Y9 GCSE Options

We emailed all parents of students in Y9 in February outlining the GCSE options programme which got underway this half-term.

It’s an exciting stage in their school career as it’s the first time students get to choose some of their courses and your support, as parents, will be crucial.

All Key Stage 4 students – in Y10 and Y11 – study English language, English literature, maths, double science and (in most cases) a foreign language as their core programme.

But they also get to select up to three more option subjects. These include art, business studies, childcare, computer science, D&T product design, drama, economics, food & nutrition, geography, history, IT, media studies, music, photography, PE, psychology, RE, and triple science.

During tutor time – every Tuesday and Friday – Y9 students receive detailed information about the different courses on offer, and this includes viewing short video presentations about each subject.

Parents can help by discussing these sessions with their child – links to the presentations, along with detailed course descriptions, are shared every Friday via Satchel One.

Also, you recently received their Interim 2 report with accurate, up-to-date information about current progress and attainment so you can see which subjects might be most appropriate for them.

And last month, at the Y9 parents’ evening, you were able to meet individual subject teachers where you had the opportunity to ask specific questions about particular courses.

We want you to be fully informed during this process so we will email you again, before Raising Achievement Day on the last day of term, with more information.

 Final decisions will need to be made at the start of the summer term and, again, we will provide you with details about how to do this nearer the time.