Welcome to this Parents Information Session Year 9 OPTIONS
Helen Everitt Curriculum Deputy Headteacher
AIMS Introduce Oriel’s Year 9 Options Process and our philosophy regarding students choices at 14. Explain the different types of Qualifications available to students at Oriel in Y10 and 11 BTEC Tech Awards, Cambridge Nationals GCSE Give you advice on how to help students make the right choices for them
☺ Qualifications should: Reflect our changing world Prepare our students to be successful in society Engage students in learning Prepare students for study at college or university, or for work. Education should not be a ‘one size fits all’ system We should recognise: Different needs of our students Different learning styles Different aspirations and goals
CORE – All students will study: Maths English Language and English Literature Science RE PE PDC / Citizenship
PE and PDC • Both PE and PDC are compulsory lessons • PE – Core PE – all, x2 lesson per fortnight – Can also then be chosen as an option • PDC – Personal Development Curriculum – x1 lesson per fortnight
RE All students will study RE for x2 lessons a fortnight, but within this time can follow one of two routes • Short Course GCSE • Full Course GCSE – this option will require additional independent work and after school sessions Full details of these options can be found in the Year 10 Curriculum Guide
Options Students must then choose subjects to fill the optional parts of the timetable There are three option spaces to fill. 1 2 3
Ensuring Progression An increasing importance has been placed on the following facilitating subjects: GEOGRAPHY SPANISH HISTORY FRENCH COMPUTER SCIENCE GERMAN University entrance information highlights these subjects as facilitating subjects at A Level for top degree entry
Ensuring Progression To ensure that students are not being disadvantaged by not opting for a broad range of subjects including a facilitating subject. Option 1 of the three options must be one of these subjects GEOGRAPHY SPANISH HISTORY FRENCH COMPUTER SCIENCE GERMAN
OPTION 1 You must pick one of the subjects below: GCSEs: French, Spanish, German, Computer Science History, Geography
OPTIONS 2 and 3 BTEC Tech Awards / GCSEs: Cambridge Nationals Film Studies, Drama, Music, PE Music Technology Art: Specialising in Fine Art, Textile Art or Sport Studies 3D Design Travel & Tourism French, Spanish, German, Digital Information Business, Computer Science Technology History, Geography, Sociology Health & Social Care Food Preparation & Nutrition, Engineering Manufacture Design Technology Hospitality & Catering
Choice and Flexibility At Oriel we offer two different types of qualification for students to choose to study in Years 10 and 11. These qualifications can be mixed and they are flexible. BTEC Tech Awards / Cambridge Nationals GCSE
GCSEs Lindsay Oliver Head of Science Faculty Tom Bayle Deputy Head of Science Faculty
What is a GCSE? • GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. • GCSEs are the main qualification taken by 14 to 16 year olds • You can take GCSEs in a wide range of academic and work-related subjects. • GCSEs are highly valued by schools, colleges and employers • The better you do in your GCSEs, the more options will be open to you. It is important to work hard and do well. • The qualification mainly involves studying the theory of a subject, possibly combined with some investigative work. • Some subjects also involve practical work e.g. Art
GCSE Reform – Current Y10 and Y11 students are already following revised & reformed GCSE Specifications in the majority of their subjects – These are awarded numerical grades from 9 to 1 – 9 is the highest, 1 is the lowest – A grade 4 is the new standard that a student is expected to achieve in order for them to have passed the qualification. This is equivalent to the old C grade. – A grade 5 is considered a “good” pass. This is roughly equivalent to the top portion of the previous C grade and the bottom portion of the previous B grade.
% of students achieving 7 and above roughly equal to those 5 = the new previously % of benchmark for achieving A students a ‘good’ pass and A* achieving 4 and above roughly equal to those previously achieving C and above
How are GCSEs examined? • Exams – All GCSEs are examined by terminal examinations at the end of the course • Controlled Assessment – In the new GCSE specifications there is far smaller emphasis on controlled assessment – Practical subjects will still have an internally assessed component – Speak to subject staff on the 19 th March for specifics
How have Science GCSEs changed? For current Year 9 students Core and Additional Science no longer exist Separate sciences Combined science Content split equally over year 10 and 11. Taught discretely as Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons. All exams are taken at the end of year 11. No controlled assessment Results in the award of three science Results in the 2 science grades GCSE GCSEs (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) at the ‘Combined science’ end of year 11 HIGHER: Can achieve Grade 9-4 FOUNDATION: Can achieve Grade 5-1 3 separate numerical grades are achieved 2 numerical grades are achieved for the (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) whole qualification e.g. 5,5. Where the grade achieved falls in the middle of 2 grades a mixed grade may be awarded e.g. 5,6
Who will decide on Combined Sciences (F/H) or Separate? • The decision of which exam will be undertaken will be made by the relevant teachers • Factors that will be taken into account are class contribution, homework, and assessment results throughout the year. • Stage 1: End of KS3 Exam. Results will be announced in September 2020. • This will determine the class you will begin studying in , but this can be changed based on a teacher’s judgement at any point throughout the year . • Being part of any class does not guarantee that you will sit a specific paper (Separate Science paper, Combined Higher paper or Combined Foundation paper). • Final decisions will be made by the science department , at the latest, in Spring term 2a of year 11.
Final Points regarding GCSE Science • PLEASE NOTE: No full class is guarranteed to sit Separate Sciences. Only those pupils that we decide to enter for separate sciences will be entered. No class is specifically Separate Science. • It is important to note that both Separate Sciences (H) and Combined Sciences (H) assess material at exactly the same level. • Pupils in both higher courses have the ability to achieve Grade 9s. The only difference between them is volume of content. • Two good grades will open more doors post-16 than three mediocre ones.
T BTEC Tech Awards / Cambridge Nationals Michelle Vickers Vocational Coordinator
Technical Awards • There are three main Examination Boards – AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel • All Examination Boards offer both GCSEs and more vocational qualifications called Technical Awards • The Pearson Edexcel Technical Awards are more commonly known as BTEC Tech Awards • The OCR Technical Awards are known as Cambridge Nationals
About Technical Awards • Theoretical, practical and work related courses • In addition to exams, students complete projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands • Typically following the format: – 60% Coursework – 40% Exam
How Technical Awards are assessed? • Presentations • Role plays • Research portfolios • Designing publications • Practical assessments such as organising events and working with the local community • Exam for 1 unit / component
Which students are suited to studying Technical Awards? • Students who prefer completing projects/coursework • Students who feel that they do not like the pressure of a 100% examinable subjects • Students who enjoy the subject area • Students who want to follow a mix of qualifications to vary the way they will learn
How are the courses graded? • Level 2 Distinction* • Level 2 Distinction • Level 2 Merit • Level 2 Pass • Level 1 Distinction • Level 1 Merit • Level 1 Pass
Where can a Technical Award qualification lead? Post 16 • Sixth Form – BTEC Nationals (Level 3) – Cambridge Technicals (Level 3) • Employment with Training • Apprenticeships …and beyond • University • Higher Level Apprenticeships
How to Choose…. Owen Svoboda Director of Learning Careers Leader
Careers Input…. • Careers workshop with our external careers advisor. The sessions included • ways to ensure they select the right options. • potential career pathways and what subjects may be required or beneficial for them. • pathways post 16, whether that be A Levels, apprenticeships, employment or degrees after 18. • a chance to search on websites such as • https://icould.com • https://icould.com/buzz-quiz/ • https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ • https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/careers • Careers Speed Dating - large careers event with lots of employers to engage with and find out about their job roles. A chance for inspiration and to find out their pathways into that career
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