1. Option Choices in Year 9

2. How GCSEs have changed in England
GCSEs have been reformed with new courses and a new grading system (9-1 with 9 being highest will replace A*-G grades)
The new courses are more demanding, and most have more examinations at the end of the course
Your son/daughter will take approximately 22 examination papers in the summer of 2021

3. The curriculum in Years 9, 10 & 11
Compulsory subjects leading to a qualification
English literature
English Language
Maths
Science (2 or 3 GCSEs)
Compulsory subjects which do not lead to a qualification
Physical Education, PSHE & The Step Programme
Option choices
E-Bacc subject
Option subject

4. Key Stage 4 Curriculum Years 9, 10 and 11 Maths 4 English 5 Science 6PE 2
PSHE
Option 1 2½
Option 2
Option 3
Hours per week 25
In Year 11, option subjects will have 3 lessons per week (with PSHE covered in STEP time and 1 hour a week of PE)

5. Quality over quantity is key
Universities do not require students to have a collection of GCSEs, they are more interested in the grades a student has obtained across their subjects. In particular some specify a minimum grade for maths & English

6. Your son/daughter has 3 option choices and one of those must be an E-bacc
It is therefore very important that your son or daughter opts for subjects that they enjoy and will do well in.
We want their 7½ hours of options per week to be something they look forward to and excel in.
Their option choices are very precious, everything else is chosen for them and allows them to show that they are fully rounded, academic students.

7. Can option choices limit future plans?
The core subjects (Maths, English & Science) keep most career options open
In Sixth Form a large number of students take options from their core GCSEs. In addition there are new subjects to opt for (such as psychology) or subjects which were offered at GCSE but can be taken from scratch in Sixth Form (such as Health and Social Care).

8. Can option choices limit future plans?
There are a few subjects which, if you do not opt for them at GCSE, may be difficult to study at a further or higher level:
History, Geography, Technology, Art or a Modern Foreign Language

9. Can option choices limit future Plans?
By choosing options your son or daughter will enjoy, and has a strength in, they will increase their options for Sixth Form and College, as they will achieve higher grades.

10. Making the right choices

11. What should your son/daughter consider when choosing their options?
What subjects do I enjoy now and why?
What subjects am I achieving my best grades in?
What subjects do I enjoy completing homework to a high standard for?
Do I want to have all exams at the end of year 11 or would I like to opt for a subject(s) with more assessment during the course?
Do I have any interests/talents outside school which I could gain a qualification in?

12. Timeline of Events Assembly for students
Monday 5th February
Assembly for students
Parents’ meeting to hear about the Key Stage 4 curriculum
w/c Monday 5th February
Learning qualities information available to parents (engagement and effort in each subject)
w/c 5th February & w/c 19th February
PSHCE lesson focused on careers action planning and progression routes
w/c 19th February
Subject specific careers lesson to show progression routes in their subject.
w/c 5th March
Individual appointments for students and parents to consult with senior staff about choices. Option choices will be made at your interview.
Monday 12th March to Friday 20th July
Timetable and Year 9 classes will be constructed. Parents will be contacted if further discussion is required about option choices or combinations of subjects.
w/c Monday 4th September
Start of new timetable. In exceptional circumstances we may allow students to change course in September but this is not always possible due to class sizes.

13. Option choices – 3 subjects
E-Bacc Options: you must choose at least one of these
Other option subjects: you can choose a maximum of 2 of these subjects
Computer Science
Art & Design
PE (GCSE)
French
Business
Religious Studies
Geography
Design Technology
Sport
German
Digital Information Technology
History
Drama
Food Nutrition & Preparation
Health & Social Care
Media
Music

14. Making appropriate choices: Questions we have asked the students to consider or find the answer to
Do you know the differences between the GCSEs and BTECs?
GCSE PE or BTEC Sport – what is the difference? Can you take both?
Have you read enough about the new subjects on offer (Business Studies, Health and Social Care)?
Which Humanity – Geography, History, Religious Studies or more than one?

15. Frequently asked questions
Does my son or daughter need a foreign language GCSE to apply to university?
Are BTEC qualifications given equal value to GCSEs
My son or daughter is very academic but they are a talented artist/musician/sports person, will taking options which play to their strength affect their future choices?
Currently University College London (UCL) is the only Russell Group institution to require a Modern Foreign Language GCSE at grade C or above for all of its programmes. However, if you did not take a Modern Foreign Language GCSE, or if you got a D grade or below, you can still apply to any UCL degree programme, and it won’t negatively affect your application. You will not be rejected just because you don’t have it but you will need to complete a short course certificate in a Modern Foreign Language or undertake a half course unit during your studies at UCL. Please see undergraduate/application for more details. Although only UCL has a formal requirement in place, Modern Foreign Language qualifications are valued by admissions tutors across the Russell Group.

16. Students should opt for subjects they enjoy & will do well in
“Candidates do not need to take the English Baccalaureate to be able to apply to Oxford. We recommend that candidates take those GCSE subjects that they enjoy the most and are confident in achieving good grades in.”
Oxford University

17. We have asked the students to:
Read the brochure carefully
Talk with their parents
Look at their Year 8 progress data
Read the assessment section on the options pages carefully and think about whether they want:
Breadth – 3 different subjects
Specialisation – 2 or 3 similar subjects, playing to their strengths
Coursework and practical work in their option subjects
They must look at your option form prior to their interview and make some provisional choices