1. Welcome to this Parents Information Session Year 9 OPTIONS

2. Helen Everitt Curriculum Deputy Headteacher2

3. AIMS
Introduce Oriel’s Year 9 Options Process and our philosophy regarding students choices at 14.
Explain the different types of Qualifications available to students at Oriel in Y10 and 11
Technical Awards / BTEC
GCSE
Give you advice on how to help students make the right choices for them

4. Qualifications should:
Qualifications should:
Reflect our changing world
Prepare our students to be successful in society
Engage students in learning
Prepare students for study at college or university, or for work.
Education should not be a ‘one size fits all’ system
We should recognise:
Different needs of our students
Different learning styles
Different aspirations and goals

5. CORE – All students will study: English Language and Literature
Maths
English Language and Literature
Science RE PE
PDC / Citizenship 5

6. RE
All students will study RE for x2 lessons a fortnight, but within this time can follow one of three routes
Full Course GCSE
Short Course GCSE
Extended Project
Full details of these options can be found in the Year 10 Curriculum Guide

7. Options
Students must then choose subjects to fill the optional parts of the timetable
There are three option spaces to fill. 1 2 3

8. Ensuring Progression
An increasing importance has been placed on the following facilitating subjects:
GEOGRAPHY SPANISH
HISTORY FRENCH
COMPUTER SCIENCE GERMAN
University entrance information highlights
these subjects as facilitating subjects at A Level for top degree entry

9. Ensuring Progression
To ensure that students are not being disadvantaged by not opting for a broad range of subjects including a facilitating subject.
Option 1 of the three options must be one of these subjects
GEOGRAPHY SPANISH
HISTORY FRENCH
COMPUTER SCIENCE GERMAN

10. OPTION 1 You must pick one of the subjects below: GCSEs:
French, Spanish, German,
Computing
History, Geography

11. OPTIONS 2 and 3 Technical Awards / BTECs GCSEs:
Health and Social Care
Music Technology
Materials Technology
GCSEs:
Film Studies, Drama, Music, PE
Art: Specialising in Fine Art, Textile Art or 3D Design
French, Spanish, German,
Business Studies, Computing
History, Geography, Sociology
Food Preparation & Nutrition,
Design Technology 11

12. Choice and Flexibility
At Oriel we offer two different types of qualification for students to choose to study in Years 10 and 11.
These qualifications can be mixed and they are flexible.
Technical Awards / BTEC
GCSE

14. T Technical Awards / BTECs Michelle Stephens BTEC Coordinator

15. Technical Awards There are three main Examination Boards
AQA, OCR and Pearson Edexcel
All Examination Boards offer both GCSEs and more vocational qualifications called Technical Awards
The Pearson Edexcel Technical Awards are more commonly known as BTECs

16. About BTECs (& Technical Awards)
A BTEC is a theoretical, practical and work related course.
In addition to exams, students complete projects and assignments that are based on realistic workplace situations, activities and demands

17. BTEC’s now include a1hr exam in addition to coursework
The Structure of BTECs
75% Coursework
25% Exam
BTEC’s now include a1hr exam in addition to coursework

18. Which students are suited to BTECs?
Students who prefer completing projects/coursework
Students who feel that they do not like the pressure of a 100% examinable subjects
Students who enjoy the subject area
Students who want to follow a mix of qualifications to vary the way they will learn

19. How BTEC is assessed? Work experience Presentations Role Plays
Research portfolios
Designing publications
Practical assessments such as organising events and working with the local community
Exam for 1 unit

20. How are the courses graded?
BTEC grades are awarded in the following way:
Level 2 Distinction*
Level 2 Distinction
Level 2 Merit
Level 2 Pass
Level 1
Not A*-Gs or 9-1

21. Where can a BTEC qualification lead?
Sixth Form - BTEC Nationals (Level 3)
Into the workplace – Highly accepted by organisations. It allows an easier transition from School to work
Apprenticeships

22. But do Universities accept BTECs?
BTEC are accepted by all Universities
Research has shown that students who have completed BTEC courses are better prepared for university than those who have undertaken A-Levels. This is due to the skills acquired on the BTEC courses

23. GCSEs Victoria Pooley Subject Leader for Science23

24. What is a GCSE?
GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education.
GCSEs are the main qualification taken by 14 to 16 year olds
You can take GCSEs in a wide range of academic and work-related subjects.
GCSEs are highly valued by schools, colleges and employers
The qualification mainly involves studying the theory of a subject, possibly combined with some investigative work.
Some subjects also involve practical work e.g. Art

25. GCSE Reform
Current Y11 students are already following revised & reformed GCSE Specifications in English and Maths
Current Y10 students are already following revised & reformed GCSE Specifications in the majority of their subjects
These are awarded numerical grades from 9 to 1
9 is the highest, 1 is the lowest
A grade 5 will be the new standard that a student is expected to achieve in order for them to have passed the qualification
This is roughly equivalent to the top portion of a current C grade and the bottom portion of a current B grade.

