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Yr 9 Options Information Evening. Tuesday 7 th September 2010. What will this evening cover?. Information about types of qualifications Sizes of qualifications The difference between qualifications Why certain qualifications may be better for certain people
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Yr 9 Options Information Evening Tuesday 7th September 2010
What will this evening cover? • Information about types of qualifications • Sizes of qualifications • The difference between qualifications • Why certain qualifications may be better for certain people • Where you can progress with different qualifications after Big Wood • The options process • Getting the balance right with your options
Compulsory Subjects The school delivers what we call core subjects in yr 10 and 11 to all students, these aren’t optional and take up 19 of the 25 teaching hours. These are • English • Maths • Science • ICT • PSHE • RE • PE At Big Wood all students receive at least 180 hours of teaching per subject in English, Maths and Science (Requirement is for 120 hours each)
Optional GCSEs • These are traditional exam based subjects. They are good preparation for other exam based courses like A levels. The GCSEs you can choose at Big Wood are: • French • Spanish • Design - Graphic Products • Design – Food • History • Geography • RE • Citizenship • Business Studies • ICT
BTEC More applied qualifications usually based on vocational areas such as Health Care and where students produce evidence for assignments rather than sitting an exam. The BTECs we offer at Big Wood are: Sport Art & Design Performing Arts Leisure & Tourism Fashion with Textiles Health & Social Care Level 3 BTEC Level 2 BTEC
Diplomas Diplomas – A large qualification that has a mix of exam based assessment and practical assignments. We currently offer the Construction Diploma and the Engineering Diploma (Taught at Top Valley Engineering Centre) Principal Learning Functional Skills Project Additional Specialist Learning Advanced Diploma Higher Diploma
Young Apprenticeship Young Apprenticeships have an extended work placement built in alongside a practical qualification such as a BTEC. We currently offer two YA courses at Big Wood: • Hair and Beauty • Health & Social Care Apprenticeship NVQ Level 2 YA Level 3 BTEC
VRQs (Vocationally Related Qualifications) Similar to a BTEC but are focused on a particular industry such as Horticulture or Interior Design etc. We currently offer Creating Interiors at Big Wood which is a VRQ aimed at preparing students for the interiors industry such as kitchen fitting, shop fitting, interior design, furniture design and manufacture. VRQs are normally taught by industry experts. NVQ VRQ Apprenticeship
Sizes of Qualifications • Qualifications come in different sizes due to the number of hours required to complete them. • A GCSE takes roughly 120 hours • BTECs come in different sizes: • Award = Up to 90 hours (1/2 GCSE size) • Certificate = Up to 120 hours ( 1 GCSE size) • Extended Certificate = Up to 180 hours (2 GCSE size) • Diploma = Up to 360 hours (4 GCSE size) • Construction Diploma 600 hours (Which is why it takes a day and a half per week to complete)
How they differ • The main difference between GCSE courses and the other qualifications is the method of assessment. • GCSEs have an exam based assessment usually at the end of the two years of study. • The other qualifications have continual assessment. This means students will be set assignments and projects throughout the course which are graded and all count towards their final mark. • If you were employing a builder to build you a wall would you want to see other walls that they had built or the results of a test on the theory of wall building? OR
Progression Routes All qualifications have progression routes. These are the ‘paths’ that these qualifications may lead down. GCSE A level Degree GCSE & BTEC National HND Degree Diploma BTEC, VRQ NVQ Foundation & Diploma Apprenticeship Degree Advanced Apprenticeship
A Broad and Balanced Education • We think that the curriculum available at Big Wood to years 10 and 11 gives a broad and balanced education. • A good mix of GCSEs and more applied subjects gives you the opportunity to develop a full range of learning styles. • Make sure you don’t narrow your choices for the future by the choices you make now.
A few things to be aware of • Most colleges would expect pupils to achieve a Merit in a BTEC course at school in order to move on to the next level of BTEC with them. • A Level colleges such as Bilborough and High Pavement will not accept BTEC Science for their pure science A levels such as Biology, Chemistry and Physics • BTECs are valued by A level colleges as worthwhile qualifications but they are not as appropriate as GCSEs for progression onto A levels because of the method of assessment.
Continued.... • It may not always be possible for you to be able to do your first choice option which is why we ask you for reserve choices. This is due to how the timetable works and the combination of your choices. • Some courses may not run due to low take up, which is why it is important to have reserve choices. • Some courses have a limited number of places available due to health and safety reasons. These are Creating Interiors, Construction and the YA courses. • It is very difficult to swap courses once you have started them.
Diplomas and YAs • These courses are taught in larger chunks currently one full day and a half day. This is to give students the opportunity to experience a real working atmosphere and also allows them to do extended work placements.
Taster Days • We are holding taster days in school for the first time in yr 9 to give students an idea of what it will be like to study subjects that they haven’t experienced in KS3. • These will be in November and take place in departments during the times that students are normally in that department. • There will also be a taster day at Top Valley for those who are interested in the Engineering Diploma on a separate date.
Choosing your Options • There are 3 Option Blocks and you will need to choose a subject from each one. • A GCSE will take up one of your choices but other courses may run over 2 blocks so will take up two of your choices.
Next Steps • Make use of this evening to ask any questions you have. Staff and tutors are around to help. • Read the information in the Options Book • Fill out the Options Survey form to give us an idea of the subjects you are interested in. • Taster sessions at school on November 24th and 25th • Come along to the Yr 9 Parents/ Options evening on 2nd December to talk to staff about courses and look at some of the work you will be doing in each subject.
