A guide for parents & students Deadline Monday 24 th February - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Tolworth Girls’ School & Sixth Form Key Stage 4 Curriculum

OPTIONS 2020 A guide for parents & students

Deadline Monday 24th February

The KS4 Curriculum

The aims are:

• To provide all students with a broad

and balanced curriculum.

• To provide an element of choice so that

students can start to follow their own interests.

• To provide an element of choice so that

students can follow courses suited to their particular needs.

CORE subjects

Compulsory subjects - everyone studies

• English Language
• English Literature
• Mathematics
• Science – students to be recommended:

– Triple Award – Double Award

• Religious Education

Also studied (non-GCSE): PHYSICAL EDUCATION & PASTORAL EDUCATION (Personal, health, social, citizenship)

1 x GCSE 1 x GCSE 1 x GCSE 3 x GCSEs 2 x GCSEs 1 x GCSE

English Baccalaureate

• The EBACC is not a qualification – it’s a

performance measure (2010 Government)

• The EBACC is not compulsory - it is open to all

and includes the following:

• Core: English, Maths, 2 Sciences
• Modern Foreign Language
• Humanities: Geography or History

To gain EBACC status, students must choose at least

• ne language

and at least

• ne

humanities subject.

Option Process

• 1. You must choose either Geography or

History

• 2. You may then choose three other option

subjects, at least one of which should be a practical subject (you can include Geography

• r History again here if you wish).

You will be allocated three of these

• ptions to study.

Put your top choice as choice 1, then either History or Geography as choice 2. You must then add two further choices.

EBACC Options

• History*
• Geography*
• French
• Spanish

We actively encourage students to take GCSE examinations in their mother tongue language if this is appropriate. This doesn’t use up an option.

Practical Subjects 1

• Art or Textiles
• Dance
• Drama
• Music
• Physical Education

Practical Subjects 2

• Design Technology
• Food Preparation and Nutrition
• Health & Social Care
• ICT (Creative iMedia)

Good reasons to choose a subject

• You enjoy it
• You are good at it and experience success
• You are interested in it
• It suits you and your learning style
• It is a requirement for your future career or

further education plans

Poor reasons to choose a subject

• Your friends are choosing it
• You like the teacher
• You heard it was good
• You think it will be easy
• It’s a new subject
• You think you should take it even though

you are struggling with it now!

Support in choosing your subjects

• 1. Option & subject assemblies, form time

activities

• 2. Be Informed: find out about the courses and

your suitability for them, read the online Options booklet – vital information (Post 16 & careers) https://www.tolworthgirlsschool.co.uk/current- students/news-and-events/recent-letters/

• 3. Take Advice: Form tutor, subject teachers,

Subject Leaders; discuss options and information at home with parents

• 4. Think about what you would like to

do in the future

Timeline

• Hand the Options form in on time: Monday, 24th February
• Complete it correctly: choice of History or Geography, 3 other
• ption choices, signatures (you and your parents and form tutor)
• Queries will then be dealt with: we’ll look for solutions

Recommended websites

• Website tool to help students decision

making: http://www.bestcourse4me.com/

• Russell Group advice:

https://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/media/5272/informedchoices- print.pdf

• List of Russell Group Universities:

http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities/