Y10/11 Options 2014Parents’ Evening – 25th Feb 2014

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

Timetable of Events

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)

English Language English Literature Maths Biology Chemistry PhysicsSome 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:

examscourseworkcontrolled assessment

Structure of the Curriculum

Core/Compulsory

English 4 hoursMaths 3½ hoursBiology 2 hoursChemistry 2 hoursPhysics 2 hoursPSHE 1 hourPE 2 hours

Options

Option 1 2 hoursOption 2 2 hoursOption 3 2 hoursOption 4 2 hours

During block weeks students may spend more time on option subjects & less time on core subjects in year 10

Key Issues for 2014-161. 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 2014-162. 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 2014-163. 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

English, maths, biology, chemistry and physics

PE and PSHE

Compulsory subjects

You need to think about: Your strengths & interests Your future plans How you will be assessed:

ExamsCourseworkControlled assessment

OPTIONS – 4 CHOICES (GCSEs or BTEC/OCR courses)

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

Five boxes to complete – PE compulsory Effectively making 4 option choices Focus on your strengths Not doing so will impact on your progression

Making your choices

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

Consider Progression

Student 1English Lang CEnglish Lit DMaths EBiology DChemistry DPhysics CArt & Design AFood Tech AHistory EFrench D

Case StudiesStudent 2English Lang CEnglish Lit CMaths ABiology BChemistry BPhysics BEngineering AIT

DistGeography BPE A

Student 3English Lang AEnglish Lit AMaths CBiology CChemistry CPhysics DHistory ASpanish BDrama AReligious St A

Art and Design Graphic Communication Textile

60% Portfolio40% Externally set task

Will only count once in Attainment 8 measure

Art – which one?

Business StudiesExam 75%Controlled Assessment 25%

Media StudiesControlled assessment 60%Exam 40%

Business and Media

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

Dance GCSE – solo and group performances and choreography20% written exam

Drama GCSEInternal and externally assessed performances. Evaluation of a play + 40% exam (performance)

Music GCSEComposition, performance and 40% exam

BTEC performing arts (musical theatre – music, dance and drama)

Expressive Arts (continued)

PE or Sport?

IT or Computing?

Health Studies

Technology (Design) – which one?

Technology – Food and Catering

ThinkStrengthsInterestsAssessmentProgressionChoose what you enjoy and are likely to do best in!Talk to your teachers!

Conclusion

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

What now?

Thank You