Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
Welcome to Y9 Options Information
Curriculum PresentationLaura O’Leary
Acting Headteacher
What am I going to talk about?
Qualifications FrameworkMeasuring AchievementOption ChoicesAny Questions?
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
The GCSE Curriculum
The Curriculum will be • Challenging • Ambitious • It will provide the best opportunities for Sixth Form Study
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
The GCSE Curriculum
The Curriculum will be • Challenging • Ambitious
And will provide the best opportunities to: • Gain a place at any University in the UK or abroad • Gain a Professional Apprenticeship
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
Students will receive a 1-2-1 careers interview
• Significant reform of KS4 qualifications
• Content, assessment methods and the way they are graded have all changed
• This applies for every subject your child will take
Making the right choices
All pupils will all take:
• Maths
• English Literature
• English Language
• Science (eitherdouble or triple)
• Religious Education
The core curriculum
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
English Baccalaureate
The English (School) Baccalaureate
The Government has introduced a national standard for qualifications known as the English
(School) Baccalaureate. At present, this is not a qualification in its own right nor a free
standing award. It is a recognition that a student has achieved Level 2 (grades 5-9) in five
specific GCSE subjects.
These are:
• English
• Mathematics
• Science / Computer Science
• A Modern Foreign Language (French)
• Geography or History
Please note that only full GCSE qualifications in these subjects are included.
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
English (School) BaccalaureateRecognition that a student has achieved Level 2 (grades 5-9) in 5 specific GCSE subjects, one from each list
below.
English
English Language –
but this will only count
if the student is
entered for English
Literature
Mathematics ScienceCore + Additional
Or
2 from
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Computer Science
Geography
Or
History
French
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
Attainment 8
1 23 4 5 6 7 8
GCSE
English and Mathematics
double weighted
Higher score of English & English
Literature if both subjects are
taken.
EBAC Qualifications
GCSEs only
Sciences, Computer Science, Geography,
History and Languages
‘Open Group’
Remaining EBAC qualifications & other
approved qualifications
(GCSEs and other approved academic, arts or
vocational qualifications)
Attainment 8
Attainment 8
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
Attainment 8
GCSE
English and Mathematics
double weighted
Higher score of English & English
Literature if both subjects are
taken.
EBAC Qualifications
GCSEs only
Sciences, Computer Science, Geography,
History and Languages
‘Open Group’
Remaining EBAC qualifications & other
approved qualifications
(GCSEs and other approved academic, arts or
vocational qualifications)
Calculating Attainment 8Each student’s Attainment 8 score is calculated by averaging the best 8 qualifying results from each of the 3 groups, remember English & maths are double counted so the average is taken from 10 results.
1. English2. English double counted3. Mathematics4. Mathematics double counted5. Best EBAC subject6. 2nd best EBACsubject7. 3rd best EBAC subject8. Best ‘Open Group’ subject9. 2nd best ‘Open Group’subject10. 3rd best ‘Open Group’subject
Total points / 10 = Average points Attainment 8 = average points expressed as the nearest fine grade e.g. B+
The options curriculum
• You also have to choose two reserve subjects.
• Some of these qualifications are called vocational qualifications but are the equivalent of a GCSE
• Your teacher/s might recommend that instead of taking all 3 options you replace one GCSE with extra time spent in English and Maths –to support you in getting a better grade in these key subjects.
What are vocational qualifications?
• They are a level 2 qualification i.e. the equivalent of a GCSE
• They are assessed less through exams and more through internally set pieces of work
• The curriculum covered has a more practical application than GCSEs
• They are NOT an easy option
• They are graded differently
Health and Social Care
Performing Arts
Level 1 Pass
Level 1 Merit
Level 1 Distinction
GCSE grading Vocational grading
Level 2 Distinction *
Level 2 Distinction
Level 2 Merit
Level 2 Pass
Well being and Character Curriculum
• Core PE twice per week
• SAVE (Spiritual Awareness and Values Education) lessons during Form time
• Daily tutor time
Extra curricular programme
• Academic interventions• Sport• Drama• Music• Art• Community projects• Charity work• Duke of Edinburgh
Making the best choices
• Think about what subjects youare good at and what subjectsyou enjoy
• Find out about subjects you are considering by speaking to teachers
• Talk to your tutor and ask their advice
• Talk it through with your parents/carers
Will the subjects I pick influence the career plans I have?
Successful students
Are proactive in finding outabout the subjects they areconsidering
Talk through their ideas with tutors, teachers, parents & carers
Pick subjects they enjoy
Listen to advice
Potential pitfalls
• Choosing a subject based on your favourite teacher
• Choosing subjects just because your friends are doing them
• Not thinking carefully about your reserve subjects
Who can help you?
• Tutor• Subject teachers• Pastoral leaders•Older pupils• Parents/carers
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
Things to think about when making choices.
What are you passionate about? What really interests you? Which subjects do you most enjoy? Which subjects are you good at? What career do you want to pursue? What subjects are on offer?
What happens now?
• Read the options booklet carefully
• Complete a copy of your Options form
• Subject information sessions this week
• Deadline for any changes to your Options forms is Friday 20th March
Blessed Robert Sutton Catholic Voluntary AcademyAcademic Excellence, Spiritual Development and Social Awareness through Christ
Any Questions?
Please email [email protected]
