You have four choices*. You will pick one choice from four separate blocks. The first block is focused on the EBacc subjects (Geography, History, Languages, Computing), the remaining three blocks are completely open with subjects spread fairly across these. When you know a subject you want to select you will have to pick this from a block it is in. The Guided Choices Form will help you to do this.

You will also be asked to select a reserve choice for each block.

*MEP students will be continuing Mandarin so will have this choice automatically selected.

You do not. 

However... if you are considering further study at university level, or international travel, a foreign language could give you a wider range of options.

We strongly recommend that everyone carefully considers continuing to study a language.

Studying a language is an excellent choice. If you wish to study a language you must have experience of this language in years 7 - 9.

If you want to study a language that you have previously studied- but are not currently studying- then talk this through first with your language teacher. They will be able to advise you.

All learners will have separate lessons in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Learners in the top set will study for the triple science qualification which provides individual qualifications in each science, i.e. three grades. This does involve more science content and the exams are slightly longer.

Learners in other groups will study for the combined science qualification which gives two grades.

There is some opportunity for movement between groups in the first half of year 10 to ensure that our examination pathway is appropriate for every learner.

You will have the opportunity to achieve 9 / 10 qualifications. These are;

English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
Science - Counts as two qualifications if you do combined science, or three qualifications if you do triple science.

Plus the four subjects you select as your choices

Where mathematics attainment is sufficient, students may be offered the chance to gain a Statistics qualification and/or Free Standing Maths Qualification (FSMQ) in addition to their Mathematics GCSE. These courses are studied outside of curriculum time, before and after school.

We work very hard to make sure that everybody is happy with their choices. 

In a small number of cases, it may not be possible to run a subject, manage a particular combination of choices or we may need to balance group sizes.

Where this occurs we will talk to you as soon as possible about your reserve or an alternative choice of subject.

When you start asking, you will be amazed at how many people will want to help you.

Your tutors,  year office and teachers will all be happy to help you.  Whilst we are learning online you could stay behind at the end of a lesson or email your teacher to ask for advice.

You can use the information and links on this website to find out more. Your tutors, teachers and year team are also great people to talk to.

Your family will be able to help you understand more about different subjects and career paths.

The websites https://www.unifrog.org/ and  https://www.careerpilot.org.uk/ are an excellent source of information and guidance.

These are your choices and you need to be comfortable with them. 

Your parents/carers will of course want to support you to make informed choices. It would be sensible to talk to them from the beginning about which subjects you are considering and why you feel these would be good for you.

When you have completed the form to select your choices, we will be sending a letter home which a parent/carer needs to sign to show that these have been discussed and agreed.

In the rare circumstance that we are not able to offer you one of your choices, we will talk to you about a suitable alternative. The reserve choice helps with that discussion and our help and guidance for you.

You will be asked to select a reserve choice for each of the four blocks.

Over the next few weeks, your teachers will be talking to you in lessons about the courses their departments will be running in Y10/11. This will be a good chance for you to ask them questions. 

For subjects that you do not currently study, these teams are preparing Taster Lessons that you will be able to access either online at your convenience via the subject pages on this website, or at several opportunities in person this half term. It is really important that you take part in a taster lesson for any subject you are considering taking so you can get a better sense if it is right for you.

These questions are answered in the Subject Pages scroll back to the top of the page and click on the tab in the right hand corner.

You can also ask your teachers.

Please take your time and consider your choices carefully before you complete and submit the options form. 

We would prefer to avoid any changes.

However, if you do change your mind after you have submitted your form, let  us know as soon as possible so we can offer you more support and guidance. 

Absolutely not!

We advise that you do not submit your choices form as soon as it is released; take your time to make the right choice.

However, you do need to get it in by the deadline (8th January). 

After this we will be working hard to create classes, so if you submit your form late or change your mind about a subject you may have a more limited range of choices.