Year 9 Options: Qualifications, E-Bacc, and Russell Group Universities

Year 9 Options Evening 20 March 2025 Welcome! The aim of this evening is to clarify the options process, the types of qualifications offered and some of the terminology involved.

Year 9 Options Compulsory Subjects Subject Qualification English Language and Literature Science Double or Triple Award Mathematics Religious Education (Starts in Y9) Physical Education GCSE (2 certificates) GCSE (2 or 3 certificates) GCSE (1 certificate) GCSE (1 certificate) None Compulsory subjects account for 3/5 of the curriculum (16 lessons) The remaining 9 lessons are for Option Subjects (3 choices for 3 hours a week)

E-Bacc or not? The E-Bacc (English Baccalaureate) is a recognition of a good pass at GCSE, which means gaining a grade 5 or higher in the following subjects: English Maths Science (Double or Triple) A Language History or Geography (Compulsory) (Compulsory) (Compulsory) (Optional) (Optional) What does it mean?

We know that: It s not an extra qualification, just a recognition of grade 5 or better in all those subjects No local FE colleges or 6th forms require it for entry to their courses No HE universities state it in their entry requirements (see Russell Group Informed Choices document) MFL at GCSE is generally only a requirement for an English degree but check this out if you know now what you want to do University College London does require a GCSE Language as an entrance requirement for all its courses, but if you don t have it they will still accept an application and make you sit a short course certificate in a language Our advice therefore is to pick the subjects which give you the best chance of the best grades

The Russell Group This is the following group of Universities: University of Birmingham University of Bristol University of Cambridge Cardiff University Durham University Imperial College London University of Edinburgh University of Exeter University of Glasgow King's College London London School of Economics & Political Science University of Leeds University of Liverpool University of Manchester Newcastle University Queen Mary, University of London Queen's University Belfast University of Sheffield University of Nottingham University of Oxford University of Southampton University College London University of Warwick University of York

What can they choose? We aim to give students a free choice of subjects and then build the timetable around their choices: Box A - Choose any 2 GCSE Choices: Certificate in Digital Applications Construction and the Built Environment Boys PE Geography Child Development and Care Box B - Choose 1 GCSE Choices: Vocational Choices: Art Film studies Computer Science Art: Textiles Food and Nutrition Geography History Business Studies Girls PE Sport Studies Triple Science Technical Award in Materials Technology Computer Science History Spanish Dance Drama Engineering Music Photography Spanish4 Due to group sizes vocational options may be restricted. If we feel your child could follow the GCSE route rather than the equivalent route and there is no space in the group, we may need to speak to you again.

New GCSEs As a guide the numbers are broadly equal to the old grades shown below: Standard GCSE Pass Strong GCSE Pass New Numbers Old Grades This system affects all GCSE subjects. There are, however, a number of vocational subjects that are graded differently: Standard GCSE Pass 1 2 3 4 C 5 6 7 A 8 A* 9 G/F- F/E E+/D C+/B- B/B+ A** Strong GCSE Pass Level 1 Level 2 Grade Pass Merit Distinction Pass Merit Distinction Distinction* 1 2 3 4 5/6 7 8 GCSE Equivalent

Science Separate Sciences (Triple) Trilogy Award Science (Double) Both courses include the study of Biology, Chemistry and Physics Physics Biology Chemistry

Advice for Students 1. Choose the subjects you are likely to do best in. Use the information in your reports and the feedback you have had from your teachers to guide you 2. Don t make a choice just because you like the teacher. That teacher may well not be taking the group you end up in 3. Be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses and accept realistic advice about the type of course you choose. 4. Do your research by reading the options booklet thoroughly and talking to your teachers 5. Above all don t choose a subject because your friend is doing it! There is no guarantee you ll end up in the same class!

Let us guide you! We can guide you to courses which we know will offer your children the very best chances of achieving the best grades. Vocational options offer the best progression routes for some students. New qualification guidelines, however, make vocational subjects less suitable for some students. If we feel that a vocational pathway is right for your child we will offer this in the options interview.

Making informed choices based on KS3 performance Removal of KS3 levels Opportunity to develop our own curriculum Working with primary schools to develop curriculum Eliminate the dips in learning

Making informed choices based on KS3 performance The new GCSE grades are 1-9, 9 being the highest a student can achieve. This will be awarded to approximately the top 2% of the country Grade 7 & above Stage 11 Grade 5, 6 & 7 Stage 10 Stage 10 Grade 4 & 5 Stage 9 Stage 9 Stage 9 Stage 8 Stage 8 Stage 8 Stage 8 Grade 3 Stage 6 >110 Stage 7 Stage 7 Stage 7 Stage 7 Stage 7 Grade 2 A grade 5 is a strong GCSE pass (equivalent to current top grade C & B. Grade 4 is a standard pass and equivalent to a mid to low grade C). Stage 5 Stage 5 101-110 Stage 6 Stage 6 Stage 6 Stage 6 Stage 6 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4 91-100 Stage 5 Stage 5 Stage 5 Stage 5 Stage 5 Grade 1 Stage 2 >110 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 4 Stage 1 Stage 1 91-110 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 Stage 3 <91 Within & Beyond Grade U Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 Stage 2 <91 Towards & Below SR SR SR Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 0 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 Stage 1 KS1 Scaled scores KS2 Scaled scores GCSE grades RBT R Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 Y8 Y9 Y10 Y11 Students are set an aspirational target based on their KS2 entry point. We expect a student that comes in at expected National progress to access GCSEs at 5 and above. Our KS3 curriculum is not capped. Once a student masters a skill they consolidate it and move on to another. If a student works hard they can progress through stages quicker and improve their chances of a better GCSE grade. Students are taught the skills needed for GCSE throughout KS3. These have been mapped from GCSE specifications to give students the best chance of achieving their best grade.

Key Stage 3 Reports

Options Interviews You and your children are offered an options interview with a senior member of staff to explore the best choices for the best grades. These interviews will take place with either Mr Rimmer, Mr Holt, Mr Klinck or Mr Fiddler. They will take place between 2nd to 16th March. Appointments can be made tonight at the back of this sports hall.

Making their Choices The options form looks like this. You need to make 3 choices from the subject list There are five vocational subjects that are available. There is a limit on the number of groups we can have so please choose a GCSE back- up if any vocational choice is made These forms are given out during the interview The deadline for return of the forms is Monday 19th March Forms must be returned to Mr Holt

Support Subject input Options interviews Visit to local colleges School Website: - Option booklet - Russell Group Informed Choices - Useful links to Careers websites - This presentation

Support School website: For Parents-> Year 9 Options

What Next? Options interviews take place Groups are generated and a timetable produced The vast majority of students will study their initial choices It s likely that a small number (9 in 2013, 4 in 2014, 0 in 2015, 6 in 2016 and 5 in 2017) will have to be interviewed again and choose a different combination

Any questions ?