Key Stage 4 Options
Parents’ Information Evening
9th January 2014
• The core curriculum
• What are the Options?
• Key things to consider
• Support and guidance
• Key dates
• Can you change your mind?
• Vocational learning
Core Curriculum
30 hours per fortnight:
Lessons per fortnight
Subject
Mathematics
8
30 hours per fortnight 10
English
Science
11
RE
1.5
PSHE
1.5
PE
4
Sciences
• (Core) Double Science
• Two GCSEs
• A combination of the three science disciplines
• Sound preparation for A level Sciences
• (Optional) Triple Science
• Three separate Science GCSEs
• Chosen in an option column
• For those with a strong leaning to Science
Options
• 20 hours per fortnight
• 4 five hour blocks
• Options are not guaranteed to run
• College courses take up two blocks
Block A
Block B
Block C
Block D
GCSE
Geography
GCSE
French
GCSE Triple
Science
GCSE 3D
Studies
Core Skills
GCSE
ELBS
1st
Dip in Construction
The most important things to consider
• Allow progression to the post-16 courses or work
• Have balance to keep future choices open
• Allow most success
• Will be enjoyable - learning and assessment
Raising Participation Age
Current Year 9 students must continue in Education or training
requiring for two years beyond Year 11.
This could mean:
• full-time study in a school, college or with a training provider
• full-time work or volunteering combined with part-time
education or training (280 hours)
• an apprenticeship
Additionally, students without GCSE English or Maths will have to
continue study in that area
Raising Participation Age
Newent Community School Sixth Form is changing to
allow more of our learners to continue their education
where they are best known and supported:
• Retaining our excellent AS and A2 provision through a
CHALLENGE Pathway
• Introducing a more flexible ADVANCED pathway with
AS and A2 equivalent qualifications
• Exploring ways of providing pathways for almost all our
learners by September 2016
Support and Guidance:
Booklets
Targeted to ensure:
•
•
•
•
More suitable advice + course offer
Transparency
Great overlap in content
Flexibility – ultimately decisions are made at an individual level
Support and Guidance:
Signing off choices
“Traditional, Academic Subjects”
• From: History, Geography, French, German, Computing, Triple
Science
Art subjects
• From Fine Art, Graphics, 3D studies
Support and Guidance:
Who to turn to for advice
• Tutors and House staff
• Mr Cheeseman (Progress Leader)
• Mrs Lawrance and the Careers team
• www.cascaid.co.uk “Kudos” and “Careerscape” –
register with licence code “tipstime31”
• Range of useful links on school website
Support and Guidance:
Individual Interviews
• A one to one interview for parents and students
• Appointment time will be circulated tonight
• Between 4 and 7 p.m. on Tuesday 14th to Thursday
16th January
• If there is a problem contact Mrs Lawrance:
• slawrance@newent.gloucs.sch.uk
• 01531 828915
Support and Guidance:
Year 9 Parents Evening
• A chance to talk to subject teachers about:
• Nature and Content of Courses
• Course suitability
• Try to target appointments to subjects of interest
• Thursday 30th January
Support and Guidance:
Careers Fair
• Representatives of:
• School departments
• Post 16 colleges
• Universities
• Employers
• Thursday 13th February – 6.00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Key Dates Summary
Date
Event
14th to 16th January
Individual interviews
Thursday 30th January
Subject Parents’ Evening
Thursday 13th February
Careers and Post 16 Fair
Wednesday
26th
February
Deadline for submission of
options forms
Can you change your minds?
It depends:
• Reasons for change
• Suitability for new course
• Class size
• Timing
Vocational Learning
• Hands on, practical learning
• Whole learning days
• Predominantly assessment by portfolio
• Very high success rates
If you have time….