1. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17 Yr 9 Options Information
Yr 9 Options Information
Wednesday
10th December 2014
14 November 6 December
Student
Interviews with Head of House
w/c 4
November
Aim Higher Day at Hertfordshire University
11 November
Year 9 Tracker issued
14 January
Completed options forms submitted to Heads of House
8 January
Year 9
Parents'
Evening
6 December
Options
information sent home 11
December
Options Fair
w/c 10 March
Provisional
options
confirmed
w/c 22 April
Pathway re-adjustments made and final options
confirmed
w/c 24 February
Year 9 Exams
10 March – 22 April
A small number of students may wish to change their option choices due to a range of factors which will be discussed with students and parents should the need arise
16 June
GCSE Courses Begin
14 July
Final opportunity to change an option

2. Purpose of this Evening GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
To provide you with further information on how best to help your child express their preferred subject selection for Years 10 and 11.
To outline our understanding of the current Government’s position on education.
To understand the process required to accurately express your preferred subject selection at KS4.

3. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Aim – To support your child in making an informed subject preference for KS4
Before - discussed your child’s areas of interest and possible vocations. Students should have completed some research prior to attending this evening. Looking at different jobs and the qualifications required to follow this career path.
Tonight - visit identified subject stalls and discuss the demands of the subject with staff and student representatives.
Attend a presentation to support you in guiding your child to make an appropriate selection of subjects.
After – discuss the evening, read through the booklet again, complete the form and get it in on time.

4. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Process so far
GCSE Options at Tring School
All students have attended an assembly regarding the options process and received their options booklet.
All students should have had a Futures Interview with their Head of House.
All parents and students should have received a report very recently, which will have informed you of the current level progress for your son/daughter.

5. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update
Since the last election that has been a great deal of talk about the changes required to improve the British education system.
English Baccalaureate.
A raise in the participation age
Linear examinations
Loss of retakes
A change of assessment criteria part way through courses
More recently, we have heard about curriculum and examination reforms, as well as a new grading system.

6. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update
Examination reform – All GCSE and A Level courses have been rewritten with new schemes of assessment.
Yr9 will be the first cohort who will study the new GCSE courses in English Language, English Literature and Mathematics.
The new GCSE specification are much more demanding and the content for Maths has increased significantly, leading us to change our curriculum model.
Transition curriculum to ensure they are fully prepared for the new specification.
All other courses Yr9 will be the last cohort to follow the old specification.

7. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update - Changes to GCSE Grading
The grading system for GCSE is changing. From 2017, the current A* - G grading system will be replaced with Grades 1-9.
For our current Year 9, English Language, English Literature and Mathematics will be graded using the new system, with students receiving their results in August 2017.
All other GCSEs will be graded A*-G.

8. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17 National Update – School Measures
National Update – School Measures
The Government have introduced a new performance measure known as the ‘Attainment 8’, which dictates which subjects students should be examined in.
This potentially could restrict the students to having just two free subject choices.
With some careful curriculum planning we have been able to maintain three free subject choices and one restricted subject choice for all students who are on the Green Pathway (6c+).

9. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17 National Update – School Measures
National Update – School Measures
All students who achieve a 6c or above at
the end of Yr9 are required to take the following subjects –
English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
3 subjects to include Core Science, Additional Science, plus Geography, History, French, German or Computer Science (Option block A).
3 other subjects (Option blocks B,C,D).

10. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update – Attainment 8 and Progress 8 Requirements
GROUP 1
English: Double weighted*
Maths: Double weighted
*Higher score of English Language or English Literature double weighted if a student has taken both qualifications
GROUP 2
EBacc qualifications
(sciences, computer science, geography, history and languages)
GROUP 3
‘Open group’
Remaining Ebacc qualifications and other approved qualifications, including second English GCSE
(GCSEs and other approved academic, arts or vocational qualifications) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Transition curriculum to ensure they are fully prepared for the new specification.
All other courses Yr9 will be the last cohort to follow the old specification.

11. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17 Degree or further training 2022
In School Guidance
Aim Higher Day
All students will have the opportunity to visit the University of Bedfordshire and begin to consider their futures and what qualifications they will need to get there.
Job 2022/23
Degree or further training 2022
A level or Equivalent
2019
GCSE 2017

12. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Our Approach
GCSE Options at Tring School
We aim to provide a flexible curriculum, which provides different pathways for different students;
“To help all of our learners to meet the challenges of life in our fast-changing world.”
Working in collaboration with school staff and parents, our students will be guided towards a combination of subjects which best suits their individual needs and interests.

13. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17 A Curriculum with Pathways
A Curriculum with Pathways
The students have all been following a curriculum organised into pathways which have been designed to offer appropriate challenge to students of differing abilities and develop them individually into Confident, Responsible, Independent and Successful Learners.
Students of different abilities will continue to follow a slightly adjusted programme and complete KS4 with an expected different number of qualifications. The combinations of subjects offered in each pathway are selected to ensure the maximum potential for success for all of our students and all students will have an appropriate level of challenge.
Pathway Entry:
Green Subjects Level 6c and above in English, Maths and Science
Blue Subjects Level 5 or above in English, Maths and Science
Purple Subjects Level 4 and below in English, Maths and Science
This curriculum in turn feeds into a selection of pathways at Key stage 5.

14. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
The Core Curriculum
GCSE Options at Tring School
English
Maths
Science
PRS
Green
2 GCSEs
Language and Literature
1 GCSE
2 GCSEs for all
3 GCSEs for the most able
½ a GCSE
Blue
2 GCSEs Language and Literature
2 GCSE
School Completion Certificate
Purple
1 GCSE or other appropriate qualification

15. My Possible Final Qualifications GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
English
Maths
Science
PRS
Options
Total GCSE equivalents
Green
2 GCSEs
Language and Literature
1 GCSE
2 GCSE for all
3 GCSE for most able
½ GCSE
4 GCSEs or BTEC
10 ½ or 9 ½ GCSEs
Blue
1 GCSE Language
Option Literature for some
2 GCSE
School Completion Certificate
7 or 8 GCSEs
Purple
or other appropriate qualification
1 GCSE or or other appropriate qualification
3 GCSEs or BTEC
6 GCSEs

16. The Next Chapter of Your Child’s Education
GCSE Options at Tring School
The Next Chapter of Your Child’s Education
Raising the Participation Age
The Government has increased the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training, requiring them to continue until their 18th birthday.
Full Time Education at Tring School
Minimum 8 C Grades at GCSE and meet the entry criterion for your chosen subjects
Full Time Education at College
Level 3 = A Level
5 GCSE C Grades including English and Maths
Level 2 = GCSE (A*-C)
4 GCSE Grade D
Level 1 course ( G-D grades)
Apprenticeship
5 GCSE C Grades including English and Maths

17. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
The Option Blocks
GCSE Options at Tring School
Block A 
Block B
Block C
Block D
French
Geography
German
History
Computer Science
Business Studies
HSC
Media
Music RM
Art
Drama
Food PE
Textiles
Sociology
Further Add Science
Graphics
Leisure & Tour
PRS
Catering
Citizenship
Construction
Asdan
Workskills
Vocational course at West Herts College
What do I do if a Subject I am really good at is not on my Pathway?
Speak to, or , Mr Barlow who will discuss the possibility with the appropriate subject leader and confirm whether or not you may select that option.

18. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Things to Consider
GCSE Options at Tring School
You will be making some subject selections for next year and they should …
Reflect subjects that you already enjoy.
Allow you to achieve the most that you are capable of.
Be able to be continued onto higher courses in the partnership or at college.
Allow for you to enter the career of your choice.
Please be aware that:
Russell Universities have advised that studying for more GCSEs at the expense of getting higher grades is not advantageous
* Russel Group University guidance – DFE Website
You will be making some subject selections for next year and they must not be
selected …
Because your friends are selecting it.
Because you like your teacher this year.
Because you think it will be easy.

19. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
An Important Time…
We want you to make the right choices:
Please use this evening to follow up the discussions you have had so far with your parents, Lifeskills teachers & Heads of Houses.
Ask the subject teachers about the courses you are interested in, discuss the topics covered, the methods of assessment and your suitability for the course.
The Connexions Team and Mrs Raybould will be available to discuss any individual concerns in the Desborough Hall.

20. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
An Important Time…
GCSE Options at Tring School
Remember:
All exams for every GCSE subject will be at the end of Year 11 and the style and weighting for coursework are still under review by exam boards
BTEC courses will all have ONE exam paper but this can be taken on a range of dates during the course

21. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Your Option Form
GCSE Options at Tring School A B C D
1st Preference
French
Graphics
Rank 1 – 4
(1=most favoured 4=least favoured) 2 3 1 4
2nd Preference
(one from each block)
Geography
History PE
Media
Sociology
Music
Due to popular course preference the subject allocation may be as follows
Option A Option B Option C Option D
Geography French History Music
This is the most important document you will complete
The numbering of your option preference is almost more important than the subjects
We will endeavour to run all the of the courses but if courses are under or over subscribed we may have to use your second preference in order to run a financially viable curriculum
Youer secind preference must be something you are happy to study

22. GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Key Dates
GCSE Options at Tring School
Submit your option choices form to your Head of House – 16 January 2015
Year 9 Exams Week starts 9 March 2015
Provisional options confirmed week commencing 16 March 2015
Pathway re-adjustments made and final options confirmed by 1 May 2015
ALL COURSES BEGIN 8th JUNE 2015
Final readjustments to choices 14 July 2015

23. Frequently Asked Questions GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Why can’t I take Resistant Materials and Food Technology?
Do I need to take a language?
What happens if I don’t like my subjects once I have started them?
I want to take two subjects in column A but nothing in column C.
What happens if the subject you want to take is not in your current pathway?

24. Make the Right Choices for You! GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17