Decisions, decisions

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Decisions, decisions

• KS5 Options Presentation Tuesday 2nd March
  2009
• The following slides are available in the Options
  handbook and on the school website
• YouTube - ShiftHappens

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Decisions, decisions 2009

• A guide to choosing post 16
• options in Year 11
• Subjects
• Choices
• The future
• Help Advice
• Support

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Decisions, decisions 2009

• Two distinct routes available for Sept. 2009
• Traditional Academic Route (A/S and A2-ie
  Alevel)
• OR
• 2. New Diploma A-levels

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Post 16 Route decisions

• Compulsory subjects 3 or 4 of your choice plus
  General Studies in Block E
• Non-optional PDC on Tue3, Games and one of a
  number of enrichment activities in Block E

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Decisions, decisions

• Choose the courses to study during Years 12 and
  13 which best suit your needs
• These decisions will affect how you spend your
  time at school/college and could also influence
  your future jobs or further education courses
• But the most important thing is to work hard and
  fulfil your potential.

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Decisions, decisions

• Every time we make a decision we take a risk
• Every decision made brings with it potentially
  positive and negative outcomes
• Identifying options for next year may seem a
  straightforward decision for some and potentially
  difficult decision for others
• What can you do to make a sensible decision?

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Decisions, decisions

• Recognise what influences your decision-making
  i.e. peer group pressure, teachers and parents!
• Identify how you make decisions
• Understand the consequences and risks involved
  when making decisions

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Decisions, decisions

• Try to think about the long-term, as well as
  short-term implications of any decision made
• Try to take personal control of any
  decision-making

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Decisions, decisions

• Take personal control of any decision-making
• The following may not be good reasons for
  opting-
• Friendship (or unfriendship) groups
• Liking or disliking a teacher
• Staff or parental influence or pressure
• You have found a subject easy
• It is a new subject

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Decisions, decisions

• Make an effort to
• Gather relevant information and to recognise
  possible bias in information you are given
• Recognise your own strengths and areas for
  development
• Be confident about the decisions you make once
  you have completed your research

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WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER?

• What do you like and what are you good at
• What are your interests/hobbies
• Course content and assessment see Options
  Handbook
• Post-16 and career options
• Not sure? Consider keeping options open by
  choosing a wide range of subjects

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Decisions, decisionswhat are you best at?

• Writing
• Working with figures and statistics
• Learning languages
• Using computers
• Doing science experiments
• Practising sporting skills
• Performing in plays
• Designing and making
• Drawing
• Doing rather than studying

13
Decisions, decisionsHow do you use your spare
time?

• Using PC for games or internet use
• Going out with friends
• Repairing or making things
• Playing sport
• Visiting foreign places and speaking foreign
  languages
• Listening to music, painting or photography
• Designing and making things
• Reading books, magazines and newspapers
• Helping out the family with their work

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Decisions, decisionsExaminations or coursework?

• Do you
• Find it difficult to work in a quiet environment?
• Leave revision to the last minute?
• Revise by reading?
• Get anxious and rush through examinations?
• Like to be ahead with your work?

• Do you
• Prepare meticulously?
• Write before you think or research?
• Copy chunks from books or the internet?
• Work well to deadlines?
• Enjoy the challenge of all or nothing tests?

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Decisions, decisions

• Remember your subject choices may be restricted
• You should have a reserve option in mind
• Look beyond Year 13 if possible
• For now, there are only one or two imperatives
  careers allied to medicine must study
  AL-Chemistry careers allied to
  engineering/architecture must study AL-Physics
  careers allied to art must develop a GCSE
  portfolio
• There are now applied options choosing an
  applied option rules nothing in and nothing out
  but will count as two A-levels and may restrict
  other choices and may also weigh heavily on your
  time eg DiDA (ICT)

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The careers game
Very few of you will have a clear career path in
mind even if you have, caution should be
exercised at this stage- keep your options open!
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WHO CAN HELP?

• Subject teachers
• Form tutors
• Head of Year
• Mrs Wood-Connexions Personal Adviser
• Head of Careers/WRL
• Connexions Librarians
• Yourself Parents Students

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Research

• Connexions library How to choose your Options
• Kudos information on over 1700 jobs
• Careerscape information on over 700 careers
• Kangaroo3 whole section on KS5 choices
• Jobs 4U information on hundreds of jobs
• www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u
• Working-in series at www.connexions-direct.com

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Decisions, decisions
Your ambitions

• Action planning

You/we need to talk to
You/we need to read
Other research required
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Decisions, decisions?Now what?

• Confirm your ideas with parents
• Clarify details with subject staff in lessons or
  at the parents evening on the 17th March
• Discuss any difficulties via the Sixth Form
  Office
• Ensure that your completed options are recorded
  in the Sixth Form Office by Friday March 20th

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Decisions, decisions THE END

• THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
• ANY QUESTIONS?

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Art Design

• Art editor
• Fine artist
• Fashion/clothing design
• Illustrator
• Photographer
• Product designer

24
Business Studies

• Administrative officer
• Business adviser
• Company secretary
• Accountant
• Manager
• Marketing manager
• Starting a business

25
Design Technology

• Electrician
• Engineering operative
• Model maker
• Product designer

26
Drama

• Actor
• Arts administrator
• Dancer
• Lighting technician
• Stage manager
• Theatre director

27
Engineering

• Engineering maintenance technician
• Materials technician
• Mechanical engineer
• Production engineer

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English

• Advertising copywriter
• Editor
• Journalist
• Librarian
• Media researcher

29
Geography

• Cartographer
• Environmental scientist
• Meteorologist
• Oceanographer
• Surveyor
• Town planner
• Travel agent

30
History

• Archivist
• Civil service officer
• Journalist
• Librarian
• Researcher
• Solicitor

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ICT

• IT product developer
• Network manager
• Systems analyst
• Technical support person

32
Modern foreign languages

• European Union official
• Interpreter
• Translator

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Mathematics

• Architect
• Auditor
• Banker
• Economist
• Engineer
• Insurance broker
• Quantity surveyor
• Statistician

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Music

• Music composer
• Music industry promotions manager
• Musician
• Singer
• Music therapist

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Physical education

• Leisure centre manager
• Outdoor activities instructor
• Sports coach
• Sport physiotherapist

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Religious Studies

• Counsellor
• Religious leader
• Social worker
• Volunteer organiser
• Youth and community worker

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Science

• Agricultural scientist
• Astronomer
• Doctor
• Environmental scientist
• Forensic scientist
• Pharmacist
• Physiotherapist