CONTENTS

Options 2023-2025

Dear Parent / Carer,

Choosing options marks a milestone in your child’s educational journey; it is the point at which individual students have greater freedoms and responsibilities to shape their curriculum. We realise that making these choices can seem a little daunting for some students. Therefore, we have designed the process to support the students in their choices and to ensure that each of them will benefit from a balanced curriculum.

The process itself means that the outcome for all students will be a broad and balanced curriculum. Ultimately, students’ decisions about their options should play to their strengths and interests. Some additional consideration should also be given to likely career choices and the subjects students may select at A Level. These can feel like a long way into the future; however, they may influence option choices.

Extra consideration may be given as to whether or not you believe your child should follow the government’s EBacc pathway. In order to do so, a student must study the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, alongside a language and a humanities subject. The government has put great emphasis on this particular pathway, which is argued by some to provide a more academically balanced curriculum.

We also include in our range of subjects a number of Cambridge Nationals, these qualifications are GCSE equivalents, but differ in the way they are assessed. Generally, they have a mix of both exams and coursework-based assessments. This may be a more suitable selection for students who find traditional examinations more challenging.

On the facing page, you will find information regarding the timeline, which builds towards the completion of the process in March.

We hope that you will find the information in this booklet, along with the presentation video, provides you and your child with all that you need to make their choices. Students will be receiving additional information, support and guidance through their lessons in the coming days. Be assured that Warlingham staff will continue to challenge and support your child, whichever subject choices they make, helping them to GCSE success and beyond.

Yours sincerely,

Mr P Seward Deputy Headteacher

February 2023

Year 9 Options Information available on website

February 2023

Start of Options information in lessons and assemblies

Thursday 9th February 2023

Year 9 Parents Evening - An opportunity to discuss students’ current progress

Thursday 23d February 2023

Year 9 Options Evening Subject Fair

Monday 20th March 2023

Students to complete and return Options Forms

Summer Term

Final Options allocations will be communicated to all students

Key Stage 4 Qualifications

Key Stage 4 is the name given to the period of education during Years 10 and 11. For most students, this will cover the 14 to 16 age range. A range of qualifications is available, to ensure students achieve the best possible grades for their individual levels of ability.

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) - Key Stage 4 of the National Curriculum is usually assessed in terms of GCSEs. GCSEs are linear, which means students are assessed via terminal exams at the end of the course. The majority of courses offered will be of this format, however, some courses will also have a controlled assessment element.

Level 2 Vocational Qualifications - The Level 2 qualifications (equivalent to GCSE) offer ongoing assessment of academic achievement. These courses are examined through assignments at regular intervals with a small examination at the end of the course. They are more vocational in nature.

We may also offer Level 1 National Vocational Qualifications aimed at a small number of students if it is deemed appropriate.

Options 2023-2025

Subject Choices

There are many subjects on offer at Warlingham School & Sixth Form College, depending on the student’s aptitude in various subject areas and the learning preferences of students. The format and type of assessment and qualification to be awarded can vary. These could be the more academic style of the GCSE or the more vocational style of the BTEC, VCert and Cambridge Nationals courses. Vocational courses tend to be more ‘hands-on’ and coursework-based rather than heavily reliant on exams.

All students will take courses in a number of ‘core’ areas:

• English

• Mathematics

• Science

• Society, Religion and Wellbeing

• Physical Education (non-examined)

In addition to the core areas, we also ask that students select at least one of the following:

• Geography

• History

• French

• Spanish

Finally, students can select two of the following subjects:

• Art and Design (GCSE)

• Business Studies (GCSE) or Enterprise and Marketing (Cambridge National)

• Computer Science (GCSE)

• Design Technology (GCSE) - choice of two specialisms:

• with Product Design

• with Textiles Technology

• Drama (GCSE)

• Food Preparation and Nutrition (GCSE)

• Health and Social Care (Cambridge National Certificate)

• Music (GCSE)

• Physical Education (GCSE or Cambridge National Certificate)

• Sociology (GCSE)

• In addition, Geography, History, Spanish and French can also be picked if not already selected.

Warlingham School & Sixth Form College reserves the right to change exam board and/or withdraw qualifications if there are substantive changes by the examining board or in cases where OFQUAL does not approve the qualification in question.

Please also note that if the number of students who want to take a particular course are too low for that course to be economically viable, the School may have to withdraw the course. As a result, it is crucial that one reserve choice is made.

Subject Choices

CORE SUBJECTS

All students study these subjects

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE

GCSE MATHEMATICS

Foundation or Higher Level (According to ability)

GCSE SCIENCE

Combined Science or Separate Sciences (According to ability)

SOCIETY, RELIGION & WELLBEING

Students study PSHE and will take GCSE Religious Studies.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Core Physical Education is not examined.

EBACC SUBJECTS

All students must pick at least one of these subjects. Students may take more than one by using one or more of their ‘free’ options.

GCSE FRENCH GCSE SPANISH

GCSE GEOGRAPHY

FREE OPTIONS

HISTORY

Students can select two of the following subjects subject to course suitability.

GCSE ART & DESIGN

GCSE BUSINESS STUDIES / VOCATIONAL ENTERPRISE & MARKETING COURSE

GCSE COMPUTER SCIENCE

GCSE DESIGN TECHNOLOGY (Product Design or Textiles Technology specialism)

GCSE DRAMA

GCSE FOOD PREPARATION & NUTRITION

CAMBRIDGE NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

GCSE MUSIC

GCSE PHYSICAL EDUCATION / CAMBRIDGE NATIONAL CERTIFICATE IN SPORT SCIENCE

GCSE SOCIOLOGY

Options 2023-2025

Subject Choices And Further Study

Our Key Stage 4 options and core curriculum give students the broad and balanced curriculum they need to keep their post-16 options open. However, when choosing what courses to take at Key Stage 4, it is important to bear in mind any requirements for courses that students might want to take at Key Stage 5.

Overview

Warlingham Sixth Form College offers a wide choice of over 30 subjects to study. Students are able to take three subjects or four for the most able.

Students may choose A Levels or Vocational Level 3 qualifications, or can choose a combination of A Levels and vocational qualifications.

The differences are summarised below:

A Level Courses

• Examined at the end of Year 13

• Focused on knowledge and analysis

• Suitable for students that excel at exams

• Require GCSE grades 5/6+

Vocational Courses

• Studied over two years

• Focused on understanding and application

• Suitable for students that excel at coursework

• Require GCSE grades 4+

Subject Choices And Further Study

A good range of GCSE / Vocational qualifications at the end of Year 11 will allow students to access most of our post-16 courses at Warlingham Sixth Form College.

Art Courses

For Art subjects (Art & Design, Photography or Art Textiles), ideally students will need to have studied Art at GCSE (or be able to produce a good quality portfolio of art work).

Drama Courses

For Drama courses, ideally students should have studied drama at GCSE (or be a talented performer with recognised qualifications).

Languages Courses

For Languages courses, students will need to have a GCSE qualification in the language they want to study.

Music Courses

For Music courses, ideally students should have studied music GCSE (or be a talented musician with recognised qualifications).

New Subjects

To study subjects which are new at Key Stage 5, e.g. Economics, Philosophy or Psychology, students will need good English / Maths / Science grades.

Russell Group

The Russell Group represents 24 leading UK universities which are committed to maintaining the very best research, an outstanding teaching and learning experience and unrivalled links with business and the public sector.

Russell Group universities advise students to study one or two facilitating subjects: Maths, Sciences, History, Languages, Geography, and English Literature.

Options 2023-2025

Assessment Format

External examination: represents 100% of total assessment.

There is one tier of entry.