Optionsl
Construction students learning about stone- masonry at the Tower of London.
Year 9
Here are some of the common questions parents ask about option choices for Yr 9 students
n Why choose options in Year 9?
After three years of learning the basics of many subjects, your son or daughter will now be given the choice of which subjects he/she would like to study in more depth. This allows young people to concentrate on areas of study they really enjoy and excel at, and to make the best use of their time in the last two years at school. It is important that your son or daughter makes the best choices they can, and that you are able to support them to do this and to access more specialist advice and detailed information when they need to.
NCFE students undertake retail training in the college’s High Street fashion shop, Zen.
For more information, check out the ‘Options in Year 9’ page of the magazine.
n What subjects will my son or daughter have to study?
Some subjects are compulsory because they cover essential knowledge and skills that everyone needs for the future. The subjects they will have to take exams in are:
l English l Maths l Science
NewVIc science students, carry out an experiment in the laboratory.
There are some other subjects that they have to study, but may not lead to exams:
l Careers education l Citizenship l ICT l Religious studies l Work-related learning l Sex and relationship education l PE
Some schools have other compulsory subjects – which you will have to check directly with the school.
Your child’s school will offer choices for the rest of their timetable and may offer courses in:
l Humanities: for example, Geography, History or Sociology
l Creative subjects: Art, Design & Technology or Drama
l Modern foreign languages or other languages
Other work-related options may be available at your child’s school or as part of the Newham Borough-Wide Course Programme offer. Your child could be studying towards a vocational qualification such as a City & Guilds and may have the option to study courses related to different employment sectors including:
l Construction l Engineering l Retail l Hair & Beauty l Hospitality ... and more!
n What is the English Baccalaureate?
The English Baccalaureate was introduced as a performance measure in the 2010 performance tables. It is not a qualification in itself. The measure recognises where pupils have secured a C grade or better across a core of academic subjects – English, mathematics, history or geography, the sciences and a language. For more information visit:
http://www.education.gov. uk/schools/teachingandlearning/qualifications/ englishbac/a0075975/theenglishbaccalaureate or speak to your child’s head of year.
n Who can I talk to about option choices?
Your son’s or daughter’s school will hold an options evening, when you will be able to discuss all the options offered at that school, including any extra or special courses that may be appropriate. You will also be given the opportunity to discuss your son’s or daughter’s strengths in specific subjects, and to find out what the teachers feel they are capable of.
n I want my child to go into a specific profession. Where can I find out what qualifications are needed?
If your son or daughter wants to be something specific, have a look at this website, which offers search facilities for hundreds of different jobs and careers:
Where? What?
Why?
https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
Listed on the website are not just the qualifications needed but also an outline of what the job entails, plus a list of further contacts that might be useful. Be aware though that, while you might want your son or daughter to go into a specific career, they may not have an aptitude for that type of work and therefore may be unhappy continuing to study for it. It is up to your son or daughter to choose his/her own way in life and to make decisions they feel will serve them best. Your role would be to encourage, advise and accept who they are and what they want to do. If they are happy in their studies, they will achieve the most they can.
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