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Year 9 Options
Making curriculum choices in Year 9 is a very important process here at HGAED. It is an opportunity for you and your daughter to take increased control of the education choice on offer to her.
The options chosen for Years 10 and 11 will affect how your daughter will spend her time at school for the next two years. The choices made will also influence what options are available after Year 11 in terms of further study. These options will be studied alongside our core curriculum of English, Maths, Science, MFL, Core PE and PSHE (see our KS4 curriculum presentation at the bottom of this page).
It is vitally important to choose subjects for the correct reasons. Spend some time with your daughter thinking about what subjects she enjoys doing, what keeps her interested and motivated.
There will be an Options Market Place Event for all Year 9 students in January. Key people such as Heads of Department will be discussing what it’s like to study their subject at GCSE. This event is a chance for students to ask questions regarding the various options on offer. We also encourage students to gain additional information from staff at the academy, friends and extended family to guide, advise and support them in this important decision-making process.
Options booklet
All students will be given an options booklet which will give the full range of courses on offer in Key Stage 4 and give you an overview each subject.
Click HERE to download a copy of our options booklet.
Good reasons for choosing an option
- You are good at the subject
- You think you will enjoy the course
- It fits your career ideas and plans
- It goes well with your other choices
- It helps to give you plenty of choice post 16
- You think you might want to continue studying it post 16
- Your research shows that it will interest you and motivate you to learn
Bad reasons for choosing an option
- Your friends have chosen it
- You think it will be easy
- Someone else thinks it is a good idea
- You like the teacher you have now
- You did not have time to research your options properly
Important dates 2021-22
W/C 13/12/21 - Launch assembly (during coaching time). This is to introduce students to the process and give some good, general starting advice.
18/1/22, 13:30 -15:00 - Year 9 Options Market Place (Hall). Heads of Department and subject specialists to meet with all students and give every student the opportunity to ask subject specific questions. This event is designed to give students more information on the key knowledge and skills that will be required and developed.
20/1/22, 17:00 -17:45 - Year 9 Options Parents Information Evening (Via Microsoft Teams). Mr Bonful will explain the process to parents and carers so they are fully informed and can support their daughter in the best possible way. Full details are in the letter given out on 16th December.
21/1/22 – 28/1/22 - Option Forms Submitted (Online). Students will be given a form to make their choice of humanity, first and second preference for Option A and Option B. These are not final choices but will allow the academy to see which courses are most likely to run.
3/2/2022 - Y9 Parent Consultation - This will be an opportunity to discuss progress and attainment in all subjects, alongside suitability for options courses selected.
After February 2022 half term - Confirmation of choices. Students are interviewed 1 to 1 and option choices are discussed with a senior leader. Final confirmation letters sent to parents/carers.
Information for parents/carers
Below is a short video that we feel will help students and their parents/carers start discussing what options are best for their future aspirations.
Letters home and presentations
Click on the links below to see other useful documents you might like to read.
Year 9 Options Launch Assembly Presentation
