What do you need to know?

How will you choose?

Moving Up…Current Situation

Attendance

Punctuality

Behaviour

Progress

Moving Up…Challenges and Concerns

Jump in standards

Time management

Behaviour issues

Dialogue with teachers

Homework

New groupings

Coursework deadlines

How can you help?

Monitor Google Calendar/Show My Homework and Go4Schools

Establish dialogue by email

Establish work routines

Fresh start

‘Study Buddies’

Visual reminders

Moving Up…Keep it in perspective

Encourage hobbies

Down time

Look at future options now

Develop interests

National Context Raised participation age – 18

The English Baccalaureate (E Bacc) – Core plus a language and humanity (Geography or History)

Breadth and balance

A longer journey – keep doors open

At Simon Balle - Core Plus Four Everyone does core subjects – English, Maths, Science

(Core and Additional), PE, PRE.

Then you choose four options from the list.

New subjects: Business Studies, Computer Science , Creative iMedia, Engineering & Manufacture

Plus: Art, Drama, Music, Spanish, German, French, Geography, History, D&T, Sports Studies, Catering.

How do you choose? You need a balance. For example:

One humanity subject (History, Geography, Business)

One language (French, German, Spanish)

One creative subject (Art, Drama, Music, D&T, Catering, Sports Studies, Creative iMedia,

Plus one other… Triple Science? Computer Science? Another language or humanity? Creative subject?

Where are you heading? Sixth Form, A Levels and university – EBacc

Sixth Form vocational courses

College, apprenticeship, training?

Think now about what choices you want to have in the future and where you might want to be…

Choosing your subjectsDo Don’t

Try to get a good balance

Choose subjects you like and are good at

Choose subjects that will help your future career plan, if you have one yet

Think about the way you work and learn best

Read about each subject in the options booklet

Ask staff lots of questions

Choose subjects just because your friends do

Choose subjects because you like the teacher – that may change!

Wait for someone else to tell you what to do

What Next? If you have not already, complete and return the

appointment form tonight for SLT Interviews

Tuesday 17th and Thursday 19th March, 3.30 –7.30pm

Return options form by Friday 27th March

The process Use interviews and the booklet to decide on your four

options.

Form handed in by 27th March.

Mr Klippel places the subjects into option blocks based on your choices.

Anyone with a clash of subjects following this process is seen by Mr Klippel or Ms Green to find a solution after Easter.

Changes to options may continue up to half term in May depending on staffing.

Frequently Asked Questions I can’t decide, can I choose 5? NO, there will be 4 option blocks and you need just one

subject in each block.

Do I have to choose a humanity? We believe that you should but will listen to you if you give us good reasons.

Do I have to take a language? Think carefully about the EBacc but once again these are your choices.

Do I need to take triple science if I want to take A levels in science? Not necessarily unless you are looking to take more than one science at A level.

How will I know if I’ve got my choices? We will speak to you if there are any issues once the timetable takes shape, if not you can assume that you have your choices.

Why can’t I take two technology subjects? Technology subjects are timetabled together in the lower school which makes it difficult to find different slots at GCSE.

Who do I speak to if I’m not sure exactly what’s involved in one of the subjects? Talk to the Head of department or your current teacher in that subject.

I heard that someone didn’t get any of their choices, will this happen to me? This has never happened, generally if someone has a problem it will just mean one new choice and you will have first call on any subjects with limited spaces.

If I want to change my mind can I? You can as long as you discuss any of these changes. It may be that changes are not possible as they do not fit the option blocks or subjects are full.