Middle Years Diploma Year 9 Options Process ‘We strive to inspire and support all students in achieving their potential for a successful life as responsible global citizens’ WIS mission, aims and values

Aims To gain an overview of the options timeline and related process To gain an understanding of the Year 10/11 learning experience - CORE, OPTIONS AND ELECTIVES

Option Process Timeline Oct 30 Options booklet available on website Oct 30 Parent Forum Oct 27 Dec 16 Tutor follow up Nov 20 Options Evening Nov 21 Dec 5 On-line choices made Dec 16 Parents’ confirm choices April Final option choices confirmed

Broad and Balanced

A CORE of compulsory courses A set of OPTIONAL & ELECTIVE courses The Year 10 and Year 11 learning experience

The CORE or compulsory courses English Language and Literature MathsScience Learning for Life non examined Physical Education non examined Global Perspectives Languages

35 COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM Option Group A Choose one subject from I&S Option Group B Choose one subject from Technology, PE or Creative Arts Option Group C Choose from The Electives or another subject from Option Groups A and B or additional language

The Options and Electives

The Electives- What are they? Internally devised or externally accredited courses that can be completed during: one to two terms a year two years of study.

What are the benefits? The Electives embody the essential transferable key skills that run through the Middle Years Diploma Programme and the IB/ID programme at Post 16- Communication Research Social Thinking Self-management Elective choices allow for : extension, challenge, support and/or enrichment alongside the IGCSE courses

Why choose the Electives?

What is the appropriate number of (I)GCSEs required for life after WIS?

The UK’s leading research universities (the Russell Group) that 9 or 10 (I)GCSEs certificates is the maximum desired number for study by students in Year 10 and 11.

Skills and qualities that companies are looking for within the 21 st century workplace… Flexibility Ability to innovate and invent Entrepreneurial mindset- to think laterally and spot opportunities An awareness of presentation and how to communicate ideas How to build relationships Taken from STEM report –Inventing the Future 2012

‘Firms need young people that are resilient, good communicators and understand how to work as part of a team.’ John Longworth, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) Graduates are often very good at their own specialism, but are unable to develop ideas laterally across specialisms, often due to inexperience. We need people who can think in an innovative and strategic way across different aspects of the business.’ Inventing the Future,NEF,Pg25

Elective courses (Due to the demanding nature of the AS Critical Thinking course, students will be invited to consider this Elective)

How are the Electives benefiting our students? ‘I've learnt many things during this course that will definitely help me in my future whether I'm a sports coach or not. I enjoyed the challenge of learning how to deal with different students who have varying ability and social skills.’ ‘Sports leadership has and will help me be able to adapt to my surroundings. My communication over the past few weeks has definitely changed, I feel more comfortable talking to large groups, and giving praise to students. My personal organisation has developed massively and this is something that will serve me well throughout school, university and even the work place’. Sports leadership

All the skills that we gain in this course will help us in our future careers because communicating with people is the basis of a good relationship in workplaces or just socially’. I was able to develop my risk- taking skills by taking a leadership role. I developed my confidence and team working skills, which helped me in other subjects including Drama. Business and enterprise skills

Electives or another course from option group A or B Electives or doubling up Chinese, French or Spanish Languages as an additional option Triple award, Double Award or Combined Single Science Award Which science course? For example, Strategies for School, English as an Additional language Additional support IB or ID programmes Your future in Year 12 and 13 Things to consider

because you enjoy it because you are good at it because you are interested in it because you want to challenge yourself because it might be useful for the future course or career you have in mind Reasons for choosing a course …

because your friends are doing it because you hope to have the same teacher as this year because it is easy Reasons you should not choose a subject …

Personal Interest and Choice

Option group AOption Group BOption Group C Science Select an I&S subject Select one from Technology, Creative Arts or PE Select the Electives pathway and identify your preferred course or combination of courses Or Select another subject from option groups A or B or another language Triple, Double or Combined Single Science Award Option choice form for Years 10 and 11 To achieve breadth and balance the following subjects must not be chosen together… Business and Economics Two Design Technology subjects such as resistant materials and graphics Business with Enterprise skills from the Electives

SCIENCE at W.I.S. TRIPLE SCIENCE 3 separate science IGCSEs Biology, Chemistry, Physics. DOUBLE SCIENCE 2 science IGCSE certificates. Grades awarded on the average attainment over 3 sciences. SINGLE (+ Applied) SCIENCE 1 iGCSE

Year 10 Science course Triple science and Double Science students do the same course in year 10 are mixed – no split until year 11. (Some differentiation in lessons) Students taking triple science will typically be working at level 7 or 8 in science in year 9.

Double Science Biology core exam Chemistry core exam Physics core exam + + 2X SCIENCE iGCSE (example: science BB)

TRIPLE SCIENCE Biology core exam Biology extension exam + = Biology iGCSE Chemistry core exam Chemistry extension exam + = Chemistry iGCSE Physics core exam Physics extension exam + = Physics iGCSE

SINGLE SCIENCE 1 GCSE, plus internally assessed applied science units similar to previous BTEC course. Aimed at Foundation level C to G grades Typical student will have MYD 5 (approx below 60% in science summative testing) Does NOT prepare adequately for IB sciences Biology, Chemistry and Physics HL or SL OK to do ID or full IB taking ESS, Sports Science or Design in group 4.

Students complete online options by December 5 th and return printout with parents’ signature to school by Dec 16 th. Discussions between parents and students Discussions with tutors and Learning for Life teachers Discussions with teachers and heads of subject