The courses information is available on the school website The - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

 The courses information is available on the school website  The options preference form is now completed on-line

Year 9 Options – key dates  22 nd to 26 th Jan - Options Week (in lessons)  This is their time to ask the questions and find out more …  22 nd Jan to 2 nd Feb – Options discussions with tutors  Thurs 1 st March – Year 9 Parents’ Evening  Mon 5 th March – Deadline for preference forms

What are they aiming for?  National performance will be measured on Progress 8 (GCSE or approved qualifications) including English & Maths  An average Attainment 8 score of 5 (Grade C equivalent) including English & Maths, will be required for a programme of three A-level/ Level 3 courses in Year 12  English (Language & Literature)  Maths  Combined/Triple Science  Religious Education GCSE  A Modern Foreign Language  Personal, Health & Social Education  Physical Education  Plus 2 further option subjects

What’s new?  Changes to assessment  Examinations at the end of the course  No re-sits  Retakes only possible in Maths and English  All subjects using new performance rating of 9 – 1 as oppose to A* to G  Specific marks for spelling, punctuation & grammar  A lot of subjects no longer have controlled assessments. However there are still some courses with Non-Examination Assessment.

Coursework … Controlled Assessment?  Controlled Assessment/Non-Examination Assessment  Formal assessment in lesson time  From 0% – 60% of their final marks  Preparation  Attendance  Subjects with Controlled Assessment: Food and Nutrition, Design, Health and Social Care, PE and Music, Drama  Subjects with Non-Examination Assessment: English, Geography, History, Computer Studies

What is……? ENTRY LEVEL LEVEL 1 GCSE LEVEL 2 BTEC FIRST CERTIFICATE OCR NATIONAL CERTIFICATE A LEVEL LEVEL 3

What are points? The 1 to 9 scale is not an exact conversion from old GCSE grades A* to G. Level 2 Distinction * Level 2 Distinction A Grade 4 is considered Level 2 Merit to be a standard pass Level 2 Pass with a grade 5 being a Level 1 Pass good pass.

Sixth form entry requirements? An average Attainment 8 score of 5 including English & Maths This will be required for a programme of three A-level/Level 3 courses in Year 12.

Do choose a course because:  they are good at it and think they will enjoy the subject  it links to a career idea  it will go well with their other choices  it will help them develop knowledge and skills that interest them  they think that it might be a course they want to continue studying after Year 11  research shows that it will interest and motivate them

Don’t choose a course because:  their friends have chosen it  someone else thinks it’s a good idea  you like the teacher they have now  It sounds good (but they don’t know much about it)

Pathways There are 4 curriculum pathways They will be allocated a pathway in the next few days based on prior attainment and application at KS3.  K – Triple Science option route  E – Combined Science route 1  V – Combined Science route 2  I – Combined Science route 3 The Triple Science route is an accelerated pathway with increased time for Science.

How many lessons will they have? Per fortnight: Plus 5 lessons 8 or 9 English for each of 7 or 8 Maths their options 5 French or German 4 for PE 3 or 4 RE 9 for Combined Science or 12 for Triple Science 1 Tutor period

K - Triple Science Subject Core English Language Core English Literature Core Mathematics Core Religious Studies GCSE Core Biology Core Chemistry Core Physics Core French or German GCSE Option 1 See Options table Option 2 See Options table

E – Combined Science Subject Core English Language Core English Literature Core Mathematics Core Religious Studies GCSE Core Combined Science (2 GCSE’s) Core French or German GCSE Option 1 See Options table Option 2 See Options table

V – Combined Science Subject Core English Language Core English Literature Core Mathematics Core Religious Studies GCSE Core Combined Science (2 GCSE’s) Fixed Option French GCSE German GCSE History GCSE Geography GCSE Option 1 See Options table Option 2 See Options table

I - Combined Science Subject Core English Language Core English Literature Core Mathematics Core Religious Studies GCSE Core Combined Science (2 GCSE’s) Option 1 See Options table Option 2 See Options table Option 3 See Options table

Languages  Languages are compulsory They chose their language in year 8 Those students in tops sets can choose to continue with two languages:  GCSE French (Level 2)  GCSE German (Level 2)

Science Triple or Combined? Pathway K: Triple Science AQA 3 GCSEs in Physics, Chemistry & Biology. 2 Exam papers in each discipline. Pathway E,V & I : Combined Science AQA 2 GCSEs in Combined Science 6 papers in total and the format is as the triple only the content is slimmed down. Both Triple and Combined Science can lead to A Level Biology, Chemistry , Physics or Applied Science

GCSE RE All students complete Full course RE  GCSE Religious Studies, Philosophy and Applied Ethics  Those on the accelerated pathway K will cover the content over 3 lessons a fortnight, those on the other pathways over 4 lessons a fortnight.

Choices They have two further choices from a wide range of subjects. Things to note:  On the options preference form they should list their choices in order of preference .  They must also choose two reserves as we can not guarantee places on courses.

Additional GCSE choices Art and Design French Business Studies German Computer Science Drama Food and Nutrition Geography Health and Social Care History iMedia Music Physical Education Product Design

Not all courses are GCSEs  ICT – Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia Level 2  BTEC Cerificate in Health and Social Care Level 2  Microsoft Office Specialist Certification

The English Baccalaureate  Not an overarching qualification  Does not currently lead to a certificate  Students need to obtain GCSE 9 - 5 passes in:  English (and entered for English Literature)  Mathematics  Two sciences  History or Geography  A modern foreign language

Attainment/Progress 8  Progress 8 is a new measure of school performance:  From 2016 the floor standard will be based on schools’ results for the Progress 8 measure.

Raising the Participation Age The Education and Skills Act 2008 increases the minimum age at which young people in England can leave learning, requiring them to continue in education or training until their 18th birthday from 2015. Young people will able to choose one of the following: full-time education, such as school, college or home education work-based learning, such as an Apprenticeship part-time education or training if they are employed, self- employed or volunteering for more than 20 hours a week.

What is the process?  Complete preferences online by Monday 5 th March  The option blocks will be drawn up in response to their choices  Consultation with students & parents  Changes confirmed in writing  June - Final group lists drawn up  Note – We recommend they get their choices right first time. There will be no changes in September.

What do they need?  Make the right choice for them  A desire to want to do well  Excellent attendance  Regular and consistent effort in:  Coursework  Non-Examination Assessments  Examinations

Careers Advice  Upstairs in the LRC is the Careers Library  Careers Adviser – Lynne Bateman  Decision-making skills  Which Way Now  Fast Tomato  Kudos

Form tutor Speak to: Subject teacher Mr Whitehurst Mr Bailey Mrs Bateman Mr Cotton  The courses information is available on the school website  The options preference form is now completed on-line