervous control, transport, characteristics of living organisms, classification etc. The course and the assignments are aimed at Core level although the learning materials do cover higher curriculum.

This course also covers the Edexcel specification.

IGCSE Business Studies

This is a course of interest to many home educators. It is a "stand alone" course which means that, unlike for example Maths, which builds on knowledge acquired during Key Stage 3 (11-14 years), this course does not assume previous knowledge save for a general level of maths (to allow you to use graphs, charts etc), and English (to enable you to write reports etc.) Many parents find this an attractive option as, being of a less specialised nature than many subjects, parents feel able to assist and encourage their children in understanding the modern business world and its workings.

The course includes a comprehensive textbook covering the IGCSE syllabus and contains lots of case studies and exercises to develop your understanding. These are backed up by ten tutor marked assignments to check you are "on the right track." The final assignment is a complete mock exam which is marked to examination standard and a grade awarded so that you can monitor you progress.

Suitable for children of 14 or over, average approximate study time 100-150 hours, this course is also an excellent companion to IGCSE accounting with which it slightly overlaps. This course also covers the Edexcel specification.

IGCSE Geography

This is our latest IGCSE offering. It is a standard Geography course studying how our landscape has evolved; how we use it and possible trends for the future. The syllabus covers both physical and human geography and examines many environmental issues such as global warming.
This course is closely allied to IGCSE Environmental Management and some topics are covered by both courses, thereby reducing study time if your are enrolled for both subjects.

Also, if purchasing both courses, we are able to offer a reduction of £15 on the cost of the two courses. This may be deducted when enrolling.
This course presumes no previous study of geography but basic numeracy and literacy skills are required. The course involves some 150 hours of study, exams being available in both summer and autumn sittings.