Year 8 Options 2019
GCSE QUALIFICATIONS • All are now Graded 9 to1 (previously A*-G) • Mostly single tiered examination papers • No controlled assessments (except in practical subjects) • Terminal examination taken at the end of two years or three years. • Most subjects will have two examinations
GRADE 5 IS NOW THE NEW BENCHMARK Grade 4 is a Standard Pass (low Grade C) Grade 5 is a Strong Pass (high Grade C/low Grade B)
ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE The EBacc is the combined study of five core academic subjects at • GCSE. To achieve the Ebacc (Strong Pass), pupils must gain grade 5s or • above in all of the five subject areas below, including two from science. Six GCSEs graded 9-5 in total. •
ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE The government’s ambition is to see 75% of pupils studying the EBacc subject combination at GCSE by 2022, and 90% by 2025. But is this right for all of our students?
ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE “Whichever career path young people choose, they will need the skills that make them employable in a world where recruitment is increasingly global. We owe it to them to ensure that they do not lose out in the jobs market to better educated and linguistically qualified candidates from other countries” Nuffield Trust
KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM Core • English Language • English Literature • Maths • Science (Combined Science – two GCSEs) • Modern Foreign Language (Top two sets – 8N1 and 8S1) - French • Humanities (History or Geography) • PE Core • Religious Studies (examined at end of Year 10) • Citizenship/Careers/PSHE (through Wow Days) • Compulsory Subjects taken by all pupils
OPTION AIMS To provide a broad and balanced selection of courses with recognised qualifications that offer a variety of progression routes both in further education and employment
PATHWAYS • Recommended for pupils who scored 106 or above at Key Stage 2 • Pupils who perform well in tests and examinations Green • Pupils looking to progress to A levels and then university. Pathway • Recommended for pupils who scored between 94 and 106 at Key Stage 2 • Pupils who prefer a mix of project work, teacher assessments and examinations • Pupils thinking of apprenticeships or vocational courses at college leading to Blue employment, retaining the option to go to university at a later stage. Pathway • Recommended for pupils who scored 93 or below at Key Stage 2 • Pupils who prefer to be assessed in the classroom as they complete their assignments • Pupils thinking of doing level one and level two courses at college leading to Red employment trainee schemes. Pathway
RECOMMENDED PATHWAYS Year 8 Option Subjects Recommended Pathways History Geography BTEC Travel and Tourism French GCSE Triple Science GCSE Computer Science GCSE 2nd Humanities (Geography or History) GCSE Business Studies GCSE Art & Design GCSE Media Studies D&T (Timber) D&T (Board) GCSE Food & Nutrition GCSE Drama BTEC Music GCSE Physical Education BTEC Sport CACHE Child Development and Care
QUALIFICATIONS “VOCATIONAL” • Level 2 Technical Awards • GCSE equivalents • Graded Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distiction* • Generally two coursework units and one externally examined unit. BTEC Sport, BTEC Travel and Tourism, BTEC Music, CACHE Child Development, NCFE Business & Enterprise.
THINGS TO CONSIDER Pupils will spend a quarter of their time studying Options subjects. • Which subjects are you good at? • Which subjects do you enjoy? • What type of work is involved? • Do you know enough about the subjects? • What do your parents think? • Who else can you talk to? • What is a good balance of subjects?
YOUR CHOICES 1. GCSE History, GCSE Geography or BTEC Travel and Tourism 2. French (8N1 and 8S1). Additional Option Choice if in other sets 3. Option 1 4. Option 2 5. Reserve Option
OPTIONS FORM http://www.swracademy.net/year-8-options/ On the school website choose Year 8 Options from the “Parents” drop -down. Your username will be firstname.lastname @swracademy.org.uk Your password will be your school network password
IMPORTANT DATE Complete online form by Friday 1st March 2019
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