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Dear Parents / Carers and Students
Dear Parents / Carers and Students
Our Year 9 options process has many aspects to it. Assemblies, subject talks, the use of unifrog (our online careers platform), parent and teacher conferences and this website. Students have been studying careers in their PSHE lessons and all their subject teachers have been talking to them about the courses they will be taking in Year 10 and 11 for GCSE.
We know this time is both exciting and confusing for our students and we encourage them to talk to us if they are finding it hard to make a final decision.
As students enter Year 10, they are embarking on the most exciting stage of their learning journey at Ricards so far. The options our students make will all lead on to courses in our joint sixth form RR6 or perhaps a specialist college course/apprenticeship if they choose this. It is wise to think of KS4 GCSE options at the same time as thinking about possible KS5 choices so please take the time to talk these through together.
Our careers advisor, Year 9 tutors, subject teachers and Head of Year are all poised to support, so reach out to us and we can help.
Yours sincerely
Mrs K Page
Headteacher
Dear Students
This site contains all the information you need to help you understand how to choose your Key Stage 4 progression courses for the next two years. Make sure that you read the entire site carefully before you make any final decisions. The decisions you make are important ones.
We have a common core of subjects which everyone will study: English Language and English Literature, Mathematics, at least two Science GCSEs, Religious Studies, PE and PSHE.
In addition to these core pathways you should also opt to study subjects you are good at, may need for a career and enjoy. You have the opportunity to study a combination of GCSEs and BTECs. You should aim to choose subjects which give you a broad and balanced curriculum. This will ensure you will still have a wide choice of further study or careers when you are considering your post 16 choices, and at the end of each subject description there is information about which courses you could go on to study at Key Stage 5. Even so, you must choose your subjects carefully, so that you will have the qualifications you need.
Make sure you talk about your choices with all the right people: your family, your subject teachers and your form tutor. Everyone will be glad to help.
We hope to run all of the courses described in this booklet. Sometimes, however, a course which we offer may not run because of staffing difficulties, room restrictions and/or not enough students opt for it. If this does happen to one of your courses, we will try to ensure you get one of your top five choices.
We expect your final Selection Form to be with your tutor by Friday 3rd March.
Yours sincerely
Ms J Kirk
Head of Year 9
Ms P Simmons
Deputy Headteacher
Mr M Englefield
Head of Year 10
KEY STAGE 4
KEY STAGE 4
The decisions you are about to make are very important. We wish to help you in every way and the following arrangements should enable you and your parents to reach the best decision for you.
1. Careers programme in PSHE – January - March
As you will be aware the PSHE programme this term focuses on careers and routes into the next steps of your education. The main purpose of the Year 9 Careers programme is to encourage you to think about how the subject choices you make will help you to reach your career goals. It is about how you make well informed decisions and about knowing where you can research the various pathways and options available to you. This unit in PSHE provides you with the opportunity to identify your own skills, qualities and attributes and consider your own aspirations, values and expectations of future learning and career pathways. You will also be encouraged to challenge stereotypical views on opportunities in learning and work. You will also investigate our local labour markets and the career options available to you in London.
2. KS4 Progression Assembly - Thursday 2nd February
Mr Englefield and Ms Simmons will create a presentation for you that will go through the subject choices you have and explain how to use the website and online form.
3. Year 9 KS4 Progression Event
Mr Englefield and Ms Simmons will present in the main hall and subject teachers and current GCSE and BTEC students will be in their subject areas to show you what each course is like.
4. Careers Advisor
Targeted students in Year 9 have access to face to face impartial careers Guidance either in the form of a group or individual careers interview. The interview is an opportunity to discuss your future and next step options with a Careers Adviser who will give impartial information, advice and guidance.
5. Subject Assemblies
Since last term, students have been receiving weekly assemblies from different departments outlining what their subjects look like at Key Stage 4
6. KS4 Progression website
This website outlines the courses which are to be offered in Years 10 and 11. We hope that you find it useful.
In addition you should look carefully through your TTR and Full Report for this term and take opportunities to discuss subjects with subject teachers in lessons as appropriate.
KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM
KEY STAGE 4 CURRICULUM
Your Programme of Study
The programme of study for Years 10 and 11 can be divided into 2 areas:
1. The CORE subjects:
All students will study - GCSEs in English Language and English Literature, Mathematics, at least 2 Science GCSEs, Religious Studies; Plus PSHE and core Physical Education .
Students on our formal EBACC Pathway must also study a GCSE in French, German, Spanish (or a Home Language*) and either GCSE History or GCSE Geography as part of their core studies. They will study the Triple Sciences at GCSE (studying 3 rather than 2 Science GCSEs in total). All EBACC pathway students study two additional courses from the optional subjects list. * Home Languages students will have a third choice from the optional subjects list.
