OPTION CHOICES 2015

CORE SUBJECTS LESSONS

English (including English Literature) 7

Mathematics 7

Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) 12

ICT (GCSE ICT) 2

Physical Education 3

Personal Development 2

Religious Studies 2

CORE SUBJECTS LESSONS

English (including English Literature) 8

Mathematics 8

Science 10

ICT (GCSE ICT) 2

Physical Education 3

Personal Development 2

Religious Studies 2

Core Curriculum

Science Sets 1 and 2

Science Sets 3, 4 and 5

• There are three option blocks. • You must choose one subject from each option block. • You must also choose a reserve choice subject from each option block. • We will try to make sure that everyone their first choice from each block.

Options

OPTION SUB JECTS LESSONS

OPTION A (Creative iMedia, Food Technology, Graphic

Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles)5

OPTION B(Art, Business Studies, German, Geography,

History, Performing Arts, Spanish)5

OPTION C(Art, French, Geography, History, Media

Studies, Music, Physical Education)5

OPTION SUB JECTS LESSONS

OPTION A (Computer Science, Food Technology, Graphic

Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles)5

OPTION B(Art, Business Studies, German, Geography,

History, Performing Arts, Spanish)5

OPTION C(Art, French, Geography, History, Media

Studies, Music, Physical Education)5

Science Sets 1 and 2

Science Sets 3, 4 and 5

• The English Baccalaureate is a combination of GCSE subjects that the government recommend pupils should study.

• This is not compulsory and doesn't lead to an extra qualification or certificate. • It is possible that in the future some colleges and universities might expect

students wishing to study more academic courses to have the English Baccalaureate combination of GCSEs.

• The English Baccalaureate is only relevant if you have a good chance of getting a minimum GCSE grade C in these subjects:

– English Language– Mathematics– Two sciences (including Computer Science)– A Modern Foreign Language (French, German or Spanish)– History or Geography

• Universities always look for a board range of subjects at GCSE. • There are a whole range of subjects that you can study at ‘A’ level and

University that you do not have to do at GCSE. • The ‘A’ level subjects and grades that you get will determine if you are offered a

place on a particular course at University.

English Baccalaureate

• All subjects are GCSEs with the exception of Creative iMedia which is a Cambridge Nationals vocational qualification equivalent to one or two GCSEs.

• You will not sit an examination for Personal Development. • Pupils in Science Set 1 study separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

and take examinations in all three subjects at the end of Year 11.• Pupils in Science Set 2 study GCSE Science in Year 10 with examinations at the

end of the year. In Year 11 these pupils study GCSE Additional Science and GCSE Further Additional Science with examinations in both at the end of the year.

• Pupils in Science Sets 3, 4 and 5 will study GCSE Science in Year 10 and GCSE Additional Science in Year 11 with examinations at the end of each year. Some pupils in Set 5 might study the Entry Level Certificate in Science instead of GCSEs.

• As well as final examinations, most subjects include some form of controlled assessment produced in class.

Examinations

• Madeley High School is a Specialist Technology Academy and as such we recognise the important place studying STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) has in preparing pupils for the workplace by allowing them to develop a wide range of key transferable skills.

• GCSE Computer Science is for pupils with a particular aptitude for Mathematics and Science. This strengthens the STEM subject choice available particularly to those pupils wishing to follow demanding academic career paths such as Computing, Engineering, Science or Medicine.

• Creative iMedia offers the opportunity to learn about creative digital media disciplines (e.g. image manipulation, video production, games design, and website design). Possible related careers include: Animator, APP Developer, Games Designer, Web Designer, Photographer.

Option A: Technology

• Try to choose subjects you enjoy and are making good progress in but don’t necessarily avoid those subjects where you’re not doing so well.

• Sometimes it is important to continue to working at a subject you find difficult because it may be the only way to lead on to something you really want to do.

• You will be given a sheet with your option form and booklet shows the grades you are most likely to achieve in GCSE subjects based on how pupils with similar ability to you at the end of Key Stage 2 have performed in previous years.

• You can get advice from your teachers or from the careers service in school. If you don’t have any clear ideas about what job you would like to do, don’t worry because most young people are like you at this stage.

Choosing Options

• DON’T choose a subject just to be with your friends. Your friends may not have the same abilities or ambitions as you. Make your own choice.

• DON’T choose a subject, or give it up, just because you like or dislike a particular teacher. In the first place you often do not know who will be teaching you next year and, in any case, your future is far more important.

• DON’T choose a subject or reject it simply because you are a boy or a girl. In the past many girls have been put off subjects because they thought that they were for boys, and this has often severely restricted the choice of jobs open to them. Equally don’t choose a subject if you’re a boy and more girls than boys take it.

Choosing Options

• You must choose a first and reserve choice in each option block.• You must choose a Modern Foreign Language (French, German or

Spanish) if you want to follow the English Baccalaureate or become a primary school teacher.

• You must also choose Geography or History for the English Baccalaureate.

• You must return your form to your Form Tutor by Monday 9th March.

• There is no advantage in returning your form before this date.• You will meet with a senior member of staff to discuss your option

choices between Wednesday 16th March and Friday 20th March (The senior member of staff allocated to your tutor group will send for you)

Your Options Form