Year 9 Options Evening

Year 9 A Very Important Year! Today’s work is directly relevant to every pupil’s future. Pupils must gain the necessary grades/skills to allow them to make the choices they want at 14, 16, 18 and 21 years of age. Pupils must know what those choices are.

Events During Year 9 Careers Interviews for every pupil – started early (Year 8) Careers Fair at the Etihad Stadium – November 2014 Enterprise Challenge Day – December 2014 United We Stand Project – December 2014 Christmas Fair – planned and hosted by Year 9 Mentoring by tutors after each Key Assessment Assemblies

Events During Year 9 MFL Event at Etihad Stadium World Away Event – Connell Sixth Form Centre Manchester University Visit Teens and Toddlers project – started February 2015 Aspirations Event – GMEX What’s the point? project - collaboration with pupils from The Derby High School

Overall Year 9 attendance has increased steadily and has frequently been the best in the school on a daily basis. During this half term Year 9 have had the fewest incidents of poor behaviour in the school.

Post 16 Options and support available Career Choices Post 16 Options and support available

Some big decisions…. Over the next few years your children have some big decisions to make about their future. They are not alone, there is lots of support available: At home At school From College open events, tasters etc.

Careers Advice I am the school Careers Advisor – Kathy Ashworth. I was recruited to work full time within the school in March 2013 to support your children to make fully informed decisions about their future. We also have an independent Careers Advisor in school twice a week – Louise Goodman.

Careers Information, Advice and Guidance 1-2-1 Appointments Lunchtime ‘drop in’ sessions Group work sessions Parents Evenings Visits to employers, colleges and training providers Employers, colleges invited into school Careers Software Careers Library in the LRC

Post 16 Options The main 3 options are: College – A Levels College – Vocational Apprenticeship

College – A Levels Academic courses. Assessed using mainly exams, with some coursework. A requirement for some University courses such as Medicine but not for most. Year 9 Option Choices need to be based on career ideas but also subjects they enjoy and are good at.

College – A Levels What is needed: In general pupils need a minimum of 6 GCSE’s at A* - C including a few at B or above. To take Biology, Chemistry or Physics at A Level pupils need at least a B in that subject if taking triple Science and if taking Core and Additional need B/C in Year 10 and B in Year 11. To continue with Maths at A Level pupils also need at least a B grade at GCSE. Colleges will also look for good attendance in school.

College – Vocational Aimed at different levels. Assessed using mainly coursework, however more exams are being introduced. Develop practical skills. Develop employability skills, usually include work experience. Can go to University to study most courses with a level 3 Vocational Qualification. Often will study just 1 subject but in more depth. Can sometimes combine with one A Level.

College - Vocational What is needed varies but in general: Level 3 – 5 A-C Including Maths and English (and Science if applying for Vocational Science or Engineering). Level 2 – Mixture of C and D grades. Level 1 – Mixture of D, E and F grades. Can start at any level and work up to Level 3. Also look at attendance in school.

Apprenticeships A job with training. Not an easy option! Full time employment with a company. Working on a qualification. For some careers is the best way in. Earn a salary. Need to have a good idea of what they want to do as a career. Higher level apprenticeships now mean in some areas you can work up to as high as a degree.

Apprenticeships Common Apprenticeship Areas: Business Administration Accountancy Motor Vehicle Hairdressing Childcare Construction ICT But there are many more…..

Apprenticeships Very competitive. Take hard work and dedication to get onto. Many ask for A-C grades particularly for Electrical, Motor Vehicle, Accountancy, Business Administration, ICT, Plumbing. Also look for work experience, volunteering, hobbies, school attendance.

Support with GCSE Options Can book appointments with Louise Goodman – which many pupils have. Can drop in and see Kathy at lunchtime. Can make an appointment with Kathy. Use the Careers Library in the LRC. Use college websites and their supporting prospectus.

Choosing GCSE Options Most important: Choose subjects you enjoy and are good at. Keeping career interests in mind is useful e.g. if you want to be an Architect it is useful to have an Art subject, for Law it is useful to have History, to be a Chef it is useful to do Catering. However you should never choose a subject you do not like!

Year 9 Options Curriculum

YEAR 9 OPTIONS TEAM March 2015 Ms CHALLIS Director of Pedagogy and Practice - Maths Mrs HRYNYK Head of EMA Department Mr STOKES Assistant Headteacher Mr GARTSIDE Head of Year 10 Miss ASHWORTH Careers Advisor YEAR 9 OPTIONS TEAM March 2015 Miss URCH Assistant Headteacher Miss ROBINSON Assistant Headteacher Mrs FINCH Head of Year 9 Miss TOPPING Assistant Head of PE Department Mr WEST Head of Learning Support / SENCO

Pupils will choose 3 subjects from any below and 2 reserve subjects Year 9 Option Choices 2015   Pupils will choose 3 subjects from any below and 2 reserve subjects GCSE BTEC Art & Design Art & Design – Textiles Geography History Applied History ICT Computing Catering Drama Citizenship ESL Film Studies Media Studies French German Resistant Materials Urdu Wider Key Skills Technology – Textiles Physical Education Sport Music Dance

Important Information Compulsory Subjects English Mathematics Science Religious Studies Physical Education PSHE and Citizenship Triple Science is not part of the options process. Your child's Science teacher will be able to advise you and your child of the appropriate Science course for them.

Next Steps… Tonight is an opportunity for you and your child to speak to their teachers about their progress in all their subjects Pupils will be issued with an Options Booklet tonight Subject areas will also share further information with pupils about the courses they offer through lessons and assemblies All pupils will then have an appointment with a member of the Options Team between Monday 16 March and Friday 27 March 2015