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Options



KS4 Options/Your choices for September 2020


Dear Student, 


Welcome to your options booklet. It outlines your core curriculum (what you have to do) and the courses that you can choose to do.

Your core curriculum is broad and balanced and ensures that you learn all the subjects that are considered essential. Success in these subjects, together with your success in your optional subjects, will give you the solid foundations on which to progress to any other training or courses that you wish to pursue Post 16.

 

Top Tips:

1. Choose what you enjoy as these are the subjects you are more likely to succeed in and will therefore put more effort into.

2. Discuss your choices with your tutor, parents/carers and staff.

3. Take the opportunity to talk to older students about the process.

4. Talk to your teachers about your choices.

5. Take an active part in choosing the courses you wish to follow.

6. Make your choices carefully and base them on what is right for you.

 

Some of you will receive individual advice and support about what is more suitable for you and we strongly recommend you act on this advice as this will support you in achieving the success you deserve.

We will try to ensure that you will study your preferred subjects. You need to be happy with all of the subjects you study at school, including your reserve choice. We may need to talk to a few of you about your choices if not enough students opt for a certain subject, there is a clash of subjects when we plan the curriculum or we feel your choices are not suitable.

If you still have any questions that your tutor or teachers are unable to answer, you are welcome to use the following

I hope you enjoy reading all about the options available to you and are inspired to make positive choices about the courses you will be studying for the next two years.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Juliette Baldwin          

Deputy Headteacher

Juliette.baldwin@eotas.swindon.sch.uk

The Core Curriculum

The following section gives you details of the core subjects which are compulsory in Years 10 and 11.

English Language

Exam Board: AQA      
Specification Code: 8700
Qualification: GCSE Grade: 9 -
Exam: 100%     2 written exam papers in Summer 2022
Length: Both 1hr 45 mins

Paper 1 Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
Paper 2 Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives

Progression:
English is a core subject, and is essential for most courses post-16. A grade 4 is equivalent to an old C grade, and a grade 5 is now going to be considered a “good pass”. Students with grade 6 or above may be suitable for studying A level English.

English Literature

Exam Board: AQA
Specification Code: 8702
Qualification: GCSE Grade: 9 - 1
Exam: 100%     2 written exam papers in Summer 2022
Length: 1hr 45 mins, 2hrs 15 mins

Paper 1 Shakespeare and the 19th Century Novel
Paper 2 Modern Texts and Poetry

Progression:

  • A level course – A level Literature
  • University beyond sixth form – e.g. Literature degree
  • Careers e.g. Journalism, Law

Mathematics

Exam Board: AQA      
Specification Code: 8256:
GCSE Grade: 9-1
Exam: 100%  - 3 written papers in Summer 2022
Length: 3 x 1hr 30 mins

Paper 1 Non calculator
Paper 2 Calculator allowed
Paper 3 Calculator allowed

Progression:

Mathematics is a core subject, and is essential for most courses post-16. A grade 4 is equivalent to an old C grade, and a grade 5 is now going to be considered a “good pass”. Students with grade 6 or above may be suitable for studying A level Mathematics.

Science (Core in Riverside, Option in Fernbrook/Oakfield)

Exam Board: AQA
GCSE: Graded 9-9, 9-8 to 2-1, 1-1.
Code: 8464 (Trilogy)
Exam: 6 x 1 hour 15 mins written papers: 2 Biology, 2 Chemistry, 2 Physics

At GCSE, science consists of Combined Science for most students (2 GCSEs), with separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics also available. All students will begin on the Combined Science: “Trilogy” course leading to 2 GCSEs in Science.

Progression:

Science is a core subject, and is desirable for most courses post-16. A grade 4 is equivalent to an old C grade, and a grade 5 is now going to be considered a “good pass”. Students with grade 6 or above may be suitable for studying A level English.

PDC (Non-examined)

The PDC programme includes an in depth investigation of many vital aspects of young people’s Personal, Social, Health and Economic development as they prepare to enter adulthood and it aims to promote the well-being of students.

Lessons are taught in an open and forthright manner and the students are encouraged to share their opinions and questions in a respectful and open atmosphere that enables their development to take place.

Philosophy and Ethics (PDC)

Exam Board: AQA      
Specification Code: 8062
Qualification: GCSE Grade: 9 - 1

Exam: 100%
When: 2 written exam papers in Summer 2022
Length: Both 1hr 45 mins

PDC lessons at EOTAS will enable students to gain a GCSE qualification in Religious Studies if they wish to be entered for this additional GCSE. Although the exam paper is entitled ‘Religious Studies’ the course is heavily weighted towards exploration of topical and challenging moral issues, and religious perspectives are analysed and evaluated through consideration of those issues. In line with the National Curriculum; the course is also carefully designed to meet the KS4 requirement for Citizenship learning and enables all students to strengthen their sociological and emotional understanding of the local, national and global worlds they inhabit.

SWEET (PDC)

Exam Board: BTEC      
Specification Code: SWEET

A flexible accreditation of the Personal Development curriculum leading to a level 1 or level 2 accreditation.

GCSE Options

The following section gives you details of the optional subjects. Read through the details carefully and choose subjects you enjoy and are likely to be successful in.

Optional Subjects

Geography

Exam Board: AQA      
Specification Code: 8035
Qualification: GCSE Grade: 9-1

Exam: 100%
When: 3 written papers in Summer 2022
Length: 2 ×1 hr 30 mins + 1 x 1 hr

Paper 1 Living with the Physical Environment
Paper 2 Challenges in the Human Environment
Paper 3 Geographical Applications

Progression:

Geography is a subject viewed favourably by employers and Post 16 courses due to the skills it gives you. For those who want to study Geography at Post 16, you can study A Level Geography, college courses in Travel and Tourism, environmental studies, International Development for example.

