Year 9 Options Outline Course Guide

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1 Year 9 Options Outline Course Guide This brief guide gives you a first look at the courses on offer for Key Stage 4 next year. It explains what the different qualifications are worth and what you can choose from. More detailed information will be available online or in the full Options Booklet, which you should read carefully before making your final choices. What do I have to study? All students have to study the following core subjects. Numbers in brackets indicate the number of study minutes per week: English (200) For most this will lead to one or two GCSE awards by studying language and literature. Mathematics (200) All students will study Mathematics and Statistics (total two GCSE awards); some will also do AS level. Science (250) All follow a specific course in Science; most students will study either Core and Additional science (two GCSE awards), or BTEC First Extended Applied Science (worth 2 GCSEs). Triple Science is available for students gaining Level 6 plus at KS3 and is recommended for those wishing to study Science beyond GCSE. Technology (150) Students have already made their GCSE option for Design & Technology at the end of Year 8. They are now completing a Short Course GCSE in Year 9 (worth ½ GCSE) and will continue in their chosen area in Year 10 to make it a Full Course GCSE qualification (worth 1 GCSE). ICT (150) Students study for the OCR National which is worth up to 3 GCSE awards, unless this has already been achieved. There is also the opportunity to extend ICT study in the option blocks with BTEC IT Practitioner or the IT Diploma. Physical Education (100) Everyone takes part in a core Physical Education course. Within the option blocks students can choose the full GCSE course, the BTEC Certificate worth 2 GCSEs or they can choose the specialist Sport course worth four GCSE awards. Cultural & Ethical Studies (50) All students will study a GCSE that includes Citizenship and PSHE input

2 Which subjects can I choose to study? You should decide whether you want to choose a variety of subjects or specialise in a particular area. For a variety of subjects choose from the Options list. If you have a special area of interest opt for one of the WETC Specialist courses or the Diploma Courses. If you have already gained OCR National level 2 you may choose four options or a specialist or diploma course; if not you will choose three options and study ICT as the fourth. Options (300 minutes a fortnight each) WETC Specialist Courses (450 minutes a week) Business BTEC Child Care and Learning Development BTEC Health & Social Care BTEC IT Practitioner BTEC Media BTEC Performing Arts Dance BTEC Performing Arts Drama BTEC Public Service BTEC Sport BTEC Travel & Tourism BTEC Aeronautical Engineering (L2) Art GCSE French GCSE Geography GCSE History GCSE Music GCSE Music Technology (L2) Physical Education GCSE Spanish GCSE Triple Science GCSE Beauty NVQ(L1) Construction NVQ(L1/L2) Hairdressing NVQ(L1) Motor Vehicle Skills NVQ (L1) Motor Vehicle Sport Hospitality & Catering Learning for Life* * By invitation only Level One Diploma Courses (600 minutes a week) These courses will involve study at other city schools or at Exeter College. Business Admin and Finance Creative and Media Engineering Environment and Land based Science Hair and Beauty Hospitality and Catering IT Society, Health and Development Sport and Active Leisure

3 Exeter College Courses in the options will take place one afternoon a week at Exeter College from 1 4 p.m. Courses offered are: Hairdressing NVQ (L1) Beauty Therapy NVQ (L1) Motor Vehicle Skills NVQ (L1) Construction NVQ (L1) Specialist Courses and Diploma Courses These courses are designed for students who are very interested in these areas and who think that they may wish to follow this with related post-16 study and employment. Students on each of these programmes will cover the full range of core subjects plus their specialist or diploma course. The specialist courses are worth four or five GCSE awards. Diploma courses are worth up to seven GCSE awards and are offered through Exeter4Learning. Students who apply should be committed to achieving at least 5 GCSE high grades and taking part in practical experience which may require independent travel across the city. What happens next? Information about the options choices and individual courses will be given to students in the Spring Term through the PSHE programme and the Applied Learning Day on February 9 th. Options Online gives full and interactive information on all of the courses on offer plus further guidance on making choices. This is accessible to students and parents/carers in college and at home via Options Online will be launched on January 26 th at the Options Evening. The Options Form will be given out on Thursday 11 th February to be completed and returned by Monday 22 nd February. Students will be notified of their option subjects in May. In some cases students will be offered further guidance or interviewed by senior staff before confirming their choices.

4 GCSE BTEC CIDA ECDL NVQ (What Does it all mean for me?) GCSE Full Course The standard 16+ examination that is now well established Grades A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, and G are available GCSE Short Course A less detailed course taken in less time, graded as for GCSE but worth half a GCSE award overall BTEC Certificate It is a practical course which is continually assessed rather than by final examination It covers an introduction to a broad area of work e.g. Health & Social Care, Travel & Tourism, Sport, and counts as two GCSE awards, and students are awarded a Pass, Merit or Distinction BTEC Diploma The BTEC Diploma is similar to the BTEC Certificate but is more detailed and requires double the study time. It is the qualification offered by the specialist courses. It counts as four GCSE awards CIDA (Certificate in Digital Applications) An applied course of ICT study The course will be equivalent to two GCSE awards An extended course (DIDA) can lead to four GCSE awards Students wishing to achieve the maximum 4 grades will be expected to undertake a significant amount of out of hours study NVQ Work related qualifications, building to one GCSE D-G equivalent (L1) or A*-C (L2) Units are collected through the course Units can be carried through to college or work placements with training ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) An internationally recognised qualification It enables students to develop ICT skills to prepare them for work It has seven modules which can be assessed at any time during the course. It is worth one GCSE award

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