Rainhill High School Media Arts College
Year 9 Options January 2012
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
1. Options Process 2. SLT Contact People 3. Pathways 4. Arts College 5. Government Policy 6. Assessments Methods 7. Did You Know? 8. Do’s &Don’ts 9. Working Examples 10.Our Expectations 11.Timescales
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Options Process
Booklet – one of 5 different colours 1 to 1 with SLT Advisor Career preferences skills, data sheet, reading age, FFT target, minimum grade recommendation current subjects. - reduce down to 6 subjects Options Information Evening – tonight Decision Ask, Listen, talk to subject teachers, SLT, Parents
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Senior Leadership Team - Contact People 9A 9B 9C 9D
Mr Pout Mrs Thorogood Dr Beswick Miss Walker
9E 9F 9G 9H
Mr Foley Mr Lamb Miss Fryer Mr Pout
Mrs Thorogood (Deputy Headteacher) is leading this process.
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Pathways – Play to your strengths!! Pathway
English
Science
Block
Block
Block
Block
Yellow
Lang & Media
BTEC Science
Arts
Guided choice
Guided choice
Guided choice
Pink
Lang & Media
BTEC Science
Arts
Free choice
Free choice
Free Choice
Red
Lang & Media
Double Science
Arts
Free choice
Free choice
Free Choice
Green
Lang & Literature
Double or Triple
Arts
Free choice
Free choice
Free Choice
Blue
Lang & Literature
Double or Triple
Arts
HI or GG
FR, SP, or DE
Free Choice
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Pathways – Balance of GCSE’s and others Pathway
How Many GCSEs?
How many BTECs?
Maths PE
ICT
Cz/ Careers / PSHE
Yellow
Max – 3 Options - Min 1
Min 4
GCSE
BTEC
BTEC
Yes
Pink
Max 6 Options - Min 2
Min 4
GCSE
BTEC
BTEC
Yes
Red
8 Options - Min 2
Min 3
GCSE
BTEC
BTEC
Yes
Green
9+
Options - No more than 2
GCSE
Free choice
Free choice
Yes
Blue
10
1
GCSE
GCSE or BTEC
BTEC
Yes
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Pathways Large Comprehensive School – range of choice. Range of opportunities to suit all abilities and interests. Not ‘one size fits all’ – play to student’s strengths. If your child finds their niche – something they are
really good at – a lot of ‘life’ falls into place. We have placed your child in the pathway we think they will get the best possible grades. This is based on teacher’s professional opinion and data on performance and potential to date.
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Arts College Some schools who took on their specialism as an aid to better funding. Our commitment to Arts College status is because we believe fundamentally in the positive impact Arts status has on your child’s employability and life skills, especially; Communication Working Together Being adaptable Being flexible in your thinking Being creative
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Arts College
• The employability of students with these skills
improves. • It makes no difference to applications for high quality vocational degree courses, e.g. Medicine, Law/. • Did you know the arts and creative industries are the second largest private sector employer in the north west? Doing an Arts subject to GCSE is non negotiable
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Arts College
The choice Fine Art Art Graphics Photography Art Textiles Resistant Materials
Dance Drama Acting Music Media Studies
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Government Policy Changes Imposed by the Conservative / Liberal Government Linear GCSEs From September 2012 No more modular exams throughout year 10 and 11. Controlled assessments taking the place of coursework All dependant on final examinations in Year 11
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Government Policy Changes English Baccalaureate What is it? Imposed by the Conservative / Liberal Government “The Government believes that schools should offer pupils a broad range of academic subjects to age 16 (Rainhill does already), and the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) promotes that aspiration. The Ebacc is not a new qualification.
x
We intend to mark an individual student’s
...
future achievements through a certificate.”
x
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
English Baccalaureate What subjects are in it? English, Maths, Science, a Humanities and a Language Humanities is defined as History or Geography Languages – for Rainhill are French, Spanish or German You must get A*-C in every subject to get it. Don’t worry vv University Russell Group Universities have said Ebacc not important. ‘New’ Universities – vocational – Ebacc not important New funding for Universities – 2As and B at A Level.
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
English Baccalaureate League Tables In 2010 League Tables – for students who did their options in 2008 “We will review the precise definition for the Ebacc for the 2011 tables” Your child’s results will be in the 2014 league tables
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
English Baccalaureate At Rainhill Compulsory for Blue Pathway students Optional for Green students Be careful not to jump on a bandwagon – just because people are talking about it. Do you enjoy those subjects? Will you get an A*-C in all Ebacc subjects?
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Did You Know? • To get to Liverpool or Manchester University you will need 5A*s at GCSE. • Most universities expect B grades at GCSE English AND GCSE Maths • Entry to the Sixth Form College is at least 5+A*-C including E & M. • There are only 140 places in Y12 at Rainhill Sixth Form College. • Except Oxbridge, universities look at your GCSE grades not the subjects taken.
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Do’s
Students – do subjects you will enjoy. Choose subjects where you will get A*s,
rather than subjects you think you should do but will get a C. Parents have a look at UCAS Website www.ucas.com Ask Sixth Form staff for advice
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Don’ts Parents Don’t rely on your experience of school / university – a lot has changed. Don’t impose your career aspirations onto your child. Students Don’t do a subject because your friend is doing it Parents Don’t take your child out of school during Year 10 or Year 11 – for any reason. See Assessment methods.
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Working Examples Double or Treble Science? NB – Blue Pathway Booklet – Should have read Treble Science
History or Geography? History requires lots of reading and long written answers Geography needs you to use numbers and to write short written answers. What is your skills preference? What is your reading age?
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
My Expectations 1. Of each Student Everyone achieves their full potential Everyone gives their best every lesson, every day Don’t put things off – do it today 2. Of the School Excellent teaching. To provide an individual route, lots of support and as much help as is required. 3. Of Parents ‘Tough Love’ & Good Communication. 4. Of everyone Don’t settle for second best .... It’s a tough world out there
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Timescales from here... Options Forms in to Form Tutors by 10th February SLT check each student’s choices are ‘sensible’ and
match GCSE minimums Mrs Thorogood looks at preferences there may be some moving around after forms are in. Timetable is scheduled Some GCSEs will begin early – En, Ma, Sc. September – start optional courses
Rainhill High School Media Arts College Year 9 Options
Thank you for listening .... Talk to the teachers of those subjects on your shortlist You are welcome to stay to ask any questions Mrs Thorogood is in the Sports Hall if you want to speak to her. SLT link staff – first point of contact