KS4 Options
The Cottesloe School KS4 Curriculum: Building Well-Rounded Individuals
A robust and rigorous core curriculum, enriched with opportunities for students to personalise their learning experience, is designed to develop well-rounded, resilient, and confident young adults.
Core:
- Rigorous Academics: A comprehensive core curriculum ensures students develop a deep understanding of essential subjects like English, Maths, Science, History/Geography, and Languages.
- Physical & Social Development: Core PE and PSHCE classes promote physical well-being and equip students with essential life skills.
Personalisation:
- Option Subjects: Students personalise their learning by selecting 2-3 additional subjects that align with their interests.
- Deep Learning: Enriched courses allow students to delve deeper into chosen subjects, fostering curiosity and academic passion.
Our Goal:
Empower students with a strong academic foundation and the confidence to explore their passions. We aim to create well-qualified, well-rounded individuals prepared for success in their future endeavours.
Implementation
Evolving Qualifications: Equipping Students for the Future:
The educational landscape has shifted, with GCSEs and Level 2 qualifications becoming more rigorous in content. Designed to prepare students for higher education, vocational training, or employment, these qualifications now emphasise terminal assessments (typically at the end of Year 11) with reduced non-exam coursework (except for practical subjects).
Supporting Student Choice:
At The Cottesloe School, we recognise that students learn at different paces and have diverse aspirations. To guide them through the options process, we offer three pathways, each with slight variations in the number and type of qualifications attained. Our experience shows that while some students thrive in a more demanding curriculum with up to 10 GCSEs, others excel with a focused selection, allowing them to achieve greater success. Our goal is to ensure each student reaches their full potential within their chosen path.
The three pathways are Blue, Purple and Green:
Where the pathways do not suit a student’s learning needs, it may be possible to adapt parts of the curriculum; we know that much of a student’s success comes from getting them on the right course.
Compulsory subjects - taken by all students
| Subject | Hours a fortnight studied |
|---|---|
| English Literature and English Language (2 GCSES) | 8 hours |
| Mathematics | 8 hours |
| Combined Science (2 GCSEs) | 8 hours |
| Core PE | 4 hours |
| Core PSHCE | 2 hours |
|
Blue |
Hours |
Purple |
Hours |
Green |
Hours |
|
Geography or History |
5 |
Geography/History/MFL |
5 |
Geography/History/MFL |
5 |
|
Ideally French or German or Option 2 |
5 |
Option 2 |
5 |
Prepare, Aspire, Succeed Leadership |
5 |
|
Option 3 |
5 |
Option 3 |
5 |
Option 3 |
5 |
|
Option 4 |
5 |
Option 4 |
5 |
Option 4 |
5 |
|
Blue route choices* should ideally include at least two EBacc subjects (History or Geography and German or French). Students in Blue route will have the opportunity to achieve 9 or 10* Level 2 qualifications |
Purple route choices* must include at least one EBacc subject but could choose two or more. Students in Purple route will have the opportunity to achieve 9 or 10* Level 2 qualifications. |
Green route choices must include at least one EBacc subject but could choose two or more. Students in Green route will have the opportunity to achieve 9 qualifications at Level 2. |
|||
| Total for any Option pathway + Core curriculum offer = 50 hour | |||||
- It is not compulsory for any student to opt for French or German.
- All students must select at least one subject from Geography, History, French or German.
- A student could opt for two or three from these EBacc subjects if they want to.
- Geography and History can be studied together.
**For some students on the Blue and Purple route, they may achieve an additional GCSE in Statistics (total of 10 qualifications) in Year 10. This decision will be taken by the Maths Team.
Where our pathway system does not suit a student’s learning needs, the curriculum may be adapted to suit. We know that a student's success comes from getting ‘the right student on the right course’. Please discuss your child’s individual needs with Mrs Hooley (Assistant Headteacher) or Ms Hibbert (Lead SENDCO).
Key Dates
Monday 20th January 2025 | Colour pathway allocations for individual students, and electronic Options Booklet shared with families.
Tuesday 21st January 2025 | PSHCE Options Assembly for Year 9 students.
Tuesday 21st January 2025 | Face-to-face Options evening: 6:30pm. All families are invited to a face-to-face presentation evening in the hall. This evening aims to explain the colour pathways, key information about study at KS4, and the stages/deadlines of the Options process.
