INTRODUCTION – AND CAREER EDUCATION

This is a very important time of your child's life. Choosing the right courses now may influence their future career path. This booklet gives details relating specifically to the GCSE courses we offer at Kingshill School.

The following general points relating to the GCSE courses on offer should be noted.

1.      GCSE scale of awards for 2006 – 2008:

A*, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and U

Those from A* to G are passes with A* to C commonly referred to as "higher" grades. In addition a grade X implies that the candidate has failed to meet the minimum requirements of the examination either through failure to complete coursework or non­attendance at the terminal examinations. Vocational GCSE courses are graded in exactly the same way.

2.      Accurate Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar in GCSE Examinations

Current guidelines state that 5% of total marks available should be allocated to spelling, punctuation and grammar. The full 5% can be earned with a high level of accuracy. This affects all GCSE examinations except Mathematics.

3.      Coursework

Please take note of differing requirements between subjects with regard to coursework. The coursework component is obviously of importance and we would ask you to support your son's/daughter's work through:

·       regularly asking him/her which coursework pieces he/she is presently engaged in, and/or which are coming up in the near future.

·       asking for marks/grades of latest pieces.

·       asking to read through completed pieces, thus checking for completion, sense,

grammar etc.

·       helping them to plan their time with regard to other demands and the needs of

your family life.

·       ensuring things are not left to the last minute.

·       ensure he/she makes the most of opportunities available to them e.g. documentaries etc on TV or radio, using the Town Library, using the experience, knowledge and skills of people, gathering information from sources such as the Internet.

The most important aspect of success in Upper School Courses is that the pupil should be well organised. It is essential that Student Planners are maintained and that adequate time is given to completing the tasks set.

OUR CORE CURRICULUM

Kingshill wishes to offer a broad balanced curriculum for all its pupils in order to ensure that their options are left open at post 16 level, hence there is a large core curriculum which the majority of pupils follow : -

 

Subject

English, Mathematics, Science, Modern Languages, Core P.E / Health related fitness

Citizenship / Careers, RE Short Course GCSE

 

In addition pupils choose three more courses, which account for the remaining 30% of the timetable.

 

The following pages describe the course available to your son/daughter over the next two years. The section printed on white paper contains details of the core subjects, which all pupils will study. The section printed on yellow paper contains details of the optional subjects.

 

When helping your child to decide on their subject choice for Key Stage 4 please bear in mind the following points:

 

(i)         It is our belief that pupils benefit from following a broad range of subjects and that this range should only be narrowed in exceptional circumstances.



(ii)        Pupils who choose to pursue one area at the expense of another should only do so for positive reasons, i.e. their strengths and talents in Design & Technology or Creative & Expressive should be emphasised rather than their weakness elsewhere as justification for dropping a subject.

 

(iii)     The form “Your Subject Choice” at the back of this booklet should be completed and returned to Form Tutors by Friday 24th March at the latest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


CAREERS EDUCATION

EXAM GROUP                                 N/A

TEACHER I/C SUBJECT:             MR A THOMAS

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT      N/A

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

In years 10 and 11 there are approximately 20 x 50 minute lessons covering a variety of Careers related topics including "Options at 16+", "Decision Making", "Preparation for Work Experience", "Entering Employment" and "Money Management”.

In Terms 5 and 6 of Year 10 guidance is given to pupils to prepare them for their Work Experience placement which takes place for 1 week in October of Year 11.

Pupils will also have the opportunity to receive additional information about their aptitudes for different career areas through using computer based profiling (KUDOS).

During the course use is made of a variety of resources including videos, speakers, questionnaires, Careers Information Database (CID), taster days and specialist speakers giving information re. work based training, BTEC/GVNQ etc.

The general aims of the course are:

·         To develop skills necessary for the realisation of an appropriate career.

·         To increase the pupils' awareness of Self, Education Opportunities, Occupations, Decision Making skills and Transition skills.

The specific aims of the course are:

·         To make available information on all the options available at 16+.

·         To aid pupils in their decision making at 16+ (skills developed here will be
transferable to situations which might be encountered during adult life).

·        To equip pupils so that they may attain their preferred destination at 16+.

·       To equip pupils so that they can effect career changes as necessary
throughout their working lives.