IESB GCSE OPTIONS Decisions to be made We are here to help you help your child make choices that are best for their future

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1 IESB GCSE OPTIONS Decisions to be made We are here to help you help your child make choices that are best for their future

2 About your child s options All pupils embark upon a 2 year programme of study leading to GCSE examinations in the summer term of year 11 All pupils will take at least 9 subjects Pupils will be guided through the options they should take and route they should follow by their mentors Provide a broad and balanced curriculum to equip pupils with the necessary skills they will need in later life and to help them to open doors for themselves in terms of career paths, be it in further education or future employment

3 Some initial advice

4 X X X DO Consider studying a broad range of subjects Consider subjects that you have enjoyed in KS3 Consider which subjects you are successful at If you already have clear ideas about your career/future take this into account ask for advice DON T Pick subjects to be with your friends Pick or not pick subjects because of the teacher Pick subjects because you think they are easy options they aren t

5 GCSE reforms from

6 GCSE reforms A move to linear assessment for all GCSEs. A focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) for GCSEs in English Literature, Geography, History and Religious Studies. Performance tables: headline indicator continues to be 5+ A* C, including English and Mathematics. Edexcel Certificates and International GCSEs to be included in performance tables. English Baccalaureate (EBacc) for English, Mathematics, History or Geography, two sciences and an ancient or modern foreign language. 6

7 What do the GCSE reforms mean for students? 1. A reduction in the number of GCSE examination series For awards made from summer 2014 onwards: candidates will have to take all GCSE assessments at the end of the course the GCSE examination series will be restricted to May/June, apart from English, English Language and Mathematics, which will also have a November sitting.

8 What do the GCSE reforms mean for students? 2. Additional marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) Additional marks for SPaG will be awarded for GCSEs in English Literature, Geography, History and Religious Studies. The changes affect written and externally assessed units taken from January Marks will be allocated to individual questions and students will be informed which questions include marks for SPaG.

9 What do the GCSE reforms mean for students? 3. No change to controlled assessment There are no proposed changes to controlled assessment content Schools may continue to schedule controlled assessments at their discretion, as far as this is permitted by the specification. However, controlled assessments can only be submitted to the awarding body at the end of the course Controlled assessment unit results may be carried forward if a student wishes to retake the qualification

10 Government reforms to performance tables From 2014, both vocational and academic qualifications will continue to be recognised in the headline measures and the wider performance tables. All qualifications taken by learners at Key Stage 4 will be recorded and published by the Government. The headline indicator will continue to be 5+ A* C GCSEs, including English and Mathematics. Edexcel Certificates and International GCSEs are to be included in performance tables. The headline measures will change from assessing volume of achievement to assessing breadth of achievement. This means that all qualifications regardless of size will count as the equivalent of one GCSE.

11 English Baccalauréate (EBacc) A new performance measure awarded to any student who secures good GCSE or accredited Certificate passes for English, Mathematics, History or Geography, two Sciences, and an ancient or modern foreign language. The Government intends the EBacc to become one of the main measures of achievement for schools in the future. The English Baccalaureate will be only one measure of performance, and should not be the limit of schools ambitions for their pupils. Schools will retain the freedom to innovate and offer the GCSEs, igcses and other qualifications which best meet the needs of their pupils. Pupils will, of course, be able to achieve vocational qualifications alongside the English Baccalaureate. The DfE White Paper, The Importance of Teaching

12 Summary A move to linear assessment. Marks for SPaG in English Literature, History, Geography and Religious Studies. No plans to change the subject content of GCSE specifications.* No plans to change controlled assessment content.* The headline indicator for performance tables will continue to be 5+ A* C GCSEs, including English and Mathematics. EBacc performance measure introduced. *Note please that further changes are being introduced at KS4 from 2015 for first examination in 2017

13 Your Child s Options Route 1: Pupils following this route will be working toward the English Baccalaureate and will study: Route 2: Pupils following this route will study: Weekly Lessons English Language & Literature 5 English Language & Literature 7 Maths 5 Maths 6 Dual Award Science 4 Dual Award Science 5 a Humanity (Geography or History) 3 Core PE 2 a Modern Foreign Language (French or Spanish) Weekly Lessons 3 Religious Studies Short Course 1 Core PE 2 COPE 2 Religious Studies Short Course 1 PLUS 3 choices in total from Block 1, 2 and 3 (1 from each) PLUS 1 choice from each Block 1, 2 and 3 2 Mentor 1 Mentor 1 2

14 Your Child s Options Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 PE* (25) Music* (20) Drama* (20) Business Art & Design* (25) PE* (25) ICT* (25) Philosophy & Ethics Philosophy & Ethics Art & Design* (25) ICT* (25) *Numbers capped to no more than indicated Twilight sessions are also available to pupils following both routes and listed below: Twilight option sessions: Triple Science ( by invitation only) 3-4 pm on Tuesdays Photography The options listed are will only be offered if they are viable for the school to run and are dependent on uptake by pupils each year

15 Timeline 17 th January 2013 Year 9 Options Information Evening 21 st March 2013 GCSE Options Evening 28 th March 2013 Deadline for GCSE Option Choices April Option blocks finalised and timetabled

16 We are here to help and support you and your child through the next phase of their learning At IESB excellence comes first

17 GCSE OPTIONS