Year 9 GCSE Course Preferences

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Year 9 GCSE Course Preferences

• Tuesday 10th March 2009

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Roles and Responsibilities

• Mr J Elder Team Leader Year 9
• Miss N Shaeffer NSB Careers Adviser
• Miss E Pearson Connexions
• Mr R Davies Team Leader Learning Support
• Mr M Edwards Assistant Head
• oversee the School Curriculum, write the
  Timetable and
• oversee and administer students onto KS4 courses

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What this Evening is not for

• Progress Report on individual subjects
• Prediction of future performance
• Personal advice on what is best for each student
• Consultation on the Curriculum

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What this Evening is for

• Explain the rationale for the curriculum plan
• Clarify the combination of subjects available
• Explain the implications of the preferences made
  at this stage
• Explain the timelines
• Explain the process for resolving issues which
  may arise
• Answer Questions

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The Curriculum Plan

• Broad and Balanced Curriculum for all
• Minimal Specialisation at KS4
• Consequentially few career-based decisions at
  this stage

We believe that our curriculum provides a base
that enables all boys to maximise their choices
throughout the school - and beyond.
At GCSE there is an opportunity to make choices,
but we believe that all boys are entitled to a
curriculum that is both rich and broad. We want
to expand future choice - not restrict it.
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Broad and Balanced Curriculum

• English (Language and Literature)
• Mathematics
• Science
• Humanities
• Design Technology
• Modern Foreign Language
• Expressive Arts
• Physical Education
• Citizenship and Guidance

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Core Preferences and their Significance

• Modern Foreign Language
• Spanish
• French

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Core Preferences and their Significance (contd)

• Humanities
• Geography
• History

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Core Preferences and their Significance (contd)

• Expressive Arts
• Art
• 3D - Art
• Drama
• Music
• Photography

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But depending on your Year 8 Preferences

• If currently your son studies
• Visual Art and Drama NO MUSIC
• Visual Art and Music NO DRAMA
• Music and Drama NO ART, PHOTOGRAPHY OR
• 3-D ART

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• Enhancement
• Triple Science
• Business Studies
• ICT (Information Communication Technology)
• Religious Studies Philosophy and Ethics
• French
• Geography
• OCR Nationals in ICT

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OCR Nationals in ICT

• A newly revised course that is very popular in
  many high performing schools.
• Students complete a number of coursework units
  (approximately six) - there are no exams.
• High quality interactive tutorials teach students
  important new skills.
• Strongly vocational scenarios make learning fun
  and relevant.
• Structured assignments help students of all
  abilities
• Students can achieve qualifications worth 1, 2, 3
  or 4 GCSEs A to C depending on the number of
  units they pass.

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How does your son choose?

• Talk to staff, Form Tutor, Careers Adviser
• What do they enjoy studying?
• What will they be successful at?
• What do they want to study in the future?

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How shouldnt they choose?

• Because their friends have chosen it
• Because they like the teacher they have now or
  the converse
• Because they got a higher grade in their report

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Timelines

• Friday 20th March 2009 completed forms returned
  to Form Tutors
• April 2009 student preference numbers
  reconciled with classes available
• May 2009 letter home with the outcome of the
  process plus resolution of any issues that may
  arise
• Monday 1st June 2009
• students commence their
• GCSE courses

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Questions

• Individually in Atrium
• With NSB Careers Adviser or Connexions Adviser
• Questions of General Interest