Madeley High School

OPTION CHOICES

2005

A joint Technology College with Blackfriars School

SUBJECT LESSONS

English (inc Eng Lit) 6

French 4

ICT 2

Mathematics COMMON 5

PE CORE 2

PSHE/Citizenship 2

Religious Studies 1

Science (Double Award) 8

Option A OPTION 4

Option B GROUPS 4

Option C One must be a

4

Option D D&T subject After School

What exams will pupils take?

• Most subjects are full course GCSEs

• Some subjects can be short courses equivalent to ½ GCSE – ICT, PE and Religious Studies

• Science is a double award course equivalent to 2 GCSEs

• Some subjects are double award vocational GCSEs taught in conjunction with Newcastle College

• These are Applied ICT, Applied Art, Engineering and Health & Social Care

• These are related to the world of work

• They are practical and give pupils a chance to learn by doing

• They are assessed mainly by coursework

• They are taught both at Newcastle College and at Madeley High School

• They involve a degree of self-study

• They require a considerable commitment

• If pupils are interested in one of these subjects they must speak to Mr Surtees or Miss Gilson

• They will then be seen by Newcastle College staff before being accepted

How should pupils choose their options?

• Think about their strengths and weaknesses

• Think about their future career

• Don’t copy their friends

• Don’t base their choices on teachers

• Don’t base their choices on their gender, there are no male or female subjects

OPTION A• D&T (Food Technology)

• D&T (Graphic Products)

• D&T (Resistant Materials)

• Engineering (Vocational GCSE)

• German

• Geography

• History

• ICT (FC) + Business Studies/Supported Self-study

OPTION B• D&T (Food Technology)

• D&T (Graphic Products)

• Applied Art (Vocational GCSE)

• Art & Design

• Business Studies

• Expressive Arts

• Extension Studies

OPTION C• Art and Design

• Extension Studies

• Health & Social Care(Vocational GCSE)

• History

• Home Economics (Child Development)

• ICT (FC) & PE(SC)/RS/Self-study

• Music

• PE (FC)

• Religious Studies

OPTION D (Additional Studies)

• D&T (Graphic Products)*

• Statistics*

• Applied ICT (Vocational GCSE)**

* Taught after school at Madeley High School

** Taught in conjuction with Newcastle College

What should pupils do now?• Talk to their teachers • Talk to their parents• Read the “Key Stage 4 – The

Curriculum Explained” booklet carefully • Talk to Miss Gilson or Mr Surtees if they

are considering a vocational GCSE in Option A, B or C or any subject in Option D

• Newcastle College staff are also here this evening if you would like to talk to them about vocational GCSEs

• Fill in their option choices form, putting a first & second choice for each option block

• Make certain they include a D&T subject and rank the D&T subjects in order of preference in case their first choice is unavailable

• Try to keep a good balance of subjects and because of this think seriously about selecting a humanities subject

• Option forms and the “Key Stage 4” booklet were given out today

• This must be completed by 21st March ready for an interview with a senior member of staff

• Please contact the school at any time if you have any questions

Year 9 SATs

• These take place in the week beginning 3rd May

• The school has purchased SAM Learning, an internet based revision package to help pupils prepare for these

• There will be a demonstration of this package at 7.15pm in Room 14 this evening

• School computer rooms will be open after school to give pupils access to the package, with priority given to those who do not have internet access at home