26. % of students achieving 7 and above roughly equal to those currently achieving A and A*
5 = the new benchmark for a ‘good’ pass
% of students achieving 4 and above roughly equal to those currently achieving C and above

27. GCSE Reform
The vast majority of subjects have been reformed for our current Year 9 students
These will also now be awarded numerical grades from 9 to 1
Current Year 9 students will obtain solely numerical GCSE results.

28. How are GCSEs examined? Exams Controlled Assessment
All GCSEs are examined by terminal examinations at the end of the course
Controlled Assessment
In the revised GCSE specifications there is far smaller emphasis on controlled assessment
Practical subjects will still have an internally assessed component
Speak to subject staff on the 23rd march for specifics

29. How have science GCSEs changed?
For current year 9 students Core and Additional Science no longer exist
Separate sciences (Triple)
Combined science (Double)
Content split equally over year 10 and 11. Taught discretely as Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons.
All exams are taken at the end of year 11. No controlled assessment
Results in the award of three science GCSEs (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) at the end of year 11
Results in the award of a double award GCSE ‘Combined science’
3 separate numerical grades are achieved (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
2 numerical grades are achieved for the whole qualification e.g. 5,5. Where the grade achieved falls in the middle of 2 grades a mixed grade may be awarded e.g. 5,6

30. Controlled Assessment
Many reformed GCSEs no longer have a controlled assessment component
Where there is controlled assessment that counts towards the final grade:
Work completed in school under controlled conditions
More controlled by the exam boards than coursework
Time limits set by the exam board
Teachers can give some feedback but this may affect the marks that can be awarded
Parents can be involved in the preparation part of some controlled assessment

31. How to Choose…. Grant Taylor Director of Learning: Enrichment & Work Related Learning31

35. Your son or daughter should avoid making choices based on:
Making Good Choices
Your son or daughter should avoid making choices based on:
Their friends’ choices
Their current teachers
Gender stereotypes
One narrow career path 35

36. Your son or daughter should:
Making Good Choices
Your son or daughter should:
Think about their strengths and weaknesses
Think about how they prefer to study and learn
Find out how the courses are taught and assessed
Keep their choices broad and balanced
Research any career ideas they may have
Use UCAS to check A Level and BTEC requirements for
degree entry 36

37. All Year 9 Students have set up a UNIFROG account in PDC lessons.
This allows them to research possible career pathways via university, apprenticeship and school leaver schemes.
Your son/ daughter can build up shortlists; research entrance requirements and record their competences in this app that will stay with them throughout their GCSEs and Sixth Form studies.
Mentors have access to your son or daughters account and can use what they record there to further advise and guide them

38. Making Good Choices
Further help:
Speak to teachers, our careers adviser Kerry Mann and of course you!
Use the careers websites under ‘Careers and Moving On’ of the curriculum section of the school website
Students come along to the Options Evening on 23rd March and speak to the teachers about the courses on offer 38

39. Next Steps OPTIONS EVENING – Thursday 23rd March
Important evening for parents and most importantly students
Drop in any time between 6pm and 8pm
Receive a further pack of guidance information & options form
All Subjects and courses represented
Information to collect and take home
Speak to teachers
See examples of students work
Deadline for Options Forms – Friday April 7th

40. You will be asked to pick 5 options and place them in order of preference
RESERVE 1
RESERVE 2
Wherever possible we will try to guarantee you your first three choices

41. What subjects are included in the English Baccalaureate?
GCSE A* - C in 5 subjects:
Mathematics
English
Science (2 A*-C)
MFL
Humanities (History or Geography only)
The Russell Group’s ‘Informed Choices’ document
highlights these subjects as facilitating subjects
at A Level for top degree entry

42. A Broad and Balanced Curriculum
The subjects your son or daughter chooses should be a good balance as encouraged by the EBacc but the arts, ICT and technology are very much part of achieving a good balance.
It is important their choices allow progression into further and higher education in a range of subjects which they will enjoy and succeed in.

43. Our Philosophy
To ensure that students are not being disadvantaged by not being offered the broad range of subjects
To enable students to make an informed choice
To empower them to achieve; to inspire them to excel