Page 12 - Seaford College GCSE Y9 Options 2021

Your next steps Making the right choices When making your choices, it is important to consider a number of
questions, including:
Which subjects will I enjoy?
You often succeed in the subjects which
you enjoy. You have experienced many of the subjects on offer throughout Year 9 and before. However, it is important to remember that you study new topics and concepts during Year 10 and 11 and so it is important to talk with your subject teachers and the Heads of Department to find out what the course entails. This booklet
will give you the key information.
Will I cope with the assessment style?
It is important
to consider the assessment side of each subject. We recommend that students take no more than two coursework heavy subjects as part of the four choices
you will make. If you are a well organised student who copes well with regular deadlines then you will be well equipped to cope
with the ‘coursework heavy’ subjects such
as the Arts, DT and BTEC courses. If you prefer to have your assessments at the end of the course with small chunks of coursework then you need to be prepared to put in a significant amount of regular learning and revision to reinforce your learning. Inevitably, most students will take a mixture of subjects requiring students to balance their workload across the two years.
WhatdoIwanttobe when I’m older?
Year 9 students do
not usually know what profession or area of study they want to go into in the future and so do not worry if you fall into this category. It is best to maintain a broad range of subjects so you do not restrict yourself in the future. If you can showcase a range of skills and subjects you will be well placed to select from a broad range of subjects in the Sixth Form. It is also worth bearing in mind that some university courses require a language to have been studied at GCSE level.
Who is there to help me?
Your tutor and subject teachers should be
your first port of call for advice on choices and combinations. The Heads of Department will be able to provide you with detailed information
on course content and assessment as well as advise on suitability
for their subject. For further guidance and support do not hesitate to contact one of the following members of staff:
Mr Sebastian d’Agar
Assistant Head Director of Studies sdagar@seaford.org
Mr Kevin Rich
Head of Year 9
krich@seaford.org
Mr George Vernon
Director – Head of Middle School gvernon@seaford.org
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