Frequently Asked Questions

Year 9 Options - FAQs

Should I pick my child's options for them?

No, every year we advise that your child should take the lead in choosing their options. They will need your support and help and guidance. Please do not make their choices for them.


How do the different blocks affect the choices my child can make?

The process of picking subjects in each block will be explained in the Options Information Evening (Exact date TBC December 2023) and in the Options Brochure. 


I have heard that vocational subjects, such as BTECs, are easier than GCSEs and do not count when applying to university. Is this true?

This is not true. The vocational subjects were reformed in 2016 and are now comparable in academic demand to GCSE subjects. The only difference is the way in which they are assessed. Vocational subjects include assessed coursework. Multiple redrafts of coursework are no longer permitted and increased quality assurance by the exam boards means it is not possible for anyone other than the student to have completed the work.

Continual assessment like coursework is much more representative of the world of work and it also reduces the revision workload at the end of Year 11 by reducing the number of exams your child needs to take. 

Universities certainly do recognise level 3 vocational courses on a par with other level 3 courses such as A Levels. Have a look at the UCAS website that lists all university courses and their entrance requirements: https://www.ucas.com/ 

We strongly recommend that all students at Arden study at least one vocational subject during KS4. 


Should my child pick the subjects they like the best or those in which they are most academically able?

Both these factors are important. At this point in a child's education the most important thing is that they choose the subjects that they find interesting and that will allow them to succeed. Please do not force or put pressure on your child to study a subject just because they have done well in an assessment. 


Does my child have to pick 5 options, can they not pick four and spend more time on extra Maths and English?

Yes, they must pick 5 options subjects and they will study these through until the end of Year 11. We do not have the staffing or facilities to allow pupils to only pick four subjects and also deliver additional English and Maths. It is also important that children study a broad range of subjects at KS4, which then means they have not specilised too early. 


Should my child take Separate Science (Biology, Chemistry & Physics)?

To study Separate Sciences successfully and to enjoy them, your child really needs to love Science. Every year there are pupils who were strongly encouraged to take separate Sciences by their parents, and it wasn’t the right choice. They don’t really like it enough, or they were not yet ready for that level of commitment to Science. Unfortunately it can make them miserable, they don’t do enough work and they don’t achieve their potential. 


Separate Science is demanding so we do consider the attainment data for each child. We also look holistically, consider teacher opinions, work in books/on-line and all assessment results from Year 7 to date. 


Ultimately it is the school’s decision. We have a professional and moral obligation to each child, we use our skills and expertise to make the correct choice. We would rather it was a partnership, than a directive, so if we don’t recommend Separate Science, please listen and accept our recommendation. 



Can my child study A Level Science or a degree in Science if they have not taken GCSE Separate Sciences? 

Yes they can, and they will not be at a disadvantage. A student does not have to do separate Science to do A Levels. Since the GCSE reforms in 2016, combined Science is sufficiently demanding and broad - it is excellent preparation for A Level Science. 


Before the reforms we did set summer work for those that studied combined Science - we do not do that anymore any more there is no need to do so. 


Should my child take Computer Studies?

This is a similar answer to Separate Sciences. Yes, if they enjoy the subject and are academically capable. Will will consider their attainment data in Maths and KS3 Computing. A good question to ask your child is... "are you already programming at home, for fun?". If the answer is yes then they will enjoy computer science. In a few cases we do make the recommendation that Creative IT might be a better option. 


Why do you not recommend my child to study all three humanities subjects?

The humanities subjects are History, Geography and RE. If your child enjoys all three subjects and is certain of further study in this area then it is a good choice. However the decision should be considered carefully as interests can change over time and reducing the breadth of study now, can limit choices later on. 


Which pairs of subjects can my child not take and why?

The DfE considers the following pairs of subjects to be too similar, in terms of the content that is taught and the learning that takes place:


This means that your child is only able to select one from each pair of subjects. 


Can my child take Computer Science and Creative IT?

Yes they can. Again consider this subject combination carefully, they will need a keen interest in working with computers and a wide variety of software packages. Specialising now, may reduce the options available to your child at a later date. 


Will my child be able to keep up with the coursework for vocational subjects?

To help with this we set very clear deadlines and send them to parents too. As soon as we identify that a student is missing deadlines we contact home and put support measures in place. 


What if my child makes a mistake and they want to request a change to their choices?

Once all of the final options are in we cannot guarantee any changes can be made. Hopefully because of the amount of support and information prior to choosing their options, they will be well informed. Any changes must be requested by parents/carers to Miss Page. Please email office@arden.solihull.sch.uk as soon as you can with the requested changes and the reasons. Changes will then be processed during the week commencing 29th April, not before or after this time period.


My child does not know which subjects to take, what should I do?

We offer lots of different subjects so we understand that it can be difficult to decide. A good starting point is talking through subjects they do like and asking why they like them. If they find a subject interesting now, it is a good indicator they might be interested in studying that subject at KS4.  

Look at the hobbies they like to do... are they ‘sporty’, are they creative, do they watch YouTube videos on cooking?  These wider interests can sometimes give a clue as to the types of subjects they might like to study.

Not many children have a clear vision of what they want to ‘do when they grow up’. Talking through different types of jobs can give you both an idea of what types of careers they might find interesting.

Some combinations of subjects cannot be studied and some do have a higher academic demand such as Separate Science and Computer Science. This will need to be kept in mind during your discussions. 

If you and your child have read the Options Brochure, watched the videos,  and are still drawing a blank, please contact the school and we can try to help.


I still need help to help my child decide their options, what can I do?

There is a lot of information to look through to help you with the process. Please make sure you have:


After following these steps if you require further help, please contact the school using office@arden.solihull.sch.uk