Introduction
Year 9 is a very important year and we are fast approaching the time when critical decisions about which subjects to take in Key Stage 4 have to be made. The results of these decisions will take sons/daughters into years 10 and 11, Post 16, higher education and employment.
We have arranged a comprehensive programme of guidance for students and parents that will help everyone to make informed choices. We have also organised group sessions with our Careers adviser using the 'StreetsAhead' computer application. This enables students to look at their individual skills and to relate them to subjects and employment areas. As part of our careers programme within the Academy during Year 9 all our students will have attended an introductory session on the resources held within the Career Zone. The Career Zone is our careers resource centre and we carry a range of relevant and up to date materials for use in careers advice and guidance. The materials we hold relate to university courses, employment opportunities, training programmes and occupational literature. The Career Zone is open to students across the Academy day, where they are welcome to use the facilities and talk to our Careers Advisor, Mrs Lovatt. Students are also encouraged to seek advice from their subject teachers in order to make informed choices into Key Stage 4.
This booklet is intended to give you and your son/daughter information about the opportunities available at Macmillan Academy. Each subject page gives an idea of the route needed in order to arrive at a chosen area of higher education or employment.
There are three issues to be taken into account when considering subject choices:
- Does your son/daughter enjoy the subject?
- Will your son/daughter be successful in this subject?
- Will your son/daughter be able to use this subject in later life?
The Government’s commitment to Lifelong Learning recognises that students of today will need to be prepared to be flexible as the job market will call for several changes throughout their career. The most important consideration is to ensure that students do not close the door on a subject in Year 9 that may be needed in order to move in a certain career or employment direction. It is therefore important that students select a wide ranging choice of subjects.
Routes to further and higher education and employers usually require that students have a minimum of five GCSE passes or the BTEC equivalent and choices should be made with this in mind. Our results in recent years demonstrate that the vast majority of our students achieve this and in fact, surpass this minimum requirement.
The comprehensive programme of guidance includes not only this booklet, but also an invitation to accompany your child to an interview with a senior member of staff and a Subject Teachers' Consultation Evening. The Macmillan Academy website also contains subject choice information and here each subject has provided video clips to show students what the subject involves at Key Stage 4.
The crucial dates for the Year 9 Subject Choice Programme are listed on the next page.
For a significant number of our students we recommend that a BTEC is taken in the subject choice pools. This is because these subjects are worth 4 GCSE passes and the majority of the assessment in these involves coursework which can be completed during the two years of the course.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Academy should you have any queries regarding the Subject Choice Programme.