Hartismere High School Information Assembly for Pupils in Year 9 Wednesday 3 rd December 9.00am Courses in Years 10 and to 2011

Hartismere High School Information Evening for Parents of Year 9 Wednesday 3 rd December 7.00pm Courses in Years 10 and to 2011

Options… ArtASDANBusiness Studies Business Studies BTecDance BTec DramaFood TechnologyFrench GeographyGerman Health and Social CareHistoryICT Media StudiesMusicPE Sport BTecStatistics Graphics Resistant MaterialsTextiles

Core…  English and English Literature  Mathematics  Science: Biology, Chemistry and Physics  RE  ICT  Careers Guidance and PSCHE

PE option…  PEGCSE  DanceBTec  SportBTec

Choose four from…  Art  ASDAN  Business Studies  Business Studies BTec  Drama  Food Technology  French  Geography  German  Health and Social Care BTec  History  ICT  Media Studies  Music  Statistics  Graphics  Resistant Materials  Textiles

What are BTecs?  Most of the subjects you will study will be GCSEs  BTecs are of the same level of difficulty, but are assessed through coursework and are graded differently.  They have a vocational (work-based) focus.  OCR Nationals are similar to BTecs

Approximate timeline for the Options process  December 2008 Options Assembly  December 2008 Parents Information Evening  Spring Term, 2009Options Booklet issued  Spring Term, 2009Dry-runs to get pupils thinking about choices  Following a dry-runPupil Interview with teaching staff to discuss choices  Spring Term, 2009PSCHE timetable - pupils ‘Making Choices’  …

Approximate timeline for the Options process  …  Wednesday March 31st Parents’ Evening  Before Easter 2009final choice forms issued  After Easter 2009final choice forms returned  options are then entered on a curriculum model  discussions with pupils and parent if we can’t offer chosen subjects

What are dry-runs?  We will give you a free choice at first. This helps us to set-up the option pools  In the second dry-run you will have to choose from different ‘pools’. You might not be able to choose the same set of subjects.  Your final choice might have to be different again as we might change the pools based on your choices from the second dry-run

How do I choose?  Which subjects do you enjoy?  Which subjects are you good at?  Read the options booklet carefully  Find out about subjects you don’t study  Ask older pupils what the different courses were like  If you study the subject already, e.g. History, ask your teacher  Think about future career aspirations

What shouldn’t I do?  Base your decisions on who is teaching you the subject this year. In most cases you’ll get a different teacher.  Choose the same options as your best friend because you like being together.  Do what your older brother did because he did very well.  Choose a narrow range of subjects…  …choose a subject just to have a broad range.  Don’t choose a subject because you think it’s ‘easy’…it won’t be.

Will I get what I want?  Well over 90% of pupils get their first choice  Some pupils will have to study a reserve choice  Very rarely, we might ask someone to choose again because we can’t offer what they’ve requested

Do some subjects ‘fill-up’?  Yes. Every year there are courses that fill up quickly because:  we only have facilities to run one group per year.  We have to restrict numbers in a class for reasons of safety

Who gets a place when a subject is oversubscribed?  Pupils who have shown an interest in year 7-9. For example in Food Technology or Graphics.  Pupils who have found out about the subject by asking the teacher for information. For example, Business Studies or Media Studies.

What happens if I don’t get my choice?  If we can’t offer you the options you’ve chosen we will always contact your parents and arrange an interview so we can talk about the different options.

What happens if I change my mind?  Once you’ve made your choice, that’s it.  If you have a very good reason and your parents support you, we will look again once we’ve allocated everyone else.  The earlier we know the more likely we’ll be able to do something.

What do GCSE grades mean?  They are a measure of achievement at High School.  Used to assess ability for career/ educational progression.  GCSEs are at levels 1 and 2 depending on the grade you get.  Grades D-G are at level 1.  Grades A*-C are at level 2.

Where GCSEs can lead….  GCSE grades A*-G - work, college or an apprenticeship.  Five GCSE grades A*-C - courses of all types - but most commonly A levels.  Most universities will ask for five GCSEs grades A*-C, including English and Maths.

What are BTECs?  BTECs are specialist work related qualifications.  BTECs are generally graded as a pass, merit, or distinction. A distinction can be seen as an equivalent to an A or A*. GCSE.  BTEC first certificate passes are generally seen as being equal to two GCSEs.

What are the benefits of a BTEC?  Provides a taster of a vocational pathway.  May be seen as more interesting and relevant for some students.  Enhances motivation if seen as more relevant.  BTECs can lead to a job or further study such as an HNC or HND and many professional qualifications.

Like what? Examples of HNCs and HNDs are….  Agriculture, health and social care, business and management, sport and exercise sciences and many more….