1. Year 9 Options
February 2019

2. Mrs McQuire Mrs Bennett Mr Margerison Assistant Headteacher
Head of Careers
Mr Margerison
Head of Year 9

4. Curriculum Changes Key Stage 2 Reformed GCSEs New content
Scaled scores
Reformed GCSEs
Reduction in controlled assessment
Increase in examinations
New grading
Expertise
All but three subjects been through the full cycle on new specs
English and maths through twice
KS3 provides broad, good grounding for KS4
Students cope well with examinations, but there are more of them
Marathon, not a sprint

5. New GCSE Grading 9-1 Stability A*-A = 9-7 A*-C = 9-4
9 is to stretch the top end
5 is strong pass, but 4 is level 2
How does it feel to have a 9-1 forecast?
4 feels lower than C
7 feels lower than A
4 is a standard pass (ie level 2)
5 is a strong pass
7 is very good

6. New Ofsted Framework The “St Aidan’s Framework” The wider curriculum
Community cohesion and ‘climate’
Readiness for next steps, at the right time
Professional expertise
The new Ofsted Framework fits St Aidan’s ethos VERY well
‘Climate’ is all about organising behaviour (as a community) so that we can all learn well; based on relationships, respect etc; one of the main documents put forward by Ofsted at present re the new behaviour and attitudes judgement is called ‘Creating a Culture’, behaviour is not about systems, but community and relationships.
Readiness and professional expertise are about trust in The St Aidan’s Framework; we do it well… leading on to the results slide!

7. 2018 GCSE Results
+0.79 Progress 8 91% at 9-4/A*-C 40% at 9-7/A*-A 57% achieving the Ebacc 88% at 9-4 in both English and Maths
Confidence is St Aidan’s capacity to achieve
within the space we provide
within a context of a broad curriculum
(including extra-curricular)
Thanks to
Staff
Expertise
Caring
Students
Inspired
Spiritual (knowing their place in the world)
Parents
Supportive
Integral
Blessed community
Well-renowned students
Destinations

8. Mrs Bennett Head of Careers
and
GCSE Options
Mrs Bennett Head of Careers

9. Careers Department
Careers Information, Advice and Guidance and Work Experience
Help with choosing GCSE options

10. Choosing GCSE Subjects
What Career?
Which Subjects?

11. The Choice is Yours…
Core Courses

12. Which Subjects Do I Enjoy?

13. Which Subjects Am I Good At?

14. Which Subjects Do I Need?
Sixth Forms, Colleges, Universities and employers always require GCSE Maths and English
Universities look at top 8 GCSE grades

15. Subjects That Will Be Useful…
“It’s not what you can
do with the subject
but what the
subject
can do for you”

16. Next Steps…

17. Next Steps…
Bitesize Schools Tour
Friday 22nd February
Period 3

18. Next Steps…

20. Mrs McQuire Assistant Headteacher

21. Key Stage 3
(Years 7-9)

22. Key Stage 3 Curriculum (Y7-9)
English
Maths
Science
Modern Foreign Language
Technology
History
Geography
ICT
Art
Music PE
Religious Studies
Students receive a progress grade based on a forecasted attainment range for each of these subjects.

23. English
Maths
Science
Modern Foreign Language
Technology
History
Geography
ICT
Art
Music PE
Religious Studies

24. Key Stage 4
(Years )

25. Core Subjects English (Language and Literature) Maths Science RS MFL
3 Separate Sciences (3 GCSEs)
Co-ordinated Science (2 GCSEs) RS
Christianity, Islam and
4 Philosophical/Ethical themes OR
2 Philosophical/Ethical themes and 2 St.Mark’s Gospel themes
MFL
French
German
Spanish
Core Skills (Maths/English)
PE (unassessed)

26. Optional Courses - choose 3
Geography
Health and Social Care
History
ICT
Media Studies
Music PE
Technology (Food, Textiles, Product design/Materials)
ASDAN (can be 2 options)
Art (Fine Art or Graphics)
Business
Computer Science
Core Skills
Dance
Drama
French

27. GCSEs or Technical Awards?
Most courses are offered as a GCSE
Some are Technical Awards
GCSEs or Technical Awards?

28. English Maths Studies Education Science Languages
Religious
Studies
Physical
Education
Science
Modern
Languages
Optional Courses
Choose any 3
English Language and
Literature (2) No
further
Choices
Options within the subject – see the subject description
This course will also cover significant elements of Citizenship
further choices
Co-ordinated (2) Or
Separate (3)
French
German
Spanish   
Core Skills
ASDAN (can be 2 options) Art (Fine Art or Graphics) Business Computer Science Core Skills Dance Drama French
Geography
Health and Social Care
History
ICT
Media Studies
Music PE
Technology (Food,
Textiles, Product design/
Materials)

29. What happens next? Careers Assemblies Options booklets Options evening
Progress reviews - Fri 15th Feb
Parents’ evening - Tue 19th Feb
Hand in options form (with a reserve) – Thurs 7th March

32. Mr Margerison Head of Year 9