Transcript Parents
Y10/11 Options 2014
Parents’ Evening – 25th Feb 2014
Timetable of Events
PRIOR TO HALF-TERM
12th Feb
Assembly in Hall / option books handed out
15th Feb
Y9 Data available
AFTER HALF TERM
25th Feb
Parents’ meeting to explain options process (7.30pm)
6th – 12th Mar Individual student/parent appointments with member of
curriculum team
14th Mar
Deadline for option choices
2nd June
New timetable starts
How is the curriculum structured?
Most students will take 10 qualifications (GCSE/BTEC/OCR)
Compulsory subjects – 6 GCSEs
Option Subjects – 4 GCSEs/BTECs/OCRs
GCSE courses comprise one or two of the following:
exam (taken at the end of the course)
coursework
controlled assessment
BTEC/OCR courses:
cover broad vocational areas
are mainly coursework based (continuous assessment)
contain one exam or externally assessed module taken during the
course
6 Compulsory Subjects (all GCSE)
English Language
English Literature
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Some students may take will take a double science course (instead of 3
separate sciences)
Compulsory subjects which don’t lead to qualifications
PSHE + PE
Early Entry: English Language
GCSE English Language will be studied/assessed in
Year 10, with students completing controlled
assessments during these two years and taking their
GCSE exams at the end of the year (June 2015)
English Literature will be studied in Year 11 with
students completing controlled assessments and
taking exams at the end of the year (June 2016)
OPTIONS – 4 CHOICES (GCSEs or
BTEC/OCR courses)
Students should think about:
their strengths & interests
their future plans
how they will be assessed:
exams
coursework
controlled assessment
Structure of the Curriculum
Core/Compulsory
Options
English
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
PSHE
PE
4 hours
3½ hours
2 hours
2 hours
2 hours
1 hour
2 hours
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
2 hours
2 hours
2 hours
2 hours
During block weeks students may spend more time on
option subjects & less time on core subjects in year 10
Key Issues for 2014-16
1. The English Baccalaureate
E-Bacc - (English Baccalaureate)
“Awarded” to students achieving A*-C grades in English
Language, Maths, two sciences (from Biology, chemistry,
physics or computing), a language (modern or ancient), and
either Geography OR History
39% of students got E-Bacc in 2013
Entry to our 6th form is NOT dependent on students achieving
the E-Bacc
Our advice is that students should choose subjects which they
will enjoy and which they believe will give them the greatest
chance of success
Key Issues for 2014-16
2. Measuring achievement
Current system
Lots of indicators used in school performance tables
5 A*-C (inc Eng Lang/Maths) generally recognised for progression
Average Points Score at GCSE used by QEHS sixth form (and
others) for entry onto some sixth form courses
New System (from 2016 i.e. this year group)
Attainment 8 – average grade achieved in “best 8 subjects”
Best 8 subjects must include:
English Language & maths
3 E-Bacc subjects (sciences, computing, geography, history, languages)
3 other subjects (English Lit and all the options offered at QEHS)
Sixth form entry requirements (locally/nationally) still unclear
2. Measuring Achievement (continued)
How will schools be judged?
Attainment 8 – average grade achieved in “best 8 subjects” by all
students in year 11
Best 8 subjects must include:
English Language & maths
3 E-Bacc subjects (sciences, computing, geography, history, languages)
3 other subjects (English Lit and all the options offered at QEHS)
Achievement 8 – performance against target for the 8 best
subjects
% of students achieving A*-C in English Language AND maths
% of students achieving the E-Bacc
Key Issues for 2014-16
3. Other issues?
How much harder existing GCSEs will be?
How entry requirements for sixth form (here and elsewhere)
may change in the coming years – our view is that the
“Attainment 8” measure is likely to be the most important
Other changes to be announced by the DfE
GCSE target grades - what are FFT targets and how do we use
them during the guidance interviews?
Making appropriate choices
Compulsory subjects
English, maths, biology, chemistry and physics
PE and PSHE
OPTIONS – 4 CHOICES (GCSEs or
BTEC/OCR courses)
You need to think about:
Your strengths & interests
Your future plans
How you will be assessed:
Exams
Coursework
Controlled assessment
Making your choices
Core subjects provide evidence of literacy, numeracy,
science
Options are an opportunity to demonstrate where
you excel
Follow your convictions
Don’t take a subject because you feel you should
Making your choices
Five boxes to complete – PE compulsory
Effectively making 4 option choices
Focus on your strengths
Not doing so will impact on your progression
Consider Progression
English language and Maths basis for getting into 6th
form
If you can get one of those then you can get into 6th
form if you choose the right subjects
Not choosing correctly will impact on progression
Case Studies
Student 1
English Lang
English Lit
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Art & Design
Food Tech
History
French
C
D
E
D
D
C
A
A
E
D
Student 2
English Lang
English Lit
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Engineering
IT
Geography
PE
C
C
A
B
B
B
A
Dist
B
A
Student 3
English Lang
English Lit
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
History
Spanish
Drama
Religious St
A
A
C
C
C
D
A
B
A
A
Art – which one?
Art and Design
Graphic Communication
Textile
60% Portfolio
40% Externally set task
Will only count once in Attainment 8 measure
Business and Media
Business Studies
Exam
Controlled Assessment
75%
25%
Media Studies
Controlled assessment
Exam
60%
40%
Expressive Arts
BTEC Performing Arts
GCSE Dance
GCSE Drama
GCSE Music
May take more than one but Dance and Drama count
once in Attainment 8 measure
Expressive Arts (continued)
Dance GCSE – solo and group performances and choreography
20% written exam
Drama GCSE
Internal and externally assessed performances. Evaluation of a
play + 40% exam (performance)
Music GCSE
Composition, performance and 40% exam
BTEC performing arts (musical theatre – music, dance and
drama)
PE or Sport?
Think method of assessment
Controlled Assessment
PE
60%
Coursework
Sport
Re-sit of exam component possible
But also consider both
75%
IT or Computing?
Think method of assessment
Controlled Assessment
Computing
60%
Coursework
IT
75%
Re-sit of exam component possible
Computing is a technical course and an aptitude in maths is very
important. Many of the lessons in Computing will be theorybased. IT is more practical
Health Studies
BTEC Health and Social Care
Coursework
75%
Re-sit of exam component possible
Controlled assessment
GCSE Child development
60%
Technology (Design) – which one?
Controlled assessment
(40-45 hours)
Electronic Products
Engineering
Graphic Products
Resistant Materials
60%
60%
60%
60%
But, again, you could consider two
Technology – Food and Catering
Controlled assessment
Catering
Food Technology
60%
60%
Explore the difference in the courses . Consider the
methods of assessment
Could consider both
Conclusion
Think
Strengths
Interests
Assessment
Progression
Choose what you enjoy and are likely to do best in!
Talk to your teachers!
What now?
Read the brochure carefully
Students to discuss with parents
Look at Y9 data/report on e-portal
Read the assessment section on the options pages carefully
Think about whether you want:
Breadth – 4 different subjects
Some specialisation – 2 or 3 similar subjects
Mainly exams or more controlled
assessments/coursework
Students should look at the option form prior to their
interview and make some provisional choices
Thank You