Guided Pathways & Qualification Types
Guided Pathways - Progression Routes
It is critical that all students make Guided Pathway choices that will allow them to progress to education, employment, an apprenticeship, or other training/courses post 16.
The Pathway choices students make can also have an impact on the University they can attend and the course(s) they are able to access. If you believe that University is a pathway you might choose you need to think carefully about how your choice(s) now might/might not allow you to progress to a University of your choice – this is why this process is very important and we want to ensure that the pathway chosen, fits each student individually.
What will you study? The structure of the timetable will be very similar to the one you have in Year 9. The timetable week contains 25 x 1-hour periods: plus, five half hour periods of form time. The 25-period week is split into compulsory Core subjects, EBAC subjects and finally Pathway subjects.
English Baccalaureate
In December 2010 the Government introduced the English Baccalaureate or EBacc for short. This is not a qualification in its own right but a suite of qualifications that are gathered together under the same umbrella. At Ossett Academy, we fully support the entitlement that students are able to study this group of qualifications.
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is “awarded” to students who achieve a Grade 5 or higher at GCSE level in each of the following subjects:
Mathematics
English
Sciences - this could be Combined Sciences (worth 2 x GCSEs) or Separate Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
History and/or Geography
French and/or Spanish
The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is highly regarded within education providers at Post 16 and gives students a wide range of opportunities to access many different courses and careers.
Types of Qualification - GCSE
This stands for General Certificate in Secondary education. It is a nationally recognised qualification. GCSEs have changed in all schools nationally over the last four years. GCSEs are now graded using the new 9 to 1 grading system, with 9 being the highest grade and grade 5 being the minimum grade to be defined as a “strong pass” by the Department for Education. Most GCSEs are assessed solely through written examination papers that are taken at the end of the course. Some subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Modern Foreign Language enter candidates at different tiers based on students’ ability, with only certain grades being available for each tier. Other subjects have only one tier and all grades are available.
Technical Qualifications
Our Key Stage 4 curriculum offers a wide range of subjects which provides a variety of academic and technical courses to choose from. Technical qualifications (OCR / BTECs) aim to help students learn about a specific industry or area of work. They are assessed through a combination of continued assessment assignments) and written examinations. The Technical qualifications we offer at Key Stage 4 are Level 1/2 Technical awards.
Please note that Technical awards are just as difficult as GCSE qualifications and should not be seen as an easy option.
How to make your Guided Pathway choices
Step 1 - Explore this website and read our booklet
Consider the subjects on offer. Which ones will help you get into your chosen career or Post 16 course?
Think about your strengths and how the subjects on offer will match these.
Step 2 - Discuss your ideas
Have a chat with your form tutor and start to speak with subject teachers and subject leaders.
Be open minded and prepared to accept the advice of parents and teachers, they all have your best interest at heart.
Step 3 - Fill in the Guided Pathway form
Make sure that you number your choices in order of preference. The number one being your first choice. Choice one must be from the purple column. Choices two to five can be made against any subject in any column.
Make sure that the form is signed and dated.
Please return by the deadline set by the academy. This will be completed remotely via a Microsoft form available on the Pathways website.
Step 4 - Guided Pathway process
The academy will consider the selected preferences and may wish to discuss them.
Subject preferences will be circulated to subject staff to confirm that they feel that you have the right subject package.
Step 5 - The academy writes to you
The academy will send a letter showing your finalised Guided Pathway subjects. The letter will be sent in the summer term.
Careers Guidance
