Year 8 Options the first step to GCSE.

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Year 8 Options the first step to GCSE.

• Jill Bristow
• Deputy Headteacher

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Why are we asking students to choose options now?

• Time of enormous change in exam requirements at
  all levels abolition KS3 tests
• New programmes of study at KS3 skills based
• Opportunity to design a curriculum for our
  students
• Flexibility to incorporate range of GCSE courses
  and BTECs
• Allow subjects to develop thirst for learning
  beyond confines of exam specifications

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The future?

• Our curriculum must meet the needs of our
  students in their future.
• Woody Allen Ive seen the future it is like
  now only longer
• Is that true?

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Did you know? (opens video)
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Government Thinking

• the only thing certain about the future is that
  it will be uncertain
• half the jobs that people will be performing in
  2026 do not yet exist
• Employers and universities want skills and
  personal qualities eg. Communication skills,
  independence, initiative etc

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Schools should enable all young people to
become

• Successful learners who make progress and achieve
• Confident individuals who are able to live safe,
  healthy and fulfilling lives
• Responsible citizens who make a positive
  contribution to society

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Nothing new.

• The test of successful education is not the
  amount of knowledge that pupils take away from
  school, but their appetite to know and their
  capacity to learn Sir Richard Livingstone 1941
• We need to produce people who know how to act
  when they are faced with situations for which
  they were not specifically prepared Seymour
  Papert 1998
• Learning is experience. Everything else is just
  information. Albert Einstein

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This is an opportunity for our students

• Time to work on core skills within their
  subjects
• Learn to learn skills
• An ability to relate to their community and their
  environment
• An ability to relate to other people and work in
  teams
• An understanding of the world of work, finance
  and enterprise
• The skills to lead a happy, healthy and safe life

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An opportunity for more choice and personalisation

• There are different pathways within the GCSE
  subjects so that everyone can be appropriately
  challenged and experience success. For example
  PE or Manufacturing
• There will be time to do the things which make
  learning fun so that students move on to the next
  stage of education wanting to learn.

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Thursday Afternoons

• An alternative Thursday afternoon every week to
  learn in different ways inside and outside the
  classroom.
• Half term block of an option subject.
• Half term block of a PINC activity. Some of the
  offerings this year African performance art
  Cooking for survival Racquet sports Moving
  image The Apprentice Samba.

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The Core Curriculum(what everyone does in the 50
period fortnight)

• English

• Mathematics

• Science

• Citizenship

• Physical Education

• Philosophy and Ethics (RE)

• Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

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English

• Leads to 2 Grades at GCSE English and English
  Literature. These exams can be split over 2
  years.
• All students will do work on the Media some
  will take an additional GCSE in it
• 84 of students gained a grade at C and above in
  2008.

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Mathematics

• 3 different types of course and assessment
• Edexcel Modular GCSE
• Students in Express group sit Edexcel linear
  Maths in year 10 additional Maths in year 11.
• Graduated Assessment (Grades D-G)
• 2 tiers of entry Higher and foundation can
  access C grade in both levels.
• 68 A- C 2008

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Science

• Double Award Modular Science leads to 2 GCSE
  grades
• Modular assessment. Core Science and Additional
  Science - covers all 3 subjects.
• 2 GCSEs.
• Essential for any student considering science
  subjects at AS

• BTEC in Applied Science
• Vocationally based
• Internally assessed
• 2 GCSE equivalent
• Triple Science
• By invitation only
• Physics, Chemistry and Biology examined
  separately
• 3 GCSEs

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Information and Communication Technology

• One period a week all students will work
  towards a nationally recognised ICT qualification
  Functional skills.
• Those studying Double GCSE ICT in the options
  will continue with this work in this period.

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Philosophy and Ethics (RE)

• OCR GCSE short course equal to half a GCSE.
• Course based on issues and problems of the modern
  world which considers Christian attitudes and
  responses to these problems.
• Eg Poverty and Wealth, Medical Ethics, Crime and
  Punishment.

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Physical Education

• One period a week
• Wide choice of options
• Includes opportunity to develop coaching and
  umpiring skills
• PE based options will take place on the
  alternative Thursday afternoon

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Options - how do I Choose?

• What is the subject about?
• What are the different pathways within the
  subject?
• Do I enjoy the subject?
• Will I be able to cope?
• Do I need this subject for any longer term aims?
• Have I got a broad and balanced choice of
  subjects?

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Good Advice

• You will work better at subjects that you enjoy.
• Choosing a subject because your friend is doing
  it is unwise.
• Dont choose a subject because you like a
  particular teacher.
• Think about the structure of your day.
• How is the subject assessed? Exam? Coursework?
  GCSE or BTEC?

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Influences Affecting Choice

• In reverse order
• 3rd teachers
• 2nd school options information
• 1st Parents

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The Options List

• Please number the subjects you want to do 1?4. 1
  being the subject you most want to do and 4 being
  your last choice.
• Cannot guarantee to accommodate every combination
• All subjects are floated at this stage
• Dont forget to choose your Science course.

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Options Information

• Available through the website http//www.alsagersc
  hool.co.uk/options
• Students can access it in school
• If parents have problems accessing the
  information let us know
• Options subjects are organised into subject areas
  to help you make balanced choices.

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The Options Timeline

• Form Tutors and Subjects teachers are available
  to discuss choices
• Thurs Feb 12th Presentation for students
• Tues Feb 24th Options presentation for parents
• Reports issued Feb 25th onwards
• Mon Mar 9th Pupil Progress Day.
• Tues 17th Mar Parents Evening subject based
• Thurs Mar 19th Choices to be handed to Form Tutor

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A Final Thought

• Look to the future that is where youll spend
  the rest of your life.
• 
  George Burns