Post on 19-Jul-2020
Year 9 Options Evening30 January 2020
Welcome!
The aim of this evening is to clarify the
options process, the types of qualifications
offered and some of the terminology
involved.
Year 9 Options
Compulsory Subjects
• Compulsory subjects account for 3/5 of the curriculum (16 lessons)
• The remaining 9 lessons are for Option Subjects (3 choices for 3 hours a
week)
Subject Qualification
English Language and Literature GCSE (2 certificates)
Science Double or Triple Award GCSE (2 or 3 certificates)
Mathematics GCSE (1 certificate)
Religious Education (Starts in Y9) GCSE (1 certificate)
Physical Education None
E-Bacc or not?
The E-Bacc (English Baccalaureate) is a recognition of a good pass at GCSE, which means gaining a grade 5 or higher in the following subjects:
• English (Compulsory)
• Maths (Compulsory)
• Science (Double or Triple) (Compulsory)
• A Language (Optional)
• History or Geography (Optional)
What does it mean?
• It’s not an “extra” qualification, just a recognition of grade “5” or better in all those subjects
• No local FE colleges or 6th forms require it for entry to their courses
• No HE universities state it in their entry requirements (see Russell Group “Informed Choices” document)
• MFL at GCSE is generally only a requirement for an English degree but check this out if you know now what you want to do
• University College London does require a GCSE Language as an entrance requirement for all its courses, but if you don’t have it they will still accept an application and make you sit a short course certificate in a language
Our advice therefore is to pick the subjects which give you the best chance of the best grades
We know that:
• This is the following group of Universities:
The Russell Group
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
Cardiff University
Durham University
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
Imperial College London
King's College London
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
London School of Economics & Political Science
University of Manchester
Newcastle University
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
Queen Mary, University of
London
Queen's University
Belfast
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University College London
University of Warwick
University of York
What can they choose?
We aim to give students a free choice of subjects and then build the
timetable around their choices:
Due to group sizes vocational options may be restricted. If we feel your child could
follow the GCSE route rather than the equivalent route and there is no space in the
group, we may need to speak to you again.
Box A - Choose any 2 Box B - Choose 1
GCSE Choices: Vocational Choices: GCSE Choices:
Art: Art & Design Engineering Creative iMedia Computer Science
Art: Photography Food and NutritionLevel 2 Award in
ConstructionGeography
Art: Textiles GeographyChild Development and
CareHistory
Business Studies History Hospitality & Catering Triple Science
Computer Science Music Sport Studies Spanish
Dance PE (GCSE)
Design Technology Spanish4
Drama Triple Science
New GCSEs
As a guide the numbers are broadly equal to the old grades
shown below:
New Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Old Grades G/F- F/E E+/D C C+/B- B/B+ A A* A**
This system affects all GCSE subjects.
There are, however, a number of vocational subjects that are
graded differently:
‘Strong’ GCSE Pass
‘Standard’ GCSE Pass
Level 1 Level 2
Grade Pass Merit Distinction Pass Merit Distinction Distinction*
GCSE
Equivalent1 2 3 4 5/6 7 8
‘Strong’ GCSE Pass
‘Standard’ GCSE Pass
Science
• Separate Sciences (Triple) • Trilogy Award Science (Double)
Both courses include the study of Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Biology Chemistry Physics
Vocational Qualifications
Due to group sizes it may not be possible to give you your vocational choice. If you want to follow a vocational option you will also need to choose a backup GCSE option*Both GCSE Food and Vocational Catering are being offered, but only one of these might run depending on group sizes
These are equivalent GCSE courses and are awarded the following grades:
GradeL2
Distinction*L2
DistinctionL2 Merit L2 Pass
L1Distinction
L1 Merit L1 Pass
Equivalent to 8 7 5/6 4 3 2 1
➢ Creative iMedia
➢ Child Care
➢ Construction
➢ Hospitality and Catering*
➢ Sport Studies
Advice for Students
1. Choose the subjects you are likely to do best in. Use the information in your reports and the feedback you have had from your teachers to guide you
2. Don’t make a choice just because you like the teacher. That teacher may well not be taking the group you end up in
3. Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses and accept realistic advice about the type of course you choose.
4. Do your research by reading the options booklet thoroughly and talking to your teachers
5. Above all don’t choose a subject because your friend is doing it!There is no guarantee you’ll end up in the same class!
