Year 9 GCSE Options Booklet 2021 - Dccacademy .uk

Learning to believe, learning to succeed.Year 9Options BookletGCSE2021

Advice On Your OptionsMr MacLean - Principal DCCAYour ‘First Step’:It is said that a journey begins with a single step, for you, choosing youroptions is that ‘first step’. The choices that you take over the next few weekswill lay the foundation for the rest of your future, it is therefore, important thatyou make the correct choices. Your options must be those which will benefityou, so don’t chose options because your friends have chosen them. Thinkabout your plans for Post 16, University or Apprenticeship and ultimatelyemployment.How to choose:How do you know that you have chosen the correct options? One way wouldto decide on what careers you are interested in and then work backwardsthrough University/Apprenticeship requirements, then Post 16 options andfinally Year 9 options.Choose wisely.Mr MacLean[Principal Dover Christ Church Academy]For More Information Contact:Mr May or Mrs Holmes at the Academy.

Free Options Block [B] Free Options Block [A]Mr May or Mrs Holmes at the Academy.For More Information Contact: EBacc [Block H]Compulsory SubjectsYear 9 OptionsGCSE Option Blocks 2021-23

EBACCSubjectsGCSE Computer Science - OCRGCSE Geography - AQAGCSE History - AQAGCSE Triple Science [Biology, Chemistry & Physics] - AQAFor More Information Contact:Mr May or Mrs Holmes at the Academy.

Computer ScienceOCR GCSEThis GCSE specification encourages candidates to explore how computers work and communicate in a variety of contexts.There is ample opportunity for them to apply and consolidate their knowledge of computer programming by carrying outpractical tasks that will develop their capacity for imagination, innovative thinking, creativity and independence.They will develop the skills of design and evaluation, and they will test and problem solve when errors occur in both their own systemsand those of others.Course DetailsA 9-1 GCSE cover three main units, 2 units are externallyexamined, with each examined unit worth 50% and anexamination lasting 1.5 hours per unit.Additional DetailsWhen?Course UnitsStart date: September.Duration: 2 years.Unit 1: Computer systems.This unit is an examined unit which covers a wide range oftopics including investigating computer memory andstorage, understanding the layout of networks and functionsas well as building skills in the realms of cyber security.Entry Requirements:Unit 2: Computational thinking, algorithms andprogramming.This unit builds upon programming skills which are thentransferred to producing programs through diagrams.Students will thoroughly test programs and make themresistant to misuse. Students will explore Boolean algebraand deepen their understanding of binary.Further Education & Careers Information:Unit 3: A programming project.Students will use the skills they have learnt in both units 1and 2 to work on a independent coding project by solving areal world problem, this will consist of 20 classroom hoursand students will need to design, run and test a programthey have created.For More Information Contact:Mrs Roche at the Academy.There are no entry requirements for the course, butstudents should have a keen interest in computers andcomputer science and have strong literacy skills andinvestigative skills.Young people need to develop skill that will enable them topursue a career in Computer Science if they sochoose, these will help them to gain valuable skills for life,these include innovation, resourcefulness, logic andreasoning.These skills will enable them to become authors ofcomputational tools rather than simply users. WebsiteDevelopment, Games Creating, Software Engineer, ITTechnician, Teacher, System Administrator, Apps Developer& Software Tester.

GeographyAQA GCSEGeography is a dynamic and exciting subject of great relevance for meeting the challenges of the 21st Century. The subjectaims to promote and foster an enthusiasm in students for learning about their world, and to encourage them to explore theimportance of geography for understanding the world around them.In addition, geography allows students to address important questions about whether the planet’s natural resources are able to sustainan increasing population, how physical earth systems respond to human activity and changing climate, how we manage resources, andhow we live with environmental change.Course DetailsOur world is constantly changing and our curriculum reflectsthis dynamic and changing world, investigating topicalissues, key players, impacts and potential futures.There is an emphasis on encouraging students to developan independent curiosity about their world andits interactions.Students develop geographical skills such as map work,enquiry and analysis through fieldwork, research and use ofnew technologies such as GIS. Geography is a dynamicsubject, which is uniquely placed to help students comprehend the issues facing the world today.Course UnitsPaper 3: Geographical Applications(30% of GCSE, examination 1hr 15) Section A: Critical evaluation Section B: FieldworkAdditional DetailsWhen?Start date: September.Duration: 2 years.Entry Requirements:Studying Geography requires a considerable amount ofwritten work, therefore a strong academic record inEnglish is preferable.Further Education & Careers Information:Paper 1: Living with the Physical Environment(35% of GCSE, examination 1hr 30)Having a GCSE in Geography opens doors to a wide rangeof further learning paths, including studying thesubject at A Level, or attending college. Natural hazards (including Tectonics, Weather and ClimateChange) Tropical rainforests and Ecosystems Rivers and CoastsPossible career prospects with a GCSE in Geographyinclude: Environmental Agency, Pilot, Tourist guide, Army,Town or Regional Planner, Volcanologist, Coastal DefenceManager, Air Hostess, Journalist & many more.Paper 2: Living with the Human Environment(35% of GCSE, examination 1hr 30) The changing economic world Urban issues and challenges Resources managementFor More Information Contact:Miss Harnett at the Academy.

