Welcome to the Year 8 Guided Pathways process.

You may be aware that the Government is

introducing changes to the curriculum in schools.

‘Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through

education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor; that the son of a mine worker can become the head of a mine, that a child of farm

workers can become the president of a great nation’.

Nelson Mandela

The Process So Far•Gove rnment imposed changes•Ebacc will impact on student progression rates - employment, education opportunities•SDCC students need to be as competitive as the rest of the country•Still get at least 4 options but not all at once as previously opted for in year 9.•Non Ebacc subjects unimportant?

The South Dartmoor Curriculum:• Meets the changes made by the Government with the

EBacc. • Enables students to maintain a range of options as well as

EBacc subjects.• Challenge Partners Review judged it as ‘outstanding’ (2013)• Personalises curriculum opportunities based on stage not

age i.e. students will take exams when we believe they are ready and in a position to progress to the next stage of their learning rather than the old model of waiting until a given age.

• Personalised examination courses means A/S courses can be taken prior to Sixth Form and where appropriate additional lessons can be provided in subjects where performance is lower than expected.

We are involving Year 8 Students and Parents/Carers in the Guided

Pathways process much earlier than usual. This is so we can respond to the Government Curriculum changes in a

timely way that enables us to resource and staff History, Geography, French

and Spanish.

Next Steps for Year 8 Students Humanities:

•Select the Humanity subject (Geography or History) you would prefer to study as part of the EBacc route in Year 9.

This might mean students decide to choose one of Geography or History

now and begin to study it as a GCSE in Year 9 and then select the other in

Year 9 and begin it as a GCSE in Year 10. Alternatively students may choose to study subjects from other areas, in

Year 10.

Next Steps for Year 8 Students Languages:

•Enjoy getting fully involved with your French and Spanish taster lessons•Later this term you will be given a language route•You will then select French and/or Spanish as your preferred language option

Am I able to discuss whether my child should take Geography or History?

Am I able to discuss whether or not my child might take either or both French and

Spanish? Yes. We absolutely encourage you to do this. If you have any questions, please arrange a chat with your child’s Geography, History, French

and Spanish teachers at your earliest convenience. The Subject Leaders of

Geography, History, French and Spanish are also available to chat with.

KEY DATESFebruary 2013

Receive A5 Geography, History, French and Spanish Guided Pathways EBacc booklet.

Tuesday 26th February 2013Guided Pathways evening 5.30-6.30pm. An important opportunity to hear short presentations

from Geography, History, French and Spanish staff in order to help students make informed choices as well as learn more about our Curriculum changes.

March/April 2013Language options information following French/Spanish taster sessions.

Summer TermWe aim to confirm your options for you in a letter.

Friday 8th March 2013Deadline for selecting Geography or

History as an option to begin in Year 9.

KEY DATESFOR LANGUAGES

1. Before End of Spring Term 2013 - Personalised letter with language route

2. Year 8 Parents Evening – Thursday 25th April 2013

3. Deadline for making choices within your language route – 29th April 2013

Commencing September 2013

Mustafa ShaikhSubject LeaderSouth Dartmoor Community College

Complete two of the three topics:1. River environments2. Coastal environments3. Hazardous environments

Complete two of the three topics 4. Economic activity and energy5. Ecosystems and rural environments6. Urban environments

The development of practical geographical enquiry skills related to the investigation of each selected topic from Sections A and B.

Complete one of the three topics:7. Fragile environments8. Globalisation and migration9. Development and human welfare.

No tiers of entry – accessible to all students

Assessment opportunity in June examination

Single tier. Single examination. Provides a solid basis for Edexcel GCE

AS and Advanced level Geography and World Development courses we do here.

Equivalent qualifications such as BTEC Nationals in Travel and Tourism and land-based subjects.

GCSE class core text used and provided in class

GCSE student book to support Home Learning issued to each pupil from the Library

Resources on Moodle including OX box CD ROM revision and examination style resources.

Geography intervention and support sessions provided as appropriate

Access to the new geography ICT suite and notebooks

Support from Edexcel Board

Experienced Team of Mr Shaikh, Mr Wilson, Mr Hodges, Miss Fannon and other supporting colleagues

Edexcel Boardhttp://www.bing.com/search?q=edexcel&src=ie9trGeographical Associationhttp://www.geography.org.uk/BBC Bitesizehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/Geography bloghttp://geographyblog.eu/wp/

Controlled Assessment

The Russian Revolution

75% exam at end of course

Unit 1 (Cold War and America) – 45%

Unit 2 (Britain) – 30%

Controlled Assessment – 25%

8 hours in class time

Research and write an analytical essay of approx 2000 words.

