Hartismere High School

Information Assembly for

Pupils in Year 9Wednesday 3rd December 9.00am

Courses in Years 10 and 112009 to 2011

Hartismere High School

Information Evening for

Parents of Year 9Wednesday 3rd December

7.00pmCourses in Years 10 and 11

2009 to 2011

Options…Art ASDAN Business Studies Business Studies BTecDance BTecDrama Food Technology French

Geography GermanHealth and Social Care History ICT

Media Studies Music PE Sport BTec Statistics Graphics

Resistant Materials Textiles

Core… English and English Literature Mathematics Science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics RE ICT Careers Guidance and PSCHE

PE option… PE GCSE Dance BTec Sport BTec

Choose four from… Art

ASDAN Business Studies

Business Studies BTec Drama

Food Technology French

Geography German

Health and Social Care BTec

History ICT

Media Studies Music

Statistics Graphics

Resistant Materials Textiles

What are BTecs? Most of the subjects you will study will be

GCSEs BTecs are of the same level of difficulty,

but are assessed through coursework and are graded differently.

They have a vocational (work-based) focus.

OCR Nationals are similar to BTecs

Approximate timeline for the Options process

December 2008 Options Assembly December 2008 Parents Information

Evening Spring Term, 2009 Options Booklet issued Spring Term, 2009 Dry-runs to get pupils

thinking about choices Following a dry-run Pupil Interview with

teaching staff to discuss choices

Spring Term, 2009 PSCHE timetable - pupils ‘Making Choices’

…

Approximate timeline for the Options process

… Wednesday March 31st Parents’ Evening Before Easter 2009 final choice forms

issued After Easter 2009 final choice forms

returned

options are then entered on a curriculum model

discussions with pupils and parent if we can’t offer chosen subjects

What are dry-runs? We will give you a free choice at first. This

helps us to set-up the option pools In the second dry-run you will have to

choose from different ‘pools’. You might not be able to choose the same set of subjects.

Your final choice might have to be different again as we might change the pools based on your choices from the second dry-run

How do I choose? Which subjects do you enjoy? Which subjects are you good at? Read the options booklet carefully Find out about subjects you don’t study Ask older pupils what the different courses

were like If you study the subject already, e.g.

History, ask your teacher Think about future career aspirations

What shouldn’t I do? Base your decisions on who is teaching you the

subject this year. In most cases you’ll get a different teacher.

Choose the same options as your best friend because you like being together.

Do what your older brother did because he did very well.

Choose a narrow range of subjects… …choose a subject just to have a broad range. Don’t choose a subject because you think it’s

‘easy’…it won’t be.

Will I get what I want? Well over 90% of pupils get their first

choice Some pupils will have to study a reserve

choice Very rarely, we might ask someone to

choose again because we can’t offer what they’ve requested

Do some subjects ‘fill-up’? Yes. Every year there are courses that fill up

quickly because: we only have facilities to run one group

per year. We have to restrict numbers in a class for

reasons of safety

Who gets a place when a subject is oversubscribed? Pupils who have shown an interest in year

7-9. For example in Food Technology or Graphics.

Pupils who have found out about the subject by asking the teacher for information. For example, Business Studies or Media Studies.

What happens if I don’t get my choice? If we can’t offer you the options you’ve

chosen we will always contact your parents and arrange an interview so we can talk about the different options.

What happens if I change my mind? Once you’ve made your choice, that’s it. If you have a very good reason and your

parents support you, we will look again once we’ve allocated everyone else.

The earlier we know the more likely we’ll be able to do something.

What do GCSE grades mean?

They are a measure of achievement at High School. 

Used to assess ability for career/ educational progression.  

GCSEs are at levels 1 and 2 depending on the grade you get.

Grades D-G are at level 1. Grades A*-C are at level 2.

Where GCSEs can lead…. GCSE grades A*-G - work, college or an

apprenticeship. Five GCSE grades A*-C - courses of all

types - but most commonly A levels. Most universities will ask for five GCSEs

grades A*-C, including English and Maths.

What are BTECs? BTECs are specialist work related

qualifications. BTECs are generally graded as a pass,

merit, or distinction. A distinction can be seen as an equivalent to an A or A*. GCSE.

BTEC first certificate passes are generally seen as being equal to two GCSEs.

What are the benefits of a BTEC?

Provides a taster of a vocational pathway. May be seen as more interesting and

relevant for some students. Enhances motivation if seen as more

relevant. BTECs can lead to a job or further study

such as an HNC or HND and many professional qualifications.

Like what?

Examples of HNCs and HNDs are…. Agriculture, health and social care,

business and management, sport and exercise sciences and many more….