Introduction

Er...Which way now?This site is designed to help Year 9 students make the right choice of KS4 courses.

Here, you can find out about the courses you must study next year and those you can choose as options. You can also download documents and, after you've explored the possibilities, complete your official options form.

We wish you all the best with your decision-making

M. McKenzie (Headteacher)

Summary of the Options Process

In February the official school options form will be published on this site and students will be asked to make their final choices. The form has to be signed by parents / carers to ensure that a discussion has taken place at home regarding the most appropriate choice for the student.

In the Summer term, once we have processed the options data and begun work on the timetable for the following year, students will receive confirmation of their choices. This is a final decision.

At the beginning of Year 10 there is a short period where students may be allowed to change their options in very special circumstances. This is only with the full consent of parents, the Director of Studies and all the teaching staff concerned. We try to accommodate student choice as far as possible but we do not allow teaching groups to exceed certain limits.

Please note, once again: we cannot guarantee that all students will be able to study the options that they choose. There may be circumstances where we will ask or even direct students to make an alternative choice.

Qualifications

BTECs? You should know……………

  • You will learn through completing a number of assignments based on real situations which encourage you to take the initiative and work independently.
  • You don’t take examinations with BTECs. Instead, each assignment you complete goes towards a unit result.
  • Each BTEC at Level 2 consists of a different number of units. A BTEC Certificate has 3 units making it the equivalent of 1 GCSE A*-C grades, an Extended Certificate is equivalent to 2 GCSE A*-C grades.
  • After 16, BTECs can help you qualify to go on to Level 3 qualifications; BTEC Nationals and A’ Levels.

GCSEs? You should know……………

  • Cover a wide range of subjects. These include many you already study like English and other ones you do not like Media and Business Studies.
  • All have examinations at the end of the two years. A few have smaller examinations during the two years. Many have a Controlled Assessment element ranging from 20% to 60%.
  • Some subjects have tiers that link to a range of grades; Foundation (grades C-G) and Higher (grades A*-C).
  • After 16, A*-C passes help you qualify for Level 3 courses such as A Levels and BTEC Nationals.

The English Baccalaureate

In the White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, published on 24 November 2010, the Secretary of State for Education announced the introduction of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc).

The EBacc is not a new qualification in itself. It will recognise students’ achievements across a core of selected academic subjects in getting good passes in GCSEs. The English Baccalaureate will cover achievement in English, mathematics, sciences, a language and a humanities subject. The intention is to mark individual students’ future achievements through a certificate.

It is awarded to any pupil who secures good GCSE passes in all of the following:

  • English
  • Maths
  • The sciences (Separate Sciences or Double Science)
  • A modern or ancient foreign language
  • A humanity: history or geography

The measures are intended to easily show "those schools which succeed in giving their pupils a properly rounded academic education". They are also to act as an incentive for schools to drive the take-up of individual science subjects, humanities and foreign languages.

Core Courses

Maths - It doesn't add up The Core Courses section provides you with information about the subjects you must study.

Option Courses

Art - I'm drawn to it The Option Courses section provides you with information about the optional subjects you can study.

Choice-Maker

Bakoloreat - I won't be getting mine The Choice-Maker section takes you through the step-by-step process of producing your official options form.

  • Step 1: Choose your Science
  • Step 2: Choose your options
  • Step 3: Test your options
  • Step 4: Complete your options form

Documents

History - Living in the past The Documents section contains useful downloadable documents such as your official options booklet.

Who will help me?

Chemistry - I'm all mixed up The Who will help me? section lists the key people you can consult before making your decisions.