Parents’ Information Evening Wednesday 18 November 2009

1. Parents’ Information Evening Wednesday 18 November 2009 Year 9 Options Presentation 7-8pm

2. Speakers • Alison Robb-Webb (Oxford City 14-19 Partnership) • Elisabeth Corley ( IAG Lead Teacher) • Paul Page (Connexions) • Stephen Wawrzyniak (ICT Curriculum Leader)

3. Key Stage 4 curriculum The aims of this evening are • to help students be well placed to make informed decisions about their future. • to inform them about specific qualifications relevant to their career plans. • to encourage them to make good progress so they can pursue a level of study which enables them to make wider choices later on and not to close doors.

4. Aims of the National Curriculum To produce • successful learners • confident individuals • responsible citizens …. who

5. Success, confidence, responsibility • understand how they learn • can develop the right skills and achieve well • are self-aware and can deal with their emotions • can relate well to others and form good relationships • respect others and act with integrity • become increasingly independent and can organise themselves and make the right choices • sustain and improve the environment • enjoy learning and are motivated to do their best

6. Lessons • R2L expectations • Learning outcomes • Assessment for Learning

7. Core curriculum - what everyone studies • RE • Core PE • Citizenship and PSHEE (PEACE) • English • Mathematics • Science

8. ICT Year 9 ICT • It is a Level 2 Course • Complete KS4 skills by the end of KS3. • It is not fully assessed until around June • Final deadline is not until November KS4 students should also have access to cross-curricular ICT opportunities, delivered through other subjects

9. Non-statutory programmes • Religious education • Personal wellbeing, which includes sex and relationships and drugs education • Economic wellbeing and financial capability, which includes careers education and work-related learning

10. Key stage 4 • Statutory curriculum plus … • Arts Design technology Humanities Modern foreign languages

11. Key Stage 4 Currently… • Most students will study 10 GCSEs • Some students take fewer GCSEs and have day release to study an NVQ / Diploma at college, or do extended work experience • Some students study 1 less GCSE and have increased study time in school

12. What students need to know about a course • The content and the skills base • Is it interesting • Is it relevant to their future plans • Whether their previous attainment indicates they should take that course • The learning styles required • The assessment methods • Extra-curricular opportunities

13. IAG How we inform and guide you Information • The subjects taken in school • Other skills offered – eg Diploma • Open days • Parents’ Evenings

14. IAG Advice and Guidance Questions to be asked: • What skills, knowledge do I have and where can these take me? • What person am I? (They are currently having leadership team interviews that are asking these questions and getting them to think about this). • How hard do I really work? • What jobs would I go on to work hard at? • What university am I interested in, or profession? Will I be able to gain the grades that university is asking for? • What are my second choice options if my first clash? Not everything is possible. • What do I want to get out of my GCSEs?

15. IAG Advice and Guidance Advice and Guidance available; • In school: tutors, teachers, curriculum leaders, house leaders, other students, mentors • Leadership interviews • Plan-it – we will be introducing the Plan-it programme in December so students can log on in school or at home and input their specific interests. This will then give them advice and allow for further discussions with Connexions, tutors, mentors, home, etc... • ‘Which Way Now’ (14+) booklet • Connexions – impartial advice and guidance. Students can book appointments with Paul Page in Connexions library to discuss their options.

16. Optional GCSE subjects • Biology } • Physics } Separate • Chemistry } sciences • Spanish • Statistics (& additional maths) • Technology (Graphics or Product Design or Textiles or Food Technology) • Art • Business Studies • DiDA (ICT) • Drama • French • Geography • German • History • Music • PE • BTEC Sport

17. Applied GCSEs • The Double Award GCSE is worth TWO GCSEs: • BTEC Sport is a double award taught in ONE option block. • DiDA (ICT Diploma in Digital Applications)

18. Modern Languages Many students will also study French or German or Spanish. All students who are thinking of going to university should take at least one language. Some students may study two of these.

