Tolworth Girls’ School & Sixth Form Key Stage 4 Curriculum OPTIONS 2020 A guide for parents & students Deadline Monday 24 th February
The KS4 Curriculum The aims are: To provide all students with a broad and balanced curriculum. To provide an element of choice so that students can start to follow their own interests. To provide an element of choice so that students can follow courses suited to their particular needs.
CORE subjects Compulsory subjects - everyone studies • English Language 1 x GCSE • English Literature 1 x GCSE • Mathematics 1 x GCSE • Science – students to be recommended: – Triple Award 3 x GCSEs – Double Award 2 x GCSEs • Religious Education 1 x GCSE Also studied (non-GCSE): PHYSICAL EDUCATION & PASTORAL EDUCATION (Personal, health, social, citizenship)
English Baccalaureate The EBACC is not a qualification – it’s a performance measure (2010 Government) The EBACC is not compulsory - it is open to all and includes the following: To gain • Core: English, Maths, 2 Sciences EBACC status, students must • Modern Foreign Language choose at least • Humanities: Geography or History one language and at least one humanities subject.
Option Process 1. You must choose either Geography or History 2. You may then choose three other option subjects, at least one of which should be a practical subject (you can include Geography or History again here if you wish). You will be allocated three of these options to study.
Put your top choice as choice 1, then either History or Geography as choice 2. You must then add two further choices.
EBACC Options • History* • Geography* • French • Spanish We actively encourage students to take GCSE examinations in their mother tongue language if this is appropriate. This doesn’t use up an option.
Practical Subjects 1 • Art or Textiles • Dance • Drama • Music • Physical Education
Practical Subjects 2 • Design Technology • Food Preparation and Nutrition • Health & Social Care • ICT (Creative iMedia)
Good reasons to choose a subject • You enjoy it • You are good at it and experience success • You are interested in it • It suits you and your learning style • It is a requirement for your future career or further education plans
Poor reasons to choose a subject • Your friends are choosing it • You like the teacher • You heard it was good • You think it will be easy • It’s a new subject • You think you should take it even though you are struggling with it now!
Support in choosing your subjects 1. Option & subject assemblies, form time activities 2. Be Informed: find out about the courses and your suitability for them, read the online Options booklet – vital information (Post 16 & careers) https://www.tolworthgirlsschool.co.uk/current- students/news-and-events/recent-letters/ 3. Take Advice: Form tutor, subject teachers, Subject Leaders; discuss options and information at home with parents 4. Think about what you would like to do in the future
Timeline • Hand the Options form in on time : Monday, 24 th February • Complete it correctly: choice of History or Geography, 3 other option choices, signatures (you and your parents and form tutor) • Queries will then be dealt with: we’ll look for solutions
Recommended websites • Website tool to help students decision making: http://www.bestcourse4me.com/ • Russell Group advice: https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5272/informedchoices- print.pdf • List of Russell Group Universities: http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities/
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