Welcome! Year 9 Options Evening The aim of this evening is to clarify the options process, the types of qualifications offered and some of the terminology involved.

Compulsory subjects account for 3/5 of the curriculum (16 lessons) Year 9 Options Compulsory Subjects Subject Qualification English Language and Literature GCSE (2 certificates) Science Double or Triple Award GCSE (2 or 3 certificates) Mathematics GCSE (1 certificate) Religious Education Physical Education None Compulsory subjects account for 3/5 of the curriculum (16 lessons) The remaining 9 lessons are for Option Subjects (3 choices for 3 hours a week)

E-Bacc or not? The E-Bacc (English Baccalaureate) is a recognition of a good pass at GCSE, which means gaining a grade 5 or higher in the following subjects: English (Compulsory) Maths (Compulsory) Science (2 or 3) (Compulsory) A Language (Optional) History or Geography (Optional) What does it mean?

We know that: It’s not an “extra” qualification, just a recognition of grade “5” or better in all those subjects No local FE colleges or 6th forms require it for entry to their courses No HE universities state it in their entry requirements (see Russell Group “Informed Choices” document) MFL at GCSE is generally only a requirement for an English degree but check this out if you know now what you want to do University College London does require a GCSE Language as an entrance requirement for all its courses Our advice therefore is still to pick the subjects which give you the best chance of the best grades

University College London The Russell Group This is the following group of Universities: University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge Cardiff University Durham University University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow Imperial College London King's College London University of Leeds University of Liverpool London School of Economics & Political Science University of Manchester Newcastle University University of Nottingham University of Oxford Queen Mary, University of London Queen's University Belfast University of Sheffield University of Southampton University College London University of Warwick University of York  

What can they choose? We aim to give students a free choice of subjects and then build the timetable around their choices: Box A Box B Art Geography Computer Science Boys PE Girls PE History Dance Music Physics (Triple Science) Drama Photography Spanish Engineering Product Design – Fashion Film Studies Product Design – Hard Materials Food and Nutrition

Science Triple Science Double Award Science Both courses include the study of Biology, Chemistry and Physics Biology Chemistry Physics

New GCSEs A new GCSE grading system was introduced in September 2015

New GCSEs As a guide the numbers are broadly equal to the old grades shown below: ‘Good’ GCSE Pass New Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Old Grades G/F- F/E E+/D C C+/B- B/B+ A A* A** This system affects the following subjects: English Geography Maths History Science Music Art and Design PE Computer Science Photography Dance Religious Studies Drama Spanish Food and Nutrition

Advice for Students Choose the subjects you are likely to do best in. Use your current levels and the feedback you have had from your teachers to guide you Don’t make a choice just because you like the teacher. That teacher may well not be taking the group you end up in Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses and accept realistic advice about the type of course you choose. Do your research by reading the options booklet thoroughly and talking to your teachers Above all don’t choose a subject because your friend is doing it! There is no guarantee you’ll end up in the same class!

Let us guide you! We can guide you to courses which we know will offer your children the very best chances of achieving the best grades. Vocational options offer the best progression routes for some students. New qualification guidelines, however, make vocational subjects less suitable for some students.

Options Interviews You and your children are offered an options interview with a senior member of staff to explore the best choices for the best grades. These interviews will take place with either Mr Holt, Mr Fiddler, Mr Klinck or Mrs Knowles. They will take pace between February 26th and March 11th. Appointments can be made tonight at the front of the Drama Studio or in the Creative Studio.

Making their Choices The options form looks like this. You need to make 3 choices from the subject list Some additional vocational choices will be offered as an alternative for some students during options interviews. These forms are given out during the interview The deadline for return of the forms is Monday 14th March Forms must be returned to Mr Holt

Support Subject input Options interviews Visit to local colleges School Website: - Option booklet - Russell Group “Informed Choices” - Useful links to Careers websites - This presentation

Support School website: For Parents-> Year 9 Options

What Next? Options interviews take place Groups are generated and a timetable produced The vast majority of students will study their initial choices It’s likely that a small number (9 in 2013, 4 in 2014 and 0 in 2015) will have to be interviewed again and choose a different combination

Any questions ?