Year 9 options

Spring 2018

Part 2

Key advice - reminder1. This is important – don’t mess it up!

2. If you make wrong choices you almost certainly won’t be able to change your mind in September

3. Consider your strengths and weaknesses

4. Consider any possible career implications

5. Consider whether you need the GCSE in order to do A level in that subject

6. Don’t aim too high and don’t aim too low

7. Don’t choose what your friends are choosing

8. Don’t choose on the basis of whether you like or dislike the teacher

9. Find out as much as you can about the courses

10. If in doubt, take a broad range of options not a narrow one

11.Don’t make a hasty decision

What do I

enjoy

doing?

Is this what

my parents

want me to

choose?

Have I

found out

about the

course?

Have I checked

whether it affects

any plans I may

have for the

future?

Do I like

that

teacher?

What are

my friends

choosing?

What am I

good at?

Good

reasons

and bad

reasons…

What do I

enjoy

doing?

Is this what

my parents

want me to

choose?

Have I

found out

about the

course?

Have I checked

whether it affects

any plans I may

have for the

future?

Do I like

that

teacher?

What are

my friends

choosing?

What am I

good at?

Students making informed choices

Students making choices without

finding out the information and

considering the options carefully

Parents pressurising students

into certain choices

The key to success….

We want you to succeed and enjoy your courses

- not fail or be miserable!!!!!

The first decision to make…

• On the basis of your ability in French we have recommended whether this would be a good choice for you

• Option blocks A & B mean that you have to choose:

Either French + History

Or French + Geography

Or History + Geography

• If you want to do French plus History plus Geography this is possible – History is also in option block D

• If you take French, you will be eligible to gain the EBacc

Option blocks

• 5 blocks exist lettered A, B, C, D, E

• All the subjects on Block A are on at the same

time, all those on Block B are on at same time etc.

• Students have to have one subject on each block

• Most subjects are suitable for all but some are

more academic / some are more practical

• Very hard to change choices around later as

subjects may not be available on that line / or be

full

Option blocks see p.10

Option A

(EBacc)

Option B

(EBacc)

Option C Option D Option E

3 hrs 3 hrs 3 hrs 2.5 hrs 2.5 hrs

History

Geography

History

Geography

French^

Business Studies

IT*

Sociology

Sport BTEC*

Design Tech

Food

Computer Sci+

Triple Science#

Sociology

IT*

Business Studies

Art

Drama

Film Studies

Photography

Child Devpt*

History$

Fashion/Textiles=

Triple Science#

Sociology

IT*

Business BTEC*

Art=

Drama

Film Studies

Photography

Music BTEC*

Music

Religious Studies

Frequently asked questions

1. Do I have to accept the school’s

recommendation on French?

• You do not have to accept our recommendation

• If you are concerned about our recommendation you and/or your parents need to discuss it with us

• However, if you can possibly gain a 4 or better at French it is probably in your best interests to take the subject

2. What if I speak another language?

• English as Additional Language speakers – if you can get a GCSE in your home language without tuition then we encourage you to do so e.g. Chinese, Urdu, Spanish, Bengali, Gujarati, Japanese, Russian etc.

• Speak to your language teacher & to Mrs Johnson

• You need to be fluent – both verbally and on paper

• A GCSE needs to exist in the language

3. Can I take both History and

Geography as well as French?

• Yes, this is not a problem at all and many

students do this

• Both are highly regarded as subjects

• The options blocks allow you to pick

History + French + Geography across

blocks A, B and D

4. What is Triple Science and should I pick it?

• It replaces the two Combined Science GCSEs with separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry & Physics

• This is achieved by using up one of the options choices

• A challenging course, aimed at more able scientists – need to be at Tier 4-P in y9 Science

• MUST have Mr Dodd’s signature on the form before it is handed in

• Key thing is to get the best grades you can in Science – whether it is Combined or triple

• Aim is that every student will get at least 2 Science GCSEs; some will get 3

5. Should I take Computing or IT?• Computer Science GCSE is a challenging course and

students need to have reached Tier 4-P in Computing

and get Mr Martin-Shepherd’s signature in order to take

this course.