Art and Design

Exam Board: AQA                  
Specification Code: 8120 Grade: 9 -1
Coursework: Component 1. Personal Portfolio consisting of a range of tasks that can be created in 2D and/or 3D. Over Yr 10 and part of yr 11.
Externally Set Assignment (Exam): Component 2. Term3-Term 5 in Year 11. Theme selected by the student. 40% of the qualification
Length: 3 month preparatory time culminating in a 10 hour supervised practical test.

Progression:

Successful students will be able to progress to either level 2 or level 3 courses at college including Textile, Graphics and Photography alongside Art and Design.

Design and Technology Food

Exam Board: Edexcel (BTEC in Home Cooking) Level 1
Non-Examination Assessment (NEA): 100%.
(Project based coursework – Internally Assessed)

Progression:

This is the option for aspiring chefs and those interested in a career in catering and hospitality. You can continue studies at College taking further food based qualifications. 

Photography

Exam Board: AQA
Specification Code: 8201
Coursework: Component 1. Personal Portfolio consisting of a range of tasks that can be created in 2D and/or 3D using a wide range of processes enhanced by analytical thinking. 60 % of the qualification. Yr 10 and part of yr 11.
Externally Set Assignment (Exam): Component 2. Term3-Term 5 in Year 11. Theme selected by the student. 40% of the qualification
Length of ESA (Exam): 3 month preparatory time culminating in a 10 hour supervised practical test.

Progression:

Successful students will be able to progress to either A Levels in the Sixth Form or level 3 applied courses at college.

Physical Education

Exam Board: OCR                  
Qualification: Cambridge National Certificate
Grade: Distinction*, Distinction, Merit, Pass
Exam: 25% Length: 1 hr

Paper 1 R041 – Reducing the Risk of Sports Injuries Coursework: 75% (3 further Units 1 Core Unit and 2 Optional Units), centre assessed.

Progression:

Successful students will be able to progress to Applied college courses to build on the knowledge and skills developed in Years 10 and 11.

Health and Social Care

Exam Board: OCR      
Specification Code: Qualification: Cambridge National Certificate
Grade: Distinction*, Distinction, Merit, Pass
Exam: 25% (Unit RO21) When: Winter 2022 Length: 1 x 1hr

Coursework: 75% (Units R022, RO27 & RO28)
When: Units RO22 and RO28 completed in Year 10
Unit RO27 completed in Year 11

Progression:

The course is particularly suitable for anybody hoping to proceed to courses in Health and Social Care or to Child Care. This could lead to further studies at college, leading to careers as a

  • Health care professional, e.g. dentist, doctor, nurse, nutritionist, physiotherapist, pharmacist, occupational health worker, social worker and counsellor.
  • Working with children, e.g. nursery assistant, classroom assistant, teacher, educational psychologist, children’s nurse and speech therapist.

Computing

Exam Board: OCR
Qualification: Level 1/2 Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia
Grade: Distinction*, Distinction, Merit, Level 2 Pass, Level 1 Pass
Exam: R012 When: Summer of Year 10 Length: 1 hr 45 Minutes
Coursework: Length: 20 hr Controlled Assessment in Year 11

Progression:

Successful students will be able to progress to Applied courses or A levels to build on the fantastic experience gained in Years 10 and 11. For example, there is a natural progression route in place to BTEC level 3 Information Technology course

Drama

Exam Board: EDEXCEL            
Qualification: BTEC Tech Award
Grade: Distinction*, Distinction, Merit, Level 2 Pass, Level 1 Pass Exam set: 33% Component 3
Summer 2022 Coursework: 66% Component 1, Component 2

Progression

Successful students will be able to progress to either A Levels or Applied courses in college to build on the knowledge and skills developed in Years 10 and 11. Popular courses for BTEC Tech Award students would be a Level 3 in performing arts (acting pathway.)

History

Exam Board: Edexcel
Specification Code: 1H10 Qualification:
GCSE Grade: 9-1 Exam: 100%
When: 3 written papers in Summer 2022

Paper 1: Medicine Through Time c.1250-present(40% of the GCSE, written exam - 1 hr 15 mins)
Paper 2: Henry VIII and His Ministers, 1509-40 & The American West c.1835-1865 (30%, written exam – 1 hr 45 mins)
Paper 3: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918-39 (30% of the GCSE, written exam – 1 hr 20 mins)

Progression

The high regard for this subject and the skills it provides enables success in Higher Education, business and life in general. Please note: It should also be noted that History requires a higher than average degree of literacy to do well, students need to consider their abilities in the subject of English.

Modern Languages (French or Spanish)

Exam Board: AQA QAN: 601/8160/6 (Spanish), 601/8157/6 (French)
Specification Code: 8658(Fr), 8698 (Sp)
Qualification: GCSE Grade: 9-4 (Higher), 5-1 (Foundation)

Progression

A qualification in Languages can help you in almost every career – from Acting to Zoology! 

Business Studies

Exam Board: EDEXCEL            
Qualification: BTEC Tech Award
Grade: Distinction*, Distinction, Merit, Level 2 Pass, Level 1 Pass Exam set: 33% Component 3
Summer 2022 Coursework: 66% Component 1, Component 2

Progression

Successful students will be able to progress to either A Levels or Applied courses in college to build on the knowledge and skills developed in Years 10 and 11. Popular courses for BTEC Tech Award students would be a Level 3 in Business Studies