1. Welcome! Year 9 Options Evening
17 September 2018
Welcome!
The aim of this evening is to clarify the options process, the types of qualifications offered and some of the terminology involved.

2. Compulsory subjects account for 3/5 of the curriculum (16 lessons)
Year 9 Options
Compulsory Subjects
Subject
Qualification
English Language and Literature
GCSE (2 certificates)
Science Double or Triple Award
GCSE (2 or 3 certificates)
Mathematics
GCSE (1 certificate)
Religious Education (Starts in Y9)
Physical Education
None
Compulsory subjects account for 3/5 of the curriculum (16 lessons)
The remaining 9 lessons are for Option Subjects (3 choices for 3 hours a week)

3. E-Bacc or not?
The E-Bacc (English Baccalaureate) is a recognition of a good pass at GCSE, which means gaining a grade 5 or higher in the following subjects:
English (Compulsory)
Maths (Compulsory)
Science (Double or Triple) (Compulsory)
A Language (Optional)
History or Geography (Optional)
What does it mean?

4. We know that:
It’s not an “extra” qualification, just a recognition of grade “5” or better in all those subjects
No local FE colleges or 6th forms require it for entry to their courses
No HE universities state it in their entry requirements (see Russell Group “Informed Choices” document)
MFL at GCSE is generally only a requirement for an English degree but check this out if you know now what you want to do
University College London does require a GCSE Language as an entrance requirement for all its courses, but if you don’t have it they will still accept an application and make you sit a short course certificate in a language
Our advice therefore is to pick the subjects which give you the best chance of the best grades

5. University College London
The Russell Group
This is the following group of Universities:
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Cambridge
Cardiff University
Durham University
University of Edinburgh
University of Exeter
University of Glasgow
Imperial College London
King's College London
University of Leeds
University of Liverpool
London School of Economics & Political Science
University of Manchester
Newcastle University
University of Nottingham
University of Oxford
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen's University Belfast
University of Sheffield
University of Southampton
University College London
University of Warwick
University of York
Traditionally the most difficult universities to get in to.

6. What can they choose?
We aim to give students a free choice of subjects and then build the timetable around their choices:
Box A - Choose any 2
Box B - Choose 1
GCSE Choices:
Vocational Choices:
Art
Film studies
Certificate in Digital Applications
Computer Science
Art: Textiles
Food and Nutrition
Construction and the Built Environment
Geography
Boys PE
Child Development and Care
History
Business Studies
Girls PE
Sport Studies
Triple Science
Technical Award in Materials Technology
Spanish
Dance
Music
Drama
Photography
Engineering
Spanish4
Due to group sizes vocational options may be restricted. If we feel your child could follow the GCSE route rather than the equivalent route and there is no space in the group, we may need to speak to you again.

7. New GCSEs
As a guide the numbers are broadly equal to the old grades shown below:
‘Standard’ GCSE Pass
‘Strong’ GCSE Pass
New Numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Old Grades
G/F-
F/E
E+/D C
C+/B-
B/B+ A A*
A**
This system affects all GCSE subjects.
There are, however, a number of vocational subjects that are graded differently:
‘Standard’ GCSE Pass
‘Strong’ GCSE Pass
Level 1
Level 2
Grade
Pass
Merit
Distinction
Distinction*
GCSE Equivalent 1 2 3 4
5/6 7 8

8. Science Separate Sciences (Triple) Trilogy Award Science (Double)
Both courses include the study of Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Extra is the most difficult third – 6b or better in Y9 Science Level to access
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

9. Advice for Students
Choose the subjects you are likely to do best in. Use the information in your reports and the feedback you have had from your teachers to guide you
Don’t make a choice just because you like the teacher. That teacher may well not be taking the group you end up in
Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses and accept realistic advice about the type of course you choose.
Do your research by reading the options booklet thoroughly and talking to your teachers
Above all don’t choose a subject because your friend is doing it! There is no guarantee you’ll end up in the same class!

10. Let us guide you!
We can guide you to courses which we know will offer your children the very best chances of achieving the best grades.
Vocational options offer the best progression routes for some students. New qualification guidelines, however, make vocational subjects less suitable for some students. If we feel that a vocational pathway is right for your child we will offer this in the options interview.

11. Making informed choices based on KS3 performance
Removal of KS3 levels
Opportunity to develop our own curriculum
Working with primary schools to develop curriculum
Eliminate the dips in learning

12. Grade 4 is a standard pass and equivalent to a mid to low grade C).
Making informed choices based on KS3 performance
The new GCSE grades are 1-9, 9 being the highest a student can achieve. This will be awarded to approximately the top 2% of the country
A grade 5 is a strong GCSE pass (equivalent to current top grade C & B.
Grade 4 is a standard pass and equivalent to a mid to low grade C).
Students are set an aspirational target based on their KS2 entry point. We expect a student that comes in at expected National progress to access GCSEs at 5 and above.
Students are taught the skills needed for GCSE throughout KS3. These have been mapped from GCSE specifications to give students the best chance of achieving their best grade.
Our KS3 curriculum is not capped. Once a student masters a skill they consolidate it and move on to another. If a student works hard they can progress through stages quicker and improve their chances of a better GCSE grade.

13. Key Stage 3 Reports

14. Options Interviews
You and your children are offered an options interview with a senior member of staff to explore the best choices for the best grades.
These interviews will take place with either Mr Rimmer, Mr Holt, Mr Klinck or Mr Fiddler. They will take place between 2nd to 16th March.
Appointments can be made tonight at the back of this sports hall.

15. Making their Choices The options form looks like this.
You need to make 3 choices from the subject list
There are five vocational subjects that are available. There is a limit on the number of groups we can have so please choose a GCSE back-up if any vocational choice is made
These forms are given out during the interview
The deadline for return of the forms is Monday 19th March
Forms must be returned to Mr Holt

16. Support Subject input Options interviews Visit to local colleges
School Website:
- Option booklet
- Russell Group “Informed Choices”
- Useful links to Careers websites
- This presentation

17. Support
School website: For Parents-> Year 9 Options

18. What Next? Options interviews take place
Groups are generated and a timetable produced
The vast majority of students will study their initial choices
It’s likely that a small number (9 in 2013, 4 in 2014, 0 in 2015, 6 in 2016 and 5 in 2017) will have to be interviewed again and choose a different combination

19. Any questions ?