1. Curriculum Guidance for KS4 and Options Evening 8th March 2018
St Benedict’s
Catholic High School, Alcester
Curriculum Guidance for KS4
and Options Evening
8th March 2018

2. Attendance and Punctuality Organisation at school and at home
DfE: Pupils with no absence are nearly 3 times more likely to get 5 strong GCSEs than pupils with an attendance of 85%
Prof. Carole Dweck, Stamford University: Attitude is more important than intelligence to exam success
Attendance and Punctuality
Attitude to Learning
Organisation at school and at home
Reading anything!
NFER: Pupils who do their homework do better in exams, especially if their parents support them
British Cohort Study of people: Reading for pleasure improves not just literacy but maths ability too
HOW? It’s a partnership. TEAM – together everyone achieves more.
This is the next step in your journey and what happens in the next couple of years is really important to your future success.
We need to work together as a partnership between school and home, if all the pieces of the jigsaw are going to come together.
Attendance and punctuality are the absolute key. If you are not here, you cannot learn.
A report published by the DfE last year said that puoils with no absence were nearly three times more likely to get 5A*-C GCSEs including English and Maths than pupils with an attendance of 85%.
Your attitude to learning is really important. Your effort and behaviour will have a huge influence. Sam Golwyn-Mayer the film producer (MGM) said ‘The harder I work, the luckier I get’.
You need to do your homework. A report by NFER an educational charity suggests pupils who do their homework generally do better in exams, especially when their parents take an interest and support them with it.
I cannot stress the importance of good organisation enough. For every minute I spend organising myself, I earn half an hour back.
This last piece of the puzzle is of huge significance. When you were little you learned to read. This was so that now you are older you can read to learn. Again, research evidence suggests that children who read (anything) make more progress than those that don’t, especially over the summer. A study by an American university found that improving reading skills had a positive impact on progress in maths.
In addition, the new GCSEs will all have components that assess QWC/SPAG, so the better your literacy the better you will do.

3. KS3 –> KS4 –> KS5 Why Choose? KS3 – Approx. 15 subjects
Post 18 – 1-2 subjects

4. KS4 Curriculum Choices
Students DO reduce the number of subjects they study
They DON’T ‘drop’ subjects they don’t like
We all have to do things we don’t like very much
They DON’T ‘drop’ subjects they find hard
We all have things we find easier and some we find harder. We build resilience and new skills by persevering.

5. GCSE Reforms
A new grading scale of 9 to 1 will be used, with 9 being the top grade.
Assessment will be mainly by exam, with coursework assessments only being used where they are needed to test essential skills.
The content is more demanding.
All courses will be linear and not divided into modules.
All exams will be at the end of the two year course.
This year is the first year that all GCSEs will be under the new structure.
No resits allowed.

7. English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
The English Baccalaureate is not a qualification in itself.
The EBacc refers to a combination of subjects that the government thinks is important for young people to study at GCSE.
It includes:
English Language and English Literature
Mathematics
The sciences
Geography or History
A language
EBacc is a performance measure for schools, it isn’t a qualification.
At St. Peter’s we have always followed an EBacc curriculum.
We recognise that the EBacc curriculum isn’t for everyone.
There is no such thing as a one size fits all curriculum.

8. EBacc
The government’s ambition is to see 90% of GCSE pupils choosing the EBacc subject combination by 2025.
A study by the Sutton Trust reveals that studying the EBacc can help improve a young person’s performance in English and maths.
Research by the UCL Institute of Education shows that taking the EBacc enhances prospects for entering further education or employment.
EBacc is a performance measure for schools, it isn’t a qualification.
At St. Peter’s we have always followed an EBacc curriculum.
We recognise that the EBacc curriculum isn’t for everyone.
There is no such thing as a one size fits all curriculum.

9. EBacc core academic element GCSE requirements for EBacc
English
GCSE English (Language)
and
GCSE English Literature
Mathematics
GCSE Mathematics
Science
GCSE Combined Science
or three of
GCSE Biology
GCSE Chemistry
GCSE Physics
GCSE Computer Science
Humanities
GCSE Geography or
GCSE History
A modern foreign language
GCSE Spanish
Students have to gain a good pass in all five elements to achieve the EBacc.
As a school we place a high value on languages. All KS3 students will have learnt a language. It gives great skills and can help with understanding grammar in English.
Useful on holiday!
Global economy – business language.
Top universities expect students to have a language, even if that is not what they are studying.
Opens doors to years abroad etc.

