1. Pathways to Success KS4 Options 2017-2020

2. Guidance 2017
Welcome
Your Subjects Matter!

3. Raise the aspirations of all …
Raise the attainment of all …
associated with the school.

4. What do we expect from you?
Exam entries cost £250 – 300 each
Commitment
100% Attendance
Homework completed to the expected standard
Meet deadlines
Work hard for coursework, ILEs and assessments in order to reach PIs
Have a positive Personal Learning Ethos
Communication
Cause for concern
Progress
Successes
When final examination entries are being made, it may be necessary to consider individual cases and determine whether the effort and commitment that has been made justifies the entry being completed

5. Attendance and Attainment
95% “Good” GCSEs
inc English & maths

6. ‘Success is science; if you have the conditions, you get the result’
Oscar Wilde

7. You will be required to stay in full-time education or training until you are 18
In order to have the best chance of being able to study the courses you are interested in, you will need 8 GCSEs or equivalent subjects, including Grade 5 in English and mathematics.

8. GCSEs could be used to assess eligibility for a uni course
The majority of university courses look for at least Cs (Grade 5) in GCSE English, maths and perhaps science. Some university courses go further and ask for specific subjects at GCSE, with certain grades.
A management degree at the University of Leeds, for example, specifies that you must have at least Bs (Grade 6) in English language and maths under your belt, while a psychology degree at the University of Bristol asks for ‘maths, English and science at grade B (Grade 6), but grade A (Grade 7) preferred’.

9. Pathways to Success KS4 Options 2017-2020

10. Why is this important? Broad and balanced curriculum
Everyone will continue to study…
English Language
English Literature
Maths
Double Science
Religious Studies PE
PSHE
You now need to begin to decide which other subjects you will study.
You are twelve or thirteen years old … some of you may have very clear ideas about what you want to do when you leave school and what job you want to do. Most of you won’t have a clue … and that’s fine. The important thing is that you don’t limit what you can do later on, by making the wrong choices now. We help you with this, by ensuring a broad and balanced curriculum. Everyone will continue to study …
You now need to start thinking about which other subjects you want to continue studying. Unfortunately this is not a free choice, as there are more than 200 of you to organise into classes with teachers. So although we will do our best to ensure that you are able to study the subjects that you want, you will not always get your first choice.

11. How do I make this decision?
Choose subjects that you enjoy and that you are interested in
Look at your grades in Go 4 Schools
Talk to people – teachers, parents, friends, siblings etc
If you know what you want to do in the future, make sure you choose subjects which will help
You are more likely to achieve in subjects that you like – don’t pick something because your friends are doing, it is quite likely you won’t even be in the same class!
Look at your grades in G4S – where are you performing or even excelling? Where are your best grades?
Talk to your parents, your siblings (although bear in mind that older siblings will have done a different GCSE course), your tutors and your subject teachers. There is nothing wrong with going to your subject teacher and asking whether they think you should choose their subject.

12. Attainment 8 How your subjects add up
1. English
2. Mathematics
3. Science – Core
4. Science – Additional
5. English Baccalaureate Option
Any other
three
subjects

13. You must choose at least one English Baccalaureate subject
Computer Science
German
Geography
History
Triple Science
Spanish
There will only be 2 Triple Science groups, so you will only be able to choose Triple Science if you are in Set 1 or 2.

14. You can then choose 3 more subjects
Art – Fine Art Art – Graphics Art – Textiles
Computer Science Drama
Design & Technology Engineering
Food & Nutrition German Geography
Health & Social Care History Media Studies
Physical Education Science (Triple)
Spanish Textiles Design
Pick 3 more

15. Options Application Form

16. Options Example 1 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

17. Options Example 2 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

18. Options Example 3 ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

19. What now?
You will be given your application form next week during tutor time.
If you have no problems deciding your options, please complete the form as soon as possible and hand it in to your form tutor straight after half term.
If you are struggling with the decision after speaking to your tutor and parents, please speak to Mrs Procter or Mrs Carré during tutor time.
Some pupils will be asked to make an extra appointment with Mrs Procter or Mrs Carré on Review Day so that we can support you to make the right choices.

20. Help Desk – LRC Break Times until 7th March
Mrs Procter Mrs Carré
Mrs Greenfield

21. Tuesday 7th March Application Deadline
Return your application form to your tutor no later than:
Tuesday 7th March

22. Time Line NO LATER THAN – 7th March Assembly – 10th February
Tutors discuss options – 10th February – 7th March
Year 8 Options Site Open – 10th February
Help Desk – Open every break in the LRC
Review Day – 7th March
Application Form Returned
NO LATER THAN – 7th March
Choices Confirmed – April 2017

23. Remember - Application Deadline
Tuesday 7th March
Return your application form to your tutor by:
End