Information, Advice and Guidance Evening Introduction Mr Raikes (Headteacher) Option Choices Mr Moore (Deputy Headteacher) GuidanceMrs Russell (Assistant Headteacher)

Summer 2019…

Changes to GCSEs that affect your daughter New GCSE courses in all subjects. For all the new courses, the grades at the end of the course in June 2019 will be expressed as 9 to 1 with 9 being the highest and 5 being equivalent to a current grade C. All new GCSEs will be fully linear with assessment at the end of the course and content not divided into modules. Controlled assessment has been removed or significantly reduced across all subjects.

How will your daughter benefit from choosig her options now? Ensure that your daughter leaves Greenbank with examination results and experiences that successfully prepare her for further education and employment. Subjects have adequate curriculum time for assessment and exam preparation in line with the new demanding linear specifications. Your daughter can still achieve 10 GCSEs and maintain the breadth of subject choice. A number of schools are opting to reduce to 8 GCSE subjects. Providing personalised curriculum routes to ensure that all pupils can succeed. Ensuring pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities have a flexible curriculum to allow for support.

Enabling high ability pupils have the best opportunity to achieve the highest grades. Providing time to explore subjects at GCSE level. This allows greater depth of understanding and enjoyment, so your daughter does not feel she is just preparing for an examination in a short space of time. Providing a transition period into GCSE courses in Year 9 to ensure the correct pathways have been chosen. Year 9 will be a foundation year for developing your daughter’s confidence as a Key Stage 4 pupil. Ensuring time is still available to deliver key activities which make Greenbank a special learning community such as the sporting, leadership and performing arts opportunities. We would also like to continue to offer a wide range of educational visits.

Core subjects All students study the Core curriculum; most will follow the English Baccalaureate: Mathematics English Language & Literature Additional (Double) Science French or Spanish Geography or History Religious Education Physical Education Some students will study a more personalised curriculum route.

Option Subjects Students are advised to keep their future career options open by choosing a broad and balanced curriculum. Students fill in TWO option choices plus a reserve.

Option Subjects Fine Art Business Studies Child Development Computer Science Creative iMedia Dance DT Drama Food & Nutrition French Geography History Latin Media Studies Music Music Technology Photography Physical Education Separate Sciences Spanish

Careers advice GHS Careers Personal Adviser – Mrs J Edwards Subject teachers and Personal tutors Jobs database – KUDOS available through - the licence code for Greenbank is planstep50 Visit the Post-16 providers

Option Choices Students will make a choice of :- French or Spanish Geography or History TWO OPTION CHOICES plus a reserve Forms to be returned by Wednesday 20 th April

OPTIONS Whose Choice?

Who decides? School? Teacher? Parent? Pupil? TOGETHER!

How do you decide? Read the options booklet Discuss the options available Ask for advice How is the subject assessed? What would I enjoy? Would I be successful in this subject? Would it be useful to me?

Find out about the subject Ask questions Think about assessment – exams or controlled assessment? Discuss with your Parents Consider future plans What do you enjoy? Is it a practical subject? Do you think you can do well in this subject? Pick an option because of your friends Assume the subject will be the same as this year Choose a subject because of your teacher this year Push your daughter into a subject – discuss, ask advice Worry! We are here to help! ✔ Do ✘ Don’t