Senior School IGCSE Options Process

Senior School Curriculum Years 7 and 8 (Lower School) – enhanced UK curriculum to suit our students and our context Years 9 – 11 (Middle School) – externally verified IGCSE/GCSE courses with some in-house core content Years 12 and 13 (Upper School) – IB Diploma Programme

Why take three years for the IGCSE? Provides a more appropriate level of challenge for Year 9 Allows time for enrichment both within curriculum areas and beyond Reduces stress levels caused by cramming content and not mastering the learning Allows students the time to develop ‘Approaches to Learning’ needed for the IBDP

UK based qualifications recognised by educational institutions around the world

The Compulsory Curriculum IGCSE CIE Mathematics IGCSE Edexcel English Language IGCSE CIE World Literature IGCSE Edexcel Physics IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry IGCSE Edexcel Biology PE and Global Skills

What is Global Skills? One lesson per week, in order to support our students to: •Develop important life/study skills such as critical thinking, time management, research and evaluation. •Become more aware of a range of global themes and issues of personal interest/relevance. •Be prepared for the challenges of the IBDP through introductory experiences of the Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.

Subject Lessons per week Maths 4 English Lang and Lit 5 Phys/Chem/Biology 6 Option 1 - (Mainly Languages) 3 Option 2 Option 3 Option 4 PE 1 PSHE/Assembly Global Skills

Year 8- IGCSE Options Process EVENT PURPOSE LED BY INVITED Introductory Parent Talk (Nov 15th) Overview of Options process NMA/MEL Year 8 Parents Tutor time introduction to Options for students.  (Nov 16th- 30th)  NMA will visit each tutor group and give a short  presentation outlining the whole process NMA Year 8 Students and Tutors Options Market Stall (Dec 6th 4-6pm) Raise awareness on what each course entails CL for Option Subjects Year 8 Students/ Parents Year 8 Assembly (Dec 8th) Student Perspective on course content/ learning experience in Option Subjects Year 10 & 11 Student Department Ambassadors    (NMA/NCART) Year 8 Students Year 8 PTSC (Jan 16th 4-8pm) Feedback on Student Performance  Year 8 Subject Teachers Provisional Options form completed on Firefly (Jan 16th- 31st) This census allows the College to tailor our Options Blocks to fit as many students as possible RLE NA 1 to 1 meeting between student and Senior School Staff (February/ March) Every student will meet a member of the Senior / Middle Leadership Team to discuss and ensure the choices made best suit the student Final Options block released  (Feb 28th) Final choices can be made according the Options Blocks Deadline for final submission on Firefly (March 23rd) Students complete final form to confirm the subjects they have chosen

The Options Pathways Choose a subject from each of the four option blocks Option blocks created every year depending on students choices

Curriculum Areas to Consider Art, Drama, Music Humanities: Geography, History, Economics MFL: French, Chinese, Spanish, German GCSE PE Design and Technology, Computer Science

Factors to consider in choosing your option subjects? Your enjoyment and personal interest in the subject itself   (NOT based on who is your favourite teacher)  Your performance in that subject in Year 7 and 8 How that subject is assessed (examinations or coursework)?  Try to maintain a breadth of study across the Languages, Creative subjects and Humanities Ask for your teachers’ advice on which subjects will play to your strengths