11. GCSE English and Mathematics
Most employers and universities require at least a Grade 4 and sometimes a Grade 5 as basic requirements.
Maths and English underpin all other subjects in the curriculum.
Everyone needs basic maths and English skills for life.
Extra English and Maths for some pupils to boost their learning across the curriculum not just in English and Maths.

12. GCSE Science
Some students will be advised to take ‘Triple Science’ which is 3 separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The content is extremely rigorous.
Some students will be advised to take ‘Combined Science’ which is a double GCSE qualification in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Both routes allow further study of the sciences with the International Baccalaureate in Year12.
Decision made later in the academic year. GCSE content started by all classes.

13. GCSEs in Humanities
To practise the analytical thinking skills needed to be a successful student and employee.
To improve oral and written communication skills.
To appreciate the interconnectedness of all areas of knowledge - how it all fits together.
To develop a global perspective.
Highly recommend History of Geography. Can do both.

14. GCSE Languages
According to a study conducted by the CBI, the UK’s premier business organisation, French, German and Spanish are all in increasing demand by employers, especially after Brexit.
Learning foreign languages boosts memory and listening skills.
There is evidence that learning languages makes you better at maths and better at studying anything!
Learning a language improves creativity and problem solving skills, teaches you about different cultures and customs.
Language acquisition is a key component of the International Baccalaureate in Y12.
St. Peter’s commitment to MFL.
School policy I that most pupils will take a GCSE MFL unless it is not in their interest.
Second language an option.

15. GCSE RE
Learn to respect themselves and understand their own identity, to respect and tolerate others, and to understand their own and others' beliefs, rights and responsibilities.
Multidisciplinary nature, involving textual study, philosophical thinking, ethics, social understanding, the skills of analysis and reasoning and developing core skills of literacy.
Develops critical thinking and decision making skills.
Religious Education is the "core of the core curriculum" in a Catholic school (Pope St John Paul II). Placing RE at the core of the curriculum in Catholic schools helps the school to fulfil its mission to educate the whole person in discerning the meaning of their existence, since "Religious Education is concerned not only with intellectual knowledge but also includes emotional and affective learning. It is in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of what it is to be human truly becomes clear. Without religious education, pupils would be deprived of an essential element of their formation and personal development, which helps them attain a vital harmony between faith and culture." Furthermore, religiously literate children and young people are able to engage in a fully informed critique of all knowledge, "leading, for example, to an understanding of the relationship between science and religion or history, and between theology, sport and the human body."

16. Core Lessons Core Subjects GCSEs 4 hours English Language & Literature2
Maths 1
6 hours
Science
1, 2 or 3
2 hours
Religious Education
1 hour
Physical Education

17. Health & Social Care Btec
Option Blocks A B C D
Additional Core *
Geography
History
Spanish
Business
Drama DT
L1/2 Retail Business
Textiles FT
L1/2 Sport
Music PE
Art
Computer Science
Health & Social Care Btec
IT & Cookery *
Psychology
* = By invitation only – Please see Mrs Ball to discuss
Choose: 1st and 2nd choice in each block
Choose: Top Choice Subject – The one in any block you really want to do!

18. Suggested Process 1 - Know your core curriculum
2- Know the EBacc combination of subjects
3 - Know yourself
Use fast Tomato and other sites (see Useful links)
Talk to your parents
Look at your previous reports/profiles
Talk to your teachers
4 – Know your future ambitions: college, university, employment
5 - Know the option blocks
Look at the page entitled ‘Option Subjects’ so you know what you can choose
6 - Know the option subjects
Look at the details about the options subjects on the Options site
Speak to students who are taking the courses (but be careful some are changing this year)
7 - Make your choices
Follow the link from the ‘Making My Choices’ page by 23rd March

19. What to Choose? A balanced curriculum
Academic / Practical
A curriculum that enables you to succeed
Uses your strengths
Isn’t too onerous or intensive
Consider the advantages of an EBacc curriculum
Options for the future (education / career)
Don’t close doors!

20. Options Information

21. How to make your options

22. Student Subject Talks:
Key Dates
Options Evening Talk:
Thursday 8th March 2018
Student Subject Talks:
W/C 5th March 2018
Options Deadline:
Friday 23rd March 2018

23. All staff are available by ‘phone on 01789 762888
Key Contacts
Staff Contact Details:
Mrs Michelle Parton – Assistant Headteacher
Mrs Jackie Holmes – Careers Adviser
Form Tutors – General pastoral advice
Heads of Department – For subject specific queries
All staff are available by ‘phone on