Students should consider the following:
- Do I enjoy this subject?
- Am I doing well in this subject at the moment?
- Can I be successful in this subject?
Students must not:
- Choose subjects because your friends are picking the same: there is no guarantee you would be in the same class if you did.
- Choose subjects because you like the teacher: there is no guarantee you would get that teacher.
If there are more students wanting to take a subject than we have places for:
- We will prioritise those who have completed their choices on or before the deadline.
- We will look at students’ ATLe grades and prioritise those who are being most successful in that subject.
We may choose to not run a subject if there are not sufficient numbers who opt for it.
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum Offer
All students must study English, Maths, Science, Core PE and Personal Development. Students will then choose four option subjects, one from each of the columns below:
In addition, we ask that students choose two reserve subjects from across the four blocks.
Please note:
Students cannot choose the same subject twice.
Students also cannot choose the following combinations of subjects:
– Design Technology & Engineering
– Design Technology Textiles & Design Technology Timbers
– Performing Arts Drama & Performing Arts Dance
– Physical Education (PE) & Sport Studies
The ‘Extended Core’ Curriculum
All students must pick at least one of Geography, History or French.
We strongly recommend that students consider French as one of their choices, as learning a second language has been shown to have a range of benefits. Research shows that students who study a second language perform better across a range of academic subjects than students who don’t study a second language. This is thought to be because the brain’s ability to think in more flexible ways is heightened when learning a language, leading to an increased ability to adapt thinking to different situations, and to think both critically and creatively. Additionally, having a second language can also be an advantage when applying for a wide range of job opportunities. Particularly as we are living in an increasingly global world, having a second language can often give candidates the edge they need to succeed.
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc)
The English Baccalaureate is not a standalone qualification but is made up of the following five GCSE qualifications:
- English Language
- English Literature
- Maths
- Two Sciences
- A modern foreign language (French)
- Humanities (Geography or History)
The English Baccalaureate is not compulsory, but it is the Government’s ambition to see that the majority of students study the subjects of the English Baccalaureate.
For colleges, universities and employers, the English Baccalaureate shows that students have gained a broad academic education. A study by the UCL Institute of Education shows that studying subjects included in the EBacc provides students with greater opportunities in further education and increases the likelihood that a pupil will stay on in full-time education: after completing the English Baccalaureate, students may wish to study A levels or another Level 3 qualification at local colleges or sixth forms, and the range of subjects in the English Baccalaureate would provide a good basis for further study.
Sutton Trust research also suggests that studying the EBacc can help improve a young person’s performance in English and maths.
We recommend that your child takes all of the subjects that make up the English Baccalaureate. This means choosing one of either Geography or History plus French.
They would then have a choice of two other option subjects, including vocational qualifications.
GCSE Courses
GCSEs are at the core of the KS4 curriculum in England and Wales. GCSE Exams are now linear (examined at the end of Year 11) and there are limited coursework elements. They are graded on a scale of 9-1. What students are expected to know, and what they can do, is more challenging than in the past but the proportion of students achieving each grade has not changed. For example, roughly the same number of students who achieved a grade A*/A in the past, now achieve grades 7-9. So, whilst GCSEs might ‘feel’ more difficult, a student who would have achieved a grade ‘C’ on the old GCSEs will achieve a grade 4 (the comparative grade) on the current GCSEs.
Achieving a grade 4 is an important benchmark for entry to many post-16 courses, but it is the strong pass of grade 5 that many providers look for, particularly where courses are very popular. All students should be striving to achieve a grade 5 in as many subjects as possible. This is why it is so important that when choosing their options, students aim to pick subjects that they enjoy and so will work hard in, and subjects where they are already doing well and feel that they could be successful in.
Vocational qualifications
These are an essential part of The Radclyffe School’s curriculum. As part of the changes to the KS4 exam system, there have been changes to the scope and range of vocational qualifications to ensure that they are as challenging and rigorous as GCSEs, and that they provide students with the skills and knowledge they need for further progression.
We offer three types of vocational qualifications at The Radclyffe School:
- Pearson BTEC
- OCR Cambridge National/OCR Cambridge Technical
- NCFE Technical Award
The key difference with vocational subjects is that a greater proportion of the assessment is through coursework: the student’s work forms a portfolio that will then be graded. This can help students organise their workload throughout Years 10 and 11 rather than being assessed only at the end of the course. However, it does mean that students have to meet specific deadlines throughout both Year 10 and 11 to submit their assignments. It also means that many of these courses, alongside a more practical element, do also have elements that expect a significant amount of extended written response.
Students achieve excellent results on vocational courses. All vocational courses are offered as a Level 2 qualification (this means that they are equivalent to a GCSE grade 4-9).
The grades awarded will be:
Level 2 Distinction* = 8/9 (For BTEC and OCR Nationals)
Level 2 Distinction = 7
Level 2 Merit = 6
Level 2 Pass = 4/5
The Level 1 vocational qualification is equivalent to a GCSE at grade 1-3. The grades at Level 1 are as follows:
Level 1 Distinction = 3
Level 1 Merit = 2
Level 1 Pass = 1
All vocational courses offered form a firm foundation for progression to college and work. Employers and colleges are familiar with the benefits of vocational awards and they show that students are capable of organising their own workload.
Both Oldham College and Oldham Sixth Form College offer a range of vocational qualifications at Levels 2 and 3. In the case of BTEC, this allows students to continue studying their subjects when they leave school. Studying a BTEC qualification at school will therefore allow students to become familiar with the college assessment process.
Universities accept BTEC Level 3 as an entry requirement for a number of degree level courses.
You can download the Year 9 Options Routes table here.
