KS4 Curriculum Information - Year 9
Embedded Files
Click on the interactive map below to find out about each subject.
Further down the page is more information about choosing Key Stage 4 subjects.
Please click here for the KS4 Information Booklet 2025/26
Subjects
Subjects
Click on the icons to find out more
Introduction
Introduction
Vision
To create well prepared, confident and successful members of society
Values
1. High expectations for all
2. Everyone is valued
3. Inspiring opportunities
Key calendar dates
Key calendar dates
Wednesday 5th February
Year 9 KS4 curriculum assembly
Thursday 13th February
Year 9 KS4 curriculum evening
*This will be an opportunity for parents and students to begin to understand the process that students will go through.
Tutor sessions to support the process w/b: 24th Feb, 3rd March, 10th March
A series of sessions throughout Feb/March to support choices
Thursday 27th Feb
Google forms will be received for students to complete their choices
Friday 11th April
Deadline for google forms to be completed
May
Consultation as necessary for individual students
June
Confirmation of KS4 subjects for students
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum – What are the pathways?
The Key Stage 4 Curriculum – What are the pathways?
At Rawlett all students must study the following set of core subjects:
English
Mathematics
Science
PE
Careers, personal, social, health, well-being and citizenship through form, subject and Focus Day activities
The majority of students will study French
These subjects make up just over 60% of the student timetable and allow them to achieve 5 GCSEs. Students have some choice for the remaining 40% of the timetable. We are committed to a broad and balanced curriculum and so our expectation is that most students will take French and either Geography or History for two of these options. This ensures that breadth of qualifications for future employment and study whilst still allowing a choice to explore their passions, be creative and build resilience.
To help students with their choices, we have placed each of them onto a personalised curriculum pathway. . The pathways will not affect setting, they are there to help decision making, and classes are likely to contain students from all pathways.
We have looked carefully at current and past performance to allocate students to what we consider the most appropriate option pathway; there will however be some bits of information that we do not know about and so pathways are not set in stone. If you think we have not got it right please do not hesitate to make contact with your child’s Form Tutor, Head of Year or SLT Lead.
The Key Stage 4 Qualifications and Gradings
The Key Stage 4 Qualifications and Gradings
Recent years have seen significant national changes to GCSEs, this has included the removal of controlled assessment, an increase in the breadth and depth of knowledge needed for examinations and also the introduction of a new grading system.
GCSEs are now all 1 to 9, with a 9 being the highest grade possible. Gaining a grade 9 will show a student is in the top 20% of all students nationally who gain a grade 7 or above.
In terms of progress our aim is that a hard working student who was working at an average score of 100 at the end of Year 6 and who continues to make good progress will achieve a grade 6 at the end of Year 11.
The table below shows an approximate comparison between the grades of different qualifications.
Making a decision
Making a decision
Remember you are not alone in making these decisions; everyone in Year 9 both here and in most schools around the country are going through the same process. There are a number of websites that can help you.
The National Careers Service website is full of information and advice on different careers and how to make it happen.
They have advisers who will give you independent and impartial advice and guidance if you want to speak to someone outside of school.
Remember you can speak to your Form Tutor or House Leader, your subject teachers, any members of staff, your family and friends. Don’t forget Miss Ambrose is our careers expert.
Ask as many questions as you can and then think about what you want to do.
In the end it is unlikely that your subject choice now will rule you out of any career in the future. It may however make it a bit harder or make it take a bit longer before you get started in the job of your dreams.
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