Fifth Form Parents’ Briefing

9 February 2008

Subject choices for 2008

The new curriculum features:

  • Linear or terminal assessment (ie. all exams at the end of the second year). We believe the educational benefits of this are clear:
    • more time available for teaching and learning;
    • less disruption to the learning process without AS exams;
    • all exams being sat when pupils are at their most mature and intellectually developed.
  • Pre-U courses replacing most A level courses. Heads of department were asked to choose the best courses available. For most departments these are the new Pre-U courses.
    • These will certainly be more challenging and they should allow all our pupils to shine.
    • The grading structure is different to the A-E grades of the A level. There will be three levels of Distinction grade equivalent to an A at A level.
    • There are six further grades (3 Merits and 3 Passes) below this to allow all those who would pass at A level to gain an equivalent grade at Pre-U.

Pupils’ choices:

  • The option to take four principal subjects or three principal and one minor subject.
  • The minor subjects are mathematics, art, languages (French, German, Spanish) and Critical Thinking.

Information guiding subject choices:

  • Subject choices booklet – particular attention should be given to the section that explains what subjects are required for particular degree courses.
  • GCSE mock examination results and forecast grades.
  • Morrisby profiles and reports which were sent to parents before Christmas.
  • Parents’ meetings with beaks this morning.

Information gathering culminates in boys making subject choices following discussions with parents, tutors and beaks.

Pupils (and parents) may also wish to make an appointment to see Mrs Bailey or Mrs Portefaix in the Higher Education and Careers office for individual guidance about the implications of their choices for going on to specific courses in Higher Education and for future careers.

If there is a possibility that your son may want to go to an American University you should contact the Higher Education and Careers office so that you can be informed about the SAT preparation course we will be running at school next OQ.

IMPORTANT FOR BOYS TO:

  • Choose subjects that they are likely to enjoy and be good at.
  • Consider the combination of subjects being chosen. There may be advantages in choosing four complementary subjects (eg all arts or all science subjects) or a mix of subjects representing arts, sciences and social sciences. The inclusion of a language or mathematics as a minor subject can be beneficial for some university applications.

Boys will be asked to complete a form and submit it to me (the Assistant Headmaster (Academic)) via their Housemaster immediately after Exeat.

The form will ask for the boy’s preferred four subjects (either four principal subjects or three principal and one minor subject).

NB

The timetable is constructed on the basis of these choices and the timetabler does his best to accommodate whatever subject combinations are sought.

Important to be aware at this stage:

Very occasionally a requested combination of four subjects is not possible.

Because the timetable is constructed on the basis of the choices being made now there can be no guarantee that changes requested later can be accommodated. Boys should therefore give very careful consideration to these choices.

AJT