Options for Year 10

2015-2017

The Options Process

• Why make choices?

The Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Core Curriculum

Science

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Curriculum Structure

Core Curriculum: 30 lessons per fortnight

English

Maths

Core Science

Core PE

Core RE

PSHE

Core Curriculum

The Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Core Curriculum

Science

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Curriculum Structure

Non-Core Science – 6 periods• Double Science GCSE

– Additional Science combines with Core Science to make 2 GCSEs

• Triple Science– 3 separate GCSEs: Biology, Physics and Chemistry

• Cambridge National Science– Equivalent to one GCSE but with higher coursework proportion

– Includes learning support

• Students are placed on one of these courses dependent on their performance in Year 9 Science assessments

The Key Stage 4 Curriculum

Core Curriculum

Science

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Curriculum Structure

Options – 24 periods per fortnight

• A range of GCSE, Cambridge National, and BTEC courses

• Four options

• 6 periods per fortnight in each option

Subjects on offer

• Specialising: History, Geography, RS, Music, Dance, Drama, Technology subjects, languages, ICT, PE/Sport...

• “New” Subjects: Business Studies, Child Development and Care, Media Studies, Construction, Computing…

Qualifications on offer• New GCSE

– Graded from 9-1– Available in English and Maths only

• GCSE– Awarded from A*-G– Combination of exams and controlled assessment

• Cambridge National / BTEC– Awarded Distinction, Merit, or Pass– “Applied” or work-based learning– Available in Sport, Business, Construction, and Social

Care

The English Baccalaureate

• Represents breadth and strength in academic achievement

• Awarded to any student gaining A*-C (or 9-5) in GCSE:– English Language

– Two Sciences

– Mathematics

– History or Geography

– A Language

The importance of a language

• The English Baccalaureate places studying a language at the heart of the curriculum

• The Russell Group (top 20 UK Universities) have designated languages as “enabling subjects”

• Some universities have made a language at GCSE a requirement for studying any degree course

• The global economy will increasingly require linguistic ability

Options Pattern

Option A

• A Humanities subject or a language: – History

– Geography

– French

– Spanish

– German

Options B, C and D

• Free choice

• Can add a second Humanities subject or a second language

• Can complete the English Baccalaureate

• Double options – Child Development and Care / Construction

Options in Insight

Options in Insight

Things to consider - students

Do consider:

• What do I enjoy?

• What am I good at?

• What to I want to do post-16?– Sixth form?

– College?

– Apprenticeship/employment?

• Choose a good range of subjects

• Read your report carefully

Do not consider:

• Choosing subjects just to be with friends

• Choosing subjects because “I like/don’t like the teacher”

• Choosing subjects “because you ought to”

Things to consider - parents

• Read the recommendations of subject teachers in the report carefully

• Discuss progress and suitability with subject staff at parents’ evening

• Discuss with your children what they want to do, and whether this will keep the right options open post-16

• Aim for breadth and variety

Options Viability

• We will make every effort to meet students’ first option choices

• Where this is not possible, we will use the reserve choice

• On rare occasions, some options do not recruit a viable group

• Students cannot take the same subject twice!

Important Dates

• Monday 5th January: Options Assembly

• Wednesday 7th January: Options Evening

• Thursday 15th January: Subject Evening

• Wednesday 21st January: Final Deadline for completing options in Insight

Sources of advice and information

• Other parents / friends

• Students in Key Stage 4 and Sixth Form

• Subject Staff / Tutor / Head of Year

• Careers Team

• Mr Kenny and the Learning Support team

• School Website

• Senior Staff – Mr Hildrew or Mr Gaynor

Any Questions?