Year 9

Options

Evening

Welcome

• Introduction – Mr Brierley

• KS4 Curriculum & Options Process

– Mr Slater

Progamme

Key Stage 4 Curriculum 2020 - 2022

Compulsory Subjects

• English Language GCSE

• English Literature GCSE

• Mathematics GCSE

• Science GCSEs - two if Combined Science: Trilogy

three if studying Separate Sciences

• Religious Studies GCSE

• Physical Education (non-GCSE)

• Learning For Life - including Personal, Social, Health and Citizenship education (non-GCSE)

Optional Subjects• Students may choose from the following list:

– Art & Design GCSE– BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Digital Information Technology – Business Studies GCSE– Computer Science GCSE– Design & Technology: Product Design GCSE– Design & Technology: Electronics GCSE– Design & Technology: BTEC Tech Award in Engineering– Drama GCSE– Food & Nutrition (Level1/Level 2 Award in Hospitality)

– French GCSE – Geography GCSE– History GCSE– Music GCSE– Photography GCSE– Physical Education GCSE– Separate Science GCSE

Timetable for Choice

• Spring Term LfL programme

• Thu 9th January Options Meeting and

Information Booklet and

Option Forms

• Wed 15th January Parent Consultations

• Fri 7th February Option Forms Returned

• Mon 24th February Pupil and Parent Consultations

(onwards)

• Summer Term Confirm Choices

Curriculum Option Subject Booklet

• Letter from Mr Brierley

• KS4 Curriculum – New GCSEs

• Careers Education and Guidance

• Timetable for Choice

• Special Educational Needs

• Detailed subject information

(core / options)

Subject Information

• What GCSE course will I follow?

• How will I be assessed?

• What will I learn?

• How will I learn?

• What will I be expected to do at home?

• What demands will be made of me for

controlled assessments?

Subject Exam Controlled Assessment

English Language 100% -

English Literature 100% -

Mathematics 100% -

Science 100% -

Religious Studies 100% -

Art and Design 40% 60%

BTEC Level 2 Tech Award in Digital Information

Technology 40% 60%

Business Studies 100% -

Computer Science 100% -

Design Technology Product Design 50% 50%

Design Technology Electronics

80% 20%

Design Technology (BTEC) 40% 60%

Drama 40% 60%

Food& Nutrition (Hospitality & Catering Level 1/2) 60% 40%

Geography 100% -

History 100% -

Modern Foreign Languages

(French)

100% -

Music 40% 60%

Photography 40% 60%

Physical Education 60% 40%

Before you fill in any forms, you must think very carefully about

three particular questions.

• Should I study a combination of subjects which will give me

the ‘English Baccalaureate’?

• Should I study two Science GCSEs (known as ‘Combined

Science: Trilogy), or three Science GCSEs (separate Sciences –

Biology, Chemistry and Physics)?

• Should I study the full complement of 9 GCSEs? (speak to Mrs

Kavanagh, our Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator)

Year 9 Option Form Booklet

English Baccalaureate• EBacc

• A performance measure not a separate qualification.

• Must have a good pass in:

– English GCSE

– Maths GCSE

– Science GCSE

– Language GCSE (French)

– Humanity GCSE (Geography or History)

• Not currently a requirement for study at University, but

demonstrates that a pupil has studied a broad range of GCSEs

and may enable you to be more flexible in your university

course choices later down the line.

Separate Sciences

• 3 Separate GCSEs Biology, Chemistry and Physics

• Must take all three

• Good preparation for Science degrees

• Demanding workload

• Pupils need a passion to study Science

Combined Science: Trilogy• Includes Biology, Chemistry and Physics

• Worth two GCSEs

• Linear – exams at the end of Year 11

• It is possible to pursue Science ‘A’-levels and degrees.

Which Form?

• Your answers to those three questions will determine which form you need to fill in, and how

many subjects you will need to choose from the Optional subjects list.

Should I study a combination of subjects which will give me the ‘English Baccalaureate’?

