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On the ball - Beauchamps pupils took part in a new course which involved coaching children from primary schools

SPORTS training, hairdressing and bricklaying courses will be just a few of the new subjects on offer to GCSE students at a Wickford school.

Beauchamps School was designated an applied learning specialist school last month, following an outstanding Ofsted report.

The new specialised status is in addition to its existing business and enterprise specialism.

It makes Beauchamps the only school in the Basildon district to offer the new range of options.

Students due to start their GCSEs in September will be able to choose from a range of courses, which could see them attending some classes at South East Essex College.

Assistant headteacher Matt Harper said: "It gives fantastic new opportunities for students when, perhaps, the normal GCSE diet isn't the right thing for them.

"And it isn't just for the less able students, some of our very able students have chosen these courses.

"We have lots of current Year 10 students already in the first year of their GCSEs, who haven't had this opportunity available to them, asking why it could not have started a year earlier."

But the school's new status will not mean students can shirk the traditional subjects of maths, English and science, which will remain compulsory.

Instead, the new courses, such as a City and Guilds Diploma in hairdressing and BTECs in construction or retailing, which are equivalent to three GCSEs, will line up alongside traditional GCSE options, such as history and geography.

Students have already started taking advantage of the applied learning status by taking part in a four-week sports coaching course, which saw them coaching children from local primary schools as part of their learning.

10:02am Friday 9th May 2008

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