Wednesday 22nd January 2025 | Online Options Form issued to families.
Thursday 6th February 2025 | Year 9 Parents’ Evening. This is an online virtual Parents’ Evening with a chance to speak to current subject teachers to aid the decision-making process.
Wednesday 12th February 2025 | Deadline for online Options forms to be submitted. Subjects are not allocated on a first come, first served basis, so there is no need to rush a decision. We would rather that students take their time and make the right decision for them rather than rush.
Key Stage 4 Options Booklet 2025
Subject Presentations with videos
KS4 Options Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EBacc and why should my child take EBacc subjects?
The EBacc or English Baccalaureate The EBacc is a set of subjects at GCSE that keeps young people’s options open for further study and future careers. The EBacc is made up of subjects which are considered essential to many degrees and open up lots of doors.
The EBacc is:
- English Language and Literature
- Maths
- Sciences
- Geography or History
- A language (French or German)
Research shows that a pupil’s socio-economic background impacts the subjects they choose at GCSE and that this determines their opportunities beyond school.
A study by the UCL Institute of Education shows that studying subjects included in the EBacc provides students with greater opportunities for further education and increases the likelihood that a pupil will stay on in full-time education. Sutton Trust research reveals that studying the suite of EBacc subjects can help improve a young person’s performance in English and maths.
Can my child switch colour routes?
We are open to discussion about changing routes if appropriate for individual children because of specific reasons why their current route will not meet their needs or future career aspirations. The key difference between the colour routes is the opportunity to take some subjects and not others. For example, we ask students on Blue to select a humanities subject and a language and students on the Green Route study Prepare Aspire Succeed Leadership in Block B. Regardless of the colour route, students will be taught in the same mixed ability classes for their option block subjects, so an Art group in block C will have students from all three routes in.
Option blocks are taught in mixed ability groups, will my child’s colour route affect their Core sets?
Maths, English and Science are set according to ability and are timetabled in a different way to the option blocks. This means that your child’s set for any of the core subjects is not affected by their colour route.
Why are Separate Sciences and Computer Science only on the Blue route?
Separate Sciences and Computer Science are only offered in Blue as they are challenging subjects in terms of both knowledge and skills. Computer Science is very technical and involves writing and understanding computer code. Separate Sciences are challenging due to the amount of Science covered, with 13 hours of study across the fortnight timetable. In order to take either subject students should be showing an aptitude and enthusiasm for the subject and be working at a 3+, as well as a recommendation from their current teachers.
My child has a specific SEND and I am not sure about what subjects they should choose. What should I do?
Please contact Ms Hibbert with specific SEN queries. She will be happy to advise and consider with you the best route or combination of subjects for your son or daughter.
We have looked through the booklet, talked about it at home, and spoken to teachers, and we are stuck on the final choice. What can we do?
Email the options@cottesloe.sch.bucks.uk email address with the options and blocks that your son or daughter would like to choose and the possible subjects for the final block. We will be happy to look at possibilities and work with you and your child to reach a decision.
Can my child take History and Geography?
Yes, this is possible on all colour routes. It could impact other choices and whether they can fit with both subjects, but students can take both if they would like to.
Does my child have to take a language?
Choosing a language as part of a student's KS4 options will add depth and breadth to their studies. It supports TCS’ expectations that students follow a broad and balanced curriculum beyond KS3 when the number of subjects naturally narrows.
Continuing to study the language they are taking in Year 9 is open to all TCS students. We don’t limit opportunities for any student. The video clips from Miss Goddard, Head of MFL, about why choosing a language is a good thing would be a great place to start for a student unsure about whether opting for a language at GCSE is right for them.
As a suggestion, we encourage students on Blue route to consider choosing a language as one of their option subjects. However, it’s not compulsory for any student to opt for French or German. For some students, they know they want to continue learning French or German at KS4, but for others, we know that they would prefer to choose an alternative.
When will my child find out about their options?
We inform students of their confirmed choices in June of Year 9. This seems like a long time from when they submit their form. However, it takes time to coordinate the option block groups to fit into the whole school timetable for the following academic year, making sure specialist teachers can be timetabled to teach the groups. There are lots going on behind the scenes before we are able to confirm the options.