Making choices – your GCSE options
GCSE landscape constantly changing
When does your process start?
How much choice do your students have?
E-Bacc?
MFL?
Confirmation from government that a grade 4 won’t require a re-sit.
Universities adapting to new changes
How do you currently advise your
students on their GCSE options?
•
•
•
•
•
In house careers advice?
External careers supplier?
FE colleges?
Universities?
Other?
• You have 5 minutes to discuss this with the people next to you
What we offer our target schools
• Assembly talk to whole year group before choosing their options
• Talk to parents about the importance of option choices
• Workshop to smaller (class sized) groups of students
– This is what I will demonstrate now
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this workshop you will be aware of:
• The implications of your GCSE choices on your future, including
subject specific requirements for certain FE, HE and career choices
• Compulsory subjects to be taken at GCSE
• Who can help you to decide on what optional subjects to take and
the importance of impartiality
Your Future
Spend a minute on your own thinking about what you would like to do in the
future?
– College / University course?
– Job / Career?
Write down what you have decided on a post-it
You don’t need to put your name on this – now stick it up at the front of the
room.
GCSE Options
• Choices now can impact on options available at A-Level/BTEC,
university and beyond
• No future idea on education/career options – important to choose a
broad range of subjects, playing to your strengths/interests
• Have an idea of what the future holds– essential to research course
qualifications needed for career area and choose subjects
accordingly
GCSE Options - Subjects
Subjects for you to carefully consider:
• Art/Design
• Sciences/Mathematics
• Languages
To study any of these areas at A-level (and then university and
beyond), you will have needed to take a subject in this area at GCSE
GCSE Options - Grades
University GCSE requirements
• These will be stated in the entry requirements for individual degree
programmes
• GCSE Grade 4 (still slightly TBC) or above in Maths and English
essential
• GCSE Grade 4 or above in Sciences needed for Medicine and most
other science, technology or engineering courses
Which of these university courses ask for
specific grades or subjects at GCSE?
American Studies
No
Chemistry
At Leicester – A (7) in GCSE Maths, at least C (4) in Science
Social Psychology At Loughborough – B in GCSE Maths and Eng Lang
Law
No
Medicine
At Leicester – at least a C (4) in Science, Maths and Eng Lang
Archaeology
No
Sports Technology At Loughborough – A in GCSE Maths
Criminology
No
Animation
At DMU - Art and Design A-level, so also Art and Design GCSE
Activity 1
In the majority of schools, students will undertake 9-10 GCSEs
• Core subjects (compulsory)
• Enrichment (compulsory but not examined)
• Optional subjects
Sort your subject cards in the three separate categories.
You have 10 minutes to do this!
What can I study?
CORE Subjects
Options
• English (Language and
Literature)
• Maths
• Science
• RE (some schools)
• Various choices available to
you including:
• Arts – Art, Music,
Drama
• Languages
• History
• Geography
• D&T subjects
• New subjects?
Enrichment (no qualification)
• PSHE
• PE
• RE (some schools)
• Other???
The Process of Making your GCSE Options
Dependant on the school, for example:
• List of all options given – choose your top 5 and rank in order of
preference
• 3 ‘blocks’ of subjects – choose one from each list
• Choose 1 subject which counts towards the English Baccalaureate
and then any 2 others
• Deadlines to make your choices by – give yourself enough time to
consider your options carefully
Activity 2
Reasons why you might choose to study a subject
• What are good reasons?
• What are bad reasons?
You have 7 minutes to do this!
Reasons for your Choices
Good
Bad
• Put yourself first – what do you
currently like / dislike?
• What do you perform well in?
• Interest / Enjoyment = better
results!
• What do you need for jobs you
are interested in?
• You like the way it is assessed
• Ensures a good range of
subjects chosen = broad range
of choices post-16
• Your best friend is taking it
• You like the teacher (they
change)
• There isn’t a lot of homework
• Your brother / sister liked it
• You have heard it is easy (they
aren’t)
Activity 3
• Who can help you?
• Would they be impartial?
• Are there any other sources of
information you could use?
You have 5 minutes to discuss
this!
Who can help?
• Family / friends – know you well and can offer advice
• Teachers – know the subjects well and can tell you what
you will study and how you will study (don’t assume you
know the content)
• Careers Co-ordinator / Adviser – for advice on what
subjects might be needed for particular careers
»
»
»
»
Arts (Art, Photography)
Performing Arts (Drama, Music, Dance)
Languages
Science
Choices after Year 11
School - Level 2
GCSEs/BTECs
FE College or Sixth Form – Level 3
Academic
A levels
OR
Vocational
OR
BTEC Extended National Diploma
Occupational
Apprenticeship
What do I do now?
• Find out more information about the subjects available from subject
and form tutors – what will you study? How will you study?
• If you have a career idea or know a course you would want to do at
sixth form/college do some research and see if you have to do a
particular subject for GCSE
• Decide on your top three choices but have another three back up
choices of subjects you would like to take
• Once you begin your GCSE’s work hard and gain the best grades
possible – C grade (4) or above in English, Math’s and Science is
very important!
• Good luck – the choice is yours!!
What other ways could we advise
on GCSE options?
You have 5 minutes to discuss this in your groups
Thank You For Listening - Any Questions?