Option Choices in Year 9

How GCSEs have changed in England GCSEs have been reformed with new courses and a new grading system (9-1 with 9 being highest will replace A*-G grades) The new courses are more demanding, and most have more examinations at the end of the course Your son/daughter will take approximately 22 examination papers in the summer of 2021

The curriculum in Years 9, 10 & 11 Compulsory subjects leading to a qualification English literature English Language Maths Science (2 or 3 GCSEs) Compulsory subjects which do not lead to a qualification Physical Education, PSHE & The Step Programme Option choices E-Bacc subject Option subject

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Years 9, 10 and 11 Maths 4 English 5 Science 6 PE 2 PSHE ½ Option 1 2½ Option 2 Option 3 Hours per week 25 In Year 11, option subjects will have 3 lessons per week (with PSHE covered in STEP time and 1 hour a week of PE)

Quality over quantity is key Universities do not require students to have a collection of GCSEs, they are more interested in the grades a student has obtained across their subjects. In particular some specify a minimum grade for maths & English

Your son/daughter has 3 option choices and one of those must be an E-bacc It is therefore very important that your son or daughter opts for subjects that they enjoy and will do well in. We want their 7½ hours of options per week to be something they look forward to and excel in. Their option choices are very precious, everything else is chosen for them and allows them to show that they are fully rounded, academic students.

Can option choices limit future plans? The core subjects (Maths, English & Science) keep most career options open In Sixth Form a large number of students take options from their core GCSEs. In addition there are new subjects to opt for (such as psychology) or subjects which were offered at GCSE but can be taken from scratch in Sixth Form (such as Health and Social Care).

Can option choices limit future plans? There are a few subjects which, if you do not opt for them at GCSE, may be difficult to study at a further or higher level: History, Geography, Technology, Art or a Modern Foreign Language

Can option choices limit future Plans? By choosing options your son or daughter will enjoy, and has a strength in, they will increase their options for Sixth Form and College, as they will achieve higher grades.

Making the right choices

What should your son/daughter consider when choosing their options? What subjects do I enjoy now and why? What subjects am I achieving my best grades in? What subjects do I enjoy completing homework to a high standard for? Do I want to have all exams at the end of year 11 or would I like to opt for a subject(s) with more assessment during the course? Do I have any interests/talents outside school which I could gain a qualification in?

Timeline of Events Assembly for students Monday 5th February Assembly for students Parents’ meeting to hear about the Key Stage 4 curriculum w/c Monday 5th February Learning qualities information available to parents (engagement and effort in each subject) w/c 5th February & w/c 19th February PSHCE lesson focused on careers action planning and progression routes w/c 19th February Subject specific careers lesson to show progression routes in their subject. w/c 5th March Individual appointments for students and parents to consult with senior staff about choices. Option choices will be made at your interview. Monday 12th March to Friday 20th July Timetable and Year 9 classes will be constructed. Parents will be contacted if further discussion is required about option choices or combinations of subjects. w/c Monday 4th September Start of new timetable. In exceptional circumstances we may allow students to change course in September but this is not always possible due to class sizes.

Option choices – 3 subjects E-Bacc Options: you must choose at least one of these Other option subjects: you can choose a maximum of 2 of these subjects Computer Science Art & Design PE (GCSE) French Business Religious Studies Geography Design Technology Sport German Digital Information Technology History Drama Food Nutrition & Preparation Health & Social Care Media Music

Making appropriate choices: Questions we have asked the students to consider or find the answer to Do you know the differences between the GCSEs and BTECs? GCSE PE or BTEC Sport – what is the difference? Can you take both? Have you read enough about the new subjects on offer (Business Studies, Health and Social Care)? Which Humanity – Geography, History, Religious Studies or more than one?

Frequently asked questions Does my son or daughter need a foreign language GCSE to apply to university? Are BTEC qualifications given equal value to GCSEs My son or daughter is very academic but they are a talented artist/musician/sports person, will taking options which play to their strength affect their future choices? Currently University College London (UCL) is the only Russell Group institution to require a Modern Foreign Language GCSE at grade C or above for all of its programmes. However, if you did not take a Modern Foreign Language GCSE, or if you got a D grade or below, you can still apply to any UCL degree programme, and it won’t negatively affect your application. You will not be rejected just because you don’t have it but you will need to complete a short course certificate in a Modern Foreign Language or undertake a half course unit during your studies at UCL. Please see http://www.ucl.ac.uk/prospective-students/ undergraduate/application for more details. Although only UCL has a formal requirement in place, Modern Foreign Language qualifications are valued by admissions tutors across the Russell Group.

Students should opt for subjects they enjoy & will do well in “Candidates do not need to take the English Baccalaureate to be able to apply to Oxford. We recommend that candidates take those GCSE subjects that they enjoy the most and are confident in achieving good grades in.” Oxford University

We have asked the students to: Read the brochure carefully Talk with their parents Look at their Year 8 progress data Read the assessment section on the options pages carefully and think about whether they want: Breadth – 3 different subjects Specialisation – 2 or 3 similar subjects, playing to their strengths Coursework and practical work in their option subjects They must look at your option form prior to their interview and make some provisional choices