Let us guide you!
• We can guide you to courses which we know
will offer your children the very best chances
of achieving the best grades.
• Vocational options offer the best progression
routes for some students. New qualification
guidelines, however, make vocational subjects
less suitable for some students. If we feel that
a vocational pathway is right for your child we
will offer this in the options interview.
Making informed choices based on KS3 performance
• Removal of KS3 levels• Opportunity to develop our own
curriculum • Working with primary schools to
develop curriculum• Eliminate the dips in learning
Making informed choices based on KS3 performance
Stage 11Grade 7 &
above
Stage 10 Stage 10Grade 5, 6
& 7
Stage 9 Stage 9 Stage 9Grade 4 &
5
Stage 8 Stage 8 Stage 8 Stage 8 Grade 3
Stage 6 >110 Stage 7 Stage 7 Stage 7 Stage 7 Stage 7
Stage 5 Stage 5 101-110 Stage 6 Stage 6 Stage 6 Stage 6 Stage 6
Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4 91-100 Stage 5 Stage 5 Stage 5 Stage 5 Stage 5
Stage 2 >110 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4
Stage 1 Stage 1 91-110 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3
Within &
BeyondStage 0 Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2
Towards &
BelowSR SR SR Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1
RBT R Y1 Y2KS1 Scaled
scoresY3 Y4 Y5 Y6
KS2 Scaled
scoresY7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11
GCSE
grades
<91
<91
Grade U
Grade 2
Grade 1
The new GCSE grades are 1-9, 9 being the
highest a student can achieve. This will be
awarded to approximately the top
2% of the country
A grade 5 is a strong GCSE pass (equivalent to current top grade C & B.
Grade 4 is a standard pass and equivalent to a
mid to low grade C).
Students are set an aspirational target based on
their KS2 entry point. We expect a student that comes in at expected
National progress to access GCSEs at 5 and above.
Students are taught the skills needed for GCSE throughout
KS3. These have been mapped from GCSE specifications to
give students the best chance of achieving their best grade.
Our KS3 curriculum is not capped. Once a student masters a skill they
consolidate it and move on to another. If a student works hard they can progress through stages
quicker and improve their chances of a better GCSE grade.
Key Stage 3 Reports
Key Stage 4 Timetable
• Different bands – H & W
• All students will be re-banded
• Current X band does not equal H; current Y band does not equal W
• Triple Scientists will be H band
• Both bands will have foundation and higher tier entries for Maths and
Science
• Not ability bands
• All year group on options at the same time
KS 4 careers programme
• 8 English lessons preparing a well structured personal statement/ researching courses
• College taster day
• University visit
• Post 16 providers invited into school to deliver assemblies to Y10 and Y11 students
• Careers fair in October
• Work experience evening
• 5 Day work experience placement / mock exam
KS 4 careers programme
• A careers interview where an action plan is produced (Careers Adviser on site Monday and Thursday)
• All local colleges invited into school to complete applications with Y11 students during dinner time
• Time to complete application forms during form time
• Interviews for Wigan and Leigh take place in school
• Apprenticeship workshop/ CV writing
• All students to complete 3 applications as a minimum before results day
Options Interviews
You and your children are offered an options interview with a senior member of staff to explore the best choices for the best grades.
These interviews will take place with either Mr Rimmer, Mr Holt, Mr Smith or Mr Fiddler. They will take place between 10th February and 6th
March.
Appointments can be made tonight in the main sports hall.
Making their Choices
The options form looks like this.
You need to make 3 choices from the subject list
There are five vocational subjects that are available. There is a limit on the number of groups we can have so please choose a GCSE back-up if any vocational choice is made
These forms are given out during the interview
The deadline for return of the forms is Monday 9th March
Forms must be returned to Mr Holt
• Subject input
• Options interviews
• Visit to local colleges
• School Website:
- Option booklet
- Russell Group “Informed Choices”
- Useful links to Careers websites
- This presentation
Support
Support
Support
• School website: For Parents-> Year 9 Options
Support
• Options interviews take place
• Groups are generated and a timetable produced
• The vast majority of students will study their initial choices
• It’s likely that a small number (0 in 2015, 6 in 2016, 5 in 2017, 6 in 2018, 6 in 2019) will have to be interviewed again and choose a different combination
What Next?
Any questions
?