Welcome to the Link Campus at City of Birmingham School. We are based in Small Heath and offer places to children in Years 10 and 11. We are proud to offer a safe and engaging secondary school environment, which allows our young people to thrive and achieve. 

Our staff team has a wealth of experience, knowledge and skills. Pupils follow National Curriculum subjects and are offered a range of qualification opportunities in 

GCSE English Language 

GCSE English Literature 

GCSE Mathematics 

GCSE Science [double award] 

GCSE Religious Education [short course] 

GCSE and Btec Options are offered in Art, Citizenship, History and PE. 

Some students are offered Functional Skills in Maths and English. 

 

In addition to this, all our pupils take part in core PE PSHE lessons

GCSE Art & Design

We follow the GCSE OCR exam board specifications which involves completing one portfolio of coursework, starting in year 10 and an exam, externally set, portfolio from January in Year 11. These sketchbooks will be graded 1 to 9. The final practical exam, where you will have the choice of one of five starting points e.g. ‘Confectionary’, will run over two days, in your child’s art room with the guidance of their art teacher.

Coursework and the externally set exam, has a 60/40 weighting. All your work will be marked on the following four OCR Assessment Objectives (AOs);

AO1 - DEVELOP - Recording and developing Ideas, investigation and observations of sources

AO2 - REFINE – Exploring, developing, selecting and refining ideas by experimenting with appropriate media, materials, techniques and processes

AO3 - RECORD – Record idea, observations, analysing and evaluating imagery linked to intensions as work progresses

AO4 - PRESENT – Present a personal and meaningful response that realises intentions and demonstrates understanding of visual language, 2D or 3D.

Creative progress on their 'creative journey' will be regularly shared with students on a personal assessment sheet in their sketchbooks on which they can track their progress and respond to feedback.

This specification builds knowledge, skills and understanding for art, craft and design. It is designed to encourage learners to develop practical skill alongside creativity and imagination. Learners develop their responses to a range of visual and written stimuli.

A wide range of art skills and techniques, in a variety of mediums, will provide opportunities for pupils to experiment and take risks with their work, whilst developing their own personal style and focussing on their interests.

Each year group will be given the opportunity to attend at least one trip linked with one of their projects in order to enhance their research opportunities and to gather responses linked to their project, with a focus on direct observation, including photography.

A GCSE qualification in Art and Design will allow students to go on and study an art-based course at Post 16 and will also help enhance research skills, time management skills, analytical skills, independent and creative thinking skills – all of which are very useful whatever courses or careers students choose.

Careers in Art and Design include; game designer, fine artist, illustrator, fashion designer, theatre design, interior architecture, architecture, furniture design, product design, photographer, teacher, graphic designer and animator, to name a few.

COBS's Virtual Art Gallery was launched in July 2021 It is updated twice a year with current artwork from the whole School (KS1, KS2, KS3 and KS4). To take the virtual tour, click here: https://www.artsteps.com/view/5fc6648d7bba5b174218f084

Bronze Arts Award for Y11 students

At Link, pupils will have the chance of working towards a Bronze Arts Award, Ofqual Level 1, qualification in The Arts. To achieve a BAA, you will need to collect evidence in an arts logbook.
Lessons are planned to encourage progress across all abilities with a range of choices and variety of outcomes, in four different areas, A to D:

A - Taking Part. Developing an interest in the arts by learning new skills and taking part/having a go.

B - Be the Audience. Gain knowledge and skills through actively participating in any art form experience of at least one arts evet/experience as an audience member and review it eg. watching a live performance or visiting a free art gallery/museum in Birmingham.

C - Art Inspiration. Research the career and work of an artist or craftsperson that inspires you.

D - Arts Skill Share. Passing on a newly learnt arts skill to friends or family.

AQA GCSE Citizenship

Subject content

• 1. Citizenship skills, processes and methods
• 2. Life in modern Britain
• 3. Rights and responsibilities
• 4. Politics and participation
• 5. Active citizenship

Citizenship studies investigates how the citizen is enabled by society to play a full and active part and how citizens are empowered to effect change within society. Citizenship understanding develops through the knowledge of how a society operates and functions and its underlying values.

The overarching theme of this specification is ‘How citizens can try to make a difference’. This aim is supported by three content themes: Life in modern Britain, Rights and responsibilities and Politics and participation. The skills, processes and methods underpin the specification.

The first theme, Life in modern Britain, looks at the make-up and dynamics of contemporary society, what it means to be British, as well as the role of the media and the UK’s role on the world stage.

The second theme, Rights and responsibilities, looks at the nature of laws, rights and responsibilities within the UK and has a global aspect due to the nature of international laws, treaties and agreements by which the UK abides.
The third theme, Politics and participation, aims to give the student, through an understanding of the political process, the knowledge and skills necessary to understand how to resolve issues, bring about change, and how the empowered citizen is at the heart of our society.

The opening section of each theme outlines the ‘key concepts’. This is followed by four questions with associated content. The final key question of each theme relates to how citizens can try to make a difference.

These key questions enable students to study the content and frame their learning through the application of the citizenship skills, processes and methods listed below.

Within each of these themes there is a requirement that students develop and apply citizenship skills and gain an understanding of the following processes and methods related to issues arising from the subject content.

BTEC Sport

The BTEC Level 1 Introductory in Sport is a great course. The course spans across 2 years where pupils will engage in a range of assignments that teach them the fundamentals of the health and fitness industry. BTEC courses adopt a much more learner centred approach where pupils work through a flexible unit-based structure (coursework). The flexibility of this course allows pupils to be entered at different levels; so if a pupils joins us late or only has access to some of the units, a qualification can still be secured. If pupils complete and pass all 10 assignments, they will be awarded with a ‘Level 1 Diploma in Sport’. Thank you for taking the time to read about the courses we offer and if you have any more questions about this particular course then please speak with Mr Hunt.

Our pupils are offered work-related careers advice and support for the next stages of their education. We have high expectations for all our pupils and believe in offering our pupils the best chance to achieve and succeed.

You can also read about what Link Campus pupils have been up to recently in the latest campus newsletter below.

News Letters

Link Reading News Letter - June 2026

Staff Information

Quick Links:

Firsbrook Campus
Grove Campus
Kings Campus
Stratford Park Campus
Millpool Campus