YES NO

Sho

uld

I st

ud

ytw

o S

cie

nce

s, o

r th

ree

? Two Sciences (Combined Science: Trilogy)

Fill in Form A As well as studying French, and History or Geography,

you will need to choose one other subjects from the

Optional Subjects list

Fill in Form B You will need to choose

three other subjects from the Optional

Subjects list(restrictions apply)

Three Sciences (‘separate’ sciences)

Fill in Form C You will study French, and

History or Geography.

Fill in Form D You will need to choose two other subjects from the Optional Subjects list

Should I study a combination of subjects which will give me the ‘English Baccalaureate’?

YES NO

Sho

uld

I st

ud

ytw

o S

cie

nce

s, o

r th

ree

? Two Sciences (Combined Science: Trilogy)

Fill in Form A As well as studying French, and History or Geography,

you will need to choose one other subjects from the

Optional Subjects list

Fill in Form B You will need to choose

three other subjects from the Optional

Subjects list(restrictions apply)

Three Sciences (‘separate’ sciences)

Fill in Form C You will study French, and

History or Geography.

Fill in Form D You will need to choose two other subjects from the Optional Subjects list

Which Form?

• Your answers to those three questions will determine which form you need to fill in, and how

many subjects you will need to choose from the Optional subjects list.

St Margaret’s Academy

Year 9 Options Form, 2019/2020

FORM B You should fill this form in if:

you do not wish to study a combination of subjects which will give you the ‘English

Baccalareate’; and

you wish to study Combined Science: Triology Sciences (not three Separate Sciences).

1

Pupil’s name: Joe Bloggs

Pupil’s form: 9C

2

Now select three more subjects from the list below, plus a reserve. Next to your first-choice subject, write the number ‘1’.

Next to your second choice, write the number ‘2’.

Next to your third choice, write the number ‘3’.

Next to your reserve choice, write ‘R’.

You MUST choose (at least) one of Computer Science, French, Geography, or History. These subjects’ boxes are shaded below.

Subject Choice

Art GCSE

Business Studies GCSE

Computer Science GCSE

You must choose (at least) one of the subjects with shaded boxes

Design Technology: Product Design GCSE

Design Technology: Electronics GCSE

Design Technology: First Certificate in Engineering BTEC

Drama GCSE

Food and Nutrition: Level 1/Level 2 Award in Hospitality

French GCSE

Geography GCSE

History GCSE

Information Technology Technical Award

Music GCSE

Photography GCSE

Physical Education GCSE

1R

2

3

3

Signatures: (pupil) (parent)

Print name:

Date:

Now detach this form from the booklet and give it in to the Main Office.

Joe Bloggs R. Bloggs

Joe Bloggs5th Febraury 2020

R. Bloggs5th Febraury 2020

Where can I get more advice?

• If you want to find out more about the courses on offer, read the other booklet, and talk to teacher in charge of that subject in school.

• If you want to find out whether you would be able to study a subject successfully to GCSE(eg “Would I be able to study Computer Science to GCSE?”), ask your subject teacher.

• If you want to find out more about your careers choices (eg “I want a career in Environmental Science in the future. Do I need to study separate Sciences at GCSE?” – or, “I have no idea about what sort of job I’d like to do. Does it matter what I choose?”), ask Mrs Roberts.

• If you want to find out more about how the Options system works, ask Mr Slater.

• If you still have questions after asking other members of staff, ask Mr Brierley.

Some important points to consider before making your option choices

• Seek advice, read your options booklets

• Use websites

www.fasttomato.com

www.informedchoices.ac.uk

Some important points to consider before making your option choices

• Seek advice, read your options booklets• Use websites• Don’t panic• Some ability is obvious and some takes time

to grow…• You don’t decide which talents you are born

with but you can decide how you use them!

- IT’S YOUR CHOICE! -

Wed 15th January Parent Consultations

Fri 7th February Return Options Choice Form

Mon 24th February Pupil and parent consultations

Summer Term Choices Confirmed

Important Dates