Year 9 News & Information

Year 9 Key Stage Three Reading List

Wednesday, 10 February 2010 15:01

This list should be used as a guide only; not all of the titles are appropriate for all students on the basis of their maturity or reading level. The librarians are always on hand to help with book selection and would love to chat about new titles, favouritebooks and reading in general.
Download the key stage three reading list >>

Year 9 Preference - Design Technology Video

Thursday, 04 February 2010 10:59

Not sure which Design Technology subject is for you at GCSE? Watch this ten minute video and find out more about your options. If you have any questions - talk to your DT teachers.

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A Parents and Carers Guide to Learning Options for 14-19 Year Olds in Norfolk 2010

Wednesday, 03 February 2010 09:56

A Parents and Carers Guide to Learning Options for 14-19 Year Olds in Norfolk 2010 (pdf, 1.2 Mb)
Your son or daughter will soon make choices about courses and qualifications they take in Years 10 and 11. It’s an important time for them, and for you as a parent or carer. Your help and support is a vital part of the process. This booklet will provide you with the information you need to guide your child to the best decisions for their future.

Year 9 Preferences Evening Powerpoint Presentation

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 11:27

Here is a copy of Mr Bradshaw's Powerpoint presentation from the Year 9 Preferences Evening. This explains all your paths and options for studying at Sprowston after Year 9.
Download preference evening powerpoint file (.PPT, 248 Kb)

Year 9 Preference Assembly - Your Science Options

Wednesday, 27 January 2010 10:39

Here is a copy of Mr Oakley's Powerpoint presentation that explains all your options for studying Science after Year 9. Want the what, when, who and why? Here's the lowdown.
Download the Science options powerpoint file (.PPT, 95 Kb)

Year 9 Preferences - An Important Decision to Get Right

Tuesday, 26 January 2010 13:15

It was lovely to see so many parents and students at the Preference evening on Monday 25th January. It shows that you all have a big commitment to making the right choices at Key Stage 4. This means our Year 9 students are growing up from the small quiet Year 7s when they joined us over 2 years ago.

This is the biggest decision for our students that they have made in their lives and is a very important one to get right. The process is very much based on interests, strengths in subjects and future aspirations. A good place to start is with your child’s target and current performance levels that are sent to you on their reports. If a child is achieving a level 6 or higher in a particular subject then they are very good in that area – that could be a good place to start.

Sources of Help

The process of Options at Key Stage 4 can be a stressful and confusing time but we are aiming to make the process an individual one with students opting to take advantage of the many pathways we offer at Key Stage 4. Parents are very welcome to join the process in school. Through out the whole decision making process parents and students will be offered as much support and guidance as they need. This can come from me as the Head of Year 9, from form tutors whom students have built up a strong relationship with over the last 2 years, from subject teachers in their classes who can provide them with information about their subject and even Connexions who joined us in assembly last week. Please remember that I and my strong team of tutors are at the end of a phone. Please don’t hesitate to call the school office if you have any queries or questions. The school website and spotlight newsletters also have key dates and information that you may find useful.

Handing in Preferences Forms

The final options form will be handed in on Wednesday 3rd March. We are holding a Collapsed Curriculum Day in school. During this day we ask all parents to make an appointment via the school office with your child’s tutor. Parents and students will be in school for that appointment where the options form will be discussed and checked. Year 9 will not attend school on this day, only with parents for this appointment time. This is to ensure that this process can be a truly individual one for students and it allows tutors to have the time to focus on your child’s options.

Please Remember

The most important message I have been trying to deliver to students over the last few weeks about Options is that:

It’s about them – Think about what they enjoy doing, where do their strengths lie.
It must be an informed decision – So spend time collecting the information you need and thinking about what’s right for you.
This is about them as an individual - Don’t choose subjects because your best friend is, choosing the pathway that is right for them.

Thank you for attending the preferences evening and special assemblies.

Did You Know…?

… There are 5 pathways for students to choose. GCSE’s, BTEC’s, Diploma’s, NVQ’s and a Young Apprenticeship. Year 9 students have a wide range of choices available to them.

… We offer 5 Diplomas, 4 of which are taught off site.

… A BETC is worth 4 GCSE’s but is completed in half the time. You must be able to work independently and self motivated to complete these courses.

…There are only 40 places available on the NVQ courses so make sure you have an alternative plan. If opting for this pathway you will need to have an interview to assess you attendance, behaviour, suitability for this course.

…Its important to have a second choice for subjects just in case.


Miss Dawbarn
Head of Year 9

Year 9 Preferences Evening - 25 January

Monday, 25 January 2010 09:55

Year 9 preference evening is Jan 25.

There are two sessions for the following form groups:

4-30 pm for AR, FC, HD, HR, HV & HY

and

5-15 pm for KY, MB, PS, RH, RV & WN

Students are invited to accompany their parents.

Students and parents may find the fiollowing resources to help on the evening and afterwards when considering your available options:

• Preferences evening programme (PDF, 13 KB)
• Preferences assemblies timetable (PDF, 56 Kb)
• Preferences booklet (PDF, 153 Kb)
• Online tool to help with filling in the preferences form (pop up window)

We look forward to seeing you on the evening.

Vera Beames
Assistant Head (Key Stage 3)

Year 9 Drama Club - Thursdays After School - WG05

Wednesday, 20 January 2010 14:17

Year 9 Preferences

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 14:58

This term for Year 9 is all about preparing for preferences at Key Stage 4.  This route may be GCSEs, BTECs, Vocational subjects or Diplomas.

I would like to invite you to join us on the evening of Monday 25th January 2010 for a parents’ information evening held in school to present the details of how to make choices for Key Stage 4.

On Tuesday 26th running until Friday 29th January and Tuesday 2nd February 2010 there will be a series of special assemblies held in the school hall for students and parents.  During these assemblies subject leaders will present their subject and provide information about the demands of their subject. A draft timetable of dates and subjects follows:

• Tuesday 26th January 2010 - RS/Philosophy and Ethics and Economics
• Wednesday 27th January 2010 - Media and Arts
• Thursday 28th January 2010 - Vocational subjects
• Friday 29th January 2010 - MFL and Geography
• Tuesday 2nd February 2010 - Technology and Art

Students will be issued with a preferences booklet which summarises the different choices available. The final choice will be made on 3rd March 2010 when a Year 9 Academic Review Day will be held in school for parents and students to attend a meeting with tutors. Final preferences forms will be submitted on that day. If parents are unable to attend this meeting then students must attend on their own.

Rebecca Dawbarn
Head of Year 9

Welcome Back & a Talented Christmas Celebration

Tuesday, 19 January 2010 14:52

I hope you enjoyed the Christmas break and had some relaxation time during this hectic time of the year.

Year 9 had a wonderful end to last term with their Christmas celebration assembly on Thursday 17th December 2009.  It was packed full of songs, dances and certificates. I would like to thank those students who received subject nominations from their teachers.  A special thanks to Robyn Allen who helped present during the assembly. Also thanks to Jenny Fennell, Josh Money, Carter Brooksby, Georgia Mae Shepperd and Bonnie Rae Wilson for their exceptional performances. We have a talented lot of students in Year 9! Well done.