Year 9 Options Evening

Thursday 9th March 2023
5.45pm – 8.00pm

Rooms for Subject Presentations

Year 9 Options Frequently Asked Questions

Can students select whatever subjects they want to?

Students select 4 subjects and one reserve choice.  We believe this enables them to access all of our broad and balanced curriculum, and will be more likely to succeed when studying subjects they are interested and engaged in.  There are some subjects which have a minimum grade requirement in GCSE Maths  (see below).  Any student not meeting this minimum requirement will not be accepted on to the course and should therefore not select it as one of their options. Certain subjects cannot be chosen together (i.e. BTEC Sport & GCSE PE), due to their similar course profile.  The full course list offered will depend on the final number of students that have chosen these   subjects.  Further information regarding subjects that will not run will be made available after the options window has closed.

Do students need to meet certain requirements to opt for some subjects?

There are no entry requirements to take any of the subjects with the exception of the following subjects:

• GCSE Statistics - students most recent current grade must be a Grade 5 or above in Maths.
• GCSE Computer Science - students most recent current grade must be a Grade 5 or above in GCSE Maths.
• GCSE Music - students must be able to play a musical instrument or sing.
• GCSE Triple Science - students most recent current grade must be a Grade 6 or above in Science.

What is the difference between GCSEs and Vocational qualifications?

The General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) and the Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC) are both academic qualifications.  The main difference is that BTEC is awarded for vocational subjects and the GCSE is awarded for a large number of other subjects.  Most vocational subjects offer a mix of theoretical and hands-on learning, allowing you to get a good foundation of understanding in the subject while also getting plenty of actual experience.  Vocational courses do not use the same grading system of 9 - 1 like GCSEs.  Instead they use a pass, merit or distinction grading system.  (The exact number of grades differs between qualifications).  The         comparison between these and GCSEs (old and new) are shown in the table opposite.

When is the deadline for options to be selected?

Students should select their option subjects using the link sent to parents after the Options Evening, before the end of Friday 17th March 2023.

Can students change their options after the deadline?

As much as we want students to make the correct choices during the options process we accept that there will be a few who may change their mind once they start their subjects in Year 10. If a student realises soon after starting the course that the subject is not suitable for them they can request to change subject. This will be dependent on the timetable allowing it and class sizes not being at full capacity. Therefore, it is imperative that students make as informed a decision as possible when they select their option choices.

Are students guaranteed to do the subjects they choose?

We will make every effort to accommodate the first choice options of every student, however this is not         something that we can guarantee. Students are asked to select a reserve option if they are unable to do one of their first choice options.

What if my child does not get their first choice and they need a subject for a specific career path?

There will be a section when you submit your form to add any further information that relates to your child’s    career aspirations.  We will then take this into consideration but cannot guarantee all students their first choices.