“I have come so that they may have life and live it to the full” Options 2018 “I have come so that they may have life and live it to the full”

CAR PARK NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE In the event of the fire alarm sounding please make your way to: CAR PARK NEAR MAIN ENTRANCE Use fire exits in three corners of Hall Please switch off your mobile phones Bell will ring to end the evening Exit via front door or side gate Copy of this presentation is now on the website

Strong Pass Standard Pass In 2017: 50% of our pupils achieved 5 or more Grade 5s including English and Maths 70% of our pupils achieved 5 or more Grade 4s including English and Maths

Year 9 Choices Which Way Now? Over the last two days Year 9 have had an altered curriculum so they could receive a wealth of information which will help them make well informed choices about their future. Careers Day – opportunity to speak to a wide variety of different professions Progress Day – an opportunity to reflect on: - the information they received about careers - hear about and meet colleges - think about how they are performing academically - begin to think about option choices

Important dates Date Information Wed 17th Jan/Thurs 18th Jan Careers Fair/Progress Day Thursday 18th January Options Evening (6.00pm - 7.30pm) Talk at 6pm then visit subject staff Monday 22nd January Options forms issued in Tutor time Friday 2nd February Options forms returned to tutors Monday 19th March Year 9 reports go home Thursday 22nd March Year 9 Parents Evening at 4pm Friday 23rd March Last chance to change options choices During 1st half of summer term Option classes finalised/pupils informed

The Process You make your initial option choices on the options form (in the pack) This will dictate whether some subjects can or cannot be offered as options – you MUST think carefully about your choices, these should end up being the subjects you study You MUST complete the options form. If your preferred combination of subjects is not possible there will be space on the form to write down what you would have liked if it were possible Analysis of option forms will then take place – there may be amendments to option blocks or some subjects may be withdrawn You will receive a report on your progress followed by parent’s evening before you have to make a final decision (hopefully confirming your original choices) The final date for pupils to change option choices will be FRIDAY 23rd March 2018. Changes must only be agreed following a discussion with Mr McFarlane or Mr Morris

Example of the options form

Lesson allocation across Week A/B YEAR 10 TIMETABLE Subject Allocation per week lessons x minutes Lesson allocation across Week A/B English (inc Eng Lit) 4 x 60 8 Maths Science (Double) 5 x 60 10 RE 2.5 x 60 5 PE (Core) 2 x 60 4 Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

This is a total of 6 qualifications What do I have to study? A core of compulsory subjects; Religious Education GCSE (2.5 lessons) – 1 GCSE English Language GCSE English Literature GCSE Mathematics GCSE (4 lessons) – 1 GCSE Combined Science (5 lessons) – 2 GCSEs Physical Education Core (2 lessons) – No qualification attached This is a total of 6 qualifications (4 lessons) – 2 GCSEs

Some subjects may not run (depending on option numbers) Option Subjects You will be required to choose 3 from the following list: Art & Design Computer Science Drama Food & Nutrition Geography History French Spanish Music Product Design Physical Education Separate Sciences ICT – Creative iMedia (GCSE equivalent new course) Some subjects may not run (depending on option numbers)

Science Separate Sciences Biology, Chemistry & Physics are taught/examined as 3 separate subjects and 3 separate GCSEs (by the same teacher) This is only available as an option. It can be beneficial if you are aiming to study science at ‘A’ level or if you really like science You will get the 5 lessons of science that all pupils have + an additional 2.5 lessons per week to cover the extra content Although the higher course is academically very demanding, if you have a love of science then there is also a foundation option (5 to 1)

Physical Education Core PE is compulsory for all pupils Regular physical activity is known to have significant health and social benefits You will not take a qualification in core PE and so it will be physical activity twice each week (a range) If you wish to study PE GCSE, you use one of your options but Core PE remains a compulsory part of your timetable

Modern Foreign Languages Studying a Modern Foreign Language is not compulsory however it is highly valued by colleges, universities and employers and is a fantastic skill for life You can study GCSE French or Spanish (assuming you have studied Spanish in Years 8 and 9) You can also study both languages Achieving grade 5 or above in a Modern Foreign Language is a compulsory element of the Ebacc

