Middle Years Diploma Year 9 Options Process

2014 - 2015

‘We strive to inspire and support all students in achieving their potential for a successful life as responsible global citizens’WIS mission, aims and values

Aims

• To gain an overview of the options timeline and related process

• To gain an understanding of the Year 10/11 learning experience - CORE, OPTIONS AND ELECTIVES

Option Process Timeline

Oct 30Options booklet

available

on website

Oct 30Parent Forum

Oct 27 Dec 16

Tutor follow up

Nov 20

Options Evening

Nov 21 Dec 5

On-line choices made

Dec 16

Parents’ confirm choices

April Final

option choices

confirmed

Broad and Balanced

A CORE of compulsory

courses

A set of OPTIONAL

& ELECTIVE

courses

The Year 10 and Year 11 learning

experience

The CORE or compulsory courses

English Language and Literature

Maths

Science

Learning for Life non examined

Physical Education

non examined

Global Perspectives

Languages

35 COURSES TO CHOOSE FROM

Option Group A Choose one subject

from I&S

Option Group B Choose one subject from Technology, PE

or Creative Arts

Option Group C Choose from The

Electives or another subject from Option Groups A and B or additional language

The Options and Electives

The Electives- What are they?

Internally devised or externally accredited courses that can be completed during: • one to two terms

• a year

• two years of study.

What are the benefits? The Electives embody the essential transferable key skills that run through the Middle Years Diploma Programme and the IB/ID programme at Post 16-

• Communication • Research • Social • Thinking • Self-management

Elective choices allow for : extension, challenge, support and/or enrichment alongside the IGCSE courses

Why choose the Electives?

What is the appropriate number of (I)GCSEs required for life after WIS?

• The UK’s leading research universities (the Russell Group) that 9 or 10 (I)GCSEs certificates is the maximum desired number for study by students in Year 10 and 11.

Skills and qualities that companies are looking for within the 21st century workplace…

• Flexibility • Ability to innovate and invent• Entrepreneurial mindset- to think laterally

and spot opportunities• An awareness of presentation and how to

communicate ideas• How to build relationships Taken from STEM report –Inventing the Future 2012

‘Firms need young people that are resilient, good communicators and understand how to work as part of a team.’John Longworth,Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC)

Graduates are often very good at their own specialism, but are unable to develop ideas laterally across specialisms, often due to inexperience. We need people who can think in an innovative and strategic way across different aspects of the business.’Inventing the Future,NEF,Pg25

Elective courses 2015-16

(Due to the demanding nature of the AS Critical Thinking course, students will be invited to consider this Elective)

How are the Electives benefiting our students?

‘I've learnt many things during this course that will definitely help me in my future whether I'm a sports coach or not. I enjoyed the challenge of learning how to deal with different students who have varying ability and social skills.’

‘Sports leadership has and will help me be able to adapt to my surroundings. My communication over the past few weeks has definitely changed, I feel more comfortable talking to large groups, and giving praise to students. My personal organisation has developed massively and this is something that will serve me well throughout school, university and even the work place’.

Sports leadership

All the skills that we gain in this course will help us in our future careers because communicating with people is the basis of a good relationship in workplaces or just socially’.

I have learnt how to properly assess my skills and improve others; This course has helped me

develop many skills in enterprise including creativity, team work and leadership. Also it helped me realised how to start business.

I was able to develop my risk-taking skills by

taking a leadership role.

I developed my confidence and team working skills, which helped me in other subjects including Drama.

Business and enterprise skills

• Electives or another course from option group A or B

Electives or doubling up

• Chinese, French or SpanishLanguages as an additional option

• Triple award, Double Award or Combined Single Science Award

Which science course?

• For example, Strategies for School, English as an Additional languageAdditional support

• IB or ID programmes Your future in Year 12 and 13

Things to consider

because you enjoy it

because you are good at it

because you are interested in it

because you want to challenge yourself

because it might be useful for the future course or career you have in mind

Reasons for choosing a course …

because your friends are doing it

because you hope to have the same teacher

as this year

because it is easy

Reasons you should not choose a subject…

Personal Interest and Choice

Option group A Option Group B Option Group C Science

Select an I&S subject

Select one from Technology,

Creative Arts or PE

Select the Electives pathway and identify your

preferred course or combination of

courses 

Or

 Select another subject from option

groups A or B or another language

 

Triple, Double or Combined

Single Science Award

Option choice form for Years 10 and 11

To achieve breadth and balance the following subjects must not be chosen together…• Business and Economics• Two Design Technology subjects such as resistant materials and graphics• Business with Enterprise skills from the Electives

SCIENCE at W.I.S.

TRIPLE SCIENCE 3 separate science IGCSEs Biology, Chemistry, Physics.

DOUBLE SCIENCE 2 science IGCSE certificates.

Grades awarded on the average attainment over 3 sciences.

SINGLE (+ Applied) SCIENCE 1 iGCSE

Year 10 Science course

• Triple science and Double Science

students do the same course in year 10

are mixed – no split until year 11. (Some

differentiation in lessons)

• Students taking triple science will

typically be working at level 7 or 8 in

science in year 9.

Double Science

Biology core exam

Chemistry core exam

Physics core exam

+ +

2 X SCIENCE iGCSE

(example: science BB)

TRIPLE SCIENCE

Biology core exam

Biology extension exam

+

= Biology iGCSE

Chemistry core exam

Chemistry extension exam

+

= Chemistry iGCSE

Physics core exam

Physics extension exam

+

= Physics iGCSE

SINGLE SCIENCE

• 1 GCSE , plus internally assessed applied science

units similar to previous BTEC course.

• Aimed at Foundation level C to G grades

• Typical student will have MYD 5 (approx below 60%

in science summative testing)

• Does NOT prepare adequately for IB sciences

Biology, Chemistry and Physics HL or SL

• OK to do ID or full IB taking ESS, Sports Science or

Design in group 4.

Students complete online options by December 5th and return printout with

parents’ signature to school by Dec 16th.

Discussions between

parents and students

Discussions with tutors

and Learning for Life

teachers

Discussions with teachers and heads of

subject