Year 9 Options: Making Good Choices

Things to Consider

The Next Two Years Are Vital to You

Now is the time when you have to make some very important decisions regarding the subjects you will study during the next two years.  The decisions you make have consequences, not only for your remaining school life but also for your later career.

Studying a broad range of subjects will ensure that your choice of career opportunities is as wide as possible: a balanced programme is vital.  Most employers and admission tutors look for young people with a broad general education as well as good quality grades.

It is not always necessary to have studied subjects in Years 10 and 11 in order to study them in the Sixth Form.  If you have questions or want to know more, see the teacher highlighted at the bottom of the subject information page.  It is vital for you to be as well-informed as possible to enable you to make sensible decisions.

Ask questions, listen, discuss and think carefully before making your mind up!

Do Choose a Course Because...

  • you are good at it and think you will enjoy the subject
  • it links to a career idea
  • it will go well with your other choices
  • it will help you develop knowledge and skills that interest you
  • it will keep your options open in the future
  • you think that you might want to continue studying it after Year 11
  • your research shows that it will interest you and motivate you to learn

Do Not Choose a Course Because...

  • your friends have chosen it
  • you think it will be easy
  • you think it is a good course for a boy/girl to do
  • someone else thinks that it is a good idea
  • you like the teacher you have now
  • you didn’t have time to research your options properly

Beyond the Next Two Years

At the end of Year 11, the majority of Heart of England students choose to continue their studies.  A small number of students find employment and others follow modern apprenticeships or other vocational schemes.  The government requires that all students remain in some form of education or training until they are 18 years old.

A Levels

Passing your GCSEs, including English and Mathematics, and achieving good grades across 8 subjects enables students to go on to study A levels.  Studying 3 or 4 A levels will lead to employment, further education or higher education at 18.  Most students choose to remain at the Heart of England Sixth Form, which offers over 20 courses in a college atmosphere.  Some students may opt to follow courses at a local college or begin an apprenticeship.  All of these routes will have application processes which require students to list the subjects they study and their likely achievement in them.

The brief details above outline the opportunities available to you.  Further advice and information will be given to you in Year 11, when you come to make the next important decision about your education.

Options: Key Dates 2023

  • w/c 30 January
    • Year 9 Assemblies
    • Virtual Launch to Parents/Carers
  • Weds 1 February: In-person Information Evening for Parents
  • Weds 8 February: Submission of Options Morning choices
  • Weds 15 February: Options Morning
  • Tues 28 February: Year 9 Parent/Teacher Consultation
  • Wed 1 March:  SIMS Options online portal open
  • Friday 3 March: Deadline for applications for Reduced Core
  • Wed 15 March: Deadline for submission of GCSE options
  • March – May: Processing of options forms
    • Consultation with individual students
    • Final option choices confirmed
  • May/June: Students informed of options choices
  • September 2023: Courses commence
 
 

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