Cambridge Road, Linton, Cambridge CB21 4JB

Year 8 OPTIONS

2015/2016

CONTENTS

1. Letter of Introduction 2. Subjects

Art & Design Business Studies Dance Drama Engineering Food & Nutrition Music Product Design

3. Option Choices Form

Final Choices – handed to tutors by

Friday 20 March 2015

Dear Year 8 Student, This year you have to make the first two important choices about your future. Firstly, we are asking you to choose the subjects you would like to study within the Business & Enterprise and Sports & Arts faculties in Year 9. This is an opportunity for you to tailor your curriculum towards your areas of interest in these faculties. Secondly, you need to think carefully about whether you would like to study a Combined Science GCSE (worth two GCSEs) or three separate science GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics – this decision will be made later in the year, although you will need to start thinking about it now. Everyone will be following the same standard provision in Year 9:

Subject

Periods per

Fortnight

English 6

Maths 6

Science 6

French and/or Spanish* 6

Geography 3

History 3

RS 2

Core PE 4

IT/Computing 2

*Top set Language students will study both French and Spanish. We are asking you to choose four subjects from the eight available below. You must choose at least one subject from each faculty in your top four choices. You will have three hours per fortnight for each of these subjects. Please note that if you do not choose a subject in Year 9, you may not select it in your final options for Years 10 and 11.

Sports & Arts Business & Enterprise

Music Art & Design

Drama Dance

Food & Nutrition Product Design

Engineering Business Studies

You will also need to think carefully about whether you wish to study triple science (three separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics) or combined science (worth two GCSEs covering all three areas). At this stage, this is just an indication of what you are considering and is not a final decision. This final decision will made be later in the year as once you start in Year 9 you will continue this through to the end of Year 11.

It is very important that you take the process very seriously and that you gather as much information as you can about the subjects you might be interested in taking. Think carefully about what was said in the options assemblies. Read carefully all the information your teachers have given you in this booklet. You should make sure that you discuss your options with your parents, your teachers and your form tutor – listen to good advice. This is the first of two stages in your options process. The second stage happens in Year 9 when you will select your final Key Stage 4 options from your current courses with some additional choices, which are currently Philosophy & Ethics, ICT, Computing, PE, Statistics and Health & Social Care. You have had the assemblies from the faculties outlining the subjects and what they involve. Also, your subject teachers will have informed you about their subjects, including information about the new subjects that you have not studied before, in your lessons. Friday 20 March Final Deadline The form at the back of this booklet must be

returned to your form tutor by this date.

Availability of courses: We will do our best to ensure that you are able to study your top 4 choices, but this will not always be possible because of timetabling constraints. You may have to study subjects that were not in your top 4 choices. If this happens, we will talk to you to make sure that you are happy with the final combination of subjects.

Tim Darby

Deputy Principal – Curriculum February 2015

What questions should I be asking myself?

What will I be learning?

Have I asked the subject teachers how they think I will cope with their subject?

What subjects am I good at?

Are any of these courses essential for the future I am considering?

Are there courses/jobs I really want to do after LVC?

How will I learn in the subject?

Am I happy with my choices?

Will the courses I have chosen prepare me for the future?

Who can I ask advice from?

Which subjects do I enjoy?

Art and Design

What will I study? Art in year 9 is about developing your creative skills in an enjoyable yet challenging way. The course consists of a series of exciting and varied mini workshops where you will begin to develop the skills, methods and approaches expected at GCSE level. You will start to build knowledge about and develop opinions on a range of artists and art movements. You will be able to experiment with different materials, styles and approaches including paint, print, 3D materials, textiles and photography, eventually developing your own personal response.

Who will this course suit? This course will suit students who are hard-working, independent, creative, curious, practical, patient, determined and adaptable. A high level of drawing ability is an advantage but not essential: a willingness to get involved and really work at developing your skills is of the utmost importance. Good organisation is something to be developed if it is lacking now! Students interested in any creative career would find art very rewarding.

Where can I go with this subject? There are dozens of art-related courses beyond Key Stage 4, from A levels in specific art disciplines to practical/vocational courses and diplomas. Many students find that art supports a wide range of other subject areas as it builds independence, creativity and develops problem-solving skills. Students could go on to pursue degrees, higher diplomas or move straight into the workplace. Future career paths could include photography, film and theatre design, fashion, hair and beauty, art therapy, architecture, industrial design, animation, teaching, engineering, interior design, gallery and museum management and art practitioner. For a more exhaustive list see Ms McGrath.

Business Studies

What will I study?

How to be the next Levi Roots or Alan Sugar – release the entrepreneur in you!

The art of finance – learn the skills now which will serve you a lifetime

Work with business and experience real business environments, working with TWI, Dalehead Foods, Waitrose and many more

Build your business skills and lead on the Year 9 Enterprise Project

Competitions – o The Tenner Challenge which gives you a taste of

what it is like to be an entrepreneur o The Coca-Cola Real Education Challenge

Who will this course suit? If you enjoy:

communicating and explaining your ideas

thinking creatively and making decisions

working with numbers to solve business problems

learning about the world of business through research and investigation, as well as through practical investigations

Everything in life involves Business. Think about that new top you bought last week and then think of what businesses made it possible for you to be wearing it right now? The obvious ones are the Shop and the Manufacturing plant but what about the Cotton growers? The Label makers? The Delivery Company? Health & Safety? Even the companies that manage the finances of all those businesses. Thinking about all those processes and people allows you begin to understand what Business Studies is all about.

