OATHALL COMMUNITY COLLEGE INFORMATION GUIDE TO YEARS 10 AND 11 2017-2019 This will take place on Wednesday, 11th January at 6.00pm. The evening is an important opportunity for parents and students to get an overview of the options process and find out more about all of the courses available. The Year 9 Consultation Evening will be on Tuesday, 31st January 2017 beginning at 5pm. Completed Course Preference Forms are due in on Monday, 6th February 2017 Subject specific course information is available on the website www.oathall.org or paper copies can be requested from Reception
Introduction It is an exciting time for Year 9 students. The option process is designed to ensure that all students have the opportunity to study a broad range of subjects including the core subjects of English, mathematics and science. We ask that parents and students go through the information contained in this booklet together, refer to the subject course details on the Oathall website: www.oathall.org and attend the Key Stage 4 Information Evening and the Year 9 Parents Evening where you and your son/daughter will be able to discuss which route and course is appropriate. This period of consultation is very important and this will lead to each student following a curriculum which supports progression routes into Post 16 education. Careers guidance To supply the delivery of impartial and independent careers guidance, the school has purchased an online careers package Kudos, details in this booklet. In addition Ms Hart will be available at the Key Stage 4 information evening on 11th January 2017.
Questions to consider Who chooses the courses? This is a decision made after consultation with your group tutor, subject teachers and your parents. Why is my choice important? 1. 2. 3. You are making a two-year commitment and it is vital that you get it right to achieve success. Your choice now may make a big difference to which course you study later, at college, university or at work. Similarly, certain areas of employment may not be open to you after the choices you make. How do I choose the subjects that are right for me? DON T choose a subject because - Your friend is doing the course You like/dislike the teacher You think it will be easy DO Find out exactly what each course involves by reading the details and decide whether you can cope with the demands of the subject. Ask your teachers for advice on your level of achievement and future potential in each subject Consider the entrance requirements of areas of employment of interest to you, but bear in mind these are minimal and that in today s workplace, requirements are often pitched higher. Be careful not to close any doors at this stage because you may need certain skills/qualifications later on. Ensure you have a subject balance. Take into account: your interests your future career plans Which courses must I take? Who can help me choose? You must take English, mathematics, science, a language and a humanities subject. 1. 2. 3. 4. Your group tutor and year leader - will be able to offer you advice and guidance. Subject teachers - who can give you some idea about your suitability for the course and information about the subject. Your parents - who know you best of all. Your parents will be here with you at the KS4 Information Evening and you can begin talking about this then and with your tutor during small group meetings. Ms Hart, the careers guidance practitioner can show you details of different areas of work. 3
Your Choices Count! Decisions you make when you choose your options will matter for the rest of your life; the decisions you make will open or close doors for you in the future. Consider what you want to do next and make sure that you keep all opportunities open to you. If you already know what you want to do then it is easy for you to identify the subjects that you will need. If you don t know what you want to do next - you need to keep more options open. Here are some ideas to get you started. This does not cover everything and you will need to do your own research too. You probably know most university courses need a good pass (formerly a C grade) in English and maths at. most employers want a good pass (formerly a C grade) in English and maths at. Please check college requirements for A level courses from 2019. And looking further ahead To study medicine at university you must have A level chemistry and usually but not not always, biology. You will also need mainly grades 7, 8, or 9 at. Some degrees, for example nursing, prefer you to have biology A level. Teaching degrees require at least one A level from art, biology, chemistry, design and technology, drama, English, French, geography, German, history, maths, music, physics, physical education, religious studies or Spanish. Primary teaching degrees prefer those subjects underlined. Furthermore many courses at A level and at university level, do not require you to have already studied them at school or college. As university entrance requirements vary so widely you will need to do some research. A useful starting point is the UCAS website www.ucas.com which lists entry requirements for all university courses. English and maths Unless you achieve at least a good pass in both of these subjects you will have to continue studying them at college until you achieve a good pass. 4
Key Stage 4 Provision Here are the different courses and qualifications that you can study: Subject - shown in alphabectical order Core subjects English Language and English Literature Mathematics (Further maths for top sets) Physical Education Combined Science (Triple Science for top sets 10 hours) Qualification 2 s 2 s 2 s, (Triple - 3 s) Option subjects Art and Design Business Studies Children s Learning and Development Computing Construction and the Built Environment Design Technology: Food and Catering, Materials Technology Drama and Theatre Arts Engineering French Geography German History Music Photography Physical Education Religious Education Spanish Step up to English Step up to Maths Technical Award BTEC Level 1 & 2 Technical Award Entry Level Certifcate Entry Level Certifcate All students at Key Stage 4 Will follow the core subjects of: English Mathematics Science In addition to this everyone will take: Physical Education (Core) PSD which includes Religious Education and Citizenship 6
Frequently asked questions Can I change my mind later? The subjects you choose are for the next two years. We expect everyone to complete their courses once they have decided on them. Therefore, it is very important that the right choice is made at the outset. As a result we ask you to spend quite a long time considering your decisions. It is only in exceptional circumstances that students are permitted to change their courses once they have begun in September. Please bear this in mind. Will I have to do more homework and independent study? Yes. You will have to spend more time on homework for each subject as the courses you are following involve more independent study. You will be set homework for two or three subjects each day, for one hour per subject. Remember though, you will have fewer subjects to study. Regular work at school and home and good study habits will be essential to relieve the pressure and help you to achieve success. Will I definitely have all the subjects I ask for? The majority of students will be allocated the selection of courses they have chosen. However, each year minor changes do need to be made. This affects only a very few students and we will do everything within our power to offer the selection you make. Somebody said if there aren t enough students opting for a subject then that subject will not run. Is this true? Yes! Obviously we cannot run a course for just a handful of students. This would cost too much and it wouldn t be fair to the subjects that have class sizes approaching thirty. How many qualifications will I be studying for? You may find that you are following between 10-11 accredited courses. Combined Science is a double award subject (two s). Each of your options count as one subject. Everyone studies mathematics and two English qualifications and top sets also study further maths during mathematics time. 7
