During the first years of secondary school students have enjoyed a balanced and varied curriculum. In common with students of similar age in other schools, our students are now faced with choosing subjects they wish to continue through to IGCSE.

Many students will choose a wide range of subjects to keep their options open for further study, in our school, this is the IB diploma. Some students, a minority at this point in their education, will have a specific career in mind as they choose their options. For the majority, a reasonably broad portfolio of optional subjects is essential as this allows them to demonstrate strengths in different areas – universities value this, and gives them the flexibility to keep open different career pathways. However, breadth should be balanced against the need to play to their strengths and interests so as to generate the best possible grades facilitated by enjoyment of study. A student who chooses not to opt for the subjects he or she enjoys must have some very good reasons!

Decision making should focus on quality and balance. Included in the core programme are subjects such as Critical thinking and Outdoor Education because we believe they are instrumental in developing the qualities and values required of a twenty first century learner. Students should have the time and opportunity to take up new extra-curricular activities and to continue the ones they already enjoy. Representing the school in sport, MUN, involvement in school plays, continuing to play a musical instrument or participation in the Prémio expeditions are activities that are all highly rated by the universities; they will be interested in knowing what students have done beyond the four walls of the classroom to broaden their horizons.

Subject specialists will provide the best advice and insight related to their curriculum, helping to review present performance against the challenges that lie ahead. Students should consider what skills they enjoy using (using language to express oneself, reading, solving problems, carrying out research) and see how these might be used, developed and challenged in the different IGCSE subjects. Think about preferred ways of working – will they have more success with coursework or its equivalent? If so, choose those subjects where the opportunity exists to carry out some personal research. If not, avoid subjects which have heavily weighted components of coursework. Is collaborative group-work a preferred learning style? If not, then Drama with its particular emphasis on working closely with others may not be an apt choice. Students should consider whether they prosper when working as part of a team, working on their own, being creative and designing and making things? These skills could help decide which subjects to follow at IGCSE and give an indication of the kind of career path one might choose to follow. At this point students must continue to ask questions of others and of themselves.