Transcript Slide 1

Welcome to this
Parents Information
Session
Year 9
OPTIONS
Helen Everitt
Curriculum Deputy Head
AIMS
Introduce Oriel’s Year 9 Options Process
and our philosophy regarding students
choices at 14.
 Explain the different types of Qualifications
available to students at Oriel in Y10 and 11
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BTEC
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GCSE
 Give you advice on how to help students
make the right choices for them
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Qualifications should:
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Reflect our changing world
Prepare our students to be successful in society
Engage students in learning
Prepare students for study at college or university, or
for work.
Education should not be a ‘one size fits all’ system
 We should recognise:
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Different needs of our students
Different learning styles
Different aspirations and goals
CORE – All students will study:
Maths
English Language and English Literature
The Sciences
RE
PE
PDC / Citizenship
Options
Students must then choose courses to
fill the optional part of their timetable
There are fours option spaces to fill.
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2
3
4
OPTIONS
GCSEs:
BTECs
Media, Drama, Music, PE
Sport
Fine Art, Textile Art, 3D Design
Health and Social Care
French, Spanish, German,
Music Technology
Business Studies, ICT, Computing
Dance
History, Geography, Sociology,
Citizenship, RE
Catering, Graphic Products, Systems
and Control, Textiles Technology,
Product Design,
Core Choices
• All students will study Science, RE and PDC and
take part in PE lessons.
• If students are guided to study Triple Science they
will have x3 extra lessons of science and will study
Core RE, PDC and have Core PE lessons.
• If students are guided to study Double Science
they will study RE, PDC and Core PE but as part
of this programme have a choice of whether to
study GCSE RE, GCSE Citizenship or BTEC
Sport
Core Choices
Double science
Triple Science
+ Core PE,
Core RE and
PDC
+ Core PE, RE and PDC
With a choice of
RE GCSE
Citizenship GCSE
Sport BTEC
Decisions regarding which of these
pathways students will follow are
made in the summer term after the
options process
Choice and Flexibility
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At Oriel we offer two different types of
qualification for students to choose to study in
Years 10 and 11.
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These qualifications can be mixed and they are
flexible.
BTEC
 GCSE
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BTECs
Michelle Stephens
BTEC Coordinator
About BTECs
• A BTEC is a theoretical, practical and work
related course.
• In addition to exams, students complete
projects and assignments that are based
on realistic workplace situations, activities
and demands
The Structure of BTECs
• 75% Coursework
• 25% Exam
BTEC’s now include a1hr exam in
addition to coursework
Which students are suited to
BTECs?
• Students who prefer completing
projects/coursework
• Students who feel that they do not like the
pressure of a 100% examinable subjects
• Students who enjoy the subject area
• Students who want to follow a mix of
qualifications to vary the way they will learn
How BTEC is assessed?
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Work experience
Presentations
Role Plays
Research portfolios
Designing publications
Practical assessments such as organising
events and working with the local
community
• Exam for 1 unit
How are the courses graded?
BTEC grades are awarded in the following way:
• Level 2 Distinction*
• Level 2 Distinction
• Level 2 Merit
• Level 2 Pass
• Level 1
Not A-Es
Where can a BTEC qualification
lead?
• Sixth Form- BTEC Nationals (Level 3)
• Into the workplace – Highly accepted by
organisations. It allows an easier transition
from School to work
• Apprenticeships
But do Universities accept BTECs?
• BTEC are accepted by all Universities
• Research has shown that students who
have completed BTEC courses are better
prepared for university than those who
have undertaken A-Levels. This is due to
the skills acquired on the BTEC courses
GCSEs
Victoria Pooley
Subject Leader for Science
What is a GCSE?
• GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary
Education.
• GCSEs are the main qualification taken by 14 to 16 year olds
• You can take GCSEs in a wide range of academic and workrelated subjects.
• It's highly valued by schools, colleges and employers
• The qualification mainly involves studying the theory of a
subject, combined with some investigative work.
