GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
YR 9 OPTIONS INFORMATION
Wednesday
10th December 2014
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Purpose of this Evening
To provide you with further information on how
best to help your child express their preferred
subject selection for Years 10 and 11.
To outline our understanding of the current
Government’s position on education.
To understand the process required to
accurately express your preferred subject
selection at KS4.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Aim – To support your child in making
an informed subject preference for KS4
Before - discussed your child’s areas of interest and possible
vocations. Students should have completed some research prior to
attending this evening. Looking at different jobs and the qualifications
required to follow this career path.
Tonight - visit
identified subject stalls and discuss the demands
of the subject with staff and student representatives.
Attend a presentation to support you in guiding your child to make an
appropriate selection of subjects.
After –
discuss the evening, read through the booklet again,
complete the form and get it in on time.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Process so far
All students have attended an assembly
regarding the options process and received their
options booklet.
All students should have had a Futures Interview
with their Head of House.
All parents and students should have received a
report very recently, which will have informed
you of the current level progress for your
son/daughter.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update
Since the last election that has been a great
deal of talk about the changes required to
improve the British education system.
English Baccalaureate.
A raise in the participation age
Linear examinations
Loss of retakes
A change of assessment criteria part way
through courses
More recently, we have heard about curriculum
and examination reforms, as well as a new
grading system.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update
Examination reform – All GCSE and A Level
courses have been rewritten with new schemes
of assessment.
Yr9 will be the first cohort who will study the
new GCSE courses in English Language, English
Literature and Mathematics.
The new GCSE specification are much more
demanding and the content for Maths has
increased significantly, leading us to change our
curriculum model.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update - Changes to GCSE Grading
The grading system for GCSE is changing. From 2017, the current A* - G
grading system will be replaced with Grades 1-9.
For our current Year 9, English Language, English Literature and
Mathematics will be graded using the new system, with students receiving
their results in August 2017.
All other GCSEs will be graded A*-G.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update – School Measures
• The Government have introduced a new
performance measure known as the
‘Attainment 8’, which dictates which subjects
students should be examined in.
• This potentially could restrict the students
to having just two free subject choices.
• With some careful curriculum planning we
have been able to maintain three free
subject choices and one restricted subject
choice for all students who are on the Green
Pathway (6c+).
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update – School Measures
All students who achieve a 6c or above at
the end of Yr9 are required to take the following
subjects –
English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
3 subjects to include Core Science, Additional Science,
plus Geography, History, French, German or Computer
Science (Option block A).
3 other subjects (Option blocks B,C,D).
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
National Update – Attainment 8 and
Progress 8 Requirements
GROUP 1
1
2
English: Double weighted*
Maths: Double weighted
*Higher score of
English Language or
English Literature
double weighted if a
student has taken
both qualifications
GROUP 3
GROUP 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
EBacc qualifications
‘Open group’
(sciences, computer
science, geography,
history and
languages)
Remaining Ebacc
qualifications and other
approved qualifications,
including second English
GCSE
(GCSEs and other approved
academic, arts or
vocational qualifications)
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
In School Guidance
Aim Higher Day
All students will have the opportunity to visit the
University of Bedfordshire and begin to consider their
futures and what qualifications they will need to get
there.
Job
2022/23
Degree or
further
training
2022
A level or
Equivalent
2019
GCSE
2017
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Our Approach
We aim to provide a flexible curriculum,
which provides different pathways for
different students;
“To help all of our learners to meet the
challenges of life in our fast-changing world.”
Working in collaboration with school staff
and parents, our students will be guided
towards a combination of subjects which
best suits their individual needs and
interests.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
A Curriculum with Pathways
The students have all been following a curriculum organised into pathways
which have been designed to offer appropriate challenge to students of
differing abilities and develop them individually into Confident, Responsible,
Independent and Successful Learners.
Students of different abilities will continue to follow a slightly adjusted
programme and complete KS4 with an expected different number of
qualifications. The combinations of subjects offered in each pathway are
selected to ensure the maximum potential for success for all of our
students and all students will have an appropriate level of challenge.
