GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17 

YR 9 OPTIONS INFORMATION

Wednesday

10th December 2014

Purpose of this Evening

To provide you with further information on how best to help your child express their preferred subject selection for Years 10 and 11.

To outline our understanding of the current Government’s position on education.

To understand the process required to accurately express your preferred subject selection at KS4.

Aim – To support your child in making an informed subject preference for KS4

Before - discussed your child’s areas of interest and possible vocations. Students should have completed some research prior to attending this evening. Looking at different jobs and the qualifications required to follow this career path.

Tonight - visit identified subject stalls and discuss the demands of the subject with staff and student representatives. Attend a presentation to support you in guiding your child to make an appropriate selection of subjects.

After – discuss the evening, read through the booklet again, complete the form and get it in on time.

Process so farAll students have attended an assembly regarding the options process and received their options booklet.

All students should have had a Futures Interview with their Head of House.

All parents and students should have received a report very recently, which will have informed you of the current level progress for your son/daughter.

National Update

Since the last election that has been a great deal of talk about the changes required to improve the British education system.

English Baccalaureate.A raise in the participation age

Linear examinationsLoss of retakes

A change of assessment criteria part way through courses

More recently, we have heard about curriculum and examination reforms, as well as a new grading system.

National Update

Examination reform – All GCSE and A Level courses have been rewritten with new schemes of assessment.

Yr9 will be the first cohort who will study the new GCSE courses in English Language, English Literature and Mathematics.

The new GCSE specification are much more demanding and the content for Maths has increased significantly, leading us to change our curriculum model.

National Update - Changes to GCSE Grading

The grading system for GCSE is changing. From 2017, the current A* - G grading system will be replaced with Grades 1-9.

For our current Year 9, English Language, English Literature and Mathematics will be graded using the new system, with students receiving their results in August 2017.

All other GCSEs will be graded A*-G.

National Update – School Measures

• The Government have introduced a new

performance measure known as the ‘Attainment 8’, which dictates which subjects students should be examined in.

• This potentially could restrict the students to having just two free subject choices.

• With some careful curriculum planning we have been able to maintain three free subject choices and one restricted subject choice for all students who are on the Green Pathway (6c+).

National Update – School Measures

All students who achieve a 6c or above atthe end of Yr9 are required to take the following subjects –

English LanguageEnglish Literature

Mathematics

3 subjects to include Core Science, Additional Science, plus Geography, History, French, German or Computer Science (Option block A).

3 other subjects (Option blocks B,C,D).

National Update – Attainment 8 and Progress 8 Requirements

GROUP 1

English: Double weighted*Maths: Double weighted

*Higher score of English Language or English Literature double weighted if a student has taken both qualifications

GROUP 2

EBacc qualifications

(sciences, computer science, geography, history

and languages)

GROUP 3

‘Open group’

Remaining Ebacc qualifications and other approved qualifications, including second English

GCSE(GCSEs and other

approved academic, arts or vocational qualifications)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

In School GuidanceAim Higher DayAll students will have the opportunity to visit the University of Bedfordshire and begin to consider their futures and what qualifications they will need to get there.

Job 2022/23

A level or Equivalent

2019

GCSE 2017

Degree or further training

2022

Our ApproachWe aim to provide a flexible curriculum, which provides different pathways for different students;

“To help all of our learners to meet the challenges of life in our fast-changing world.”

Working in collaboration with school staff and parents, our students will be guided towards a combination of subjects which best suits their individual needs and interests.

A Curriculum with PathwaysA Curriculum with PathwaysThe students have all been following a curriculum organised into pathways which have been designed to offer appropriate challenge to students of differing abilities and develop them individually into Confident, Responsible, Independent and Successful Learners.

Students of different abilities will continue to follow a slightly adjusted programme and complete KS4 with an expected different number of qualifications. The combinations of subjects offered in each pathway are selected to ensure the maximum potential for success for all of our students and all students will have an appropriate level of challenge.

Pathway Entry:Green Subjects Level 6c and above in English, Maths and ScienceBlue Subjects Level 5 or above in English, Maths and SciencePurple Subjects Level 4 and below in English, Maths and Science

This curriculum in turn feeds into a selection of pathways at Key stage 5.

