Transcript Key Stage 4 Options

February 2015
 What is compulsory (the core)
and what is optional.
 Which subjects and
qualifications are offered at Key
Stage Four.
 How the option process works.
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Skills for Life lessons
Option information assembly
Options booklet
‘Taster lessons’ at lunch-time
Subject presentations in assemblies and
lessons
Year 9 report
Year 9 Parents’ Evening 5 March
Yr10 pupils presenting to tutor groups
Options Evening 19 March
Option forms to be handed in on the 23 March
Everyone in Year 10 will take the subjects listed below and
because everyone takes them they are referred to as CORE
subjects:
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English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
Science [Core and Additional, or you may choose to do
Triple Science]
Physical Education
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Skills for Life
RS*
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All of you will have 1 lesson a week of RE in Year 10 and Year 11 and will
follow the GCSE SC curriculum and take the exam at the end of Year
11. You have the opportunity to opt to take Full Course RE.
 Places on this course are limited. You will need to work to a
demanding schedule but it has been found to be very enjoyable by
pupils involved in previous years. As a guideline we normally feel that
if you achieve a high level 6 or above in RE and English and are in
Band 2 or above for English, you should be able to cope with the
rigours of the course.
 In order to ensure that you do not have too heavy a workload, the
school will make a judgement on whether you will be capable of
following the full course.
 Please indicate on the options form whether this is something you
would like to be considered for.
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The Department of Education is reforming
GCSE qualifications and for current Year 9
students the English, English Literature and
Mathematics GCSEs will be the new GCSEs.
The main differences is that they are
designed to be more rigorous in content with
greater emphasis on end of course
examinations in Yr11.They will be graded 91[rather than A*-G ]
Maths
English
Science
PE
RS
SFL
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Yr10
Yr11
2015-2016
2016-2017
7
8
10
4
2
1
6
6
6
50
8
9
9
4
2
6
6
6
50
All GCSEs[ apart from Maths and English] are graded
A*-G and are Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications .
 Most GCSE examinations include a coursework
requirement [20-60%] ,known as controlled
assessment.
Some subjects have:
 practical examination at the end of the course.
 Nearly all subjects have a final (terminal) written
examination making up the remaining marks. Art and
Drama do not have final written exams, however, as all
of the marks come from practical assessments and
coursework.
 We also offer 2 Vocational GCSEs Engineering[ double
award ] and Health and Social Care.
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We offer the following WJEC course:
Construction:
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WJEC Level 1/2 Constructing the Built Environment
[equivalent to 1 GCSE]
This course is linked to the world of work more than most
GCSE courses, with a greater emphasis on developing
practical, work related skills. They are mostly assessed
throughout the course through written and practical
assignments.
There is an external examination which is worth 25%
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The EBacc is not a qualification, but a government initiative
that recognises achievements across a range of selected
academic qualifications:
Core:
English
Maths
Science
Options:
Geography or History
French or Spanish
Computer Science
To ‘achieve’ the EBacc, you would need to attain A*-C
grade [or equivalent] in English, Maths, 2 sciences[ CS counts
as a Science] and then a language and either Geography or
History.
Currently, you will have to stay in education until you
are 18. This could include full time education or
training or workplace training.
 On page 3 of your booklet , there is a brief overview
of some of our local providers. You will get a lot
more information on this in Year10 and Year 11, but
you may wish to consider; what sort of courses and
6th form college/school that you may wish to go to,
and to start looking at their entry requirements.
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The booklet covers the same information for
each subject :
ART AND DESIGN
Qualification: GCSE[AQA]
Levels available
Level 2 (A*- C) Level 1 (D –G)
 What will this course enable me to
do?
 What will the course cover?
 How will I be assessed?
 What will this qualification help me
to progress to ?
 Who to speak to for more
information
 YOUR interests
 YOUR understanding of how YOU
learn best (visual, auditory or
kinaesthetic)
 YOUR future plans – if you know
what they are!
 YOUR enjoyment of the subject
 YOUR best friend’s favourite
subject
 who else might or might not choose
the subject
 who YOUR favourite teacher is
 what YOU think will be the easiest
choice
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The Government and the Department of
Education have made a lot of changes this
year to the curriculum.
We have had to make some changes due to
this, but have still managed to offer a broad
and balanced curriculum that will give you a
good range of subjects and prepare you for
post-16 courses.
A
Computer Science
French
Geography
History
Spanish
Triple Science
B
Art & Design
Business Studies
Computer Science
Construction
Dance
Drama
Engineering
Food Technology
French
Geography
Health and Social Care
History
ICT
Media Studies
Music
Physical Education GCSE
Product Design[Textiles and Graphics Materials]
Resistant Materials
Spanish
Triple Science
OPTION SELECTION FORM.
Name: ______________________Tutor group:____
Please select 1 subject from Column A
below:
Please √
A
Computer Science
Please select 2 subjects from Column B
below in rank order by placing 1 and 2 in
the box against them and also select a
reserve subject [res]:
French
Geography
x
History
Spanish
Triple Science
Please indicate below whether you would like to
take Short Course or Full Course GCSE RE:
Short Course
___________________________________________
B
Art & Design
Business Studies
Computer Science
Construction BTEC Award
Dance
Drama
Engineering
Food Technology
French
Geography
Health and Social Care
History
ICT GCSE
Media Studies
Music GCSE
Physical Education GCSE
Product Design[Textiles and Graphics
Materials]
Resistant Materials
Spanish
Triple Science
2
RES
1
You will all have an individual class calendar
that sets out when the taster sessions are
for Media, Business Studies and Health and
Social Care. There is also an Art display at
designated times. Therefore you will go into
dinner 1st for this week and next Monday.
Lunchtime taster sessions start at 1.20pm.
Monday
23-Feb
Tuesday
24-Feb
Wed
25-Feb
Thursday
26-Feb
Options
Assembly assembly
with JP
Business
Studies
Media
Health and
Social
Friday
27-Feb
Monday
02-Mar
Lunchtime
9A1, 9A2,
Business Health and
Art Display
Media
taster
9A3
Studies
Social
session
Lunchtime
9C1, 9C2,
Business Health and
Art Display
Media
taster
9D1
Studies
Social
session
Lunchtime
9D2, 9T1,
Business
Health and
Art Display
Media
taster
9T2
Studies
Social
session
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I will be available all evening if you have any
queries
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Mrs Hindes[ Independent Careers advisor]
will also be available all evening.
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Both our desks will be situated at the back of
the hall by Mrs Guthrie’s office.
All choices are analysed.
Most of you will be able to take the
subjects you choose.
 If a single subject has not attracted enough
pupils it will be closed. You will be informed
and asked to make another choice.
 If a subject is heavily oversubscribed, this
will be discussed with you and preference
may be given to pupils who have shown an
aptitude for that subject.
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