Year 9 Options
This section of the website provides information about the process for students’ selection of their Option subjects for Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) which takes place during Year 9.
For full details of the Key Stage 4 curriculum, visit the Curriculum Information section of this site.
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: 2022-2024
We will be hosting a Key Stage 4 Options Evening for Year 9 students and their parents/carers 6.00-8.00pm on Thursday 27th January, 2022. There will be precautions in place to make the event as Covid- secure as possible. If you have any symptoms of Covid-19, please do not attend and we ask that anyone wishing to attend takes a Lateral Flow Test shortly beforehand. It would also be very helpful if only one adult attends with each student. We request that all attendees wear a mask unless they are exempt.
At the Options Evening, there will be a presentation from Mr Cross and Mrs Powdrell to explain the 2022 Options process and the curriculum choices available, as well as the opportunity to discuss Key Stage 4 courses with the various subject leaders. You can view the slides from this presentation here.
Information about the locations of the various departments and subject talks will be issued to students 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 viewed here.
KS4 Options choices are recorded electronically on a secure website. To visit the website. click here. The deadline for Options entry is 9.00am Friday 4th February, 2022.
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.
Details of how students can gain access to the Unifrog website, which offers impartial advice and guidance about careers and course choices can be found here.
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.
CORE SUBJECTS
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
https://www.ychertfordshire.org/support-for-young-people/
OPTION SUBJECTS
GCSE Art & Design
http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gcse/gcse09/Art/Pages/default.aspx
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
Level 2 National Certificate in Enterprise & Marketing
GCSE Computer Science
https://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse/computer-science-j277-from-2020/
Cambridge National Certificate in Creative iMedia
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/creative-imedia-level-1-2-award-certificate-j807-j817/
GCSE D&T Food Preparation & Nutrition
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/food/gcse/food-preparation-and-nutrition-8585
GCSE D&T 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
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/religious-studies/gcse/religious-studies-a-8062
GCSE PE
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/physical-education/gcse/physical-education-8582
BTEC Sport
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-firsts/sport-2012-nqf.html
GCSE Triple Science
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463
ASDAN Certificate of Personal Effectiveness (CoPE)
https://www.asdan.org.uk/certificate-of-personal-effectiveness-level-1-and-2/