Year 9 Options Information Evening February 2018
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What do you want to be when you grow up? • Successful? • Rich? • Challenged? • Fulfilled? • Happy?
Your future is not pot luck! Where do you want the road ahead to take you?
How will I decide? What do I want to do in the future? What do my assessments tell me? What are my strengths and interests?
Aims • Core curriculum for Key Stage 4 • English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) • Options process • Next steps • This presentation will be available on the website from tomorrow morning.
• GCSE – External examinations completed at the end of the course. • Controlled Assessment – Work planned in class and then finally written in class but in exam conditions. There used to be a lot of this but fewer subjects have this now. Most of the final grade comes down the performance in the exams. • By the summer of 2020 GCSE subjects will be graded on a scale of 1 – 9. 1 being the lowest and 9 the highest.
Progression Levels 4 - 8 eg Degree MA Level 3 PhD A Levels Level 2 GCSE A*-C BTEC (4-9) Level 1 GCSE D – G BTEC (1-3) Entry Level
The big picture English Maths Science Religion PSHE Philosophy and PE Ethics Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
English • GCSE in English Language • GCSE in English Literature • 9 periods per fortnight
Maths • GCSE in Maths • 9 Periods per fortnight
Science • GCSE in Combined Science Two science qualifications. It is possible to take three science qualifications from the options choices. In order to complete the separate sciences students will need to be getting a grade 6 by the end of Year 9.
PSHE • Course is broad ranging looking at employment, finance, politics, relationship issues. • This is part of the statutory curriculum from the government • In a change to the current curriculum, this will be taught on a rotating period across weeks rather than a fixed point.
PE • Core PE time • No final examination
Religion, Philosophy and Ethics • There is a statutory requirement to study religion. • This can be examined or non- examined. • We have had excellent results with the examined course and this will also provide students with an additional qualification. • The compulsory curriculum means that students are in a position to secure six GCSE grades.
Levels 4 - 8 eg Degree MA Level 3 PhD A Levels Level 2 GCSE A*-C BTEC (4-9) Level 1 GCSE D – G BTEC (1-3) Entry Level
The English Baccalaureate • Introduced by the government and covers ‘respected academic subjects’ • English • Maths • Science • A modern foreign language - French • History or Geography
The English Baccalaureate • This combination of subjects does increase future opportunities for students especially if they can gain a grade from 5-9 in all of the five areas. • It is not compulsory but strongly recommended – especially if students are thinking about university or jobs where there is a lot of competition.
Option choices • Up to Three subjects can be chosen • 6 periods per fortnight • Students should not make choices based on friendships or because they happen to like the teacher.
The Group A subjects • History You will need to select ONE from this list. • Geography • French • Triple Science • Computer Science • Level 1 Vocational course (by invitation only)
The Group B Subjects • Art • French • Photography • Geography • Design Technology – Food • History preparation and Nutrition • IT • Design Technology – Textile • Computer based materials • Media Studies • Design Technology – Timber, • Music metal based materials • Physical Education • Drama • Religious Studies
Forbidden Combinations • Art and Photography • Design and Technology – Textiles and Timber
Free choice • Unlike in previous years, students will be given a free choice of subjects from Block B • Once all the forms are in we will then work out the best fit for all students across all of the subjects. • However, there are 109 students in the year group and it may not be possible to please everyone.
Reserve choices • Some subjects may not run because not enough students show an interest in taking them – this is made more acute because of the relative small size of the year group. • Students will be asked to choose TWO reserve subjects and it is important that these have as much consideration as the first three choices. • Should reserve choices be used for your child then you will be contacted by the school.
Be aware • It will not be possible to do some subject combinations (this is an example only) Block A Block B Block C PE Triple Science Food Technology Drama Geography History Geography Art Photography Technology Media PE Music French Art Photography History IT • Triple Science, PE and Art • History, Food technology, Art
Personalised curriculum • Not all students are the same – they have different abilities and skills. • We want to provide a curriculum that allows for all students to succeed.
Vocational Courses • In Group A we have identified a vocational course. • This will be more suitable for a group of students selected by teachers to follow. This will initially be a Level 1 course. • We will discuss this in more detail over the next few weeks.
Options forms • This evening we will issue the options booklet. This will contain information about the subjects that will be offered from September. You will also get a copy of the options form. • Monday 26th th February- progress evening. This is a chance to talk to teachers about how well things are going in subjects and to explore potential courses. Online booking has been open for a couple of weeks.
Curriculum Enrichment Day • Wednesday 14 th March - Curriculum suspended for the day. • Barclays will be completing a life skills workshop , there will be a session with Next Steps South West allowing students to explore different career options, a session on CV and interview skills and then a 1:1 meeting to discuss the option choices.
Final choices • Parents and students will receive a letter confirming option choices during the first part of the summer term.
Options process • During the options process, students should talk to their tutor, subject teacher or a member of the Senior Leadership Team if they require any guidance. • They should, of course, also discuss possible choices with you at home.
Options Form • The option form needs to be back in school no later than Thursday 22 nd March but we anticipate most will be returned on 14 th March. • There is no advantage to returning the form before the 14 th as it is important to make sure you have considered these choices carefully. • However, late submissions might well find it harder to secure their first choices.
Thank you
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