Year 9 options 2015-2017
Aims of the meeting
• To update you with changes to the examination system
from 2017
• To explain the structure of the Key Stage 4 (yrs 10 & 11)
curriculum for 2015-2017
• To outline the options process
• To support you in helping your child make informed
decisions.
Changes to the delivery and
assessment of Key Stage 4
courses
• English Language, English Literature and Mathematics
to be examined under the new regulations from
September 2015
• Each of these three subjects will have a new syllabus
to teach from
• All other subjects will be examined under existing
GCSE regulations
• All subjects (other than Double Award Science) will
have terminal (end of year 11) examinations. All
modular examinations have gone.
• English language will provide all students with a
robust foundation of reading and good written
English, and with the language and literary skills
which are required for further study and work. It will
ensure that students can read fluently and write
effectively, and will have 20% of the marks awarded
for accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• English Literature will encourage students to read,
write and think critically. It will involve students
studying a range of intellectually challenging and
substantial whole texts in detail including
Shakespeare, 19th-century novels, Romantic poetry
and other high-quality fiction and drama. The new
GCSE will also ensure that all students are examined
on some ‘unseen’ texts, encouraging students to
read widely and rewarding those that can
demonstrate the breadth of their understanding.
• Mathematics will demand deeper and broader
mathematical understanding. It will provide all
students with greater coverage of key areas such as
ratio, proportion and rates of change and require
them to apply their knowledge and reasoning to
provide clear mathematical arguments. It will
provide greater challenge for the most able
students by thoroughly testing their understanding
of the mathematical knowledge needed for higher
level study and careers in mathematics, the sciences
and computing.
• Mathematics will have still have Higher and Foundation tiers
of examination entry. English Language and Literature will
have one paper that all students will sit.
• Examination results in these subjects will be graded 9-1 (9
being the highest) U = fail
• All other GCSE subjects will still be graded A*-G or U
• Bottom of new grade 4 = bottom of current grade C
• New Grade 7 = current grade A baseline
• First cohort of students will be graded on a one-off basis to
match the proportions of each grade achieved in the summer
examinations in 2016 in English and Mathematics.
Why Options?
• To allow students some choice over the subjects they
will study in years 10 & 11
• To allow you and your child to reflect on their own
preferred learning style and match this to the option
subjects on offer
• To take account of examination changes and creating
the best pathway for students over the next two
years
• To take account of future aspirations of students
beyond year 11 and towards future employment
Subjects that all students will
study during years 10 to 11
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
English 7 lessons a fortnight
Mathematics 6 lessons a fortnight
Science 9 lessons for Double, 12 lessons a fortnight for Triple
Core Physical Education 4 lessons a fortnight
ICT 2 periods a fortnight. OCR Cambridge National qualification
RE
2 periods a fortnight. Short Course RE
PSHCE Through Citizenship days during years 10 & 11 (5 in total)
What is a Pathway?
English Language & Literature, Mathematics, Science
Core PE, ICT, RE, PSHCE plus 4 other subjects
Pathway 1
Pathway 2
Pathway 3
Pathway 4
German
ASDAN
Business Studies
History
French
Resistant Materials
Textiles
Spanish
Catering
Product Design
Drama
Geography
3D Art
BTEC PE
Music
Media Studies
Certifications
• GCSE examined subjects
• Other accredited subjects (not GCSEs) e.g. BTEC
• Non Performance Tables approved subjects e.g. RE Short
course
• The English Baccalaureate: Ebacc
• English Language & Literature,
Mathematics, Science (2), 1 Humanity Subject,
1 Modern Foreign Language
• 43% of Year 11 in 2014 took the equivalent of an EBACC,
with 21% achieving it. (Nationally 24%)
• The English Baccalaureate: Ebacc
• English Lang & Lit, Mathematics, Science (2),
1 Humanity , 1 Modern Foreign Language
• 43% of Year 11 in 2014 took the equivalent of
an EBACC.
• 21% achieved the Ebacc requirements of at
least a C grade in all qualifying subjects
• Nationally the figure was 24%
• Attainment 8 measure: From 2016 (Y10 now)
• Mathematics
• English Language or literature (highest score)
• The 3 highest scoring results from science, computer
science, history and geography and languages
• 3 highest scores in any three other subjects,
including English language or literature if not
included above, other GCSE’s or any other approved
high value academic or vocational qualifications
What should you consider
about when helping your
child with their option
choices?
• Those subjects that they are doing well in and enjoy
• A broad balance to the subjects that they choose
• Any specific recommendations of subject combinations to
take , if your son or daughter has a future career in mind
• Whether they like being creative, reflective or enquiring
• What type of learning style best suits them
• Advice from teachers, tutors, other parents, the web
• Any experience gained from older siblings that have gone
through the same process
Key points about your
options form
• You make 4 choices in preference order. The first
being the one that you really want to study
• You then choose two alternative subjects that
you wouldn’t mind studying if any of your top 4 is
not available
• Some subjects may become unavailable next year
depending on the numbers of you that choose
them
• We usually manage to give 85% of all students at
least 3 of their top 4 choices
SUBJECT NAME
1st Choice
2nd Choice
3rd Choice
4th Choice
Alternative choice 1
Alternative choice 2
Your son or daughter will be given their individual option
choice forms by their tutors during the week beginning
Monday 26th January.
Science courses from
September 2015
• Triple science, Double Science, Cambridge Science
• Differing levels of challenge
• The performance of students in standard topic tests, over the
course of year 9 up to the end of term 5, will be assessed and
therefore their ‘working at’ level calculated
• Mrs Brown (Head of Science) using this data alongside advice
from their Y9 science teacher, will write to you in term 5,
recommending which of the science courses on offer, your
son or daughter should consider
• You will have the opportunity to discuss this with her.
Key dates
All in the options booklet
• Tuesday 20th January:
Option Booklets issued
• Wednesday 21st January 7-8 pm in the Auditorium
Parent information meeting
• Week beginning Monday 26th January:
Curriculum Information week
• Week beginning Monday 26th January:
Option Forms issued
• Wednesday 25th February:
Parent/Subject Teacher meeting
• Monday 2nd March:
Return deadline for Yellow option choice forms to tutors
Are there any questions?
email contact information for subject leaders is in the options booklet.
Thank you all for attending this
evening