Year 8 Options March 2019 ‘Making the right choice’
Format 1.The Core Curriculum 2.Why Options in Year 8 3.Pathways 4.Arts College 5.Keep it simple 6.Humanities 7.Time-scales
Options – Core Curriculum 1. Mathematics - everyone does GCSE. 2. English - everyone does GCSE Language and GCSE Literature. 3. Science - students not doing 3 separate GCSE Sciences do 2 GCSEs in Trilogy Science 4. No Exams in PE (Recreation), RE, Citizenship, Health Education and Careers – taught through Tutor Time.
Why Options in Year 8? 1. Students can focus on subjects they enjoy and achieve in. 2. Teachers can spend time preparing students in the skills needed for GCSE during Y9. 3. Students can start their GCSEs when they are ready. 4. Students have 8 terms to prepare for GCSE, not 5.
Why Pathways? ü Large Comprehensive School – range of choice, to suit all abilities and interests. ü Every student is different. Some need extra challenge to stretch them, some need extra support and time in key subject areas to ensure they are successful. Our pathways have been developed to ensure that as a comprehensive school we are able to best enable your child to be successful. ü We have placed your child in the pathway we think they will perform well in and consequently get the best possible grades. This is based on teacher’s professional opinion and data on performance and potential to date.
Arts College Our commitment to Arts College status is because we believe fundamentally in the positive impact creative learning through Arts subjects has on your son/daughter’s employability and life skills, especially:- Communication Working Together Being adaptable Being flexible in their thinking Being creative Critical Thinking The transferable skills within the Arts – especially in developing higher order thinking and questioning has a positive impact on students grades across the curriculum.
Government Policy Changes There is a lot of change. There is a lot of new terminology. Please refer to the hand out with regards:- • Linear GCSE’s • Technical Awards • Grades • English Baccalaureate
Keep it simple ü Students:- ü Choose subjects you will enjoy in the booklets you have been provided. ü Choose subjects from the option booklet where you will get good grades. ü Parents:- ü Speak to subject teachers about progression – Sixth Form, college, employment ü Speak to Faye Rafferty, Careers Connect, for impartial advice about progression after school ü Have a look at UCAS Website www.ucas.com ü Have a look at www.apprenticeships.gov.uk for apprenticeships ü Ask Sixth Form staff for advice
Humanities History or Geography? Doing both is difficult because of the amount of content and the style of assessment. History requires lots of reading and long written answers. Geography needs you to use and apply numbers and to produce shorter written answers. Think:- What is your skills preference? What level are your literacy skills – reading age, spelling age, ability to do extended writing under timed conditions?
Timescales from here... § Requests to change pathways to myself (Mr Cunningham) by midnight Friday 29 th March 2019 cunninghama@rainhillhigh.org.uk § Any changes to pathways communicated to parents on Monday 1 st April 2019 § Options Forms in to Form Tutors by Thursday 4 th April 2019 § Senior Leaders will check each student’s choices are ‘sensible’ and match GCSE minimums. § I will look at preferences - expect some moving around after forms are in. Small numbers on courses may mean that course does not run. § September – start option courses.
Thank you for listening Talk to the teachers of those subjects on your shortlist • You are welcome to stay to ask me any questions • Sixth Form staff are in the Sports Hall if you want to speak to • them. • SLT link staff – first point of contact •
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