YEAR 9 OPTIONS INFORMATION EVENING

THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2014

Aims

• Core curriculum for Key Stage 4• English Baccalaureate (Ebacc)• Options process • Next steps

Progression

Levels 4 - 8eg DegreeMAPhDLevel 3

A Levels

BTECLevel 2GCSE A*-C

BTECLevel 1GCSE D – G

Entry Level

• GCSE – External examinations completed at the end of the course.

• BTEC – Assessments completed in school and assessed. An external examination worth 25%.

EnglishEnglish MathsMaths

PDLPDL ICTICT PEPE

Option 1Option 1 Option 2Option 2 Option 3Option 3 Option 4Option 4

The big picture

ScienceScience

English

• GCSE in English Language • GCSE in English Literature

Maths

• GCSE in Maths

Science

• GCSE in Core Science• GCSE in Additional Science• GCSE in Additional Applied Science• BTEC Science

Two or Three science qualifications depending on ability of student.

PDL

• Course is broad ranging looking at employment, finance, politics, relationship issues.

• Students will complete an exam at the end in General Studies which will be a GCSE qualification.

ICT

• Focus will be on supporting the curriculum. • Students will be given support with CV writing

and application to college. • Revision strategies and resources. • 1 lesson per fortnight

PE

• Core PE time• No final examination

The English Baccalaureate

• Introduced by the government and covers ‘respected academic subjects’

• English• Maths• Science• A modern foreign language French, German and

Spanish• History or Geography

The English Baccalaureate• This combination of subjects does

increase future opportunities for students if they can gain an A* - C grade in all of the five areas.

Pathways

• Pathways suggest which range of subjects would suit a student

• Pathway One – for students who have achieved results which would suit GCSE courses and who should follow the Ebacc route.

• Pathway Two • Students may follow a range of GCSE courses. • Their learning style may suit one or two BTEC

courses.

Options 2014 - 2016

• French GCSE• German GCSE• Spanish GCSE

• Geography GCSE• History GCSE• Philosophy and Ethics GCSE• Sociology GCSE• Humanities GCSE

• Art GCSE• Music GCSE• Drama GCSE• Media Studies GCSE• PE GCSE

Options 2014 - 2016

• Food Technology GCSE• Resistant Materials

GCSE• Textiles GCSE• Child Development

GCSE• ICT GCSE• Business Studies GCSE

• Construction BTEC• Travel and Tourism BTEC• Vehicle Technology

BTEC

Subject combinations

• It is not possible to choose both Art and Photography to follow as GCSE courses.

• You may only choose one of the above.

Friday 17 January 2014

• We will be issuing Year 9 students with paper copies of the options booklets and the options form in an assembly during period 5.

• Please spend time talking about the information within the booklet together with your child at home.

• These documents will also be available on the school’s website and VLE.

Taster sessions

• For subjects that do not currently run at Key Stage 3, taster sessions have been arranged to run between Monday 20 January and Friday 24 January for those students have shown interest in these subjects.

• This will enable students to make more accurate and informed decisions about their option choices.

Taster sessions

• Business Studies GCSE• Child Development GCSE• Construction BTEC• Humanities GCSE• Mechanics BTEC• Media Studies GCSE• Photography GCSE• Sociology GCSE• Travel and Tourism BTEC

Careers Interviews

• These have already started and will continue throughout the Options process.

• Students will be directed towards these by tutors and Directors of Progress.

Thursday 30 January 2014

• Parents’ Evening from 6.00pm – 8.00pm.

• This will provide parents and students an opportunity to visit subject areas and to meet key staff in order to clarify options choices.

• Please ensure that you bring the Options booklet with you.

Parent and student meetings

• Individual appointments will be made for every Year 9 student accompanied by their parents to discuss and finalise option choices.

• These will take place between 3 February and 7 February with a member of the Senior Leadership Team or a Director of Progress.

OPTIONS FORM

Reserve Options Choices

• Please include two reserve choices on your Options form.

• This is very important as the school cannot guarantee any choices at this stage.

• Please be aware that some options may not run due to lack of interest from students.

• It might also be the case that combinations of subjects do not work.

Monday 10 February 2014

• This is the deadline for option forms to be returned to Student Reception.

• Early returns will not necessarily guarantee a subject choice.

• A late return of the options form might risk a student missing out on an option choice.

Tuesday 18 March 2014

• Parents and students will receive a letter confirming option choices.

Contact us

• Please contact us at any stage throughout the options process should you wish to discuss any particular matter.

• There is an opportunity for you to sign up after this meeting for an options appointment during the week beginning Monday 3 February with your link teacher.

Options process

• During the options process, students should talk to their tutor, subject teacher, Head of Department, Director of Progress or a member of the Senior Leadership Team if they require any guidance.