Middle Years Diploma
Year 9 Options Process
2014 - 2015
‘We strive to inspire and support all students in achieving their potential for a
successful life as responsible global citizens’
WIS mission, aims and values
Aims
•
To gain an overview of the options timeline and
related process
•
To gain an understanding of the Year 10/11 learning
experience - CORE, OPTIONS AND ELECTIVES
Option Process Timeline
Oct 30
Options
booklet
available
on
website
Oct 30
Parent
Forum
Oct 27
Dec
16
Tutor
follow up
Nov 20
Options
Evening
Nov 21
Dec 5
On-line
choices
made
Dec 16
April
Parents’
confirm
choices
Final
option
choices
confirmed
Broad and Balanced
A CORE of
compulsory
courses
The Year 10 and
Year 11 learning
experience
A set of
OPTIONAL
&
ELECTIVE
courses
English Language
and Literature
Languages
Maths
The CORE or
compulsory courses
Global Perspectives
Science
Physical
Education
non examined
Learning for Life
non examined
Option Group A
Choose one subject
from I&S
35 COURSES TO
CHOOSE FROM
Option Group C
Choose from The
Electives or another
subject from Option
Groups A and B or
additional language
Option Group B
Choose one subject
from Technology, PE
or Creative Arts
The Options and Electives
The Electives- What are they?
Internally devised or externally accredited courses that
can be completed during:
• one to two terms
• a year
• two years of study.
What are the benefits?
The Electives embody the essential transferable key skills that run
through the Middle Years Diploma Programme and the IB/ID
programme at Post 16-
•
•
•
•
•
Communication
Research
Social
Thinking
Self-management
Elective choices allow for : extension, challenge, support and/or
enrichment alongside the IGCSE courses
Why choose the Electives?
What is the appropriate number of (I)GCSEs required
for life after WIS?
• The UK’s leading research
universities (the Russell Group) that 9
or 10 (I)GCSEs certificates is the
maximum desired number for study
by students in Year 10 and 11.
Skills and qualities that companies are looking
for within the 21st century workplace…
• Flexibility
• Ability to innovate and invent
• Entrepreneurial mindset- to think laterally
and spot opportunities
• An awareness of presentation and how to
communicate ideas
• How to build relationships
Taken from STEM report –Inventing the Future 2012
‘Firms need young people that are resilient, good
communicators and understand how to work as
part of a team.’
John Longworth,
Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)
Graduates are often very good at their own
specialism, but are unable to develop ideas
laterally across specialisms, often due to
inexperience. We need people who can think
in an innovative and strategic way across
different aspects of the business.’
Inventing the Future,NEF,Pg25
Elective courses 2015-16
(Due to the demanding nature of the AS Critical Thinking course, students will be invited
to consider this Elective)
How are the Electives benefiting our students?
Sports leadership
‘I've learnt many things during this course that will
definitely help me in my future whether I'm a sports
coach or not. I enjoyed the challenge of learning
how to deal with different students who have varying
ability and social skills.’
‘Sports leadership has and will help me be able
to adapt to my surroundings. My
communication over the past few weeks has
definitely changed, I feel more comfortable
talking to large groups, and giving praise to
students. My personal organisation has
developed massively and this is something that
will serve me well throughout school, university
and even the work place’.
All the skills that we gain in this course
will help us in our future careers
because communicating with people is
the basis of a good relationship in
workplaces or just socially’.
I have learnt how to
properly assess my
skills and improve
others;
I developed my
confidence and team
working skills, which
helped me in other
subjects including
Drama.
I was able to
develop my risktaking skills by
taking a leadership
role.
This course has helped me
develop many skills in enterprise
including creativity, team work
and leadership. Also it helped me
realised how to start business.
Business and enterprise skills
Things to consider
Electives or
doubling up
• Electives or another course
from option group A or B
Languages as an • Chinese, French or Spanish
additional option
Which science
course?
Additional support
Your future in
Year 12 and 13
• Triple award, Double Award or
Combined Single Science
Award
• For example, Strategies for School,
English as an Additional language
• IB or ID programmes
Reasons for choosing a course …
because you enjoy it
because you are good at it
because you are interested in it
because you want to challenge yourself
because it might be useful for the future
course or career you have in mind
Reasons you should not choose a
subject…
because your friends
are doing it
because you hope to
have the same teacher
as this year
because it is easy
Personal Interest and Choice
Option choice form for Years 10 and 11
Option group A
Select an I&S subject
Option Group B
Select one from
Technology,
Creative Arts or
PE
Option Group C
Select the Electives
pathway and
identify your
preferred course or
combination of
courses
Or
Science
Triple, Double
or Combined
Single Science
Award
Select another
subject from option
groups A or B or
another language
To achieve breadth and balance the following subjects must not be
chosen together…
• Business and Economics
• Two Design Technology subjects such as resistant materials and graphics
• Business with Enterprise skills from the Electives
SCIENCE at W.I.S.
TRIPLE SCIENCE
3 separate science IGCSEs
Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
DOUBLE SCIENCE
2 science IGCSE
certificates.
Grades awarded on the average attainment over 3 sciences.
SINGLE (+ Applied) SCIENCE 1 iGCSE
Year 10 Science course
•
Triple science and Double Science students do
the same course in year 10 are mixed – no split
until year 11. (Some differentiation in lessons)
•
Students taking triple science will typically be
working at level 7 or 8 in science in year 9.
Double Science
Biology core
exam
Chemistry core
exam
+
+
2 X SCIENCE iGCSE
(example: science BB)
Physics core
exam
TRIPLE SCIENCE
Biology core exam
Chemistry core exam
Physics core exam
+
+
+
Biology extension
exam
Chemistry extension
exam
Physics extension
exam
=
Biology iGCSE
=
Chemistry iGCSE
=
Physics iGCSE
SINGLE SCIENCE
•
1 GCSE , plus internally assessed applied science units
similar to previous BTEC course.
•
Aimed at Foundation level C to G grades
•
Typical student will have MYD 5 (approx below 60% in
science summative testing)
•
Does NOT prepare adequately for IB sciences Biology,
Chemistry and Physics HL or SL
•
OK to do ID or full IB taking ESS, Sports Science or
Design in group 4.
Discussions
with tutors
and Learning
for Life
teachers
Discussions
with teachers
and heads of
subject
Discussions
between
parents and
students
Students complete online options by
December 5th and return printout with
parents’ signature to school by Dec 16th.