Year 9 Guided Options

The Year 9 Guided Choices Evening will take place on Thursday, 27th March, from 5:00pm to 6:30pm. This event is designed to help students and parents make informed decisions about subject choices for Key Stage 4.

The evening will include:

• A presentation by senior leaders on the Guided Choices process and key factors to consider.

• A "subject marketplace" will be in the Jamieson Restaurant, where families can speak with subject leaders about course content, expectations and potential career pathways.

Schedule:

4:45pm

• Doors open, light refreshments available.

5:00pm – 5:40pm

• Students with surnames A–L to attend the presentation in the main hall.
• Students with surnames M–Z visit the subject marketplace in the Jamieson restaurant.

 5:40pm

• Groups rotate

 5:45pm - 6:30pm 

• Students with surnames M–Z to attend the presentation in the mina hall.
• Families with surnames A–L visit the subject marketplace in the Jamieson restaurant.

This event is an important step in a child’s education, and we strongly encourage attendance. We look forward to seeing you there!

All students study a core curriculum alongside their chosen option subjects

Use this link to complete an online form, which will allow you to  submit your choices. 

Before you select your options focus on:

✅ Reading the information in the Guided Choices booklet

✅ Talking to your teachers, family, and careers advisors

✅ Thinking about subjects you enjoy and excel in

✅ Considering future career aspirations

The Guided Choices process runs throughout March and the deadline for submitting your choices is 3rd April. Some of our key dates are below:

GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) qualifications take two years to complete and are graded on a scale from 9 to 1 (with 9 being the highest grade). Assessment is mainly exam-based, with some subjects including coursework or practical components. Exams take place at the end of Year 11, with some subjects offering foundation and higher tier papers. GCSEs are the main entry requirement for Level 3 courses, apprenticeships and many careers.

BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) qualifications are skills-based courses that combine practical experience with theoretical knowledge. They offer a progression route into further study, apprenticeships or employment. Assessment is a mix of coursework and external written exams and courses are structured into different modules over two years.

When selecting your subjects, consider:

• What is the subject about? Speak to subject teachers and older students about their experiences.

• Do you enjoy the subject? You’re more likely to succeed in subjects you find interesting and engaging.

• Will you be able to cope with the subject? Some subjects involve more practical work, writing or research than others, check with teachers if you're unsure.

• Consider your future goals. Think about how your subject choices relate to college courses, apprenticeships, university, or career aspirations. Explore career guidance on the Unifrog programme.

Not necessarily, for three reasons:

1. The range of subjects offered now, at the planning stage, may have to be modified because of staffing or other constraints.
2. It may be necessary to limit the numbers for safety reasons and/or access to equipment.
3. A student's level of attainment and progression in Year 9 will be considered before confirming final choices.

You will be asked to give reserve choices on your Options Form. It is important that you do this as some subjects may be under or oversubscribed, and therefore we will need to find an alternative option for you. If you do not give us a reserve choice, it will not make it more likely to receive your first choice. In fact, you may be placed into whichever subject has the lowest numbers. Remember that once your choices have been made, it may not be possible to change them as timetables will be fixed and many groups may be full.

The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) is a group of academic subjects that help prepare students for further study and future careers. It includes English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, History, Geography, and a Modern Foreign Language (Spanish).

The EBacc is not a qualification, so you won’t receive a certificate for completing it. However, studying these subjects shows that you have strong academic skills, which can improve your options for college, university, and employment, especially with top universities and major employers.

At Alsop High School, all students must study English, Maths, Combined Science, and Core PE, RE and Personal Development. Additionally, students must choose either History or Geography and Spanish. To be considered an EBacc student, you need to study both a Humanities subject (History or Geography) and Spanish.

Choosing the EBacc pathway is recommended if you have the ability to study a high number of academic subjects.