• CS is a mainly theoretical course whereas IT is mainly

the practical use of IT

• CS is better suited for students with a keen interest and

aptitude for programming

• CS requires logical thinking whereas IT is more focused

on the creative side

• CS is useful for further study/programming jobs and IT is

good if you want an IT qualification on your CV

regardless of if you want to study it after year 11

6. What about Sport?

• If you want to do timetabled sport, pick

Sport

• There is no core PE in KS4

• There is of course, extra-curricular sport

7. How do the new GCSE grades work?

New GCSE grades Old GCSE grades BTEC grades

9

8 A*

7 A Distinction

6 B

5 B-C

4 C Pass

3 D

2 E-F

1 F-G

U U Fail

8. How many GCSE equivalent

courses should I pick?

• It does not matter hugely for most students

• All the courses we offer are DfE approved

• You will all gain a minimum of 7 GCSEs, as

opposed to GCSE equivalents, simply due to

the way we have set this up (2 x Eng, Mat, minimum of 2 Sci, 2 from Fre / His / Geo)

• Students should end up with 10 GCSEs (or

equivalents) in all

• Highly academic students will probably want

to follow an entirely GCSE curriculum

9. How does this affect 6th form entry?

• Most 6th forms expect at least 5 A*-C (or 9-4) passes inc. equivalents

• Oakgrove’s current entry requirement = 7 x 9-4 passes (inc. equivalents) inc. English Language & Maths

• For some subjects if you wish to study them at A level it is desirable / essential to have taken them at GCSE

• For other A level subjects it does not really matter

10. What are BTECs?

• Work context

• Mix of external assessment and portfolio based

• Graded: Fail, Pass (=4), Merit (=5/6), Distinction (=7), Distinction * (=8/9)

• Called “BTEC Firsts” and each is equivalent to 1 GCSE

• Suit some students better than others

• Continual assessment

• Need to be willing to keep refining work based on teacher’s advice

• Need to get work finished

• Need to be able to work independently

• Need to be able to work in groups too

11. Are there any forbidden

combinations?• You cannot pick both Computer Science GCSE

and IT (It would be unwise anyway)

• You cannot pick both Business BTEC and

Business Studies GCSE (obviously)

• You cannot pick Triple Science unless you are at

a Tier 4-P in Science in y9 (degree of difficulty)

• You cannot pick Computing unless you are at a

Tier 4-P in Computing in y9 (degree of difficulty)

• You cannot pick Art and Textiles (same

qualification name – would cancel each other out)

12. Are there unbalanced

choices?

• This is a matter of opinion

• The option blocks prevent you picking

some unbalanced combinations

• Art + Music + Drama is probably an

unbalanced combination – unless you

have some specific career based reason

13. What happens after I hand

the form in?

• Option block classes get populated

• Where problems, I will come and find you

• “No news is good news”

• Official letter confirming choices in June

• Can’t change in June unless I’ve made a

mistake

14. What if I have a career in mind?

• Most 14 year olds don’t know what they want to do – so keep options broad and balanced – don’t close off doors

• People often make false assumptions about subjects needed for certain careers – need to get proper advice if you have a career in mind.

• Even then, plans change so keep options broad in case

• Our options process won’t let you make really silly choices!

Don’t close doors that you may need to

open later

The $64,000 question

Have I found out enough

information on which to

make this decision?

What have we learnt

from previous years?

• Some students made the wrong choices and couldn’t change – it was usually because they hadn’t found out what the courses were really like

• This year only one person was able to / allowed to change in September

• Some students were pushed into doing things by their parents!

• Most students really enjoy their options

Who should I ask?

• Qs about the options system / process – see

Mr R. Green

• Qs about a particular course – see your

subject teacher / the subject leader for that

subject / y10/11 students

• General Qs – your form tutor / your parents /

Mr Robins / Miss Gordon

Key points to leave you with• Don’t get it wrong

• Think very carefully about what you’re choosing

• Don’t make a hasty decision – no forms to be handed in till start of March

• Ask lots of Qs / find out lots of informationOptions evening on Thu 1 Feb - 6.30-8.30pm, talks at 7pm (A-K) and 7.30pm (L-Z) in Theatre & stalls in the Sports Hall

Parents’ evening on Thu 22 Feb or Thu 1 Mar

• Make sure your form is in by Thu 15th Mar

• Hand form to Student Services not to tutor