Assistant Headteacher Guided Choices Mrs Pickford Assistant Headteacher

Gateway into GCSEs: big decisions!

Enable students to be as successful as possible

Keep as many doors open as possible

Key Dates Activity When? Guided Choices Booklets given out 25th January 2018 Year 9 Parents’ and Students’ Guided Choices Evening Completed Guided Choices forms returned 23rd February 2018 Key Stage 4 Guided Choices confirmed April 2018

Changing Times in Education

Challenges of the New GCSEs Linear Assessment Many exams are longer Less Controlled Assessment More difficult content in many cases No tiering in some subjects Changes to types of questions If you have had siblings come through the school, do not assume that the course will be the same!

Grading for new GCSEs

What is a PASS? It is important to check with FE institutions whether they require a standard or strong pass!

Should you take the EBacc? What is the EBacc? What? EBacc = English Baccalaureate It is a performance measure for schools Students currently need to get a GCSE grade 5 or above in: English, Maths, Sciences, a Language and either History or Geography. Why? Encourage schools to enter more students into the more academic subjects and in theory to keep breadth. Should you take the EBacc?

Changes in Further Education A-levels = Advanced Levels Currently many students see A-levels as the obvious next step after leaving Icknield to extend their learning beyond GCSEs. T-levels = Technical Levels T-Levels are being introduced and will be delivered by FE providers from 2020. The first 3 T-levels to be introduced are in: Childcare & Education - Education Digital – Software Applications Design Construction – Building, Services and Engineering Apprenticeships Apprenticeships have undergone many changes over the last few years and again in March last year. They are an increasingly popular route into FE where students can learn on the job, be paid a salary and still gain qualifications up to degree level and beyond!

Any Questions?

GCSE English Literature Compulsory ‘Core’ Subjects GCSE English Language & GCSE English Literature GCSE Mathematics GCSE Combined Science or Separate Science Core PE (not examined)

Option Subjects Creative Arts Humanities GCSE Art, Craft & Design   Creative Arts Humanities GCSE Art, Craft & Design GCSE Geography GCSE Drama GCSE History GCSE Music GCSE RE GCSE 3D Design GCSE Food Preparation & Nutrition Modern Foreign Languages Other GCSE French GCSE Media Studies GCSE Spanish GCSE Physical Education GCSE Information Technology GCSE Computing Now with 6 hours of curriculum time per fortnight increased since last year!

GCSE Courses Compulsory ‘Core’ subjects 3 option subjects in total One choice must be either History, Geography, French or Spanish (see option block A) Recommended for all students to give access to the full range of post-16 opportunities

Helpful Tips DO think carefully about your choices DO choose subjects you are interested in and feel successful in DO be realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses DO try to keep a range of subjects DO find out as much as you can about the courses from teachers, parents and older students DO research the future requirements for education, training or career options you may consider _________________________ DO NOT choose a subject just because your friend has DO NOT choose a subject just because you like the teacher DO NOT choose a subject because you are told to by other people DO NOT be prejudiced about thinking a subject is only suitable for boys or girls DO NOT choose a subject because you think it will be easy

Helpful Tips DO think carefully about your choices DO choose subjects you are interested in and feel successful in DO be realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses DO try to keep a range of subjects DO find out as much as you can about the courses from teachers, parents and older students DO research the future requirements for education, training or career options you may consider _________________________ DO NOT choose a subject just because your friend has DO NOT choose a subject just because you like the teacher DO NOT choose a subject because you are told to by other people DO NOT be prejudiced about thinking a subject is only suitable for boys or girls DO NOT choose a subject because you think it will be easy

Please remember… These are important decisions.   These are important decisions. If insufficient students select a course, it will not run. Please be aware that some course combinations will not work. Until July, changes to choices may be possible. However, please be aware that choices will be far more limited. Once courses have started, it is very unlikely that you will be able to change courses.

Frequently asked questions? Separate Science vs Combined Science In both you will be taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics separately. You do not need Separate Science to do A-levels in Science. There are further, much more difficult sub-topics to do in each discipline to get Separate Science, which is why we usually offer this to our top set students only. Biology Biology Paper 1 & 2 Chemistry Chemistry Paper 1 & 2 Physics Physics Paper 1 & 2   Combined Science Biology Paper 1/Chemistry Paper 1/Physics Paper 1 Biology Paper 2/Chemistry Paper 2/Physics Paper 2

Frequently asked questions? What is the difference between IT and Computing?   Computer Science Information Technologies Exam Board OCR Grading System 9-1 Level 2 Distinction * - Level 1 Pass Methods of Assessment 2 Exam Papers, each 80 marks, each 1 hour and 30 minutes long, 40% of overall GCSE each paper. 1 Controlled Assessment. 20 Hours long, 20% of overall GCSE. Coding based. 1 Exam Paper, 80 marks, 50% of Overall GCSE 1 Controlled Assessment, 20 hours long, 80 Marks, Real-World scenario evolved around data collection in a business. Key Topics Computer hardware, networks, computer code, algorithms. Data collection, project life cycle, technological developments in IT Higher Education Opportunities A Levels, Vocational Courses at Level 3, Apprenticeships Apprenticeships, Vocational Courses at Level 3

Frequently asked questions? What is the difference between IT and Computing?   Computer Science Information Technologies Exam Board OCR Grading System 9-1 Level 2 Distinction * - Level 1 Pass Methods of Assessment 2 Exam Papers, each 80 marks, each 1 hour and 30 minutes long, 40% of overall GCSE each paper. 1 Controlled Assessment. 20 Hours long, 20% of overall GCSE. Coding based. 1 Exam Paper, 80 marks, 50% of Overall GCSE 1 Controlled Assessment, 20 hours long, 80 Marks, Real-World scenario evolved around data collection in a business. Key Topics Computer hardware, networks, computer code, algorithms. Data collection, project life cycle, technological developments in IT Higher Education Opportunities A Levels, Vocational Courses at Level 3, Apprenticeships Apprenticeships, Vocational Courses at Level 3

Subject Leaders are all available now to answer any questions you may have to help you to make the right decision for you!