Humanities History and Geography are excellent academic choices, also highly valued within Further and Higher Education History is our most popular option but Geography also has good numbers You can study either or both of these subjects Achieving grade 5 or above in one of the humanity subjects is a compulsory element of the Ebacc

Performance Drama and Music are the Performing Arts related subjects in the option blocks Both Drama and Music require some practical ability Drama can develop key skills for life and Music (particularly playing an instrument) has high value on future CVs Both subjects require students to perform as well as study If you are interested in studying either Performing Arts subjects you MUST speak to Mrs Harrison or Mrs Chapman-Dean

Design & Technology Art & Design, Computer Science, Food & Nutrition, ICT Creative iMedia (New) and Product Design, are the Technology related subjects in the option blocks Creative iMedia is a Cambridge National Certificate Level 2 and is a new course. Pass is equivalent to GCSE Grade 4 It is most likely to be a specific talent or a particular personal interest that leads pupils to choose these subjects All these subjects offer a “hands” on experience as well as study for exams. Computer Science is challenging so speak to Mr Washington if you are interested

Design & Technology There will be strict limits on some of these subjects. For example there will only be 1 class of Food & Nutrition (25 pupils max) and 1 class of Product Design (25 pupils max). You will not be able to select both of these subjects as they are on timetable at the same time Last year they were oversubscribed and we had to draw names randomly. This is the process again this year if necessary. It is not possible to choose both Product Design and Food

English Baccalaureate A Government measure first reported in 2011, in which Holy Cross traditionally performs extremely well A collection of subjects (English, Maths, Science(2), Foreign Language & either History or Geography). Computer Science also counts as 1 Science. A “traditional” route with an academic focus, which the current Government have been eager to encourage over the past few years This route is not appropriate for every student and should be a personal choice but if your are in Set 3 or above you should really be looking to take an Ebacc combination.

Physical Education (Core) Summary Core = 6 (All Students) English Language English Literature Mathematics Religious Education Combined Science Physical Education (Core) (All Students) Options = 3 Chosen from Art & Design History Computing Creative iMedia Drama Music Food PE French Product Design Spanish Separate Sciences Geography

Each year there are combinations that are not possible due to a variety of constraints There are fewer and fewer schools now offering their students three free true choices (pathways etc) Please understand that if a student gets 2 out of 3 of their preferred subjects this is better than they would get in many other schools

Example routes Ebacc Route Ebacc Route Ebacc Route Dual Linguist Route Core Separate Sciences French Geography Ebacc Route Core (Combined Science) History Spanish Art Ebacc Route Core (Combined Science) French History Product Design Dual Linguist Route Core French Spanish PE

Example routes Practical Route Core History Food & Nutrition Art Technical Route Core Product Design Creative iMedia Spanish Performing Arts Route Core Drama Music Geography Performing Arts Route Core French Music Drama

Example routes Other Routes Core Art & Design Geography PE French Physical Education Art & Design Other Routes Core Product Design Music Spanish Humanities Route Core History Geography Food & Nutrition

Tips for making the right choices Here are some good reasons for choosing a subject: you have ability in a subject and have achieved good results you are interested in a particular subject you enjoy a subject the subject could help you in your chosen career  Here are some bad reasons for choosing a subject: your friends have chosen the subject (it may not be appropriate for you) you like the teacher (you may not stay with the same teacher) Every year some pupils ignore the dos and don’ts and make the mistake of choosing subjects because they like a particular teacher or their friends are studying those subjects. This almost always results in serious mistakes being made with option choices and a lot of distress. PLEASE make YOUR selections based only on what YOU want to study and believe YOU are good at.

To recap… Options booklets/discussions with subject teachers tonight Options choices – week beg 22nd January Deadline for option forms – Friday 2nd February (to tutors) Option choices analysed– during February/March Discussions/Reports/Parents evenings – 19th & 22nd March You can change your subject choices up to Friday 23rd March The subjects you have selected will now be your final choices

What Now? Go and speak to the Heads of Department and Subject Teachers that are situated around the Sports hall. Please move well into the sports hall on arrival Ask about details of courses, subject specific commitments, ask any questions, skills required etc Parents; ask about your child's potential in that subject Discuss future aspirations/intentions/college/employment Talk to the representatives from the colleges

“I have come so that they may have life and live it to the full” Options 2018 “I have come so that they may have life and live it to the full”