The majority of other students will follow our Progress 8 Pathway where they will have additional time in English and Maths in order to maximise their opportunities to achieve well in these subjects. In addition they must choose one GCSE subject from the following list as part of their extended core – History, Geography, French, German, Spanish (or a Home Language*). These students study three additional courses from the optional subjects list. * Home Languages students will have a fourth choice from the optional subjects list.
A small groups of students, who receive support in our Cedar Base, will have further additional time in English and Maths and/or other personalised learning support to help them achieve their best in year 10 and 11. These students study two or three additional courses from the optional subjects list, individually dependent on the level of SEN support time needed with the Cedar Base staff.
A small group of students for whom English is not their first language and who receive support from our EAL staff team— will have additional lesson time with the EAL team, focusing on developing the English skills needed to succeed in their GCSE and BTEC courses, with specific focus on their English Language and Literature, Mathematics and Combined Science work. In addition they must choose one GCSE subject from the following list as part of their extended core – History, Geography, French or Spanish. These students study two additional courses from the optional subjects list.
2. OPTIONAL further courses:
Students can choose from a range of GCSE and BTEC courses:
GCSE Art and Design
GCSE Art Textiles
GCSE Business
GCSE Computer Science (students on the EBACC pathway only)
BTEC Creative Media Production
GCSE Dance
GCSE Design and Technology (Product Design)
GCSE Design and Technology (Textiles)
GCSE Drama
GCSE Film Studies (students on the EBACC pathway only)
GCSE Food and Nutrition
GCSE French
GCSE Geography
GCSE German
GCSE History
BTEC IT (Digital Information Technology)
GCSE Music
BTEC Performing Arts (Acting)
BTEC Performing Arts (Dance)
BTEC Performing Arts (Production Arts)
GCSE Spanish
BTEC Sport, Activity and Fitness
Guidance on how to make these choices, including how to complete the form and which subjects cannot be combined is found below.
Home Languages:
Please note – any students who are fluent (both verbally and written) in a home language that can be taken at GCSE can do so however:
They will have P6 lessons once a fortnight in year 10 and take the GCSE exams at the end of year 10.
Students who wish to do this must also complete the Home Languages questions on the main Application Form.
Students on the EBACC pathway can choose to use this Home Language GCSE as their language course and will then be given the opportunity for a further choice from the options list
Students on the Progress 8 Pathway can choose to use this Home Language GCSE as their compulsory Languages or History/Geography choice and will then be given the opportunity for a further choice from the options list
MAKING YOUR CHOICES
MAKING YOUR CHOICES
In making your choice of subjects:
· READ this website carefully for information about the courses available.
· ASK your teachers about your suitability for different courses
· TALK at home about the decisions to be taken – remember they know you better than anyone else so listen to their advice.
· THINK about your future career plans and which subjects will help achieve your aims.
· RESEARCH on exam board and careers internet sites.
The following people will also help you make your choices:
· Your individual subject teachers who will give you an idea of how well you might do in each subject.
· Your tutor who will advise you on the correct procedure for choosing.
· Mrs Wilford is responsible for careers education and can advise you on specific subjects needed for particular careers.
· Your Head of Year, Mr Englefield, who has responsibility for managing the choices programme.
DO use these reasons for choosing subjects
1. I achieve well in this subject or have the skills to do so if it’s a new subject for me.
2. This subject will help me achieve my career plans
3. I enjoy this subject.
DO NOT use these reasons for choosing subjects
1. This subject looks like an easy option. It won’t be, and your should choose subjects for positive, not negative reasons.
2. My friend is doing this subject, so I’ll do it too. You may have different abilities and different career plans. Be yourself. It is unlikely you will be in the same group anyway.
3. I like the teacher I have for this subject so I will choose it. You may have a different teacher next year.
HOMEWORK AND BTEC/ GCSE NON-EXAM ASSESSMENTS
Whatever choice of subjects you finally make, you will be expected to supplement your school work with homework. For each subject you will be given homework every week. Homework is necessary because it gives time for your to reflect on and extend what you have learnt in a lesson; or to prepare for the next lesson; or to write something to be assessed so that the teacher knows how well your are doing and how independent you are as a learner.
Many courses are assessed partly by controlled assessments or coursework. GCSE Non-exam Assessments have to be completed at school under the supervision of your class teacher. These sessions are planned across the whole period of your course and your attendance is essential. They cannot usually be re-arranged. BTEC Coursework is completed across the period of your course under the direction of the class teacher.
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