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
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
Box B
Art
Food and Nutrition
Computer Science
Art: Textiles
Geography
Boys PE
Girls PE
History
Physics (Triple Science)
Dance
Music
Spanish
Drama
Photography
Engineering
Product Design – Hard Materials
Film Studies

7. Science Triple Science Double Award Science
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

8. New GCSEs A new GCSE grading system was introduced in September 2015
The same proportion of students who got Cs will get 4 or higher. BUT the new benchmark is a grade 5

9. New GCSEs
As a guide the numbers are broadly equal to the old grades shown below:
‘Good’ 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**
From 2017 this system affects all GCSE subjects

10. 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!

11. 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.

12. 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 Holt, Mr Fiddler, Mr Klinck or Mrs Knowles. They will take place between 3rd to 17th March.
Appointments can be made tonight at the front of the Drama Studio or in the Creative Studio.

13. Making their Choices The options form looks like this.
You need to make 3 choices from the subject list
Some additional vocational choices will be offered as an alternative for some students during options interviews.
These forms are given out during the interview
The deadline for return of the forms is Monday 20th March
Forms must be returned to Mr Holt

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

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

16. 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 and 5 in 2016 ) will have to be interviewed again and choose a different combination

17. Any questions ?