1. Welcome to Year 8 Parents’ Options Information Evening Helping ‘our’ children prepare for a successful future. January 2016

2. AIMS FOR THIS EVENING… Introduce some key people. Offer genuine support and reassurance for you and your children. Explain why a 3 year Key Stage 4 Explain current picture in education – what it means for your children. Explain KS4 options process and the next steps and offer guidance to you. Answer any questions you may have.

3. Why a 3 Year Key Stage 4? More opportunities to stretch, challenge, excite and engage our children as learners. KS4 in 2 years can be an exam factory and we want more than that for our students. Fewer chances of students coasting More opportunities for more personalised learning – support and enrichment for all abilities

4. Things are changing… Some significant governmental changes will affect your children… Changes to GCSE – modular to linear. Almost all subjects 1 tier entry. All subjects measured 9 – 1 Importance of English Baccalaureate. Changes to way students grades are reported nationally. Exam specifications for all subjects not yet agreed

5. CURRENT GCSE GRADES NEW GCSE GRADES A* A 987987 BCBC 654654 DEFGDEFG 321321 UU Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 7 and above as currently achieve a grade A and above. Similarly grade 4 and above as achieve an C and above. The bottom of grade 1 will be aligned with the bottom of grade G

6. English and Mathematics The English and Mathematics courses and exams will be different. English Language and Literature will be more challenging. They will have NO controlled assessment or coursework. They will both be 100% examination. There will be a increased focus on SPG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) Students will be expected to read widely. Mathematics will be more challenging with a focus on more multi-step problems and students will be expected to learn the formulae they need for exams

7. But what’s not different is us… We will do everything we can to support our students and parents throughout the options process and beyond to ensure that they feel ready to take their exams and are prepared for next steps. We will have 1-2-1s with ALL of our students. We will listen to the needs of ALL of our students. We will aim to meet the wants of ALL of our students There may be occasions when certain options don’t fit – rare and support given to find alternative.

8. THE OPTIONS PROCESS January 2016 Tutorial time on options choices Monday 18 th January Options Assembly – departmental presentations to all Year 8 students in Main Hall. Booklet issued. Monday 18 th January Options Information Evening for parents at 6.30pm in the Main Hall. Week beginning 25 th January Taster lessons in the 3 weeks before half term Thursday 11 th February Year 8 Parents’ Evening – parents and pupils meet with subject teachers January and February Students and parents discuss options 22 nd February until 18 th March Individual pupil interviews Monday 21 st March Deadline for completed forms

9. CORE SUBJECTS ALL students will study: English Language and English Literature GCSEs - 7hrs Mathematics GCSE – 7hrs Science GCSE – 7hrs The majority of students will study 2 GCSEs in Double Science. This route will enable students who are able enough to continue to A-level separate Sciences. Philosophy and Ethics GCSE – 3hrs Practical PE (a non examination subject) – 3hrs ICT - 3 hrs

10. ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE? (EBACC) ENGLISH MATHEMATICS SCIENCES HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY FRENCH, GERMAN, SPANISH COMPUTER SCIENCE

11. OPTION BLOCK AOPTION BLOCKS B C and D Students must choose one of the following: Students must choose any 3 different subjects from the following selection: Computer ScienceArtFrenchPE GCSE French German Business Studies Geography Health and Fitness Spanish Child Development GermanCraft: Wood Geography Computer Science HistorySpanish HistoryDramaICTCraft:Textiles Triple ScienceFood TechMusicDance

12. TRIPLE SCIENTISTS Looked at current provision and recognised need for change Extension, enrichment and exciting Science for those who are passionate about it and want to pursue a career. Only available to our most able Scientists. This will mean 12hrs per fortnight. The focus here is on QUALITY not QUANTITY of GCSEs. Universities are not looking for the number of GCSEs but the highest grades. Our Triple Scientists will not be disadvantaged but even better prepared for A level Sciences and University.

13. Selecting Options Subjects Reasons for Selecting Option Subjects They enjoy the subject They are really interested in the subject and would like to study it in more depth They have researched the course/job they would like to do and know they need this subject They have researched what the course involves and the topics sound interesting They have spoken to their parents/carers/teachers who recommend this would be a suitable course for them

14. NOT Reasons to Select a Subject… ×Their friends are doing it – there’s every chance they won’t be in the same class even if they take it! ×They like the teacher – no guarantee they’ll have them. ×They think it will be easy ‘a doss’ – They’ll be in for a shock. There are no ‘easy’ courses at KS4. ×There’s a trip involved – they might not even get to go! ×Because their teacher tells them they should. Be flattered but make their own decision. ×Because you want them to. It’s contentious but it’s often the biggest cause of problems in KS4. Think about why you want them to do it and what difference it would make if they didn’t. Talk to us!

15. How can you help at home? Conversations at home are so important! Rank subjects – ability and feelings Research for the future – start looking together. Basic skills like reading with your son/daughter and helping them to check their work for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors. Encourage them to read through their notes, perhaps in preparation for a progress test. Get them to teach you! Explain how you want them to be as confident as possible as we move towards Key Stage Four

16. What comes next? As well as the options process we want the rest of Y8 to run really smoothly for all students. Continued hard work in all subjects to ensure that your child makes the expected level, or better than expected level, of progress. Exams in the core subjects so decisions can be made about the correct pathways for KS4.

17. Some helpful internet sites for KS4 http://www.mymaths.co.uk username: little heath password : square www.bbc.co.uk/education/revision www.topmarks.co.ukwww.topmarks.co.uk www.s-cool.co.ukwww.s-cool.co.uk www.projectgcse.co.uk www.revisemaths.org.uk

18. Web Sites – Highly Recommend www.adviza.gov.uk/who-am-i/youngperson www.eclips-on-line.co.uk www.careersbox.co.uk

19. Other useful Careers Websites that might help you understand what the universities are after and what is needed for different careers. www.plotr.co.uk/ www.myfuturewise.org.uk www.studential.com www.careerpath.com www.ucas.com www.apprenticeships.gov.uk http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/career-info/

20. Further Information Thank you for coming this evening, we hope you have found it supportive, useful and informative. If you have any questions regarding this evening then please feel free to stay behind and talk to either of us. kbutton@littleheath.org.uk rrayner@littleheath.org.uk rbroadhead@littleheath.org.uk Please have a safe journey home