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Secondary Phase
Students begin their GCSE courses in Year 10 with students submitting option requests for 4 of those courses whilst in Year 9.
To ensure all students have broad base of academic subjects, the following courses are compulsory:
All students must study a Humanities subject and will be asked to choose between Geography and History.
Students will then be able to submit option requests for three other courses. Key Stage 3 subjects which learners do not take as options will no longer be studied beyond Year 9.
Students are supported in making option requests by being guided through an Options process which begins in January of Year 9.
Through assemblies, options information booklets and presentations from staff, students and parents are given access to the information they need about the range of courses available. The Options Booklet is emailed home to parents in late January and various resources are shared with students and families. We encourage families to read these and to contact us in school with any questions regarding further information available.
Students will have access to our Careers team who can help to guide their choices for GCSE subjects linked to careers and future study. Students can request personal 1-2-1 meetings with Options teachers and with further careers guidance if desired. Some families may be invited to join those meetings to support students with enhanced learning needs.
At Year 9 Parent Consultation Evening, subject staff will be able to discuss various options and pathways with students and families, including likely GCSE outcomes for students if they choose the course.
Students will work with staff in school to make their options choices. These need to be signed by an adult at home to ensure students have made choices their families are able to support. The deadline for making options choices for this academic year is Friday 20th March 2026.
Students will receive their confirmed options choices at the end of Year 9. After this there is a very brief window in which students can make changes to their options choices. However, students will only be permitted to swap their options subjects in very specific circumstances.
