KEY STAGE 4 GUIDANCE 2017 Ringmer Community College
Contents Introduction... 2 Core Subjects... 2 Additional Subjects... 2 How to make the right choice?... 3 Ringmer Students... 3 Parents/Carers... 3 What help will the College give my child?... 3 How can I be sure my child makes the right decisions?... 4 Will my child get on all the courses requested?... 4 What happens if my child is unhappy in year 10 with some of the choices they have made?... 4 Who organises the process?... 4 General advice for students... 5 DO... 5 DO NOT... 5 Important dates and events... 5 Contact details... 5
Introduction At Ringmer Community College, we strive to make our Key Stage 4 curriculum engaging, relevant and flexible. The college s wide range of option choices are designed to meet the differing needs, aspirations and learning styles of all students. Our intention is to offer flexible learning pathways within the framework of a broad, balanced curriculum, ensuring that students keep their future options open and that they take a range of interests, skills and knowledge with them into adult life and a lifetime of learning. Core Subjects Key Stage 4 at Ringmer Community College is built upon core subjects which ensure that all students have the foundation of knowledge and skills which will be essential to them in the years ahead. All students take exam courses in English, Mathematics and Science. All students also follow non-exam courses in Physical Education and Personal Social Health Education, which includes Citizenship and Philosophy and Ethics. Additional Subjects Students will study an additional four subjects in addition to the core subjects. The college has made some changes regarding the selection of non-core subjects due to changes made by the Department for Education. The key change is the introduction of the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) for the vast majority of students. The Ebaac is achieved by gaining a good GCSE in English, Mathematics, a Science, a Modern Foreign Language and History or Geography. The Department for Education s expectation is that 90% of students should study the Ebaac subjects at GCSE. It is certainly true that Modern Foreign Languages, History, Geography and the other facilitating subjects featured in the Ebaac are highly valued by universities and employers. Where a student has not studied either French or Spanish due to English withdrawal a Tech Level course in IT will be followed. This means that two out of the four additional subjects will be taken up with a language and History or Geography. They will therefore be asked to identify four additional subjects from the following list and rank them 1 to 4 in terms of preference. The college will aim, where possible to provide students with their highest ranked subjects. However, delivery of courses is dependent upon the viability of class sizes and availability of staff. Art Computing Dance Drama Engineering Food Graphics Hair & Beauty Geography (to allow for students who would like to study both History and Geography) Music PE Materials Technology (L1/2 Tech Level)
How to make the right choice? Ringmer Students Discuss which of the additional subjects you would like to study and your future plans with your parents/carers, mentors, subject teachers, Ms Moorhouse and Mr Burchett. Ms Moorhouse is available to talk to you about your career choices and Further Education choices. Use the following useful web-sites: o www.ringmeracademy.org.uk/137/careers o www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u o www.myfutureeastsussex.com Use the college ELP which has a direct link to Fast Tomato, our online Careers resource which can help make suggestions dependent upon your skills and personality. You can also email a Careers Advisor if you need some one-to-one advice via the Fast Tomato website (please see Ms Moorhouse if you have forgotten your Fast Tomato password). Know your strengths/weaknesses and be realistic about your capabilities. Parents/Carers Attend the Key Stage 4 Guidance Evening Thursday 26 January 2017, and the Year 9 Parents Evening Thursday 2 February 2017; this will give you the chance to find out more about courses available in Key Stage 4. Read and discuss with your child all information sent home. Note any queries/questions you have regarding curriculum choices, possibly in the Key Stage 4 Experience Booklet. Discuss your child s future plans with them. Have realistic aspirations for your child. What help will the College give my child? Progress Trackers detailing a student s effort and achievement in their Year 9 subjects. The KS4 Experience Booklet gives full details of KS4 courses. The chance to discuss option choices with Mentors and Ms Moorhouse or Mr Burchett.
How can I be sure my child makes the right decisions? The way the curriculum is organised at Ringmer enables all students to study a wide and balanced range of subjects. As a result all doors are left open for them when they plan their future. Having two additional choices in the curriculum allows students to specialise in the areas in which they are most interested, make the best progress in and link to their future career plans. Many career paths require a certain combination of subjects. If your son or daughter is already focussed on a particular career path, please ensure that they have discussed any specific Further Education or career requirements with Ms Moorhouse. Will my child get on all the courses requested? We aim to make as close a match as possible between students' preferences and their final timetable. However, we cannot guarantee that students will be able to study everything they request for Year 10. Some option courses may not run if not enough students opt for them. Other courses may be oversubscribed. We will need to negotiate a change of preference with your child if this is the case and we will of course inform parents/carers throughout this process. What happens if my child is unhappy in year 10 with some of the choices they have made? The college does realise that students do sometimes changes their minds, or that courses are not what they thought they would be. Therefore, up until the end of the first half term in October of Year 10 we do allow students to change option choices where we feel that there is a legitimate reason for doing so and where option blocks allow. Students will not be allowed to drop subjects after this date. Who organises the process? Mr Burchett, Acting Vice Principal has overall responsibility. If you have any queries you should contact your child s mentor in the first instance. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the guidance process in more detail, or arrange an individual interview for yourself and your child, please contact Mr Burchett. Alternatively, Mrs Waite, our Special Needs Co-ordinator, is very happy to offer guidance to students and parents with particular concerns.
General advice for students DO Read the Experience Booklet carefully. Consider how much progress you have made in a subject. Take into account your interest in a subject. Consider your possible education and career plans and use Fast Tomato and the careers web pages for advice. This will mean looking very carefully at qualifications and grades required to do certain jobs and college courses and whether you need to choose a certain subject now in order to study it at a higher level. DO NOT Think that the subject will be the same in Year 10 and 11 just because it has the same name. Choose a subject because you have got on well with your present teacher. Choose a subject because you think it will be easy none of them are! Choose a subject just because your friends are doing it! Important dates and events Thursday 26 January 2017 18.00 20.30 Year 9 Key Stage 4 Guidance Evening A chance to learn more about the Year 10 Curriculum. Subject staff will be available to discuss the content, skills and assessment involved for each of the courses offered. Thursday 2 February 2017 17.00-20.00 Year 9 Parents Evening A chance to reflect on current progress being made across all subjects to help support the decision making process. Parents carers should contact the college to make appointments if you have not yet been able to do so via our e- learning website. Tuesday 31 st January 2017 Year 9 Progress Tracker 3 will be sent to parents/carers via email. Please contact the college if you have any concerns regarding receive the trackers via email so we can ensure you are in receipt of all the year 9 trackers to date. Monday 6 February 2017 Deadline day for receipt of Guidance Form Completed guidance forms, signed by student, parent and mentor should be handed to Miss French whose office is located outside the Principals office. Contact details Mr P Burchett Acting Vice Principal Tel: 01273 812220 ext.298 pburchett@ringmeracademy.org Ms N Moorhouse CEIAG Leader Tel: 01273 812220 ext. 242 nmoorhouse@ringmeracademy.org Mrs AM Waite SENCO Tel: 01273 815452 ext. 246 amwaite@ringmeracademy.org Miss H Cripps Year 9 Progress Lead Tel: 01273 812220 hcripps@ringmeracademy.org