Pathway Entry:
Green Subjects
Blue Subjects
Purple Subjects
Level 6c and above in English, Maths and Science
Level 5 or above in English, Maths and Science
Level 4 and below in English, Maths and Science
This curriculum in turn feeds into a selection of pathways at Key stage
5.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
The Core Curriculum
English
Maths
Science
PRS
Green
2 GCSEs
Language and
Literature
1 GCSE
2 GCSEs for all
3 GCSEs for the
most able
½ a GCSE
Blue
2 GCSEs
Language and
Literature
1 GCSE
2 GCSE
School
Completion
Certificate
Purple
1 GCSE or other
appropriate
qualification
1 GCSE or other
appropriate
qualification
1 GCSE or other
appropriate
qualification
School
Completion
Certificate
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
My Possible Final Qualifications
English
Maths
Science
PRS
Options
Total GCSE
equivalents
Green
2 GCSEs
Language
and
Literature
1 GCSE
2 GCSE for
all
3 GCSE for
most able
½ GCSE
4 GCSEs or
BTEC
10 ½ or 9 ½
GCSEs
Blue
1 GCSE
Language
Option
Literature
for some
1 GCSE
2 GCSE
School
Completion
Certificate
4 GCSEs or
BTEC
7 or 8
GCSEs
Purple
1 GCSE
1 GCSE
1 GCSE or
or other
appropriate
qualification
or other
appropriate
qualification
3 GCSEs or
BTEC
6 GCSEs
or other
appropriate
qualification
School
Completion
Certificate
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
The Next Chapter of Your Child’s
Education
Raising the Participation Age
The Government has increased the age to which all young people in
England must continue in education or training, requiring them to
continue until their 18th birthday.
Full Time Education
at Tring School
Minimum 8 C Grades
at GCSE and meet
the entry criterion
for your chosen
subjects
Full Time Education at
College
Apprenticeship
Level 3 = A Level
5 GCSE C Grades
including English and
Maths
5 GCSE C
Grades including
English and
Maths
Level 2 = GCSE (A*-C)
4 GCSE Grade D
Level 1 course ( G-D
grades)
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
The Option Blocks
Block A
French
Geography
German
History
Computer Science
Catering
Citizenship
Computer Science
French
Graphics
Leisure & Tour
Media
Catering
Citizenship
Leisure & Tour
Media
Block B
Block C
Business Studies
French
Geography
HSC
Media
Music
RM
Art
Drama
Food
History
PE
Textiles
Sociology
French
Geography
HSC
Media
Music
RM
Art
Construction
Drama
Food
PE
Textiles
Asdan
HSC
Media
Music
Workskills
Block D
Art
Drama
Food
Further Add Science
German
Graphics
Leisure & Tour
PE
PRS
Art
Drama
Food
Further Add Science
German
Graphics
Leisure & Tour
PE
PRS
Vocational course at West Herts College
Art
Art
Drama
Construction
Leisure & Tour
Drama
PE
PE
PRS
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Things to Consider
You will be making some subject selections for next year and they should …
1.
2.
3.
4.
Reflect subjects that you already enjoy.
Allow you to achieve the most that you are capable of.
Be able to be continued onto higher courses in the partnership or at college.
Allow for you to enter the career of your choice.
Please be aware that:
• Russell Universities have advised that studying for more GCSEs at the expense
of getting higher grades is not advantageous
* Russel Group University guidance – DFE Website
You will be making some subject selections for next year and they must not be
selected …
1.
2.
3.
Because your friends are selecting it.
Because you like your teacher this year.
Because you think it will be easy.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
An Important Time…
We want you to make the right choices:
Please use this evening to follow up the
discussions you have had so far with your
parents, Lifeskills teachers & Heads of Houses.
Ask the subject teachers about the courses you
are interested in, discuss the topics covered,
the methods of assessment and your suitability
for the course.
The Connexions Team and Mrs Raybould will be
available to discuss any individual concerns in
the Desborough Hall.
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
An Important Time…
Remember:
•
•
All exams for every GCSE subject will be at the
end of Year 11 and the style and weighting for
coursework are still under review by exam boards
BTEC courses will all have ONE exam paper but
this can be taken on a range of dates during the
course
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Your Option Form
A
B
Geography
French
Rank 1 – 4
(1=most favoured
4=least favoured)
2
3
2nd Preference
(one from each block)
PE
1st Preference
Media
C
D
History
Graphics
1
4
Sociology
Music
Due to popular course preference the subject allocation may be
as follows
Option A
Option B
Geography
French
Option C
History
Option D
Music
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Key Dates
Submit your option choices form to your Head of
House – 16 January 2015
Year 9 Exams Week starts 9 March 2015
Provisional options confirmed week commencing 16
March 2015
Pathway re-adjustments made and final options
confirmed by 1 May 2015
ALL COURSES BEGIN 8th JUNE 2015
Final readjustments to choices 14 July 2015
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Frequently Asked Questions
•Why can’t I take Resistant Materials and Food
Technology?
•Do I need to take a language?
•What happens if I don’t like my subjects once I
have started them?
•I want to take two subjects in column A but
nothing in column C.
•What happens if the subject you want to take
is not in your current pathway?
GCSE Options at Tring School 2015-17
Make the Right Choices for You!