Where can I go with this subject? Year 10 & 11 GCSE Business Studies You will learn more about how small businesses are developed and discover how businesses promote themselves through marketing and keep their customers happy. You will learn how businesses manage both their finances and the people who work for them. Assessment: 2 exams and 1 controlled assessment project Post 16 This business course can help you prepare for further and higher education such as AS/A2 Levels in Business Studies and Economics, as well as Business BTEC and NVQ courses. You will become skilled in making decisions, being creative, solving problems, understanding finance, dealing with data, communicating and working as part of a team. A GCSE Business course could lead to work in a business-related profession such as accountancy, law, marketing or the leisure and tourism industry.

Dance

What will I study? Dance is an exhilarating and exciting way to convey ideas, stories and emotions through movement. It is a powerful and creative way of expressing yourself and your ideas. It is a time to be free and creative, working with other people in a group or on your own.

Dance skill and fitness – you will look at exploring and developing your technical ability in dance, giving you new ideas and movement.

Performance of dances – you will learn several dances and have the opportunity to perform in a variety of styles.

How to choreograph – the art of creating dances. We will look at how you use music, ideas, props and dance devices to make interesting and exciting dances.

Who will this course suit? Dance is an art form that anyone can access and be involved in. There is no right or wrong way to show your thoughts and ideas through movement, so Dance suits everyone. The subject requires you to be physically active, so people who enjoy moving would suit Dance perfectly. If you like music and moving to music, working with others, being creative or working on your own, then Dance is for you. Dance lessons are energetic, free, fun and tailored to suit your likes and styles for a large majority of the course. You must be respectful, mature and willing to try new things.

Where can I go with this subject? Once students have completed this year they have a number of options available to them. GCSE Dance would be the next step here at Linton. After GCSE, many of the local sixth form colleges are now offering AS and A Level Dance and Performing Arts. Dance diploma and degree courses are now on offer at a rapidly increasing number of colleges and universities and these courses offer a wide range of subjects within Dance and Theatre. There are also many independent Teacher Training Courses offered locally. The study of Dance encourages students to be dynamic, confident and highly motivated. We work hard to increase fitness, improve posture and develop imagination and artistry. This is an essential course for students who wish to pursue a career in any creative or expressive field. The skills you gain will help you work with others, understand arts, gain confidence to lead and perform in

front of others.

Drama

What will I study? You will develop your improvisation and acting skills to a higher level. You will also look at plays in more detail and at different ways of bringing a script to life on stage. If you are more interested in the technical aspects of drama (for example set design or lighting), you could focus on these for part of the course. There will be plenty of opportunity to look at how drama is created, including all the acting and staging skills that are needed to put a piece of drama on to the stage. You will learn how to create a character and play this character in a performance.

Who will this course suit? If you enjoy the following then this course is right for you:

Expressing yourself in an active and exciting way

Working in a group

Contributing your ideas and taking on board those of others

Exploring ideas by putting yourself in other people's shoes

Playing many parts in different imaginary situations

Creating your own drama work

Looking at plays written by other people Remember, many skills that are highly valued in any walk of life, including teamwork and confidently presenting yourself in public, are developed in drama.

Where can I go with this subject? Beyond GCSE drama there are further courses available, including Theatre Studies at AS and A2 Level and BTEC National Performing Arts (Acting). There are numerous different opportunities for careers varying from acting to stage management to technical skills.

Engineering

What will I study?

Practical activities; operating a lathe to make an engineered product

Research different types of metals and materials, examine and understand their properties.

How to use engineering drawings when making a component.

Why different manufacturing processes are selected when making engineering components.

How to use Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacture (CAM) to make a simple component.

Machining techniques and methods used in the engineering world

Environmental science, disposing of products and recycling materials.

Who will this course suit? Examples of engineering can be found all around us in today’s world. Engineers use their knowledge and understanding to make things happen and strive to solve many different problems that arise in the modern world. This course will give you the opportunity to gain specific knowledge and understanding in engineering, and will help you develop and sharpen your skills for employment or further study. You will learn all about modern manufacturing methods, how engineered products are made and also make some engineered products yourself. If you enjoy practical subjects and making things, this course is for you.

Where can I go with this subject? Year 10 & 11 Engineering GCSE (AQA) You will learn more about modern manufacturing processes. You will have one internally assessed piece of Controlled Assessment coursework worth 60% and a written paper exam worth 40%. The coursework involves a portfolio and one project, where you will design and manufacture an Engineering Product to suit a mechanical, pneumatic or electronic outcome. Post 16 The Engineering GCSE will help you prepare for further and higher education such as AS/A2 Levels and BTEC and NVQ courses. You will become experienced in integrating the practical skills you have learnt with other STEM subjects: Science, Technology and Mathematics. The course will aid you in making informed decisions about designing, solving problems and understanding manufacturing processes. A GCSE Engineering course could lead to work in an Engineering-related profession such as design engineering, Research and Development (R&D) engineering or in a manufacturing engineering environment.

