OPTION CHOICES

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OPTION CHOICES 2015
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Core Curriculum
CORE SUBJECTS LESSONS
English (including English Literature) 7
Mathematics 7
Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) 12
ICT (GCSE ICT) 2
Physical Education 3
Personal Development 2
Religious Studies 2
Science Sets 1 and 2
CORE SUBJECTS LESSONS
English (including English Literature) 8
Mathematics 8
Science 10
ICT (GCSE ICT) 2
Physical Education 3
Personal Development 2
Religious Studies 2
Science Sets 3, 4 and 5
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Options

• There are three option blocks.
• You must choose one subject from each option
  block.
• You must also choose a reserve choice subject
  from each option block.
• We will try to make sure that everyone their
  first choice from each block.

Science Sets 1 and 2
Science Sets 3, 4 and 5
OPTION SUB JECTS LESSONS
OPTION A (Computer Science, Food Technology, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles) 5
OPTION B (Art, Business Studies, German, Geography, History, Performing Arts, Spanish) 5
OPTION C (Art, French, Geography, History, Media Studies, Music, Physical Education) 5
OPTION SUB JECTS LESSONS
OPTION A (Creative iMedia, Food Technology, Graphic Products, Resistant Materials, Textiles) 5
OPTION B (Art, Business Studies, German, Geography, History, Performing Arts, Spanish) 5
OPTION C (Art, French, Geography, History, Media Studies, Music, Physical Education) 5
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English Baccalaureate

• The English Baccalaureate is a combination of
  GCSE subjects that the government recommend
  pupils should study.
• This is not compulsory and doesn't lead to an
  extra qualification or certificate.
• It is possible that in the future some colleges
  and universities might expect students wishing to
  study more academic courses to have the English
  Baccalaureate combination of GCSEs.
• The English Baccalaureate is only relevant if you
  have a good chance of getting a minimum GCSE
  grade C in these subjects
• English Language
• Mathematics
• Two sciences (including Computer Science)
• A Modern Foreign Language (French, German or
  Spanish)
• History or Geography
• Universities always look for a board range of
  subjects at GCSE.
• There are a whole range of subjects that you can
  study at A level and University that you do not
  have to do at GCSE.
• The A level subjects and grades that you get
  will determine if you are offered a place on a
  particular course at University.

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Examinations

• All subjects are GCSEs with the exception of
  Creative iMedia which is a Cambridge Nationals
  vocational qualification equivalent to one or two
  GCSEs.
• You will not sit an examination for Personal
  Development.
• Pupils in Science Set 1 study separate GCSEs in
  Biology, Chemistry and Physics and take
  examinations in all three subjects at the end of
  Year 11.
• Pupils in Science Set 2 study GCSE Science in
  Year 10 with examinations at the end of the year.
  In Year 11 these pupils study GCSE Additional
  Science and GCSE Further Additional Science with
  examinations in both at the end of the year.
• Pupils in Science Sets 3, 4 and 5 will study GCSE
  Science in Year 10 and GCSE Additional Science in
  Year 11 with examinations at the end of each
  year. Some pupils in Set 5 might study the Entry
  Level Certificate in Science instead of GCSEs.
• As well as final examinations, most subjects
  include some form of controlled assessment
  produced in class.

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Option A Technology

• Madeley High School is a Specialist Technology
  Academy and as such we recognise the important
  place studying STEM subjects (Science,
  Technology, Engineering and Maths) has in
  preparing pupils for the workplace by allowing
  them to develop a wide range of key transferable
  skills.
• GCSE Computer Science is for pupils with a
  particular aptitude for Mathematics and Science.
  This strengthens the STEM subject choice
  available particularly to those pupils wishing to
  follow demanding academic career paths such as
  Computing, Engineering, Science or Medicine.
• Creative iMedia offers the opportunity to learn
  about creative digital media disciplines (e.g.
  image manipulation, video production, games
  design, and website design). Possible related
  careers include Animator, APP Developer, Games
  Designer, Web Designer, Photographer.

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Choosing Options

• Try to choose subjects you enjoy and are making
  good progress in but dont necessarily avoid
  those subjects where youre not doing so well.
• Sometimes it is important to continue to working
  at a subject you find difficult because it may be
  the only way to lead on to something you really
  want to do.
• You will be given a sheet with your option form
  and booklet shows the grades you are most likely
  to achieve in GCSE subjects based on how pupils
  with similar ability to you at the end of Key
  Stage 2 have performed in previous years.
• You can get advice from your teachers or from the
  careers service in school. If you dont have any
  clear ideas about what job you would like to do,
  dont worry because most young people are like
  you at this stage.

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Choosing Options

• DONT choose a subject just to be with your
  friends. Your friends may not have the same
  abilities or ambitions as you. Make your own
  choice.
• DONT choose a subject, or give it up, just
  because you like or dislike a particular teacher.
  In the first place you often do not know who
  will be teaching you next year and, in any case,
  your future is far more important.
• DONT choose a subject or reject it simply
  because you are a boy or a girl. In the past
  many girls have been put off subjects because
  they thought that they were for boys, and this
  has often severely restricted the choice of jobs
  open to them. Equally dont choose a subject if
  youre a boy and more girls than boys take it.

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Your Options Form

• You must choose a first and reserve choice in
  each option block.
• You must choose a Modern Foreign Language
  (French, German or Spanish) if you want to follow
  the English Baccalaureate or become a primary
  school teacher.
• You must also choose Geography or History for the
  English Baccalaureate.
• You must return your form to your Form Tutor by
  Monday 9th March.
• There is no advantage in returning your form
  before this date.
• You will meet with a senior member of staff to
  discuss your option choices between Wednesday
  16th March and Friday 20th March (The senior
  member of staff allocated to your tutor group
  will send for you)