Y10/11 Options 2014
Parents’ Evening – 25th Feb 2014
Timetable of Events
PRIOR TO HALF-TERM
 12th Feb
Assembly in Hall / option books handed out
 15th Feb
Y9 Data available
AFTER HALF TERM
 25th Feb
Parents’ meeting to explain options process (7.30pm)
 6th – 12th Mar Individual student/parent appointments with member of
curriculum team
 14th Mar
Deadline for option choices
 2nd June
New timetable starts
How is the curriculum structured?
 Most students will take 10 qualifications (GCSE/BTEC/OCR)
 Compulsory subjects – 6 GCSEs
 Option Subjects – 4 GCSEs/BTECs/OCRs
GCSE courses comprise one or two of the following:
 exam (taken at the end of the course)
 coursework
 controlled assessment
BTEC/OCR courses:
 cover broad vocational areas
 are mainly coursework based (continuous assessment)
 contain one exam or externally assessed module taken during the
course
6 Compulsory Subjects (all GCSE)
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English Language
English Literature
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Some students may take will take a double science course (instead of 3
separate sciences)
Compulsory subjects which don’t lead to qualifications
 PSHE + PE
Early Entry: English Language
 GCSE English Language will be studied/assessed in
Year 10, with students completing controlled
assessments during these two years and taking their
GCSE exams at the end of the year (June 2015)
 English Literature will be studied in Year 11 with
students completing controlled assessments and
taking exams at the end of the year (June 2016)
OPTIONS – 4 CHOICES (GCSEs or
BTEC/OCR courses)
 Students should think about:
 their strengths & interests
 their future plans
 how they will be assessed:
 exams
 coursework
 controlled assessment
Structure of the Curriculum
Core/Compulsory
Options
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English
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
PSHE
PE
4 hours
3½ hours
2 hours
2 hours
2 hours
1 hour
2 hours
Option 1
Option 2
Option 3
Option 4
2 hours
2 hours
2 hours
2 hours
During block weeks students may spend more time on
option subjects & less time on core subjects in year 10
Key Issues for 2014-16
1. The English Baccalaureate
 E-Bacc - (English Baccalaureate)
 “Awarded” to students achieving A*-C grades in English
Language, Maths, two sciences (from Biology, chemistry,
physics or computing), a language (modern or ancient), and
either Geography OR History
 39% of students got E-Bacc in 2013
 Entry to our 6th form is NOT dependent on students achieving
the E-Bacc
 Our advice is that students should choose subjects which they
will enjoy and which they believe will give them the greatest
chance of success
Key Issues for 2014-16
2. Measuring achievement
Current system
 Lots of indicators used in school performance tables
 5 A*-C (inc Eng Lang/Maths) generally recognised for progression
 Average Points Score at GCSE used by QEHS sixth form (and
others) for entry onto some sixth form courses
New System (from 2016 i.e. this year group)
 Attainment 8 – average grade achieved in “best 8 subjects”
 Best 8 subjects must include:
 English Language & maths
 3 E-Bacc subjects (sciences, computing, geography, history, languages)
 3 other subjects (English Lit and all the options offered at QEHS)
 Sixth form entry requirements (locally/nationally) still unclear
2. Measuring Achievement (continued)
How will schools be judged?
 Attainment 8 – average grade achieved in “best 8 subjects” by all
students in year 11
 Best 8 subjects must include:
 English Language & maths
 3 E-Bacc subjects (sciences, computing, geography, history, languages)
 3 other subjects (English Lit and all the options offered at QEHS)
 Achievement 8 – performance against target for the 8 best
subjects
 % of students achieving A*-C in English Language AND maths
 % of students achieving the E-Bacc
Key Issues for 2014-16
3. Other issues?
 How much harder existing GCSEs will be?
 How entry requirements for sixth form (here and elsewhere)
may change in the coming years – our view is that the
“Attainment 8” measure is likely to be the most important
 Other changes to be announced by the DfE
 GCSE target grades - what are FFT targets and how do we use
them during the guidance interviews?
Making appropriate choices
Compulsory subjects
 English, maths, biology, chemistry and physics
 PE and PSHE
OPTIONS – 4 CHOICES (GCSEs or
BTEC/OCR courses)
 You need to think about:
 Your strengths & interests
 Your future plans
 How you will be assessed:
 Exams
 Coursework
 Controlled assessment
Making your choices
 Core subjects provide evidence of literacy, numeracy,
science
 Options are an opportunity to demonstrate where
you excel
 Follow your convictions
 Don’t take a subject because you feel you should
Making your choices
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Five boxes to complete – PE compulsory
Effectively making 4 option choices
Focus on your strengths
Not doing so will impact on your progression
Consider Progression
 English language and Maths basis for getting into 6th
form
 If you can get one of those then you can get into 6th
form if you choose the right subjects
 Not choosing correctly will impact on progression
Case Studies
Student 1
English Lang
English Lit
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Art & Design
Food Tech
History
French
C
D
E
D
D
C
A
A
E
D
Student 2
English Lang
English Lit
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Engineering
IT
Geography
PE
C
C
A
B
B
B
A
Dist
B
A
Student 3
English Lang
English Lit
Maths
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
History
Spanish
Drama
Religious St
A
A
C
C
C
D
A
B
A
A
Art – which one?
 Art and Design
 Graphic Communication
 Textile
60% Portfolio
40% Externally set task
Will only count once in Attainment 8 measure
Business and Media
Business Studies
Exam
Controlled Assessment
75%
25%
Media Studies
Controlled assessment
Exam
60%
40%
Expressive Arts
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BTEC Performing Arts
GCSE Dance
GCSE Drama
GCSE Music
May take more than one but Dance and Drama count
once in Attainment 8 measure
Expressive Arts (continued)
 Dance GCSE – solo and group performances and choreography
20% written exam
 Drama GCSE
Internal and externally assessed performances. Evaluation of a
play + 40% exam (performance)
 Music GCSE
Composition, performance and 40% exam
 BTEC performing arts (musical theatre – music, dance and
drama)
PE or Sport?
Think method of assessment
Controlled Assessment
 PE
60%
Coursework
 Sport
Re-sit of exam component possible
But also consider both
75%
IT or Computing?
Think method of assessment
Controlled Assessment
 Computing
60%
Coursework
 IT
75%
Re-sit of exam component possible
Computing is a technical course and an aptitude in maths is very
important. Many of the lessons in Computing will be theorybased. IT is more practical
Health Studies
 BTEC Health and Social Care
Coursework
75%
Re-sit of exam component possible
Controlled assessment
 GCSE Child development
60%
Technology (Design) – which one?
Controlled assessment
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(40-45 hours)
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Electronic Products
Engineering
Graphic Products
Resistant Materials
60%
60%
60%
60%
But, again, you could consider two
Technology – Food and Catering
 Controlled assessment
 Catering
 Food Technology
60%
60%
Explore the difference in the courses . Consider the
methods of assessment
Could consider both
Conclusion
Think
 Strengths
 Interests
 Assessment
 Progression
Choose what you enjoy and are likely to do best in!
Talk to your teachers!
What now?
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Read the brochure carefully
Students to discuss with parents
Look at Y9 data/report on e-portal
Read the assessment section on the options pages carefully
Think about whether you want:
 Breadth – 4 different subjects
 Some specialisation – 2 or 3 similar subjects
 Mainly exams or more controlled
assessments/coursework
 Students should look at the option form prior to their
interview and make some provisional choices
Thank You