St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together” YEAR 8 OPTIONS PARENT INFORMATION EVENING TUESDAY 9 TH FEBRUARY

WELCOME Chris Martin Deputy Principal Catherine McDougall Vice Principal St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together”

God knows me and calls me by my name.… God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission—I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. Somehow I am necessary for His purposes… I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do His work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep His commandments and serve Him in my calling. Therefore I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. Let me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to see— I ask not to know—I ask simply to be used. from Meditations and Devotions,1848 REFLECTION

THIS EVENING Welcome Context National changes Key Stage 4 Curriculum Reminder of Year 8 at STACS Any questions St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together”

EXAM REFORM

St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together” EXAM REFORM Secretary of State for Education asked Ofqual how best to reform GCSEs … 1) Fully linear - exams were taken only at the end of the course and to advise on how 2) Literacy demands - mark schemes need to take greater account of the importance of accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar 3) More demanding - content more difficult - less non-exam assessment

This is the first time your child has had the opportunity to choose their subjects It could influence the course of their future career or pathway in education

English Maths Science RE P.E. Citizenship

Mathematics GCSE Double Science Humanity – History or Geography MFL – French or German English

HistoryGeography

FrenchGerman

Art Business Studies Computing Drama French Geography German Health & Social Care (BTEC) History Food Media Studies Music (BTEC) Photography Product Design Sport (BTEC or GCSE) Textiles

Health and Social Care Music Sport and Recreation Business

Students, teachers, friends, parents Well intentioned Connexions / Careers Adviser Students have to do the research!

Assessment methods Exam vs Controlled Assessment Faculty area Don’t do too many subjects from one area Career requirements Things change so keep your options open

Their friend is doing it They like the teacher Your good at it!!!! Someone said it was easy Someone said it was hard A teacher told them to do it

They find it really interesting They are very good at the subject To give balance to their choices It will help them in their career The assessment suits them

Students follow one of 3 pathways: Students with a Blue form should pick a Language and a Humanity or Computer science Students with a Red form will need to pick one Language or Humanity or Computing Students with a Green form will need to pick a Humanity and a Vocational course

On the Blue Pathway they should choose: at least one Modern Language (French or German) and at least one Humanities subject (History or Geography) They then choose one further option

On the Red Pathway they will need to choose at least one of the following subjects: Geography, History, Computer Science, French or German And two further options

On the Green Pathway students need to choose: History or Geography One vocational option One other

Before Parents Evening they will have a one to one interview with a member of staff to discuss which pathway is best for them. They will be advised which teachers they should see at Parents Evening. They will have the opportunity to ask questions and get advice.

On Tuesday 1 st March students will have the opportunity to ‘try’ two Year 9 lessons to see what they are like. They should use this opportunity to try the lessons they are not sure about and learn more about them. Period 1Period 2 SubjectTeacher1 st choiceReserveSubjectTeacher1 st choiceReserve Media StudiesJST Travel & TourismMOT Health & Social CareSED TextilesEBA SportJPI HospitalitySED ArtMGE MusicMJO DramaNMO PhotographyMGE ComputingSEL ComputingSEL GeographyALA Product DesignFST FrenchARA GermanVST BusinessJSA HistoryJDE

Displays Student work Is this a good choice for them? Gather lots of information How they are doing

Options Assembly Students 3/2 Tuesday 9 th February Options information Evening Options Interviews Tuesday 1 st March Taster Day Thursday 10 th March Parents / Options Evening Friday 23 rd March Final Choices handed in by Summer Term Confirmation of choices

YEAR St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together” OTHER KEY EVENTS Full Report w/b 20 th June OPPORTUNITIES High School Musical Auditions 10 th February Year Group Retreat followed by Family Mass17 th March Alton Castle11 th May

PARENTS FORUM St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together” pm 13 th June 2016

CONVERSATIONS ? St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together” Chosen career path? Academic progress? University Key stage 4 course content

St Thomas Aquinas Catholic School “Christ is the centre of our school community where we live, love and learn together” Aspire not to have more but to be more Archbishop Oscar Romero

You see things and you say, ‘Why?’ I dream things that never were and I say, ‘Why not?’ George Bernard Shaw