Year 9 Options

The school provides a broad and balanced range of subjects throughout all key stages, including an appropriate balance between academic and work-related subjects in Years 10 to 13 – OFSTED 2014

Please note that this page is updated each Spring Term with the details of the Options process and KS4 courses to be offered to the current Year 9 cohort. 

Key Stage 4 Options: 2025-2027

We will be hosting a Key Stage 4 Options Evening for Year 9 students and their parents/carers 6.00-8.00pm on Thursday 23rd January, 2025. A letter sent to parents/carers about this event can be viewed here.

At the Options Evening, there will be a presentation from Mr Cross to explain the 2025 Options process and the curriculum choices available, as well as the opportunity to discuss Key Stage 4 courses with the various subject leaders.

The slides from the information evening can be viewed here.

Information about the locations of the various departments and subject talks will be issued to students in advance and can be viewed here.

Students will receive a Year 9 Curriculum Choices Information Booklet in advance of the evening. A pdf version of the booklet can be downloaded here.

KS4 Options choices are recorded electronically on a secure website which can be reached here.  Students will receive their login details after the Options Evening.  The deadline for Options entry is 9.00am Friday 7th February, 2025.

Students are provided with a KS4 Options Record Sheet, which can be used to guide their choices as well as provide a written record of the Option choices submitted in the online process. A copy of this sheet can be downloaded here.

All Year 9 students have access to the Unifrog website, which offers impartial advice and guidance about careers and course choices at 14+, 16+ and 18+.  If students have forgotten their access details, they can use the re-set password function, using their school email address.

To help students and parents/carers prepare for the Options Evening, there are links to the exam specifications for each subject below. Further details of the curriculum can be found here.

A list of possible and planned trips associated with individual subject options can be viewed here.

CORE SUBJECTS

English

www.aqa.org.uk/english

Maths

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/mathematics-2015.html

French

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse

German

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse

Spanish

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse

GCSE Combined Science

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464

PSHCEE

PSHCEE curriculum details

OPTION SUBJECTS

GCSE Art & Design: Art, Craft & Design

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/art-and-design-2016.html

GCSE Art & Design : Graphic Communication

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/art-and-design/gcse/art-and-design-8201-8206

GCSE Business

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/business-2017.html

Cambridge National Certificate in Enterprise & Marketing

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/enterprise-and-marketing-level-1-2-j837/qualification-at-a-glance/

GCSE Computer Science

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/computer-science-j277-from-2020/

Cambridge National Certificate in Information Technology

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/cambridge-nationals/it-level-1-2-j836/

GCSE D&T Food Preparation & Nutrition

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/food/gcse/food-preparation-and-nutrition-8585

GCSE D&T Product Design (Resistant Materials)

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/design-and-technology/gcse/design-and-technology-8552

GCSE Textiles

http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-art-and-design-j170-j176-from-2016/

GCSE Drama

https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/drama-j316-from-2016/

GCSE Geography

http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/geography-b-2016.html

GCSE History

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/history-2016.html

GCSE Media

https://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/media-studies-gcse/#tab_overview

GCSE Music

http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-music-j536-from-2016/

GCSE Philosophy, Ethics &  Religion

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/religious-studies/gcse/religious-studies-8062/specification

GCSE PE

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physical-education/gcse/physical-education-8582

GCSE Triple Science

Biology: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/biology/gcse/biology-8461/specification

Chemistry: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/chemistry/gcse/chemistry-8462/specification

Physics: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physics/gcse/physics-8463/specification

ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE)

https://www.asdan.org.uk/certificate-of-personal-effectiveness-level-1-and-2/