Madeley High School

OPTION CHOICES

2007

A Specialist Technology College

SUBJECTPeriods per

fortnightPart of

Curriculum

English (inc Eng Lit) 7

French 5

ICT 2

Mathematics 6 COMMON

PE 2 CORE

PSHE/Citizenship 2

Religious Studies 2

Science 9

Option A 5 OPTION

Option B 5 GROUPS

Option C 5 One must be a

Option D (After school) - D&T subject

What exams will pupils take?

• Most subjects are full course GCSEs

• Religious Studies can be taken as a short or full course GCSE.

• Applied Performing Arts can be a single or a double award GCSE

• In Science pupils sit one GCSE in Year 10 and a second in Year 11

•Pupils studying ICT follow the OCR National course which is equivalent to 1, 2, 3 or 4 GCSE grades.

•Pupils studying Performing Arts (Dance) follow the BTEC First course which is equivalent to 2 GCSE grades.

•It is also possible to obtain an Entry Level qualification in a number of subjects.

• Other subjects are double award vocational GCSEs taught in conjunction with Newcastle College

• These are Applied Art, Engineering and Health & Social Care

• These are related to the world of work

• They are practical and give pupils a chance to learn by doing

• They each consist of three units, two of which are assessed by coursework and one by examination.

• They are taught jointly at Newcastle College and Madeley High School

• They involve a degree of self-study• They require a considerable

commitment• If pupils are interested in one of these

subjects they should initially speak to the relevant subject teacher, Mr Royall or Mr Surtees

• They will then be seen by Newcastle College staff before being accepted onto the course

How should pupils choose their options?

• Think about their strengths and weaknesses

• Think about their future career

• Don’t copy their friends

• Don’t base their choices on teachers

• Don’t base their choices on their gender, there are no male or female subjects

OPTION A• D&T (Food Technology)

• D&T (Graphic Products and/or Resistant Materials)

• German

• Geography

• History

• ICT (OCR National)

• Performing Arts (Dance) (BTEC First)

OPTION B• Applied Art (Vocational GCSE)• Applied Performing Arts (Single or Double

Award)• Art & Design• Business Studies• D&T (Food Technology)• D&T (Graphic Products and/or Resistant

Materials)• Geography• Health & Social Care (Vocational GCSE)

OPTION C• Art and Design

• D&T (Graphic Products)

• Engineering (Vocational GCSE)

• Extension Studies

• History

• Home Economics (Child Development)

• ICT (OCR National)

• Music

• PE

OPTION D (Additional Studies)• D&T (Graphic Products)/(Resistant

Materials)*

• Statistics*

• Religious Studies*

• Chinese, German, Latin or Spanish**

* Taught at Madeley High School

** Taught at various local schools

What should pupils do now?• Talk to their teachers • Talk to their parents• Read the “Key Stage 4 – The Curriculum

Explained” booklet carefully • Talk to the relevant subject teacher, Mr Royall

or Mr Surtees if they are considering one of the courses offered in conjunction with Newcastle College or any subject in Option D

• Newcastle College staff are also here this evening if you would like to talk to them about vocational GCSEs

• Fill in their option choices form, putting a first & second choice for each option block

• Make certain they include a D&T subject as one of their first choices

• Try to keep a good balance of subjects and because of this think seriously about selecting a humanities subject

• Option forms and the “Key Stage 4 – The Curriculum Explained” booklet were given out today

• This must be completed by 26th March ready for an interview with a senior member of staff

• Please contact the school at any time if you have any questions

Year 9 SATs

• These take place in the week beginning 8th May

• The school has subscribed to the SAM Learning and Learn Premium internet packages to help pupils prepare for their SATs and other examinations. Further details of these packages can be found on the school website or a leaflet is available from school.

• School computer rooms will be open after school to give pupils access to these packages, with priority given to those who do not have internet access at home