The Core Curriculum

English Maths Science PRS

Green 2 GCSEsLanguage and

Literature

1 GCSE 2 GCSEs for all3 GCSEs for the

most able

½ a GCSE

Blue 2 GCSEs Language and

Literature

1 GCSE 2 GCSE School Completion Certificate

Purple 1 GCSE or other appropriate qualification

1 GCSE or other appropriate qualification

1 GCSE or other appropriate qualification

School Completion Certificate

My Possible Final Qualifications

English Maths Science PRS Options Total GCSE equivalent

s

Green 2 GCSEsLanguage

and Literature

1 GCSE 2 GCSE for all

3 GCSE for most

able

½ GCSE 4 GCSEs or BTEC

10 ½ or 9 ½ GCSEs

Blue 1 GCSE Language

Option Literature for some

1 GCSE 2 GCSE School Completion Certificate

4 GCSEs or BTEC

7 or 8 GCSEs

Purple 1 GCSE or other

appropriate qualification

1 GCSE or other

appropriate qualification

1 GCSE or or other

appropriate qualification

School Completion Certificate

3 GCSEs or BTEC

6 GCSEs

The Next Chapter of Your Child’s Education

Raising the Participation AgeThe Government has increased the age to which all young people in England must continue in education or training, requiring them to continue until their 18th birthday.

Full Time Education at Tring School

Minimum 8 C Grades at GCSE

and meet the entry criterion for your chosen subjects

Full Time Education at College

Level 3 = A Level 5 GCSE C Grades

including English and Maths

Level 2 = GCSE (A*-C) 4 GCSE Grade D

Level 1 course ( G-D grades)

Apprenticeship

5 GCSE C Grades

including English and

Maths

The Option BlocksBlock A Block B Block C Block D

FrenchGeography

GermanHistory

Computer Science

Business StudiesFrench

GeographyHSC

MediaMusic

RM

ArtDramaFood

HistoryPE

TextilesSociology

ArtDramaFood

Further Add ScienceGermanGraphics

Leisure & TourPE

PRS

CateringCitizenship

Computer ScienceFrench

GraphicsLeisure & Tour

Media

FrenchGeography

HSCMediaMusic

RM

ArtConstruction

DramaFood

PETextiles

ArtDramaFood

Further Add ScienceGermanGraphics

Leisure & TourPE

PRS

CateringCitizenship

Leisure & TourMedia

AsdanHSC

MediaMusic

Workskills

Vocational course at West Herts College

ArtConstruction

DramaPE

ArtDrama

Leisure & TourPE

PRS

Things to ConsiderYou will be making some subject selections for next year and they should …

1.Reflect subjects that you already enjoy.2.Allow you to achieve the most that you are capable of.3.Be able to be continued onto higher courses in the partnership or at college.4.Allow for you to enter the career of your choice.

Please be aware that:•Russell Universities have advised that studying for more GCSEs at the expense of getting higher grades is not advantageous

* Russel Group University guidance – DFE Website

You will be making some subject selections for next year and they must not beselected …

1. Because your friends are selecting it.2. Because you like your teacher this year.3. Because you think it will be easy.

An Important Time…

We want you to make the right choices:

Please use this evening to follow up the discussions you have had so far with your parents, Lifeskills teachers & Heads of Houses.

Ask the subject teachers about the courses you are interested in, discuss the topics covered, the methods of assessment and your suitability for the course.

The Connexions Team and Mrs Raybould will be available to discuss any individual concerns in the Desborough Hall.

An Important Time…

Remember:

•All exams for every GCSE subject will be at the end of Year 11 and the style and weighting for coursework are still under review by exam boards•BTEC courses will all have ONE exam paper but this can be taken on a range of dates during the course

Your Option Form

Due to popular course preference the subject allocation may be as follows

Option A Option B Option C Option D

Geography French History Music

   

 A

 B

 C

 D

 1st Preference

 

French Graphics

Rank 1 – 4(1=most favoured 4=least favoured)

2 3 1 4 

2nd Preference(one from each block)

 

Geography

History

PE MusicMedia Sociology

Key DatesSubmit your option choices form to your Head of House – 16 January 2015

Year 9 Exams Week starts 9 March 2015

Provisional options confirmed week commencing 16 March 2015

Pathway re-adjustments made and final options confirmed by 1 May 2015

ALL COURSES BEGIN 8th JUNE 2015

Final readjustments to choices 14 July 2015

Frequently Asked Questions

•Why can’t I take Resistant Materials and Food Technology?

•Do I need to take a language?

•What happens if I don’t like my subjects once I have started them?

•I want to take two subjects in column A but nothing in column C.

•What happens if the subject you want to take is not in your current pathway?

Make the Right Choices for You!