Year 9 GCSE Options Information Evening

Presentation by

Mr Michael

Senior Deputy Headteacher

Aims of the informing evening

•To outline the GCSE options process

•To clarify the time frame

•To address any misconceptions

The GCSE Options Process

• Y9 Options booklet and forms issued: Wednesday 15th January 2020

• Y9 Options forms to be returned: Thursday 23rd January 2020

• Y9 Options interviews commence: Monday 27th January 2020

• Y9 Options confirmation letters issued: Friday 14th February 2020*

• *subject to change

The Core Curriculum in Year 10 (September 2020)

SubjectLessons

per weekPossible Qualifications

English 5 2 GCSEs – one in English Language and one in English Literature

Maths 4 1 GCSE

Science 62 GCSEs – Combined Science: Trilogy (Double Award)

3 GCSEs- Biology, Chemistry and Physics

RE 3 1 GCSE in RE

Core PE 2Statutory (GCSE PE will be available as an option separate to core

PE)

PSHCE 1 Statutory

Options Curriculum

OptionLessons per

week

Possible

Qualifications

Option 1 3 1 GCSE

Option 2 3 1 GCSE

Option 3 3 1 GCSE

Pathways

There are three pathways to help guide students for the best possiblechoices derived from their KS2 scores.

Pathway 1 allows students to study the EBacc pathway (Core, RS, language,and humanities)

• Students will choose three subjects.

Pathway 2 allows students to study a language and/or humanities subjects.

• Students will choose three subjects.

Pathway 3 allows students to choose two subjects. They will be assigned toa core skills group to support their literacy and numeracy.

Qualifications

Number of GCSE’s

Pathway 1 9 (10 if they do Triple Science)

Pathway 2 9 (10 if they do Triple Science)

Pathway 3 8

The English Baccalaureate Qualification

Also known as EBacc.

A measure of the percentage of students who achieve a grade 5 in

• English

• Mathematics

• Two Sciences

• Geography or History

• Modern Foreign Language (French or Greek)

What is a good reason to choose a course?

You should base your choices on:

•Subjects you are good at – this will lead to better motivation and your best final results.

•Subjects which interest you, which you enjoy and which you want to study for two years.

•Subjects which may help you with your future career (if you already have some idea of what this might be).

Do not choose a particular course just because you get on well with the teacher or because a friend chooses it.

Will I get my first choices?

• We will do our best to give you your first choices but that is not always possible, so you will be asked to show reserves.

• Most courses have maximum numbers that they can accept because of the limits of specialist rooms and number of staff.

• For a course to be taught it must have been chosen by a sufficient number of students.

What happens now?•Read the information booklet carefully.

•Talk things over with your parent/carer, teachers, tutor and anyone else who can advise you.

•Decide on your courses and put them in order of priority.

•Finally, when you are sure that everything is right, transfer your choices on to your Options form.

•Ask your parent or carer to sign it.

•Hand the form in to your Form Tutor by Thursday 23rd January 2020

• Interviews will commence 27th January 2020

FAQs

• Do I have to study a language?

• Can I do a GCSE in my home language?

• Can I choose History and Geography?

• I am not sure what to choose, who do I need to speak to?

• What If I change my mind between now and the summer?

• Who do I contact if I have any more queries?

Dates

• Y9 Options booklet and forms issued: Wednesday 15th January 2020

• Y9 Options forms to be returned: Thursday 23rd January 2020

• Y9 Options interviews commence: Monday 27th January 2020

• Y9 Options confirmation letters issued: Friday 14th February 2020*

• *subject to change

Next steps

• Please collect your options booklets and options form from the back of the hall

• Heads of Department are on hand to support

• Return the forms by 23rd January 2020

• Reminder: Thursday 30th January 2020 – Parent’s Evening. Book your appointments online.

• @StAndrewTA for latest updates