The Year 9 Options Process (as of 2023)
The Chelsea Academy Key Stage 4 Options Handbook is available for you to download below. The purpose of this publication is to assist parents, carers and students in the process of choosing the courses that are the most suitable to follow through to GCSEs.
Students’ selection may include courses familiar to them from Key Stage 3, as well as courses that they have not previously studied. What is important is that students choose subjects in which they are confident or they think will enjoy learning more about, that are appropriate for the demands of future careers and higher education (university) courses that they may be interested in pursuing and that reflect the strengths they have demonstrated in their Key Stage 3 studies.
Four of the most common mistakes that students can make when choosing their options are:
- Choosing subjects because they like the teacher who has taught them at Key Stage 3
- Choosing subjects that they think will be easy
- Choosing subjects that don’t really interest them, only because their parents / carers tell them to
- Choosing subjects because their friends have chosen them.
Students should remember, these are their choices and whatever they choose will determine how they spend a considerable amount of their time over the next three years leading to GCSEs, the A-level and other post-16 courses that they will be able to study at Sixth Form and the careers for which they will be qualified in the longer-term future.
This is unquestionably one of the most important times in their educational life so far. It is important, therefore, that they make sure they research and consider their options carefully. Students should ask lots of questions and talk to as many well-informed people as possible, just like they would about any other important decision in their lives.
Students at Chelsea Academy are fortunate that they have the opportunity to start their GCSE courses a year earlier than has normally been the case in most schools. They should make the most of it!
Key Dates
