Believe, Succeed, Together. Key Stage 4 Curriculum Pathways Evening

Transcription

1 Believe, Succeed, Together Key Stage 4 Curriculum Pathways Evening 1

2 Dear Parent, Your son or daughter will shortly be asked, with you, to make a number of choices about the shape of the curriculum that they will follow from Year Up to now the curriculum they have followed will have been broadly similar for all pupils, but, from Year 9, they have a degree of choice. You as parents have a very important part to play in this process and in the ongoing support for your child as they enter the most important phase of their education to date. The Academy has a broad and balanced curriculum which will help your child develop their general ability and will give them the opportunity to specialise in subjects which they particularly enjoy and/or excel in. I hope that the curriculum will also develop other skills and abilities physical, social, moral and cultural - as well as encouraging the development of positive attitudes. During the Curriculum Pathways Evening, you and your child will have an opportunity to meet staff personally and to discuss the subject choices available. When making your choices, think about where those subjects can lead to, in terms of Further Education (FE), Higher Education (HE) and also in the world of work. The staff and I look forward to meeting you and providing you with the advice and guidance to ensure that the right choices are made. Yours sincerely, Mr. N. Houchen Principal 2

3 1.1 Key Stage 4 Curriculum Structure The Academy operates a three year Key Stage 4 (KS4) programme from Year The programme is divided into two pathways core (seven compulsory subjects) and personalised (four optional subjects). The Department for Education (DfE) recommends that pupils study between 8-10 high quality courses. The Academy s KS4 programme provides pupils with the opportunity to gain 10 s and 1 equivalent. An overview of the courses is included in section 1.4. The structure, content and assessment of s are being reformed by the DfE and are subject to change. Curriculum Pathway Subject Course English Language English Literature Mathematics Core Double Science Religious Education (R.E) ECDL Level 2 Certificate in IT Application Skills Equivalent Recreational Physical Education Non- History Geography French Spanish Art ICT Computer Science Personalised Business Physical Education (P.E) DT Graphics DT Food Technology Statistics Music Citizenship Drama Dance 1.2 School Performance - Progress 8 From September 2016, the DfE and Ofsted will be measuring a school s performance using a measure called Progress 8. This measure is based on pupils progress measured across eight subjects: English; Mathematics; three other English Baccalaureate (EBacc) subjects (Science, Computer Science, Geography, History and MFL); and three further subjects, which can be from the range of EBacc subjects, or can be any other approved, high-value arts, academic, or vocational qualification. 3

4 1.3 Personalised Pathway The subjects are arranged into four blocks covering the four statutory entitlement areas outlined in the National Curriculum: Languages, Humanities, Design and Technology and Arts. Block A Block B Block C Block D Languages Humanities Design and Technology Arts French Geography Graphic Products Art Spanish History Food Technology Drama Business Studies Dance ICT Music Computer Science P.E Statistics Citizenship Pupils have to choose four subjects; one from each block. Pupils should use information acquired during the Curriculum Pathways Evening, and the flow chart below, to help in the decision-making process. Pupils should make a note of their preferred (including a reserve) options on the form at the back of this booklet. They will then be required to submit their options, via the Academy intranet, during a scheduled Computer Science lesson, and will receive written confirmation in the Summer Term. The Academy will always aim, where possible, to allocate pupils their option choices, however, it reserves the right to make the final allocations. 4

5 1.4 Key Stage 4 Overview Pathway Subject Course 1 Hours per week EBacc 2 English Language 2 English Literature 2 Mathematics 4 Core Double Science 4 Religious Education (R.E) 2 x ECDL Level 2 Certificate in IT Application Skills Equivalent 1 x Recreational Physical Education Non- 1 - History 2 Geography 2 French 2 Spanish 2 Art 2 x ICT 2 x Computer Science 2 Personalised Business Studies 2 x Physical Education (P.E) 2 x Graphics 2 x Food Technology 2 x Statistics 2 x Music 2 x Citizenship 2 x Drama 2 x Dance 2 x 1 Although not yet confirmed with every subject, it is likely that controlled assessments will not form part of the course, and, where it is included, its % weighting will be minimal. 2 The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is a key performance indicator which recognises pupils achievements in five academic subjects that bridge the core and personalised pathways. It is awarded to those pupils who achieve a grade 5-9 (what is currently an A*- C) in the following: English Language or Literature. Mathematics. Double Science or two from Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Computer Science. Modern Foreign Language (French) History or Geography. 5

6 Believe, Succeed, Together Curriculum Pathways Form Block A Block B Block C Block D Languages Humanities Design and Technology Arts French Geography Graphic Products Art Spanish History Food Technology Drama Business Studies Dance ICT Music Computer Science P.E Statistics Citizenship Allocation st Choice 1 st Choice 1 st Choice 1 st Choice Reserve Reserve Reserve Reserve 6