Key Stage 4 Booklet Year 8 E G G B U C K L A N D C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E

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1 E G G B U C K L A N D A Specialist Arts College and Centre of Excellence for e-learning Year 8 Key Stage 4 Booklet

2 E G G B U C K L A N D Dear Student I am delighted that we are inviting you, as Year 8 students, to make decisions about your future studies. This is because we have seen with our older students how motivating it can be to start Key Stage 4 in Year 9, as well as providing more lesson time to secure success. We have taken a great deal into consideration in preparing the subject choices we have offered you we really hope you are happy with the selection. Please do speak to your teachers to obtain as much information as you can about your options so that you can make well-informed decisions about the future. Then, it really is up to you. We will be there to guide, advise and support you, as will your parents or carers. However, ultimately, success will depend on your hard work and commitment, as well as excellent attendance. I wish you well! Katrina Borowski Principal

3 E G G B U C K L A N D EXAMINATION COURSES The Main Facts General Certificates in p Broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 4 and above as Secondary Education currently achieve a grade C and above. p Broadly the same proportion of students (GCSEs) are the principal will achieve a grade 7 and above as achieve an A and above. p The bottom of grade 1 will be aligned with qualifications awarded to the bottom of grade G. students completing Key Stage 4 (Year 11). A m i n o r i t y o f o t h e r qualifications are available which are mainly considered 'vocational', for examples BTECs. At our College, we consider it greatly in the interests of students that they commence these courses as early as possible, hence the 'Options' process taking place in Year 8. For the current Year 8, GCSE outcomes will be on a new 1 to 9 scale. They will not be awarded letters for grades. 9 will be the top outcome achievable and the awards will go down from there with 1 being the lowest grade that counts. Please see the table above that provides some details of what these numbers mean in relation to grades. Students' assessment and reporting will reflect this scale when they commence Year 9. Recipe for Success In order to make the most of your Key Stage 4 programme and to get the best possible results, you need to think about the following: Attendance: Attend regularly and make sure you don't miss important assessment and coursework deadlines. Even if your attendance is 90%, you are still missing one day in ten. Effort: Ensure that your effort is consistent, work steadily from the start, don't wait until the end. Application of knowledge: Apply what you learn in class and refer to the notes you are given in order to improve and enhance your work. Organisation: Be organised! Bring your equipment to lessons and plan ahead to make sure you meet deadlines. Do homework promptly. Communication: If you need support or advice do make a point of talking to your teachers and asking them for assistance. Responsibility: Take responsibility for your own learning. Remember that you are working for yourself and your own future!

4 EGGBUCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE THE CORE SUBJECTS English: All students will follow a course in GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature. Mathematics: All students will follow a course in GCSE Mathematics. Science: There are two courses offered in Science: GCSE Triple Science and GCSE Double Science. If a student follows GCSE Triple Science they will need to take Science as one of their option choices. Preparation for Life (P4L): All students will have lessons in Preparation for Life, which covers Careers, Health, Social, Religious, Sex and Drugs education. Physical Education (PE): All students will participate in a PE programme that enables them to experience a variety of sports as well as Dance and Gymnastics. Year 9-10 Options: There will be an opportunity for some students to switch from their selected options to a Vocational course that will begin in Year 10. These Vocational courses link you up with a training provider one day per week. Currently, we offer Automotive, Child Care, Construction, Hair and Beauty, Hospitality and Sport. Humanities: All students will have the opportunity to specialise in either Geography or History. LEARNING CARING ACHIEVING THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT

5 EGGBUCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE KEY STAGE 4 OPTIONS English Maths Core Science P4L PE History or Geography Options Choose THREE of the following: Art & Design (Fine Art) Art & Design (Graphic Media & Photography) Business & Enterprise* Catering Computing Engineering* Fashion Design French Health & Social Care Music* Performing Arts-Acting* Performing Arts-Dance* Psychology Resistant Materials Spanish Sport Studies* Triple Science LEARNING CARING ACHIEVING THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT * denotes BTEC qualification

6 EGGBUCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE Guidance Notes Making choices is never easy especially when there are so many options. We do recommend, however, that your choices are influenced by: What you enjoy What you are good at What you hope to do in the future You must also give consideration to the following: English Baccalaureate We very strongly advise all students, who we believe can achieve a minimum of GCSE C s (Level 4s on the new scale) in English, Maths, Science, a language and a humanities subject, to take these subjects. They lead to the English Baccalaureate qualification and, in the future, it is very likely that some universities and employers will only accept applicants who have achieved this. To gain the English Baccalaureate qualification you will need to choose either French or Spanish in the options. Please be aware in all cases the number of classes available is limited by staffing and in some cases by the College s specialist accommodation. Therefore, we cannot guarantee to meet all students chosen options. This is why we ask all students to make provisional choices. LEARNING CARING ACHIEVING THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT

7 EGGBUCKLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE Other Aspects Of Key Stage 4 You will have the opportunity to use Information Technology in virtually all subject areas at some stage during Key Stage 4. In addition, you will have access to Information Technology systems at lunch times and before and after the College day. We encourage all of you to get involved with extra-curricular activities: Dance, Drama, Music, Duke of Edinburgh, Sport, and Ten Tors, as well as numerous different clubs and Student Leadership opportunities. Don t forget that organisations outside of College (such as the Air Training Corps) can provide you with similar opportunities. Such experiences are vital when it comes to writing about your interests and responsibilities for job or course applications later on. Making the Choices Ÿ Discuss your options and ambitions, both at home and with College staff. Ÿ Complete Passportfolio in your P4L lessons. Ÿ The appropriate options form will be available when you have completed the Passportfolio action plan. Ÿ Deadline for submission of the options form is Friday 13th February Ÿ All forms received by this deadline will be treated equally. Ÿ If a particular course is over-subscribed or there is insufficient demand for a course, second choices, and in some cases, third choices will be scheduled. LEARNING CARING ACHIEVING THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT

8 Key Dates Monday 8th December 2014 Wednesday 14th January 2015 Friday 30th January Options Assembly - Year 8 Options Evening - Year 8 Reports home (dates maybe subject to change) Wednesday 11th February Year 8 Subject Parents Evening Friday 13th February Year 8 Options deadline Now You want to do your best in your courses and it is important that you choose the subjects which are right for you. You should be asking at home and in College for guidance and advice about your next steps. We are available to answer any queries and give advice please contact us to make an appointment if you want guidance with Key Stage 4 options. College Staff Who Can AdviseYou Matthew Corrigan Vice Principal Voirrey Kinrade House Leader with responsibility for Year 8 Your Tutor and Teachers Curriculum Team Leaders Lynn Harris Careers Co-ordinator Aaron Watson SENCo E G G B U C K L A N D

9 E G G B U C K L A N D Key Stage 4 Subject Outlines Digital copies of our Subject Outlines can be accessed via our College website. To access our Subject Outlines please navigate to and select Subject Outlines which can be found on the menu bar. Please see the example below. Then select Key Stage 4 Then Key Stage