Year 9 Options Evening
Thursday 6th November 2014
Please sign-in at the entrance hall
Can we please request that all
students sit with parents/carers –
this is an important part of the
Options process.
Year 10 and 11 Curriculum
Subject
Hours
Qualification
English
4
English and English Literature GCSE
Maths
4
Maths Methods and Maths
Applications GCSEs
Science
5 or 6
Either Double Science GCSE
Or Biology, Chemistry and Physics
PE
2
PSHE
1
Option subjects 4 x
2 or 3
Taught in two tutor times
GCSEs or BTECs
GCSE English - Y10 and Y11
Students take a
GCSE in English
Language and
a GCSE in
English Literature.
Examinations in English
Language which will test
reading and writing skills.
There will be separate
speaking and listening
assessments
Examinations in English
Literature will test
understanding of poetry,
prose and drama texts.
Mathematics
The new Mathematics GCSE courses
are starting in September 2015.
We will be looking at the ratified
courses over the next two months to
make a decision on which exam board
to use.
Assessment is likely to be 3 papers at
the end of Year 11, one of which will be
non calculator. There will remain a
Foundation and Higher tier.
Science
Double Science (Core Science in Y10 and
Additional Science in Y11)
OR
Triple Science (3 GCSEs over Y10 and Y11 Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each
subject has 2 lessons per week)
You can take A Level Sciences from both
routes.
Entry onto A Level subjects depend upon
grades and student effort in the subjects.
Double Science
3 x 1 hour (tiered) exams in Biology,
Chemistry and Physics, all worth 25%
taken in the summer of Year 10.
The remaining 25% comes from the
Controlled Assessment marks and these
will be completed at the end of this
current school year.
This results in a GCSE in Core Science at
the of year 10. The Additional Science
qualification then follows the same
structure in year 11.
Triple Science students:
Commit to attending an after school lesson
every Tuesday.
Need to be aware that they will be taking
9 x 1 hour exams (3 Biology, 3 Chemistry
and 3 Physics) at the end of Year 11.
All students are welcome onto the Triple
Science course if they are willing to work
hard, as shown through their year 9 lessons.
All students will sit Controlled Assessments in
Biology, Chemistry and Physics during the
course.
Triple Science
This results in three separate GCSEs in
Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Two thirds of the content for Triple
Science is the same as the Core and
Additional Science qualifications.
Triple Scientists will study an additional
‘Extension’ topic in each of the three
sciences.
Summary:
Any questions?
Your science teacher will be able to
discuss with you the most suitable route to
choose.
In addition the following staff can also
help:
Mr A Sampson, Head of Science
Mrs H Russell, KS3/Year 9 Science leader
Qualification types
A mixture of traditional and
vocational qualifications
• GCSE
• BTEC Certificate
• Cambridge National award in
ICT
• Level 1 Vocational
Qualifications
GCSE
Will be mostly written examinations with
coursework in a few subjects
Pass grades range from A* to G
BTEC (Extended Certificate)
Examination and Coursework – 3 units of
work which are equivalent to 1 GCSE
(Grade A* to C)
Students who pass are awarded either Pass,
Merit, Distinction or Distinction*
The Options form 2015 – 2017
(Page 25 of the options booklet)
In box A you will choose a language
option. There is the provision to not
take a language if it is considered
appropriate.
In box B you will choose a humanities
option
In box C you make 4 choices
in priority order
GCSE Art and design
Cambridge award ICT
BTEC Business studies
GCSE Music
GCSE Drama
BTEC Sport
GCSE French (dual linguists)
GCSE Hospitality*
GCSE Geography
GCSE Product Design*
GCSE History
GCSE Graphics*
Your order of preference is very important.
* Students can only study one technology option.
Option Blocks
• All student choices are
considered at the same time
• Option blocks are formed
based on the majority of
students getting their choices
• These blocks form the
timetable
Option Blocks
• There will be four option blocks
• The subjects in one block are all
taught at the same time on the
timetable
• E.g.
Block 3
CG
FR
HI
ICT
RM
Timetable
This year the timetable for Year
10 looked like this
Monday
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
1 ENGLISH OPTION 2 ENGLISH OPTION 4
2 SCIENCE ENGLISH
MATHS OPTION 4
Break
3 MATHS
MATHS
PE
SCIENCE
4 OPTION 2 SCIENCE SCIENCE
PE
Lunch
5 OPTION 1 OPTION 4 OPTION 1 OPTION 1
SC TRIPLE
Friday
OPTION 3
OPTION 3
MATHS
ENGLISH
SCIENCE
Box D
Students wishing to be considered for Triple Science must
tick the box to confirm this.
Students can choose to study BTEC Dance instead of core
PE.
Students wishing to be considered for a college placement
must tick the box to confirm this. We will not know until later
in the year what provision is available. Students on
alternative placements will forfeit one, potentially two
option choices.
Part B Compulsory Subjects
Deadline for completed forms: 28th November
Calendar of events
Monday 17th- Friday 28th November:
Option interviews
Friday 28th November: Final deadline for
submitting option forms.
Y9 Progress Check
Y9 Parents Evening
Y9 Mentoring
Y9 Progress Check
Y9 Mentoring (Exam Focus)
Y9 Exam weeks
Y9 Year Progress meet
Y9 Report
12 December to parents/carers
22nd Jan
Tues 27 Jan-Fri 30 Jan
20 March to parents/carers
Tues 28 April – Fri 1st May
w/c 11 May and w/c 18 May
30 June
3 July to parents/carers
Options Interviews
All parents are invited to attend an interview
alongside their son or daughter with a Senior
member of staff.
If you wish to take up this opportunity the
contact details are in the Option booklet.
17-28th Nov – Melanie.Fish@jmonline.org.uk
Holywell - Mr Williams
Beacon - Mr Hammond
Jubilee - Mr Collard
Midsummer - Mr Evans & Mr Sampson
Selected Students - Mr Mudge and Mrs Lee
Catherine Webster – Careers Advisor
The overwhelming majority of
students get their options choices.
However some may not because:
There is a change in the staffing structure
of the school.
There are insufficient numbers to run a
course.
There are too many students choosing
one particular course.
There is strong evidence to suggest this is
not an appropriate choice.
Classic Option Mistakes
Good advice about Options
Ultimate Options Choice?
Skills/Abilities
Experience
Passion
Calendar of events
Monday 17th- Friday 28th November:
Option interviews (Melanie.Fish@jmonline.org.uk)
Friday 28th November: Final deadline for
submitting option forms.
Y9 Progress Check
Y9 Parents Evening
Y9 Mentoring
Y9 Progress Check
Y9 Mentoring (Exam Focus)
Y9 Exam weeks
Y9 Year Progress meet
Y9 Report
12 December to parents/carers
22nd Jan
Tues 27 Jan-Fri 30 Jan
20 March to parents/carers
Tues 28 April – Fri 1st May
w/c 11 May and w/c 18 May
30 June
3 July to parents/carers