What Parents Need to Know

During the options process, students will:

• Continue to study core subjects required by the Department for Education (English, maths and science).
  
  

• Choose additional subjects from a range of options offered by the school.
  
  

• Begin to shape their future pathway towards further education, training or employment.
  
  

The Department for Education requires schools to offer a broad and balanced curriculum, so students have access to a wide range of subjects, including arts, humanities, languages and technical subjects.

Students should be encouraged to choose subjects:

• They enjoy and are interested in
  
  

• They are good at or willing to work hard in
  
  

• That may help keep future options open for post-16 education (such as A levels, college courses or apprenticeships)
  
  

Choices should not be based solely on:

• What friends are choosing
  
  

• Which subject seems “easiest”

• Which teacher they may have

Some subjects can be particularly useful for keeping a wide range of future opportunities available. Schools provide guidance to help students understand how different subjects link to:

• Sixth form and college courses
  
  

• Apprenticeships
  
  

• University and career pathways
  
  

The Department for Education expects schools to provide careers guidance as part of the options process to support informed decision-making. Please visit the careers tab on the Option website.

Pupils will receive:

• Taster session lessons in each GCSE option subject
  
  

• Assemblies or lessons explaining the options process
  
  

• Opportunities to ask questions and seek advice from teachers and staff

• Read all information provided by the school
  
  

• Talk through choices calmly with their child
  
  

• Contact the school if they are unsure or need further advice

1. French and Spanish

Students will have the opportunity to pick French or Spanish as a GCSE . Students are not allowed to take a language at GCSE which they have not previously studied at Key Stage 3. If your child is proficient in another language and there is a GCSE available this can be done through the extra-curricular language option. Details can be found on our website.

2. Three Science GCSEs (Separate Sciences) 

It is possible to study for three GCSEs in Science. If students choose Separate Science then they will take three individual GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. This choice of subjects is a good preparation for Science A-levels, but is by no means essential. To be eligible for this course, students must attain at least a grade 4 (in class assessments and APs) in their Year 9 assessments. This course will be limited to a maximum of two teaching groups.

3. Psychology

Students wishing to study Psychology will need to attain a minimum assessment grade of 4 in Maths, English and Science in their Year 9 AP1 assessment. This course will be limited to one teaching group.

4. Computer Science 

Students wishing to study Computer Science must achieve a minimum assessment grade of 4 in Mathematics in their Year 9 AP1 assessment. If a student does not meet this minimum requirement, entry will be considered at the teacher’s discretion.

5. Physical Education 

In order to select the GCSE PE course, students must regularly be playing and/or performing three sports/ activities for the school team or out of school to a competent level, from the AQA GCSE specification. Past performance shows that students awarded a grade 4 in Year 9 make good progress at GCSE PE. Students who are not able to take the GCSE PE course should consider taking the vocational Sports Science (CNAT) course instead.

6. Kings’ Trust

A small number of students will be invited to receive additional support to help them make progress with their GCSEs in English and Maths. These lessons will be delivered by subject specialists. This programme will lead to entry level qualification in Maths and a Kings’ Trust qualification. It will also supplement English and Maths lessons to give the students the best possible chance of attaining a good grade in those subjects.