19. City of Oxford Partnership working across the City Schools and College

20. Oxford City PartnershipExtending learner choice Alison Robb-Webb, 14-19 Project Director Email: arobb-webb@ocvc.ac.uk

21. For September 2010 Diploma courses: (At Level 1 equivalent to 5 GCSE D-G or Level 2 equivalent to 7 GCSE A*-C) • Business, Administration & Finance (Oxford School Business & Conference Centre) • Hair & Beauty (OCVC City Campus) • Hospitality (OCVC City/St Gregory the Great Catholic School) • Construction & the Built Environment (OCVC Blackbird Leys Campus) • Engineering(OCVC City Campus) Vocational college courses: (At Level 1 equivalent to GCSE Grades D-G) • Art & Design • Childcare • Engineering • Furniture • Hair & Beauty • Health & Social Care • Hospitality & Catering • Construction • Motor Vehicle • Public Services • Sport Young Apprenticeship Programme: (At Level 2 equivalent to GCSE Grades A*-C) • Engineering • Motor Vehicle

22. HAIR & bEAUTY

23. Hospitality

24. The Diploma … What is it? • The Diploma is related to an area of work, so you can get a really good idea about the jobs and careers involved and what you might do in the future. • One day per week is devoted entirely to the Principal Learning. • It will appeal to anyone who likes to learn about subjects in ways that relate to real life, projects and problem-solving. • It is designed to help you get knowledge and skills that all employers and universities want.

25. Functional Skills – vital skills in English, Maths and ICT Additional and Specialist Learning – options you can pick to learn more about your Diploma subject or about something else that interests you. Principal Learning – the main part of the subject (it combines theoretical class work with practical experience) Diploma Project and Work Experience – try out your ideas for real – a minimum of ten days’ work experience Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills – needed for work, study and life

26. Level 1 vocational pathway • This is a self contained package of subjects which includes: • English, science, maths, ICT, PE, RE, PSHE, technology and one further option (eg product design or textiles) • Work-related learning and ASDAN youth award, leading to Certificate of Personal Effectiveness. • 1 day in college on an NVQ Level 1 courses

27. Tiers and levels Most subjects will be divided into Foundation and Higher Tier. • Foundation leads to C – G grades. • Higher leads to A* - C / D grades. Grades achieved at D-G are at Level 1 and grades A*-C are at level 2 (Level 3 is AS / A level).

28. Assessment • Flexible assessments • Controlled assessments • Functional skills • PLTS (Personal learning and thinking skills)

29. Assessment • 100% exam • 25% controlled assessment and 75% exam • 60% controlled assessment and 40% exam

30. Timetable example – how the ‘blocks’ work We create the subject blocks after the students have initially chosen, so we do ask for reserve choices. Students should seek to cover a broad range of skills.

31. Numbers of lessons 50 lessons in a fortnight cycle: English – 7 Mathematics – 6 Science – 9 RE – 2 PSHE / Citizenship – 2 Core PE – 4 Options – 4 x 5

32. Standards Raising standards and improving student progress is at the heart of what we seek to achieve. Even without KS3 Tests the implication that students must continue to make ambitious progress remains. • Key Stage 4 5+A*-C including English and mathematics Students make 3 levels of progress in English/maths

33. Current position • 70% 5 x A*-C grades (including English & Maths) • 78% 5 x A*-C grades (all subjects) • 97% 5 x A*-G grades ( including Eng & Ma)

34. Target setting Baseline data • KS2 tests • KS3 teacher assessments • GCSE average point scores

35. Chances chart (Estimates)

36. Attendance School average attendance = 94/95% 95% days per school year = 180.5 days 1 day = 2 sessions am / pm

37. Sixth Form – Current AS/A2 Level offer • History • Mathematics • Music • PE • Physics • Politics • Product Design • Psychology • Sociology • Spanish • Textiles 60-70% of yr 11 students stay on into the sixth form. • Art • Biology • Business studies • Chemistry • Computing • Drama • Economics • English • Film Studies • French • Further Mathematics • Geography

38. Dates to remember • Nov / Dec Leadership Team interviews with Year 9 • 18 December - Year 9 Reports issued • 21 January - Year 9 Parents’ Evening • January 2010 - Assemblies • 12 February – Return of option forms to school • Feb / Mar 2010 - Further year 9 interviews • 26 March – Year 9 Interims sent home • 17-21 May – Year 9 Assessment Week

39. Points to remember • Think carefully and listen to advice and guidance • Remember skills are as important as knowledge content • It’s an opportunity not a constraint • Choose reserve subjects carefully too • Choose subjects for the right reasons

40. Useful research • www.careercompanion.co.uk • www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u • www.connexions-direct.com/whichwaynow • www.qcda.gov.uk/14-19 • www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning • www.spired.com (then select connexions)

41. Post-16 research • www.ucas.co.uk • www.whatuni.com • www.hcstuff.com

42. Mr Marshall gmarshall@matthew-arnold.oxon.sch.uk