1. Welcome to IDSALL SCHOOL Y9 Options Evening
This presentation will be available on the school website

2. Option Choice Thank you for coming tonight. Introductions….
Very important night in your child’s development…..but not a night to worry!
Different strokes for different folks.
No right or wrong choice if thought through properly.
Changing educational landscape…

3. “Blended choice”
We want students to be able to choose freely between a wide range of subjects on offer.
However, we also want to be able to guide students onto the most appropriate pathways that best match their skills, aptitudes and future career aspirations.

4. Moving on Seven year journey….. education or training to 18
Post 16 / University provision…
Wide variety of courses on offer.
Robust core to support options.
Specialised Skills Centre for motor vehicle and construction……. Please visit.
Enjoy the evening and please ask questions.

5. Which way now ?
Informed choices

6. Changing exam landscape
Exams are no longer graded from A* - G
For this year group (Y9), all subjects will change and students will work towards a 9-1 grade in 2021.
All GCSE examinations will test 2 years worth of work and the requirement to complete controlled assessments or coursework has been reduced or removed from many courses.
BTEC courses will still retain some elements of controlled assessment, but all have an examination element too.

7. Changing exam landscape
National evidence from last year’s results indicate that exams are becoming more difficult
What ever future route you take, success in English and Maths are essential
- more time for ‘core’ subjects
- more time for ‘Option’ subjects
An increase from 2hrs per week to 2½ hrs per week (on average)
Introduce a two-week timetable
9 examination subjects overall

8. What students will study...
4 x OPTION SUBJECTS
10 hrs
MATHS
4 hrs
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
2.5 hrs
ENGLISH LITERATURE
COMBINED SCIENCE
(Double Award)
5 hrs
I.D.
standalone
P.E.
1 hr

9. Option Process Option /careers work this half term in I.D. lessons
Option talk with students
Students think about what they might study
Students find out a lot more information about subjects
Option evening – tonight
Parents evening – next week
Option choices completed by Friday 15th February
All option choices reviewed in school

10. How do you make your choices ?
What do you enjoy ?
What do you generally do better at ?
How is the course made up ?
coursework / exams / practical assessments / skills
Think about what you like / how you learn and what’s best for you – we’re all different.
Ask lots of questions ?

11. How do you make your choices ?
Year 9 students will have to stay in education or training until they are 18 –this can take many forms…
Think about what you may want to do beyond Y11.
We do not always know our futures or what our future careers will be !

12. Do not choose courses because :
Your friends are doing them
You like your current teacher
You think it sounds good

13. The gateway to success
Do well in your GCSEs / BTEC and you can progress onto nearly all post-16 courses.
We have a wide range of post-16 courses for all range of abilities at Idsall’s Sixth Form and have extended our offer this year.

14. 6th Form Courses APPLIED SCIENCE - Extended Certificate
BUSINESS - Extended Certificate
BUSINESS – Diploma
FOOD SCIENCE & NUTRITION - Ext. Certificate
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE - Extended Certificate
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE - Diploma
ICT - Extended Certificate
ICT - Diploma
MUSIC - Extended Certificate
PERFORMING ARTS - Extended Certificate
SPORT - Extended Certificate
SPORT - Diploma
SPORT - Extended Diploma
French
Mathematics
Mathematics (Further)
Law
Art & Design
Geography
Media Studies
Biology
German
Physics
Business Studies
History
Chemistry
Philosophy & Ethics
Economics
Design Studies
Information & Control Technology
English Language
English Literature
Psychology
Sociology
Skills Centre courses
Construction
Motor Vehicle

15. Facilitating subjects
Recognised by top universities
These subjects are:
French or German
History or Geography
English
Maths
Science*
(*Combined Science (Double Award) or Separate Sciences or Computing)

16. Science
We highly recommend that all students considering an A-level science should opt for separate sciences . This will give three separate GCSEs in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Students could do an A-level science with a good grade (9-6) in Combined Science, but it does not give the same preparation/depth of study as the single science courses.

17. Languages
We highly recommend that all students in top sets for languages should seriously consider continuing to study French or German at GCSE level.
WHY? The government have an ambition for 75% of students to study a language at GCSE. We think, at this time, that universities may take this into account when looking at applications for ‘top universities’.

18. I.C.T. and Computer Science
Students are currently study “Computing” – a combination of Computer Science and ICT.
ICT and Computer Science can now be chosen as two separate options.
Computer Science is considered as the “4th Science” and as difficult as physics, chemistry or biology, so students must find out more and decide carefully.

19. BTECs
All courses are designed in different ways to meet different learning needs / styles.
Some courses are more coursework based and some are more exam based ?
BTECs are often more hands on , vocationally based and geared towards the workplace.
Assessment will be 25% final exam and 75% internally assessed assignments.
Equally hard as GCSE, but assessed differently.

