Curriculum and qualifications have been the subject of major reform over the last few years and we have responded to these changes. With the increased emphasis on depth and content clearly more time needs to be given to Key Stage 4 courses. The only way of doing this practically, is to start courses earlier. Your son or daughter will therefore start all their Key Stage 4 courses at the beginning of Year 9, in September 2016. This will include their option choices. In addition, the number of standard option choices has been increased from two to three. Students at this stage are encouraged to view their curriculum in terms of maintaining breadth when choosing subjects. Chosen wisely, these three courses (along with their core curriculum), allow students to leave Parklands with an appropriate depth and breadth of learning and qualifications, ready to meet the unknown challenges of the future successfully.

We know that the choices that your child will make are important for their future study, which is why we aim to ensure that you both receive the best advice possible in order to prepare for this decision. As well as this booklet, your child will be able to: talk to their Form Tutor, their House Leader, and Miss Berry (careers advisor); attend KS4 Options Evening on Monday 7^nd March at 7.00pm; attend the Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 16^th March at 4.15pm. Options forms must be returned to Mr McDermott (Assistant Headteacher - Curriculum Pathways) by Friday 11^th March.

The Core Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to ensure that students have a broad and balanced education to allow them to have a wide choice of pathways at 16. The Key Stage 4 curriculum is made up of subjects which students are required to study (this is called The Core Curriculum) and subjects that they can select to study (this is called The Options). The information below shows that, in Year 9, the Core Curriculum occupies 64% (32 out of 50 lessons) of your child’s timetable.

English studying 1 or 2 GCSEs and occupying16%, Mathematics studying 1 GCSE and occupying 16%, Science studying 1 or 2 GCSEs and occupying12%, Religious Education studying 1 GCSE and occupying 6%, Physical Education is not examined and occupies 8% and Secure which is also not examined and occupies 6%.

The Options

In addition to studying the Core Curriculum, your child will also be able to select three Option subjects. Your child will be guided to the options which are the most appropriate for them to enable them to achieve the best possible grades. The Options occupy 36% (18 out of 50 lessons) of your child’s timetable in Year 9. It is imperative that when helping your child select courses you refer to the option block (shown below) as the blocks will limit some choices. These subjects cannot be moved to different option blocks as this structure is used to timetable lessons and is dependent on available staff, so your child must choose one subject from each option block.

Option A - Geography, History, ICT, Music Technology, Photography and Triple Science.

Option B - Food Preparation and Nutrition, Geography, German, Health and Social Care, History and Product Design.

Option C - Art, Computer Science, Creative Digital Media, Dance, Drama, Music and Physical Education.

You must choose one option from each of the A, B and C lines.