• Some subjects also involve practical work e.g. Art
• They are graded from A* to G. Grades D to G are Level 1
qualifications and A* to C are Level 2 qualifications
How are GCSEs examined?
• Exams
• Controlled Assessment
Exams
All GCSEs are examined by terminal
examinations at the end of the
course
For all GCSEs taken as part of the
Oriel Key Stage 4 curriculum this
will be at the end of year 11
Triple and Double science – a guided
choice
Key Stage 3 SATS paper – after May half term
Requirement of Level 6
Work throughout the year will be taken into account
– Triple science is appropriate for the most able
and very interested students
– It is a commitment in terms of the amount of
independent work required
– It is not a requirement for acceptance onto A
level courses or any University course
‘Double’ Science GCSE
Students taking ‘double science’ will cover two discrete
GCSE courses
They will be awarded two separate grades
Two ‘B’ grades will guarantee acceptance onto science A
level courses
Science
Additional science
Core science content and
controlled assessment
covered during year 10
Additional science content and
controlled assessment covered
during year 11
All exams are taken at the end of year 11
Results in the award of
‘science’ GCSE at the end of
year 11
Results in the award of a second
GCSE – Additional science, also at
the end of year 11
‘Triple’ Science GCSE
Nine 1hr science examinations (3xBio,
3xChem, 3xPhys) at the end of year 11
3x Controlled assessments
Results in the award of three separate grades.
Triple science now covers some of the AS
science content
It is a challenge that the most able and very
interested will relish
3x ‘C’ grades will not guarantee acceptance onto
A level courses
Controlled Assessment
• Work completed in school under controlled
conditions
• Different subjects have different levels of
control
• More controlled by the exam boards than
coursework
– Time limits set by the exam board
– Teachers can give some feedback but this may
affect the marks that can be awarded
– Parents can be involved in the preparation part of
some controlled assessment
How to
Choose….
Nina Thair . Director of
Learning: Work and Life
Skills
Making Good Choices
Your son or daughter should avoid
making choices based on:
Their friends’ choices
 Their current teachers
 Gender stereotypes
 One narrow career path
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Making Good Choices
Your son or daughter should:
Think
about their strengths and weaknesses
Think
about how they prefer to study and learn
Find
out how the courses are taught and assessed
Keep
their choices broad and balanced
Research
Use
any career ideas they may have
UCAS to check A Level and BTEC requirements for
degree entry
What subjects are included in
the English Baccalaureate?
GCSE A* - C in 5 subjects:
• Mathematics
• English
• Science (2 A*-C)
• MFL
• Humanities (History or Geography only)
The Russell Group’s ‘Informed Choices’ document
highlights these subjects as facilitating subjects
at A Level for top degree entry
A Broad and Balanced Curriculum
The subjects your son or daughter chooses
should be a good balance as encouraged by
the EBacc but the arts, ICT and technology
are very much part of achieving a good
balance.
It is important their choices allow
progression into further and higher
education in a range of subjects which
they will enjoy and succeed in.
Making Good Choices
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Further help:
Speak to teachers, our careers adviser Kerry
Mann and of course you!
Use our careers website
believeinyoungpeople.com Students have
registered already and there is a career
matching function as well as the ability to
search and research.
Students come along to the Options Evening on
27th March and speak to the teachers about
the courses on offer
Next Steps
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OPTIONS EVENING – Thursday 27TH March
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Important evening for parents and most importantly
students
Drop in any time between 6pm and 8pm
Receive a further pack of guidance information & options
form
All Subjects and courses represented
Information to collect and take home
Speak to teachers
See examples of students work
Deadline for Options Forms – Friday April
25th 2014
Students will be asked to pick 6 options
and place them in order of preference
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
First choice
Reserve Choices
Wherever possible we will try to guarantee
students first four choices
Our Philosophy
To ensure that students are not being
disadvantaged by not being offered the
broad range of subjects
To enable students to make an informed
choice
To empower them to achieve; to inspire
them to excel