In order to access our OPTIONS WEBSITE below, parents and students will need to login with a Midsomer Norton Partnership email account. This can be your child's Norton Hill email address / login.
Please access the Options Website after you have read the timeline, below.
Visit the Options Website:
Timeline for Guided Options:
From November
Students in Y9 start to consider their future GCSE choices for Y10 in both tutor time and PSHE from September.
From December
Students will be informed of the Pathway which is most appropriate to them.
Students and their parents / carers will receive access to online Guided Choices information which provides comprehensive detail on all the courses available, whether core subjects, or ones they can opt for. This is accessed via the link above.
If your child is invited onto PATHWAY ONE - The Applied Learning Certificate (a pathway students are invited on in order to provide extra support), then you will be contacted by Mr Coney, and invited to a separate meeting, which will take place in December. More detail about Pathway 1 will be discussed, then.
Mr Phillips, Deputy Head, will begin discussing with students / parents any questions they have about options or the pathway they are on.
From January
There will be a 'Guided Choices' Evening on Thursday, January 12th, starting at 6pm - for the first time since 2019! This will allow you to meet with students and teachers on each of the courses, to find out more about the content, and ask questions.
An ONLINE GOOGLE OPTION FORM will be released after the ‘Guided Choices’ Evening, and emailed to all students. Parents can access this alongside their child, with the student email account.
On Thursday 19th January, there will be a VIRTUAL PARENTS’ EVENING, giving you the opportunity to find out in more detail about the progress made by your child from their teachers. You will also have received a report on student progress by this time.
The deadline for completing the Google Options Form for Guided Choices is Monday 23rd January.
From February
Mr Phillips, Deputy Head, will work with parents and students to choose the most appropriate courses, and also to discuss alternatives when certain combinations are not possible.
This is also an opportunity for students who want to promote themselves from Pathway 2 to Pathway 3, to discuss further with Mr Phillips.
From March
Whilst we encourage students to reconsider choices if they have concerns, there will be fewer opportunities for swaps to be made from March.
From May
We will confirm the options that students are booked onto by the end of may - by email.
Any option changes after this point will be based on availability, and students may be placed on a waiting list for spaces to open up.
Pathways
We have developed the options process into three clear pathways. These pathways are part of a careers programme that engage students in considering future education and careers, based on their present attainment and future aspirations. The pathways are a guide, and students often request to move between them as part of the decision making process. They also allow students to access all subjects, but provide recommendations on which may best suit students aspirations and present attainment across the curriculum.
Pathway 1: The Applied Learning Certificate
The first pathway caters for 10% of students who benefit from extra support in English Language and Maths.
They do not study a MFL or iMedia, but receive extra intervention time for both English and Maths.
They still choose one subject from History or Geography. These Humanities options are supported by a ‘hands on’ navigation triple lesson each fortnight. This is led by a specialist Humanities teacher, who ensures that the experience also links to the GCSE.
Students also prepare for other certificates in food & hygiene, and first aid.
Students have access to all other subjects.
Students have 2 further choices
Pathway 2: iMedia instead of a Language
Students have access to all option subjects
Students do not study a Modern Foreign Language, but take iMedia, instead. This allows students to develop key commercial IT skills, without the extra demands of a GCSE subject – so reducing the amount of revision they need to complete in Y11.
Students choose between Geography and History
Students have 2 further choices
Pathway 3: Language
Students have access to all subjects, although they are encouraged to consider taking a wider range of academic subjects such as both Humanities, or both French and Spanish, or Computer science.
Students automatically take a Modern Foreign Language
Students choose between Geography and History
Students have 2 further choices
Computer Science – good progress in Maths and KS3 IT is highly recommended
Science
All students take the combined Science GCSE. This allows the breadth and depth of study both to support the progress of students to a successful GCSE result, and to support other students in taking up an A Level science subject. Our uptake of A Level science is the highest in the area, with very successful outcomes, and Combined Science at GCSE has been a secure foundation for this success.
Guidance on vocational subjects
All students have access to all subjects. However, we use the pathways to provide ‘guided choices’, and suggest certain types of courses based on prior attainment.
We have included vocational subjects that allow progression to our sixth form, and other local sixth forms / colleges. This means that we have identified study routeways that can lead to employment locally, after KS5.
Modern Foreign Languages or iMedia
For Modern Foreign Languages, all students (apart from those with specific SEND, on a skills pathway at KS3) have access to Languages at KS4. We guide students onto pathways that encourage them to take a Language, or to take an alternative subject instead, iMedia. Some students are identified for the Applied Learning Pathway - this allows them to reduce their subjects by not taking iMedia, and offers them more support in core subjects.
Humanities - Geography or History, or both
All students will continue to take a Humanities subject. This will be a choice between Geography or History. Some students may decide to opt for both.
For more information about options, please contact Mr Phillips, Deputy Headteacher, via the school.