Most of the following information is directed towards pupils because we believe it is vital that they should understand as fully as possible the nature and implications of the decisions they now need to make. Obviously these are decisions they cannot make on their own. They will need help and advice from you, from their tutors, their subject teachers and others, such as the Connexions staff.
You will have the opportunity for discussion with subject teachers. We would like you to read this handbook thoroughly and discuss it at home before you decide on your final subject requests.
The school has to work within its resources. Whilst we are usually able to meet requests, this may not always be possible. Where, because of low demand or, for other reasons, difficulties arise, we will explain the situation to your child and try to make sensible and helpful suggestions about alternatives. Naturally we would like to give all pupils their choices provided these are sensible and we will do our best to come as near to this ideal as is possible.
J Brandreth
Headteacher
Core subjects for September 2008:
All pupils will study a 'core' of GCSE and non-exam subjects in Years 10 and 11 - for more information about these subjects click here.
Elective courses for September 2008:
Pathways
In addition to the core, in Years 10 and 11 you will take other courses. These are subjects you request to study: they make it possible for you to increase the shape of your upper school timetable so that it suits your skills and interests. You will need to think carefully about these requests and the information in this booklet is here to help you.
Before you can choose individual subjects, you have to choose your preferred KS4 pathway. This information needs to be read in conjunction with your Electives Form (MS Word format download) which gives details of the three pathways available and the different choices/decisions to be made within each pathway.
Meeting your requests for courses
You should make your choices very carefully, but you must realise you are making requests. You are asking to be allowed to follow courses in the subjects you choose. Sometimes pupils make requests for a subject in which they are not really interested and at which they are not very good. Sometimes the mixture of subjects is ill-advised. In rare cases a course is either too popular or not popular enough to be viable.
If any of these apply, we may not be able to give you a place on all the courses you choose. If your request cannot be met you will be seen by a member of staff. No new decisions will be taken without asking you to discuss the changes with your parents
The Elective courses available for Year 10 starting in September 2008 are as follows:
- ART & DESIGN - Miss H Huxley
- CREATIVE & MEDIA DIPLOMA - Mr M Hill
- DANCE - Miss K McKay
- DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY - Miss C Whitfield
- GEOGRAPHY - Mrs C Steele
- HISTORY - Mr J Cloake
- INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY - Mr J Quartermaine
- LANGUAGES - Mrs E Lloyd
- MUSIC - Mrs J Curry
- PHOTOGRAPHY - Mrs A Johnson
- PHYSICAL EDUCATION - Mr M Allen
- REASEHEATH COLLEGE COURSES - Mr M Hill
Choosing Electives for September 2008 (current Y9)
- Tue 19 Feb - Mr Hill launches electives process in Y9 Assembly
- Wed 20 Feb - Electives booklets & forms distributed in Assembly
- Thu 21 Feb - Electives Evening (7.00 pm in the Assembly Hall) - an opportunity for parental discussion with Senior Staff and briefings by Learning Leaders.
- Feb/Mar - Electives assemblies & 'Fast Tomato' online subject matching exercise
- 12-14 Mar - Y9 Tutor interviews
- Mon 17 March - Deadline for the submission of Elective Forms in Period 1- please note that again, failure to hand in this form by this deadline may result in a pupil's preferences not being taken into account.
- May/June - Interviews with Mr Hill to confirm course choices for Years 10 & 11.
For more information on choices and options at 14, 16 and beyond (including links to Connexions and career matching software), visit our Careers page.