HistoryAQA GCSEStudying GCSE History will help you to answer important questions such as: Why do wars happen? Why do we have awelfare system? How have we come to live in a multi-cultural society? Learning about past events and the people who’veinfluenced history will allow you to understand how the world got to the point it’s at now and how it will continue todevelop in the future.You’ll learn valuable skills Apart from studying a wide range of exciting historic periods, you’ll learn a range of handy skills that willhelp you with A-levels and future work. These include: excellent communication and writing skills, how to construct an argument,research and problem skills, investigation and problem-solving skills & analytical and interpretation skills.Course UnitsAdditional DetailsPaper 1: America 1920-1973: Opportunity and Inequality &Conflict and Tension 1918-1939America:Students will study the political, economic, social andcultural aspects of these two developments and the roleideas played in bringing about change. They will also look atthe role of key individuals and groups in shaping changeand the impact the developments had on them.Conflict and Tension:Focuses on the causes of the Second World War and seeksto show how and why conflict occurred and why it proveddifficult to resolve the issues which caused it. This studyalso considers the role of key individuals and groups inshaping change, as well as how they were affected by andinfluenced international relations.Paper 2: Health and the People: c1000 to the present day& Elizabethan England.Health and the People:Students will study the importance of the following factors:War, Superstition and religion, Chance, Government,Communication, Science and technology the role of theindividual in encouraging or inhibiting change.Elizabethan England:This option allows students to study in depth a specifiedperiod, the last 35 years of Elizabeth I's reign. The study willfocus on major events of Elizabeth I’s reign considered fromeconomic, religious, political, social and cultural standpoints,and arising contemporary and historical controversies.For More Information Contact:Mr Waghorn at the Academy.When?Start date: September.Duration: 2 years.Entry Requirements:Studying History requires a considerable amount of writtenwork, therefore a strong academic record in English ispreferable.Further Education & Careers Information:Having a GCSE in History opens doors to a wide range offurther learning paths, including studying thesubject at A Level, or attending college.Possible career prospects with a GCSE in History include:Academic Librarian, Archaeologist, Archivist, BroadcastJournalist, Civil Service administrator, Editorial Assistant,Information Officer, Politician's Assistant, Solicitor and WebContent Manager.

Triple ScienceAQA GCSETriple science provides 1 x GCSE in each of the three sciences and is taken as a package of 3 only. The exam board is AQAand students have a specialist teacher for each GCSE. Students complete 6 x exams at the end of year 11 for biology,chemistry and physics and there is no coursework component.Course UnitsAdditional DetailsBiology Units: (Makes up 1/3 of Triple Science) Cell biology. Organisation. Infection and response Bioenergetics. Homeostasis and response. Inheritance, variation and evolution. Ecology.Chemistry Units: (Makes up 1/3 of Triple Science) Atomic structure and the periodic table. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter. Quantitative chemistry. Chemical changes. Energy changes. The rate and extent of chemical change. Organic chemistry. Chemical analysis. Chemistry of the atmosphere. Using resources.Physics Units: (Makes up 1/3 of Triple Science) Energy. Electricity. Particle model of matter. Atomic structure. Forces. Waves. Magnetism and electromagnetism. Space physics.For More Information Contact:Mrs Corroyer at the Academy.When?Start date: September.Duration: 2 years.Entry Requirements:Triple science has already been allocated to the most ablestudents in year 9 based on tests throughout year 7 to 9 andformal tests in February 2021. They will do 1 less optionsubject as a consequence.Further Education & Careers Information:Science is studied in order to progress onto KS5 Sciencecourses or start a career in the field. It can directly counttowards a career in just some of the following areas:Dr/Paramedic/Physiotherapy, NHS-Nursing/Midwifery/carein the community, Veterinarian and Animal care/Zoology,Astronomy, Astrology, Teaching, Sociology, Psychology,Chemical analysts, Forensics, Marine biology, Conservation,Council/Environmental health, Engineering & Microbiology.

OptionalSubjectsArts:GCSE Art, Craft & Design.Creative iMedia.Music.Business, Design & Technology:Constructing The Built Environment.Engineering.Enterprise & Marketing.Hospitality & Catering.Humanities:French.Religious Studies.Social & Health Sciences:Child Development.Health & Social Care.Sociology.For More Information Contact:Mr May or Mrs Holmes at the Academy.