Grading for the new s in 2019 In 2019 students will receive 9-1 grades in all subjects. There will be one tier of paper for English Language & Literature and two tiers (Higher and Foundation) for mathematics and science. 11
Core Provision - potentially 11 accredited qualifications (AQs) Compulsory qualifications English Language - 1 English Literature - 1 Science - 2 s Triple Science (accelerated course for upper ability, by internal application) - 3 s Mathematics - 1 Further maths (top sets) - 1 4 options from the block below = 4 AQs Option Selection 2017-19 Pathway A Choose one course per block You must have at least one language (German, Spanish or French) You must have at least one humanities subject (geography, history, religious education) A B C D French Spanish Photography Construction & the Built Environment German French Art Photography History Children s Learning & Development PE Art Geography History Computing Engineering Geography History Food & Catering Materials Technology Geography Music Religious Education Drama Business Religious Education 8
Option Selection 2017-19 Pathway B (Only those disapplied from Languages) You must have at least one humanities subject (geography, history, religious education) A B C D Step up to English & Maths Children s Learning & Development Photography Construction & the Built Environment History Art Photography Geography PE Art Materials Technology History Food & Catering Religious Education Geography Music Drama Business 10
How to use INSIGHT to make your option choices. Follow the instructions below which explain how to select your option choices. The process will be explained at the Key Stage 4 Information evening and again on the Oathall website. Using Insight to complete the options process Select Options offer from the General menu.
Choosing your subjects Switch between the option blocks by selecting each of the tabs A, B, C and D. Click Ok when asked to confirm your choice. Select the chosen subject in each option block by clicking the + button.
When choosing a reserve choice: Select the first choice which will be recorded as Main option. The second choice will be recorded as a Reserve option.
The Choices summary shows the subjects that have been selected along with any reserve options. These can be amended at anytime up to the deadline by deleting a subject and selecting a different one.
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Key Stage 4 - Courses and Examinations All courses and examinations at Key Stage 4 conform to nationally agreed guidelines. Assessment is usually by means of a combination of coursework, both written and practical, and written examinations. Most examinations will be at the end of the course. Coursework is normally spread across the two year period. Examination Boards 1. General Certificate of Secondary Education () EDEXCEL/PEARSON - BTEC qualifications AQA - Assessment and Qualifications Alliance OCR - Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations The grades are as follows: 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Coursework Assessment and the Final Examination Assessment approaches vary for each subject. Please check the subject pages for specific details. For English and mathematics the grade will be based entirely on the summer examinations. 9
Types of Qualifications s (General Certificate of Secondary Education) Most schools offer s as the main way to gain your Key Stage 4 qualifications. You can choose from a range of s s are usually assessed by examinations. The English Baccalaureate This is a term now used for a group of 5 subjects achieved at grades 9-4/5 in English, maths, science (including computing), a language (French, German or Spanish) and a humanities subject (geography or history). BTEC Please see the last page of this booklet. What are Technical Awards? Learners are assessed through project-based internal assessments they ll apply their knowledge and skills to practical tasks. Assignments vary according to the subject, but activities will range from designing and making a working product or prototype, to presenting to others. The Technical Awards develop practical skills and core knowledge for learners to progress onto Level 3 qualifications, employment or apprenticeships. Technical Awards will count equally alongside s when applying to do further study in general or vocational qualifications. How are Technical Awards assessed? There are two internally assessed units worth 30% each and one externally assessed exam, worth 40%. What are Entry level Certificates (ELC)? ELCs are qualifications for students who are working below Grade 1 at. They're available at Entry Level 1, 2 and 3. They complement the specifications in English and mathematics. This qualification is designed to encourage Entry Level students to develop the skills they need to read and understand a range of texts as well as to write clearly, coherently and accurately using a range of vocabulary and sentence structures. Courses based on the mathematics specification encourage students to develop confidence in, and a positive attitude towards mathematics and to recognise the importance of mathematics in their own lives and to society. They should also provide a strong mathematical foundation for students who go on to study mathematics at a higher level. How are Entry Level Certificates assessed? Externally set tasks completed under controlled conditions. 10
What is a BTEC? Guide to BTEC Qualifications BTEC stands for Business and Technology Education Council, which used to run the award, first introduced in 1984. BTECs are now awarded by the Edexel exam board and are taken in more than 100 countries at all levels, from pre- to Degree equivalent. They are vocational and work-related courses, designed to accommodate the needs of employers and allow students to progress to further and higher education. A BTEC takes a practical approach to learning, without missing any of the important theory on the subject. Why take a BTEC? They are recognised by a large number of companies across a wide range of industries. As well as being developed in partnership with industry representatives so all employer and student needs are met, many professional bodies offer successful BTEC students exemptions for their own accredited qualifications. BTECs allow you to undertake a number of units for which you will present evidence, based on real-life work and studies. This means you can demonstrate your skills and knowledge through a practical situation. What are the different BTEC levels? BTECs are offered at two different levels. Introductory (Level 1) a basic introduction to a particular industry sector. They encourage development of personal and work-related skills. Workskills (Entry 3 - Level 2) a suite of skills-based employability units. What is a BTEC qualification worth? BTEC qualifications are fully recognised as holding equivalences to s. For example, a Level 2 BTEC First Diploma is worth the equivalent of four A*- C grade s.