Year 8 Options - 2026

Welcome to The Costello School options website.  Choosing your GCSE options is an exciting time and an important milestone in your learning journey - this is the first time you have taken charge of which subjects you want to take. 

Use this website as a starting point, and get balanced advice from your teachers and your tutor, as well as talking to older students who have already completed this process, and of course your parents/carers. We have extensive experience in supporting students in choosing their GCSEs - you can be confident we will be there alongside you the whole way. 

The information contained on this website should give you all the background information you need to prepare for your choices, and present you with a description of the options you can choose from, including the compulsory and recommended choices. You will also find key dates for where you will get further support in making your decisions, and the deadlines for submitting your final choices. 

Our curriculum at Costello is deep and broad, ensuring your learning prepares you for the great future that lies ahead. Try to look into the future to guide what subjects you pick - you may have ideas about the world of work that appeal to you already, and this could guide your choices; make sure you leave room to change your mind and try to rule out as few future pathways as possible. 

The options process is there to encourage you to ask questions and don't worry if you are not sure, or if you change your mind throughout - that is completely normal. Take your time as this is an important process, and try not to rule anything out until you have explored it in detail. 

Once you have worked your way through the website, completed tutor time options activities, sampled several subjects on taster day, and your parents/carers have attended the options information event, you should be ready to make your decisions. 

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us for a further discussion.

Thank you

Neil Pittaway

Associate Headteacher

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Overview

All students study the following CORE curriculum:​

• English Language GCSE​

• English Literature GCSE​

• Mathematics GCSE​

• Combined Science (2 GCSEs)​ or Triple Science (3 GCSEs). This decision is not made until Year 10.

• Non-Examined Core PE​

• Non-Examined PSHE (Personal, Social & Health Education) & RE (Religious Education)​

Based on prior attainment students will study one of two pathways.  These are as follows:

All student have to study a Humanity of History, Geography, Religious Studies or Ancient History.  On pathway 1, students need to take either French or Spanish.  On pathway 2, students can choose from French, Spanish, Art, Dance, Drama, Music, Photography and Design Technology (Graphics, Materials or Textiles).  

Finally, students then have a choice of two further qualifications from a range of GCSE and Vocational subjects.  We encourage all students to study a broad and balanced set of subjects. 

This means you must choose four options in total and, ensure you have at least 1 reserve choice for each of the sections.. 

Please note, you can only choose one Vocational course, and you may not pick more than one of Design and Technology (Materials, Graphics or Textiles), or Food Preparation and Nutrition. 

Also please note, we cannot guarantee students get their first choices.