Portslade Aldridge Community Academy

Year 9 Option Process Spring 2012 Aims: Give general information regarding option process. Highlight key dates and milestones

Where are we heading? By 2015: A high performing school An outstanding school Highly popular and oversubscribed A centre of excellence for innovative approaches to learning The best school in the City

PACA will improve the life chances of every student by:PA C Unlockingotential Maximisingchievement Developingore Values Entrepreneurialttributes

Future Attainment % 5 A* - C inc English & Maths % 5 A* - C 2012

Choices - This is the term when students and parents decide! Assemblies Learning Families Director of Learning Tutor PSHE Older students Plan it

Core: English Maths Science PE (core) ICT – level 2 qualification PSHE

What are we aiming for? Breadth of subjects A sense of future directions 5A*-C 60% 5A*-C including English and Maths More engagement, choice, buy in and enjoyment for students Success!

Key Dates Tuesday 21 st Feb – presentation to parents Tuesday 21 st Feb option booklet to students Wednesday 29 th February – Subject and option evening February – interview with your DoL 12 th March– option deadline. April May – college interviews June – finalised options and taster sessions

Choices – Best route for each student Guided choice to ensure you have the best chance of success and best future options.

Year 10 Routes Red RouteBlue RouteGreen RouteYellow Route Option 1History Art Business Spanish Business Music Construction L1* MusicSpanishCatering L2*Motor Vehicle L1* Geography Music Engineering L2* Geography Option 2French Photography Geography Child Development Photography PE OCR/NSConstruction L1* Art Catering L2* Motor Vehicle L1* Sports Engineering L2* Option 3Media PA History PE OCR PE GCSE Sports Textiles * City College course must be picked in both option blocks

What can you do now? Read through the options booklet Discuss with your child – talk about the specific choices but also the wider issues Go through Plan it at home Talk to older students Make appointments with the relevant teachers Contact the DoL for your child Contact me!

Good reasons for choosing a subject You enjoy it You are good at it You may be thinking of studying it in the future Youve spoken to the teacher and also spoken to year 10 students.

Bad reasons for choosing a subject: Your mates are choosing the same subject! You like the teacher You like the title of the course and cant be bothered to look any further!

Some questions... Why the routes? What if the choices dont work for me? Can students change their mind? City College – whats that all about? Will students get their first choices? Whats the difference between a BTEC and GCSE? What is the EBac?