Year 9 Choices Evening 2016

Mr Blois, Head of Year 9Mr Pritchard, Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum)

Welcome – Mr Blois

• Year 9 – making the right choices.• Key Stage 4 provides a stepping stone to

the next stage in your son’s/daughter’s lives.

• School staff – particularly the pastoral team and tutors are here to support and guide.

Backdrop to the Choices Process

• Key Stage 4 will be different…in some aspects• All students study a core curriculum PLUS have choice

over some additional subjects• All courses are described in terms of their Level: Level 1

equivalent to lower GCSE grades, Level 2 equivalent to higher GCSE grades (old A*-C). Many students at 16 will move onto Level 3 courses (ie A’ level standard)

• All our courses are approved by the DfE and have equivalence to GCSE grades

• No 2 students the same…need to offer as much as we can and be driven by student choice re KS4 courses offered

The Core

• English, maths, science, PE, PSHE, RS• Students will take English language AND

literature• Science will either be a double course

(counting for 2 GCSEs) or, for the most able, triple (ie chemistry, physics & biology) and count for 3 GCSEs (triple scientists also have to choose this as one of their additional courses)

• RS will be followed by all as a GCSE course

English and maths…

• These will be ‘new’ GCSEs and will be graded 1-9 (9 being an A*+!) and a 5 roughly equal to a current C/B grade

• They are more rigorous and so we have given more curriculum time to these subjects

• Getting a ‘good’ pass (ie 5+) opens doors and those who get below will have to continue to study the subject(s) at College and re-take until they are 18

Ebacc

• An acknowledgement not a qualification• English, maths, science, language,

humanities all at grade 5+/C+• Still a largely un-known value attached to

this by employers/universities• Worth considering…but not compulsory at

this school

Additional subjects: Considerations…

• Combinations – especially of DT & art subjects

• Triple science• Languages• GCSE or vocational or both• Student strengths, interests & aspirations

Don’t choose a subject because :

• they like the teacher• they think it will be easy• their friends are doing it!• they think the course, type of work or

inclusion of controlled assessments is the easy option

• they think it is the right thing to do even if it means not following a different course they are passionate about!

Guidance for choosing

• Choose 7 preferences• Complete the form and return to tutor by 4th

March• Rank order subjects by degree of preference –

i.e. if Art is the favourite choice put a 1 next to it, if geography is the 2nd favourite choice put a 2 and so on…

• No guarantee of the top 4….but we will try (approx. 90% get their top 4)

Why ALL preferred courses might not be allocated

• Finance• Timetabling• Staffing• Rooming/resources

• School reserves the right to run the courses it can ultimately afford to / logistically accommodate

The booklet/website

• Key sources of support/references• Please take time to go through this with

your son/daughter• Choices form (it will be posted) – please

discuss and sign….we need to know parents/carers have been involved!! Return by 4th March!

Support & Guidance

• From Mrs Joy - Talentino Careers Adviser (parents' evening, one-to-one meetings, lunchtime drop-ins)

• Subject teachers (in lessons and through advertised ‘clinics’)

• Tutors, Head of Year, school website and Choices booklet

Final thoughts

• Key Dates:Written reports issued this week.Parents’ Evening – 25th February.Forms to be returned by 4th March

• Take time to discuss and consider with your child/children.

• Tutors are on hand to support.