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School Directed Courses

School Directed Courses (SDCs) are bespoke study programmes with course content developed in-house by our academic team, rather than external organisations.

Available at Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), they offer a richer, more engaging alternative to traditional GCSE options. Rather than relying on rote learning and timed exams, SDCs focus on creativity, collaboration and real-world application.

Years of educational experience have taught us that many students find studying nine GCSEs stressful and uninspiring. In contrast, SDCs go further than the traditional Key Stage 4 curriculum, offering:

Broader, more relevant subject matter
Development of a wider range of skills
Creative approaches to teaching, learning and assessment
More authentic, engaging learning experiences
Greater enjoyment and motivation
Better preparation for the next stage of study

Courses incorporate disciplinary (subject-specific), interdisciplinary (a combination of academic disciplines) and project-based learning. Our team develops them in collaboration with the School Directed Courses Consortium, a network of over 50 state and independent schools committed to alternative curriculum pathways.

What are the benefits of School Directed Courses?

We believe that, offered as a complement to GCSEs, SDCs offer a more meaningful and enjoyable educational experience. Key benefits include:

Broader learning and skill development

Unlike GCSEs, SDCs do not require a disproportionate amount of time to be spent teaching students how to pass a given exam or doing practice papers.

Instead, they offer more time for authentic engagement with the subject matter, with greater emphasis on developing collaboration, creative thinking and communication skills. This approach better prepares students for further academic study and life beyond school.

Choice, relevance and personalisation

Choice is highly motivating for young people, and SDCs reflect this. Giving students agency over their learning – for example, by choosing the focus of a project or how to respond to a set task – leads to a deeper level of engagement.

Intellectual and personal growth

SDCs transcend the limitations of rigid boundaries and narrow assessment methodologies inherent in traditional subject structures. They challenge students to creatively and critically apply knowledge through the use of extended projects, vivas and interdisciplinary content.

This approach better prepares students for the higher-level thinking required at A level, where formulaic responses are inadequate. It also stimulates intellectual curiosity and helps students discover and develop individual passions that might otherwise remain untapped.

What School Directed Courses does KAS offer?

We currently offer three SDCs, as outlined below. Our Year 10 and 11 Options page gives more in-depth information about each course’s syllabus.

Creative Technology

A comprehensive exploration of digital innovation and design, combining technical knowledge with creative problem-solving. Students design and develop a real-world product – a functional game – while studying:

Systems architecture
Algorithms
Network security
Artificial intelligence and its ethical, cultural and environmental implications

Assessment: Computational theory exam, game development project, and object-oriented programming.

Outcomes: Students develop the technical expertise, creative design skills and ethical awareness needed for careers in the technology, creative and gaming industries.

“Creative Technology hasn’t just shown me how technology works – it’s inspired me to use it in creative and confident ways” Elliot L (student)

Global Challenges

Students engage with the big socio-economic, environmental and ethical issues shaping our world – and develop their own informed responses. Topics include:

Ethics
Migration
Human rights
Inequality and poverty
Sustainability
Peace and conflict

Assessment: Students design and implement social impact projects that align with their personal concerns, in collaboration with external agencies.

They can choose how to present their final outputs, with previous projects including events, films, podcasts, books, social enterprises and campaigns.

Outcomes: There is a strong emphasis on the development of key skills essential for Further and Higher Education and the workplace, including project management, collaboration, research and presentation skills, and creative thinking.

KAS Literature

Students follow a syllabus aligned with our values of independence, knowledge and understanding of the world, and the transferable skills of creative thinking and communication. Texts studied cover:

19th and 20th/21st century novels
20th century poetry
20th century drama
Shakespeare

Assessment: Oral responses, recreative writing, coursework, reading logs, and a final exam.

Outcomes: KAS Literature aims to instil a holistic appreciation of literature and its study. It develops the ability to talk and write about texts in an assured and cogent manner.

How are SDCs graded?

The grading approach differs depending on the course.

Creative Technology and KAS Literature: Results are graded on a nine-point scale (where nine is the highest and one is the lowest) at the end of the two-year course.
Global Challenges: Students undertake two externally validated Higher Project Qualifications, one per year. Each one is graded between A* and C, and is equivalent to half a GCSE.