Choosing Options Wisely | Key Information

Year 9 students are beginning the process of choosing their GCSE options. We’ve reassured them that they
don’t need to know their future career yet, these choices are about building strong foundations for success.

What we’ve asked students to consider:

• Imagine their future life: lifestyle, interests, and aspirations.

• Reflect on personal qualities: how they’d like to be described in adulthood.

• Understand the purpose of KS4: it’s preparation for life, not job training.

• Aim for strong GCSE results: the best grades come from effort, attendance, and enthusiasm.

• Choose subjects they enjoy: interests and passions lead to motivation and success.

We also introduced Ikigai, a Japanese concept about finding purpose and satisfaction in work by aligning passion,
skills, and opportunities.

Options Timeline

• Research Phase (Now): Explore courses, careers, and resources (Options booklet, videos, Unifrog).

• Choices & Advice: Options form released in December, completed in January. Students will receive guidance
  from staff and careers advisors.

• Trial & Lock-In: Taster Day to experience chosen subjects before final decisions.

The Choices | 4 x options

• This year, students are taking 4 subjects alongside their core subjects. 

• They need to choose at least one from the yellow box (they can opt for up to 4 from that box). 

• As taking 9 subjects could end up with a lot of final examinations, it is worth considering taking at least one
  vocational course (V), or a GCSE with coursework (C), to enable the load to spread throughout the two years of KS4.