Year 9 Options Information
October 2023
(Please scroll down)
Welcome to the virtual options package for Year 9.
Here you will find information about all of the different subjects available at Cardiff High School and receive advice from our Curriculum Leaders on how to make the best choices for your future. Use the links at the top of the page to navigate to compulsory and option subjects.
Once you have read the information and watched the videos, please ask your form tutor or subject teachers if you have any more questions.
Introduction
Mrs L Richards - Head of Lower School
Please start by watching this introductory video explaining the options process.
Year 9 Subject Information Webinar Final.mp4Choosing Your Options
Choosing your subjects for Years 10 and 11 may be one of the first big decisions you will have to make in your life. Where do you start? Even if you don’t know what career you want in the future, these decisions will affect what options are available to you once you leave compulsory education.
You may want to start by trying the Careers Wales Job Matching Quiz. This will help you to find out the types of careers that suit your personal interests and may guide your option choices:
Careers Wales
You don’t always have to take a certain subject to get into a particular career – but there are exceptions you need to be aware of.
If you’re considering a career in languages or related to art and design, you will most likely need to have those GCSEs to progress. But subjects such as business or psychology, can often be started at A level (or equivalent) and even at degree level.
Maths and English GCSEs are asked for by all universities and the majority of employers, but all your GCSEs give you the best foundation for education, training and employment.
Careers Wales website have an A– Z on career ideas and information on GCSEs you would need for certain jobs.
Getting the Balance Right
Once you’ve looked at different subjects that you can choose alongside the compulsory ones, you will have to work out how to put it all together and get the balance right for you.
Gaining employability skills - You also need to gain employability skills which will help when you start to look for work. These are the skills that employers look for when recruiting staff. They include: communication, teamwork, problem solving, initiative and enterprise, planning and organising, self-management. You will study and develop these skills at school, often as part of other courses, or during PSE lessons. Your hobbies will also develop your skills. For example, if you play a team sport you will develop your skills in working with others.
Do you have lots of job ideas, but can’t choose? If yes, then keep your options open by choosing a broad range of subjects. Subjects do not need to be directly relevant to a job. Some are worth taking just because you enjoy them. Some subjects, like PE, sound like they will be easier than others, but they are not a soft option. You have to work just as hard as for any other course.
Help and Advice
We all need help to reach decisions throughout our lives. There are lots of people ready to help you, just ask!
Your parents/carers, family and friends are probably the people who know you best and understand your strengths. Subject teachers know what each subject involves and can advise you whether they think it’s for you.
Careers Wales’ careers advisers offer confidential help and support on a wide range of issues and can link you with other organisations for more specialists help. You can speak with Mrs Natalie Lewis.
Your Form Tutor/Achievement Leader knows you well, they may be able to give you help and advice.
Most schools have an Additional Learning Needs Co-ordinator (ALNCo) whose role is to help if you have a learning difficulty or disability that affects your studies. At Cardiff High School the ALNCo is Mrs M. Dolan and the Assistant ALNCo is Miss H. Williams. They are based in the Learning Support area.
Useful Contacts
Mrs L Jenkins: Year 9 Achievement Leader (jenkinsl62@hwbcymru.net)
Mrs L Richards: Head of Lower School (richardsl276@hwbcymru.net)
Mrs E Greenwood: Assistant Headteacher (Curriculum & Assessment) (woodhousee1@hwbcymru.net)
Mrs M. Dolan: ALNCo (dolanm8@hwbcymru.net)
Mrs H M Williams: Assistant ALNCo (williams166@hwbcymru.net)
