Options2015 1 Key Stage Four Curriculum (Options) Booklet 2015-17 Contents Page 3 Foreword 4 G.C.S.E. : An Introduction 5 National Curriculum at Key Stage 4 6 Reporting to Parents 6 Work Related Learning Core and Compulsory Subjects 8 English 9 Mathematics 11 Science 14 Information and Communication Technology - taught within subject areas 15 Physical Education (non exam) The Options 18 Art and Design 20 Photography 22 Business Studies 23 Dance 24 Design and Technology choices - Graphic Products, Product Design, Resistant Materials, Product Design - Textiles 28 Drama 29 Economics 30 English Maths Booster EMG 31 Geography 32 History 33 ICT 35 Computing 37 Princes Trust 38 Media Studies 39 Modern Languages choices Double pathways Mandarin & ……… German & ……….., French, Spanish 47 Music 49 Music BTEC 50 Physical Education 51 Religious Studies 53 Sociology 55 The Options Procedure 2 FOREWORD Welcome to Key Stage 4 This booklet is intended to help parents and students, together with members of staff, plan the next two years of schooling. There are exciting choices to be made so that students optimise their chances of success in subjects they enjoy and in which they have ability and interest. We also want them to have a challenging, broad and balanced education that stimulates their desire to learn and is relevant to their future lives. When making choices, the following questions might help: 1. Would my choice make for a well-balanced timetable? 2. What am I really interested in? 3. What am I good at? 4. What do I enjoy doing? 5. What is relevant to my future studies or possible career choice? GCSE English, Mathematics and Science, are taken by all students. Additionally they will select further GCSE subjects of their choice from a long list. The package is sufficiently flexible to allow for students who wish to take specialised combinations including the Arts, Humanities and Technologies. Vocational pathways and support are also available to help some students achieve the highest grades possible; in guidance meetings parents and students will be advised if the school feels that their daughter/son/they should be receiving some additional support. In a few cases a more radical variation to the curriculum may be negotiated in conjunction with a further education college. Students will be set by ability in some subjects and may sit different papers according to their performance on the course. Results are generally dependent upon a combination of coursework and examination. Internal examinations take place at the end of the third term and at the end of the fourth term of the course in most subjects. During the first term students are set challenging target grades and progress is reviewed against these targets during the course, each term students are assessed and given a WAG which helps staff to track and predict their progress. Predicted grades are set after the second set of internal (mock) examinations. The school's level of funding will necessitate all teaching groups being of an economically viable size. This may result in some subjects or combinations of subjects not being timetabled once pupils have made their choices, though experience suggests that these will be very few in number. Finally, may I wish you every success in making these important decisions. Karen Allaway 3 G.C.S.E. - AN INTRODUCTION The GCSE examinations have been designed to be taken by Year 11 pupils in schools, and can be taken by all pupils of all abilities. They will be of use to pupils whatever they wish to do after taking the examinations (e.g. Sixth Form, Further Education, Training, and Employment). GCSE has an approach to assessment and grades which is based on rewarding pupils’ positive achievements. The questions in the examinations will allow pupils of different abilities to show what they know, understand and can do. If pupils reach a particular standard they will be awarded the grade regardless of how well or badly other pupils performed in the same examination. In some subjects coursework has been replaced by a set of “controlled assessments”. Although these vary from subject to subject, they usually consist of tasks for which the students have very specific preparation guidelines and are carried out under strict supervision, in front of a teacher, in the classroom or in the examination hall. The grading system for GCSE at present is a single eight point scale: A*, A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Pupils who do not reach the standard of Grade G are recorded as Unclassified (U) in the subject. In some subjects there are “tiered” entry papers. These are usually “Foundation” – examining students likely to get grades C to G and “Higher” – for students likely to get grades A* to B. The decision about tier of entry is usually taken during KS4 based on data gathered from WAGs, but may also depend on result from previous examinations and completion of coursework/controlled assessments. GCSE recognises that it is not appropriate to give the same work to every pupil. Work will be provided for pupils according to their individual needs and abilities. The aim is to teach and examine every subject in a way which is suited to the widely differing abilities of the pupils. Each pupil will be able to show what they know, understand and can do. Please read the entries for each subject carefully to see how these aspects of the organisation of the courses are applied. Also note the syllabus that the subject area uses – you can access their website for information on past papers and an outline descriptor of the course. AQA www.aqa.org.uk OCR www.ocr.org.uk Edexcel www.edexcel.com 4 THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM AT KEY STAGE 4 1. CORE AND COMPULSORY SUBJECTS The following subjects are studied by all students in Years 10 and 11: GCSE Subjects English and English Literature Mathematics Science (see science pages for further information and break down of the subject ) Non – Examination Subjects Information and Communication Technology. This is taught across the curriculum within subject areas (students can also opt to study for specific courses in ICT) Physical Education (students can also opt to study for a GCSE in P.E.) New guidelines for GCSEs certificating from 2014. All external exams must be taken at the end of the course. Students can no longer re-sit individual modules, although they can re-sit the full GCSE. GCSE exams will take place in May-June. However, there maybe an additional opportunity to take GCSEs in Mathematics, English language in November because of the importance of these subjects for entry to further education and employment. Controlled assessments Controlled assessments are internal assessments and not part of the exam cycle, so the timing of these will not be affected by the move to end-of-course exams. Students who re-sit GCSEs do not need to redo their controlled assessments; they can carry these forward. Spelling, punctuation and grammar From January 2013 marks are awarded for accurate spelling, punctuation and use of grammar in external GCSE exams in English literature, geography, history and religious studies. 2. OPTIONS Students are allocated subjects according to the four option columns generated when the students’ preferences have been analysed. For most students this will involve the study of a further four subjects at GCSE level (in addition to the core curriculum described above). The dual option modern languages involves preparation for the GCSE examination in two subjects in the time normally allocated to one subject and a twilight session. It is expected that students who are currently studying a dual language will continue to do so as intimated when they made their choices to study dual languages. 5 Two non-GCSE options are run 1. EMB – English/Maths booster. Maths and English teachers offer extra timetabled time for students who would benefit from studying fewer GCSE subjects and may need extra help and guidance in their core subjects. Guidance meetings for all individual students in Yr. 9 will offer time to talk and target students who we feel may respond well with this extra support. It may be possible for some students to have alternative education options to support lessons instead of one or two GCSE courses. 2. Princess Trust – please see options for a more detailed description. 3. English Baccalaureate. An initiative outlined by the Government, has been to identify a desirable range of subjects to be taken by KS4 students at the end of their GCSE courses. The range of GCSEs has been named the English Baccalaureate and it is to be awarded to any pupil who secures good GCSE or iGCSE passes (C and above) in all of the following subject areas: English Maths The Sciences A modern or ancient foreign language A humanity: history or geography Russell Group universities may ask about the English Baccalaureate on their application forms REPORTING TO PARENTS We no longer do Interim Reports or Learning Reviews In the Autumn Term of Y10 there will be a parents evening where parents will have the opportunity to discuss progress with all subject teachers. In the Spring term of Y10 there will be a Deep Learning Conversation, where parents will meet with the tutor to discuss progress in all subject areas. In the Summer term, after the mock examinations, parents will receive a Full Report. Work Related Learning During KS4 all students will participate in a programme to help inform them of career pathways and the relationships between discreet subjects and the world of work. This is achieved by both external and internal careers fairs where students can engage in dialogue with professionals and start to question themselves to help them realise their potential and choices.