Focuses on the role of a key individual

Take what you know and use it to analyse historical questions (making links)

Understand and interpret historical sources such as photographs or cartoons

Know the facts (but it’s not just about knowing the facts)

Literacy/written communication

Independence, perseverance.

Up for a challenge!

Communication skills

History is a “facilitating” subject, which leaves your options open to study any subject or follow any career path.

Transferable skills, useful in any job or academic pathway

Respected and valued by all universities and all professions, e.g. Law

Lifelong love of History

Language Routes – September 2013

NVQ Business French

NVQ Business Spanish

Language Routes – September 2013

Language Routes – September 2013

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language,

that goes to his heart.

Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its

people come from and where they are going.

…the limits of your language

are the limits of your world…

Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

Language Routes – September 2013: Overview

Single Language AwardFrench GCSE - Year 1

orSpanish GCSE – Year 1

Open to all GCSE students

Single Language AwardFrench GCSE - Year 2

orSpanish GCSE – Year 2

Open to all GCSE students

Possible options include:- AS French- AS Spanish- GCSE MFL beginners’- Free non-MFL option

Single Language Fast-track Award - FrenchFrench GCSE - year 1

Open to ‘Permissions group’

Possible options include:- AS French- GCSE MFL beginners’- Free non-MFL option

Double Language Award

French & Spanish GCSE - year 1

Routeway by invitation

Double Language Award

French & Spanish GCSE - year 2

Routeway by invitation

Possible options include:- AS French- AS Spanish- GCSE MFL beginners’- Free non-MFL option

Non-GCSE Language Award

French or Spanish – one year

Possible options include:- Free non-MFL option

Common Topic Areas:

Out and about•Visitor information•Basic weather•Local amenities•Accommodation•Public transport•Directions

Customer service and transactions

•Cafés and restaurants•Shops•Dealing with problems

Personal information•General interests•Leisure activities•Family and friends•Lifestyle (healthy eating and exercise)

Future plans, education and work

•Basic language of the internet•Simple job adverts•Simple job applications and CV•School and college•Work and work experience

GCSE: WHAT will I study?

GCSE: HOW will I be assessed?Combination of controlled assessment throughout the course

and national exam papers taken at the end of the course.

UNIT 1: Listening & Understanding

UNIT 2: Speaking

20% of final GCSE grade 30% of final GCSE grade

National exam – end of courseFoundation tier: 30 minutesHigher tier: 40 minutes

Controlled assessment tasks(submit two tasks)Each speaking exam lasts 4 – 6 minutesExam is based on the common

topic areas

UNIT 3: Reading & Understanding

UNIT 4: Writing

20% of final GCSE grade 30% of final GCSE grade

National exam – end of courseFoundation tier: 35 minutesHigher tier: 50 minutes

Controlled assessment task(submit two tasks)Each written piece – minimum 200 wordsExam is based on the common

topic areas

GCSE Language Lessons

Dealing with the foreign language in real situations:

•Personal, work-related and business situations•Instructions and directions•Questions and requests•Feelings, needs and preferences•Numerical data

Foreign language knowledge and skills:

•Relevant vocabulary•The infinitive•Simplest ways of expressing past, present and future•Positive and negative statements•Positive and negative questions•Simple imperatives•Simple link words•Use reference sources•Clear pronunciation

Example topics include:Social arrangements, food, drink, travel, accommodation, shopping,

work-related orders, number, quantity, prices, dates

NVQ: WHAT will I study?

NVQ: HOW will I be assessed?

Portfolio building qualification with no examination.All assessment tasks are classroom-based.

UNIT 1: Listening & Understanding UNIT 2: Speaking

2 elements: 2 elements:

L1.1 - Extract information from simple statements or descriptionsL1.2 - Follow simple, predictable conversationsLength of task: minimum of 3 minutes

S1.1 - Give simple prepared statements or descriptionsS1.2 - Take part in simple, predictable conversationsLength of task: minimum of 3 minutes

UNIT 3: Reading & Understanding UNIT 4: Writing

1 element: 1 element:

R1.1 - Extract information from signs, notices and simple correspondence3-5 pieces minimum. No word limit.

W1.1 - Complete forms and create simple correspondence3-5 pieces minimum. No word limit.

Language Routes – September 2013

NVQ Business French

NVQ Business Spanish