Year 9 Options 2024

Meopham School

Year 9 Options

2024

Contents

Key Information
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
Optional Subjects
GCSE Grading
Careers
The Pathways to Success
The Three Stages
The Core Subjects
Option Subjects
Terminology
Next Steps

Key Information

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (Nelson Mandela)

For the Student:
You are about to start out on an exciting stage in your education. You now have the chance to make some decisions about your future by choosing some of the subjects that you wish to study in Years 10 and 11. Making this decision can be tough and it can be very confusing, so here are some simple ways to make it easier to make the right choice:

Try to choose subjects…….
that you think you will enjoy and feel you are good at;
that you may need for your future education and/or career;
that you are most likely to work enthusiastically and succeed at;
that provide a balance and variety. By keeping a balance at this stage, you will not close off future options.

For Parents/Carers:
I hope you find the information in this guide interesting, useful and accessible. While there are a core suite of subjects your son/daughter must study, they must now also consider their optional subjects.

The curriculum has undergone significant changes over recent years. Our aim is to provide a curriculum and a pathway to ‘future-proof’ your child against these changes, and to ensure that they are able to achieve their full potential, both in their education and future employment choices.

The Government are encouraging schools, pupils and parents, to follow a ‘traditional’ curriculum in Key Stage 4. That is to say, English, Maths, Science, a Language and a Humanities subject (Geography or History). This is called the EBacc qualification. We support this by offering students the opportunity to study these Ebacc subjects and encourage students to continue to take a language in Years 10 and 11.

Some students will be directed to study a language as part of the Baccalaureate pathway. These students will be directly notified of this.

“Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands” (Anne Frank)

Key Stage 4 - The Core

The Core curriculum that is studied by everyone:

At Meopham School we have a three year Key Stage 3 and a two year Key Stage 4. We do, however, consider Year 9 to be a transitional year, allowing students to engage with the curriculum by building the skills required at Key Stage 4, yet are still granted the teaching style and ‘buzz’ within lessons, that so clearly defines Key Stage 3 within our school.

This booklet describes, in detail, each element of the curriculum.

English Language and English Literature
All students will study GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature.

Mathematics and Statistics
All students will study GCSE Mathematics and GCSE Statistics.

Combined Science
All students will study Combined Science.

Core PE
Students have two lessons per week of core PE. It continues many of the programmes of study from Years 7 - 9, such as Health-Related Fitness, but there is a wider choice of option activities within the lessons. This subject is not examined.

Personal Development
Students will have one lesson of PD per week in Year 10 and 11. This will enable them to cover all of the statutory elements of the PSHE, RSE, Citizenship and RE National Curriculum.

Optional Subjects and Courses

There are a wide range of options to choose from

GCSE Subjects
These subjects follow a specification leading to final examinations. Some will have a mixture of controlled assessment (coursework based) elements combined with exams while some will be assessed on exams alone. These subjects are: Geography, History, French, Spanish, RE and Art and Computing

Vocational Subjects
BTEC courses are closely linked to vocational work and case studies. There is a combination of internal and external assessment. The internal assessment takes the form of regular controlled tasks, which must be completed throughout the course. The BTEC subjects which we are currently offering are Health and Social Care, Sport, Music, Digital Information Technology, Business Enterprise, Hospitality and Catering and Performing Arts (Acting).

Careers
Pupils in Key Stage 4 will have careers guidance in a variety of ways, including through TAC time assemblies, Drop Down Days and one-to-one interviews. Thought should be given now to potential careers pupils may want to follow in the future. These thoughts can inform choices and set goals for achievement.

We have two main pathways:

Baccalaureate Pathway - These students will complete history or geography, a modern foreign language, and one other option. These students will be pushed to complete higher papers where relevant.
Main Pathway - these students must choose history or geography and have two other options, which may include a modern foreign language.

GCSE Grading

A new GSCE grading system has been introduced

Qualification Grades
Grades have now changed from the traditional A*-G to a 9-1 scale. The conversion chart illustrates the change from letter grades to number based grades.

BTEC courses follow a similar grading system as GCSE and result in Distinction*, Distinction, Merit or Pass, which are the equivalent of one GCSE pass.