Food & Nutrition

What will I study? This is the year when your cooking can really start to develop and flourish. You have worked hard in Year 7 and 8 to establish the basics and now we will branch out into the more skilled dishes using raising agents, thickening agents, eggs and pastry. You will get a chance to use your enterprise skills in the summer term when you will design, test, create and market your own dish to sell to the wider community, in competition with the rest of the year. Year 9 students will work towards an extra qualification – CIEH Level 2 Food Safety. This course underpins the importance of food hygiene and safety when preparing food in a practical classroom environment. The certificate can also support students during Work Experience and when applying for jobs within the Catering industry in Year 10.

Who will this course suit? This course will suit anyone who enjoys cooking and who prefers more practical subjects. Food & Nutrition will attract those who are interested in what you eat, when and why you eat, as well as what makes us healthy or unhealthy or perform well in sport. It is also a great subject for those who love to see their designs go from idea to reality.

Where can I go with this subject? In Year 10 we start the OCR Food and Nutrition GCSE which is 60% coursework, 40% exam. During these two years we study nutrition, healthy eating and meal planning. There is a focus on the basic foods – meat, fish, cheese, eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables, cereals. Some of the more skilled practical lessons include cake making, the use of raising agents, pastry making and an emphasis on practical skills and working safely and hygienically. After Year 11 you can go straight to the workplace in the catering industry or carry on to further education. This is also a useful course for developing life skills for the future.

Music Music

What will I study? Music in Year 9 is packed with activities that will continue to develop your understanding and enjoyment of music. During the course of the year, you will play within a classroom orchestral set-up and develop your musical literacy and ensemble performing skills. This additionally provides a real opportunity for students who might still want to learn to play a musical instrument and who have not done so before. You will also have the opportunity to develop your vocal skills, working with students who would like to develop their musical abilities through singing. You will be offered the opportunity to compose individually, using computers if you wish, blending technology with more traditional methods of composition. Finally you will be afforded the opportunity of listening to music of various genres and be shown how to listen carefully and not just allow the sound of music to waft over you. In the summer term, we will consider the musical characteristics of various dances and perform and compose within these genres ahead of the GCSE music specification.

Who will this course suit? This course will suit anybody who has an interest in music of any style, whether they are a potential performer, composer, technician or listener.

Where can I go with this subject? Music as a subject is well regarded by sixth form colleges and universities alike. You can go on to study Music at GCSE, A Level in Music or Music Technology and then on to University or a Conservatoire to be professionally trained for a career in music. It will also help those who have an interest in Media or Journalism.

Product Design

What will I study?

The focus is on acquiring the knowledge and skills that are essential as a Product Designer. This will be delivered through a series of design projects. Each project will teach new skills and knowledge as well as practising and developing existing skills and knowledge but each will have a main focus. The focus could be ergonomics, modelling or CAD/CAM for example, real world aspects of product design.

Who will this course suit?

The creative, engineering and technological industries in the UK are major, world leading employers and it is they who are going to create the solutions to the majority of the problems facing our society. However, to do that they need to be able to recruit creative, talented, skilled and knowledgeable employees which is what our Product Design course encourages in our students. You will enjoy this course if you like to follow a project through from conception to production. You should enjoy the practical side of the project and have the desire to produce a quality product with the research and organisation that this takes.

Where can I go with this subject? This will prepare you fully for the challenges of the Product Design GCSE which is the perfect stepping stone onto A Level design courses such as Product Design and similar courses such as engineering, electronics and fashion. Possible career paths from this course could include: Design careers: Product Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Eco Design… Aerospace and Defence careers: Aerodynamicists to design, model and test aircraft Agricultural careers: Product developers, Landscape Designers, Environmental Conservation… Automotive careers: Automotive Engineer to design, simulate & crash test Construction & Electronics: Civil Engineers, Project Engineers, Project Managers Healthcare: Product developers to design and develop new lifesaving medical equipment…

Final Year 8 Option Choices – Friday 20 March 2015

NAME: TUTOR:

Please place the subjects in your overall preference order, from 1-4. Make sure you use each number once only. You must choose from both faculties. Remember: if you do not study a subject in Year 9 you cannot opt for it in Years 10 and 11. Please select the science route that you are considering for GCSE from the start of Year 9. This is not a final decision. Signed: ___________________________________________

Student

Signed: ___________________________________________

Parent/Carer

Note: Every effort will be made to give you your 4 choices, but should it not be possible for any reason, we will discuss the alternatives available to you.

Preference Order

Business &

Enterprise

Business

Engineering

Home Economics (Food & Nutrition)

Product Design

Sports &

Arts

Art & Design

Dance

Drama

Music

Triple Science (3 GCSEs)

Combined Science (2 GCSEs)