Timeline:
Wednesday 8th February – Parent/Pupil Talk
During February - Assemblies:
All pupils spoken to by Heads of Option Subjects
Thursday 1st March – Parents Evening; a time for final
consultation with subject staff. Issue of Option Forms.
Friday 16th March – deadline for return of Option Forms
Tonight: you should have picked up a
cream booklet giving details of the subjects
available.
Thursday 1st March
Year 9 Parents Evening
you will receive Your Option Form
By Friday 16th March
Completed forms handed in
Informed of subjects in the Summer Term
Curriculum at KS4
6 Compulsory subjects
+
4 Option subjects
= 10 GCSE’s (or equivalent)
+
Enrichment programme
Compulsory
English Literature and Language
2
Mathematics
1
Science (Chemistry Physics Biology)
3
6
Options
For most, this will involve studying FOUR additional subjects from:
Art or Photography (Photography involves some costs/equipment)
Business Studies
Drama
French or German
Geography
History
ICT - OCR National Award
ICT GCSE
Music (must be able to play an instrument)
RE
PE
Resistant Materials or Food Technology or Graphics
Enrichment
Selection of activities available on
Wednesday afternoons on a half term rotation
e.g.
Duke of Edinburgh
Sports
Debating
Arts/crafts
Try to get as involved in as many different
activities as you can both in and out of school
14-19 pathways
English Baccalaureate – recommended for
students who are intending to go the
academic university route
The subjects you would take are:
History/Geography (or both)
+ French/German
+ other traditional ‘grammar school’ type
subjects …art, music etc.
Pathways are determined by grades:
• 10 grade C’s at GCSE (or an average of
grade C) to stay at our Sixth Form to do
AS/A level courses (University)
• 5 A*-C – to get on A/AS level courses at
some of the local colleges (University)
• 4 A*-C – to get on a BTEC level 3 course
at local colleges (University)
• 4 D-G grades to get on a BTEC level 2
course at local colleges (BTEC level 3)
Sets
Sets
Subject
Setting
English
Yes (6)
A set is an ability group.
Maths
Yes (6)
ICT
Some
French/German
Yes (2)
Geography
Yes (2)
History
Yes (2)
Science
Yes
Art/Photography
No
Any D & T
No
Drama
No
Business Studies
Some
Music
No
PE
No
RE
No
Some subjects are set,
some are not
Setting is determined by
departments based upon
knowledge of the pupils
previous attainment and
from predictive data
Set may determine level
of entry in Year 11
Level of Entry
Level of Entry
Some subjects have 2 levels of
entry
Higher
A* to D
Foundation
C to G
Subject
Tiers
Maths
Yes (2)
Business Studies
Yes (2)
English
Yes (2)
French/German
Yes (2)
Geography
Yes (2)
ICT GCSE
Yes (2)
Triple Science
Yes (2)
ICT OCR National
No
History
No
Art/Photography
No
Drama
No
Music
No
PE
No
RE
No
All D & T
No
Grades matter so sets matter
Subject
Controlled
Assessments
Coursework has been
replaced by controlled
assessments. These are
similar to coursework but
are carried out entirely in
school under controlled
conditions
WATCH THE PARENT
BULLETIN FOR DATES
Controlled
assessment
All D & T
60%
Art/Photography
60%
Drama
60%
GCSE ICT
60%
PE
60%
ICT National
100%
English
60%
English Lit
25%
Business Studies
25%
Music
60%
French/German
60%
Geography
25%
History
25%
RE
none
Sciences
25%
Maths
none
Completing the Option Form
Completing
the Option
Form



Some initial advice
DO
Consider studying a broad range of subjects
Consider subjects that you have enjoyed in KS3
Consider which subjects you are successful at
If you already have clear ideas about your career/future
take this into account – ask for advice
DON’T
XPick subjects to be with your friends
XPick or not pick subjects because of the teacher
XPick subjects because you think they are easy options –
they aren’t
Websites that might help..
These websites are often used by students in Y11,Y12 and Y13 to help
decide on AS , A level and degree courses but they may help you
understand what the universities are after and what is needed for
different careers.
www.russellgroup.org (the Russell group represents the top 20 leading
universities)
www.careerpath.com
www.alec.co.uk
www.ucas.com
Barnet and Southgate College – www.barnetsouthgate.ac.uk
london.floodlight.co.uk
www.apprenticeships.org.uk
http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/career-info/ -the Times 100 Careers
Guide which give information on companies and what kinds of jobs are
available