YEAR 10 OPTIONS

2014 – 16

Briefing for parents

Jim Parker - Headteacher

Debbie Chivers - Assistant Headteacher KS4

AIMS

To engage students with the options process To start students on the right courses To start students on courses which suit their

learning styles To start students on courses they can pass

CORE CURRICULUM: YEAR 10

English 7 hours 2 GCSEs

Maths 5 hours 1 GCSE

Science 8 hours 2 GCSEs

RE 4 hours 1 GCSE

Computing 5 hours 1 GCSE

PE 4 hours

PDE 1 hour

TOTAL 34 hours

CORE CURRICULUM: YEAR 11

English 7 hours

Maths 6 hours

Science 6 hours

RE 4 hours

Computing 3 hours

PE 3 hours

PDE 1 hour

TOTAL 30 hours

OPTION CHOICES

4 option choices with - 4 hours in Year 10

- 5 hours in Year 11

GCSEs – one option choice BTECs First Awards– one option choice Vocational courses – three option choices

QUALIFICATIONS

Level OneD – G equivalent

Level TwoA* - C equivalent

GCSEVocational Courses

GCSEBTEC Awards

Vocational Courses

GCSES

Exam based academic qualifications Assessed at the end of the course with

some controlled assessments Graded

A*-C (Level 2)D-G (level 1)

GCSES

Art & Design History Tech: Catering

Business Studies Media Studies Tech: Graphics

Dance Music Tech: Product Design

Drama PE Tech: Textiles

French Use of Maths (A/S)

Triple Science

Geography Spanish

LEVEL 2 BTEC FIRST AWARDS

One option choice Equivalent to one GCSEs at A* - C grade

graded Pass, Merit, Distinction and Dist* All can reach Pass grade but the higher

grades are challenging 80% coursework(20% external assessment) Less exam focus than other subjects but

you need to be just as hard working

LEVEL 2 BTEC FIRST AWARD

Business

Sport

Health & Social Care

VOCATIONAL OPTIONS

All count as three options Access to these courses will be agreed with

individual students as they are specialised options

Level One Level Two

Construction Construction

Hair & Beauty

STUDENT SUPPORT

Study Plus Additional English and Mathematics (Learning Guides

will tell you if it would be sensible to choose this option)

Small Learning Community Study Centre

ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE

A fairly new qualification that shows if a student has a good overall academic ability

GCSE passes in: English Language Mathematics Two Sciences (Core + Additional / Triple / computer

science) Language Humanities (Geography or History)

PATHWAY 1 STUDENTS

Expect this group to follow a traditional academic route

Should predominantly consider GCSEs Will take the English Baccalaureate Need to complete a special Pathway 1 form BTECs may be appropriate, especially in

favourite subjects or if it suits learning style

PATHWAY 2 STUDENTS

Should consider GCSEs, Level Two vocational courses and BTECs

Could do English Baccalaureate

PATHWAY 3 STUDENTS

Curriculum choice is crucial Should consider,

BTECs rather than GCSEs (where there’s a choice) Additional English and Maths (where we recommend it) Level One/Two vocational college courses Study Plus might be a good option too

PATHWAY 4 STUDENTS

Should definitely consider BTECs rather than GCSEs

Additional English and Maths may well be a good option if we recommend it

Consider level One vocational courses Study Plus would be a good option

PATHWAY SUMMARY

Pathway GCSEs BTECs Voc. Level 1

Voc. Level 2

Student Support

English Bacc.

1 Yes Possibly No No No Yes

2 Yes Yes No Yes Possibly Possibly

3 Yes Yes Yes Possibly Possibly No

4 Possibly Yes Yes No Yes No

ISSUES WITH OPTIONS

No BTEC/GCSE in similar subjects Language choice A/S in Use of Maths Science options:

Additional or Triple Year 8 in to 9 options

HOW TO CHOOSE OPTION SUBJECTS

Read the booklet carefully Listen to advice Choose subjects you enjoy Choose subjects you are good at Be an individual Opt in to subjects not out of others Take a long term view – 4 more years in

education/training

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Do you know what is studied in each subject? Do you have a career in mind? Are you considering a science subject at A level? Are you thinking about university one day? Which qualifications suit me best?

GCSE/BTEC/vocational?

But not What are my friends doing? Which teachers do I like?

TIMELINE

29th Jan Option Evening

12th Feb. Parent Consultation. Learning Guides to arrange appointments with their students

14th Feb. Option forms returned and checked by Learning Guides

YEAR 10 OPTIONS EVENINGParents and students can start visiting subject areas from 7pm in the following locations.

T blockArt, Technology and Media

C block social areaPE, H&S Care, Business Studies, Study Plus, Use of Maths, Triple Science, Vocational courses (College)

M1/drama studio Drama, Dance and Music

A Block social areaHistory, Geography, MFL