20. Skills Centre courses Construction and Motor Vehicle
Level 1 qualifications
Qualifications equivalent to grade 2-3
Now offer progression to post-16 courses
1 day per week (4hrs)
Take up TWO option blocks
Very practical in nature and often lead to students taking level 2 courses when they get to 16
Approximately 4 places per course
Selection process is managed by Mr. Northall.

21. Information, Advice and Guidance
If you have any questions relating to any aspect of the options process then please speak to members of the Leadership Team here tonight.
For subject specific questions then please speak to subject teachers and Heads’ of Department, here tonight.
BEFORE you decide…
Students - Think carefully about what YOU want to do! Ask lots of questions and find out as much as you can about the qualifications you need for future jobs or courses.

22. Careers advice
UCAS
Kudos suggests careers and helps to explore career options
Students will be introduced to Kudos as part of their Individual Development programme.

23. Careers Fair – in the Gym

24. You MUST choose one subject from each column (block) A, B, C and D
At least one of your four choices must be from the top, shaded section of any block.   
You can choose either Art (BTEC) or Art (GCSE) – but not both.
You can choose D&T -Product Design or D&T -Textiles – but not both.
Motor Vehicle and Construction require two blocks (A and B).
(NOTE: we reserve the right to withdraw an option if insufficient students choose to study it.)
Option Blocks
Final decisions regarding the best route for students will be made following further discussion and guidance given to each student.

25. Information, Advice and Guidance – check list

26. www.idsallschool.org Follow the Curriculum link to Year 9 Options
Online Options form
Follow the Curriculum link to Year 9 Options

27. To help with congestion –
Could those at the back of the Hall (TURN RIGHT) and make your way directly to the Careers Fair
Could those at the front of the Hall, WAIT a minute, (TURN RIGHT) make your way toward the subject presentations.
Please remain in the Hall at the end for a short talk from Mr Goodison regarding GCSE PE and BTEC SPORT

28. GCSE PE or BTEC Sport
Which do I choose?

29. Which do I Choose? An Overview
GCSE PE
30 % practical (3 practical scores)
10% coursework (observation and analysis)
60% Exam (from 2 years theory work). Paper 1 and Paper 2 worth 30% each and out of 78 marks each.
Paper 1 – The Human Body
Paper 2 – Socio-Cultural influences
5 lessons per fortnight
BTEC Sport
Diploma worth a single GCSE equivalent grade
1 of the 4 Units is an Exam (25%)
3 ‘other’ theory Units (below)
Practical Sport Performance (Internal assessment-in 2 sports)
Applying the Principles of Personal Training (Internal synoptic assessment)
Leading Sports Activities Internal (Internal assessment)
5 lessons per fortnight

30. Choosing GCSE - You must be a strong performer in at least 2 sports from the list below. (playing 1 outside of school regularly please note students will be assessed in 3 of them).
Dance
Handball
Gaelic Football
Table Tennis
Hurling
Canoeing/Kayak
Netball
Rowing
Rugby League
Rugby Union
Squash
Hockey
Tennis
Volleyball
Boxing
Athletics
Badminton
Lacrosse
Cycling
Diving
Golf
Gymnastics
Equestrian
Rock Climb
Sailing
Skiing (snow)
Snow Board (snow)
Swimming
Tennis
Trampoline

31. Choosing BTEC
If you are passionate about sport and like being able to study elements and complete assignments as you go; then BTEC gives you that! (75% coursework over 3 units).
Examination unit will occur during Year 10, a resit is possible during year 11. (60 mark online test). This makes up the remaining 25% of the course externally examined where students must learn Fitness based content.
BTECs ARE EQUAL TO GCSEs. In the past they have been considered the lesser qualification. With a difficult exam to pass this is no longer the case. Fitness information goes into A level detail on fitness principles, testing and training.

32. Choosing BTEC
The nature of the BTEC course allows for a number of opportunities to pass assignments in BTEC sport. Due to this; we often find that students find it more straight forward to get a Pass (level 4 equivalent) than it is to gain a level 4 in GCSE PE (this is particularly true if you don’t have strengths in 3 traditional sports).
Essentially the BTEC Assignments can be submitted twice allowing students to get feedback and then submit it again up to and beyond the Pass grade, with close supervision from staff.
The GCSE students must learn all 2 years of content and take 2 terminal exams (60% of final grade). Where as the Btec exam is taken during the Spring term (after 6 months of learning).

33. Choosing GCSE (the practical 30%)
The GCSE Practical will be graded using 3 different activities. If you are not strong in at least 2 of the 3 you will struggle to gain a top grade (6-9 grade) compared to the Btec course (Merit or Distinction), which focuses upon 2 sports (one individual and one team sport).
Choosing GCSE (the Coursework 10%)
The final 10% of the grade comes from the Performance Analysis Assessment (Analysis and Evaluation). This will be completed during Y11. this focusses upon strengths and weaknesses from both a fitness and technical point of view.

34. PE staff
PE staff are located in C1 this evening, please pop in to discuss your son/daughters requirements and best course for them if needed.
Mr Goodison Head of PE if you have any further questions or need advice after this evening.
Thank You and questions please feel free to stay behind.