WELCOME TO THE YEAR 9 OPTIONS EVENING

CHANGES TO KS4 COURSES No modular exams All exams at end of year 11 No opportunity to re-sit Btecs now have compulsory 25% exam element Approved qualifications list

HOW IS KS4 DIFFERENT? More independence required More time-management required More choice in what you do

NEW MEASURES Progress 8 replaces 5+ A*C including English & Maths Looks at a students average performance across 8 subjects Progress 8 subjects: English & Maths – double-weighted 3 Ebacc subjects – 2/3 Science, French, Geography, History 3 others Leadership qualification

WHAT WEVE DONE ALREADY Subject teachers discussed KS4 options in lessons Year assemblies Taster Day Curriculum & Timetable change (December 2013)

COMPULSORY SUBJECTS English Language (& English Literature) Maths Science (double award or triple – separate sciences) PE – GCSE PE or Btec Sport SCIENCE AND PE KS4 COURSE CHOICES ARE GUIDED BY SUBJECT TEACHERS FOUR OPTION CHOICES IN ADDITION TO THESE

OUR OPTION BLOCKS BLOCK ABLOCK BBLOCK CBLOCK D Art Food TechnologyBusiness Studies Graphics Technology GeographyFood Technology Health & Social HistoryFrenchGeographyMedia Studies HistoryPsychology Religious StudiesResistant MaterialsReligious StudiesTextiles Technology Resistant MaterialsBTEC Health & SocialBTEC DanceBTEC Health & Social BTEC ICT BTEC BusinessBTEC ICT BTEC Performing Arts Childcare (counts as two options) Catering (counts as two options) Engineering (counts as two options) Hairdressing (counts as two options)

KEY THINGS TO CONSIDER Do you like it? Do you find it interesting? Does it fit into future plans? What could it lead to? How is it assessed? How many exams? Is there any coursework or controlled assessment? Do I have the skills required?

DONT….! Pick a course because your friends are picking it Pick a course because you like your current teacher Pick a course without doing a lot of RESEARCH!

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH! Speak to subject teachers Speak to students Speak to form tutors Read the options booklet

THE OPTIONS BOOKLET Qualification type Exam Board contact Course overview Skills requirement What students say Assessment Progression

TIMESCALE Taster Day – Tuesday 18 th February Options Evening – Tuesday 18 th February Option booklets & letters distributed – Tuesday 18 th February Student meetings with form tutors – 5 th - 21 st March Option forms completed by – Friday 21 st March Groups / Choices analysed – April / May Follow-up meetings (if required) – April / May Courses start – 3 rd September 2014 Y10 Parents Information Evening – September 2014 (date tbc) Last date for course changes – 26 th September 2014