Welcome

1. Welcome Aims of the Evening. Explain the Key Stage 4 curriculum and the options process.

2. Key stage 4What is the difference? • students study subjects in more depth • they must choose some and stop studying others • not everyone will study the same thing • students will work towards a qualification

3. The college aims to ensure that all students leave with a qualification • GCSE • Vocational GCSE • BTEC • Key Skill • The college aims to ensure that all students are still educated in life skills, moral, spiritual & cultural aspects of life.

4. Apprenticeship post 18 Further education Higher education Employment Employment with training CONSIDEROPTIONS GCSE 18 Level 3 BTEC or Equivalent BTEC CONSIDEROPTIONS CONSIDEROPTIONS 16 14 Employment withtraining CONSIDEROPTIONS 17 Main routes through 14-19 education and training A-Level FoundationLearning/GCSE/Level 1 or 2 Foundation Learning Apprenticeship There are, of course, many other optionsafter you turn 18, including a gap year and volunteering Functional Skills and Personal,Learning and Thinking Skills

5. The Curriculum

6. Curriculum BTEC Science PE Option 2 Option 3 English BTEC Science PE Option 1 Option 3 English Maths BTEC Science Option 1 Option 3 English Maths Biology Option 1 Option 2 English Maths Biology Religious Studies Option 2

7. Curriculum Triple Science Chemistry PE Option 2 Option 3 English Chemistry Physics Option 1 Option 3 English Maths Physics Option 1 Option 3 English Maths Biology Option 1 Option 2 English Maths Biology Religious Studies Option 2

8. Curriculum Work Related Learning Work Related Learning PE Option 2 Option 3 English Work Related Learning PE Option 1 Option 3 English Maths Science Option 1 Option 3 English Maths Science Option 1 Option 2 English Maths Science Religious Studies Option 2

10. Science GCSE BTEC

11. The Work Related Learning Course • Engaging • Will lead to a qualification equivalent to a GCSE • Will be available at level 1 or level 2 • Will help students become more prepared for the world of work • Will include an element of work experience

12. What should I consider? • Career Does it lead to a job? • Interests Do you enjoy it? • Your ability Are you good at it? • Pathways Where can I go next? • Learning styles Do it suit the way I learn?

13. BTECs and GCSEs GCSE BTEC Award Level 1 BTEC Award Level 2 Key Stage 4 A-Level BTEC Award Level 2 BTEC Diploma Level 3 BTEC Award Level 3 Post 16

14. Recent changes/concerns Aren’t the new government going to change BTECs? What is the EBacc? Is there a change to acceptable qualifications?

15. Government report on Vocational EducationThe Wolf Report High-quality vocational qualifications can offer a valued and legitimate path to both higher education and employment. Only rigorous vocational qualifications which add real value to young people’s education should be recognised in school league tables

16. Recent Government report on Vocational EducationThe Wolf Report BTEC National Diplomas are also valuable in the labour market, and a familiar and acknowledged route into higher education, alone or in conjunction with 1 or 2 A level

17. Changes to Qualifications We also propose that other qualifications should only count if: • They have a proven track record - only qualifications that have been taught for at least two years with good levels of take-up among 14-16 year olds should be included. • They offer pupils progression into a broad range of qualifications post-16 rather than a limited number in one or two occupational areas. • They are the size of a GCSE or bigger. • They have a substantial proportion of external assessment. • They have grades such as A*-G (those with simple pass or fail results will be excluded).

18. Are our subjects on the approved list? • Yes! • 4827 courses were narrowed down to less than 100. • All our BTEC courses are on the approved list

19. The EBacc The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) The government have added a measure to school performance tables which counts those students who gain C+ grades in…

20. The EBacc The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) The measure is intended to make it easier to identify “those schools which succeed in giving their pupils a properly rounded academic education”.

21. Extract from “Informed choices”Produced by the Russell group of Universities • Applicants to study Medicine are usually required to have very good GCSE results in Maths, Science, and English. • For a degree in English, universities often look for applicants to have a GCSE in a modern or classical language. • For a Business degree, a grade B in GCSE Maths is often required. • A grade B in Maths and sometimes Science is often required for a degree in Psychology. • To study a science subject at university (including Biology, Chemistry or Physics) applicants who are not offering Maths at advanced level will often need to have achieved a grade C in Maths at GCSE. • Occasionally, a university will require a foreign language for entry to any course, for example, University College London is introducing such a requirement from 2012 entry. Click to view the Document.

22. John Smith 9R Art (TX) Engineering ICT (BTEC) German John Smith MSmith

23. On the form • Make it clear whether it is Btec or GCSE • Don’t chose a Btec and a GCSE in the same subject • Pick at least one GCSE course • If you want to qualify for the Ebacc make sure you pick a language and Geography or History

24. Reserve? Reserve choices are for our information only. We will not put you in a reserve choice without consulting with you and parents first.

25. Why don’t we just do blocks? Each year is different and it helps us to make sure we get the highest numbers of students into their preferred course.

26. Where to get advice • Subject teacher • Form tutor • Connexions service • Personal interview • Connexions website • Options Booklet • Check the FAQs page in the booklet