Your child is approaching a significant milestone in their education. Over the next two years, they will embark on examination courses that will secure their first formal qualifications—setting the stage for future success in the Sixth Form, college, apprenticeships, and their future careers.
At Leigh Academy Hugh Christie, we are committed to providing an exceptional education. By setting high standards and offering tailored support, we ensure our students are positioned to achieve their personal best. We are incredibly proud of our students’ past successes and look forward to seeing your child continue this tradition.
Throughout Year 9, students have explored a diverse range of subjects within the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. This broad curriculum has provided the essential skills and knowledge needed for the rigour of GCSE study.
As they move into Key Stage 4 this September, the depth of each subject increases. Because each specification requires dedicated lesson time, students must now begin to specialise.
To ensure a balanced education that meets National Curriculum requirements, your child’s timetable will consist of Core (compulsory) subjects and Optional subjects.
The Option Choices: To maintain a well-rounded academic profile, students are asked to shape their elective curriculum as follows:
Step 1: Select History or Geography
Step 2: Select two additional subjects from our wide range of options.
This structure allows students to focus on their interests and strengths while ensuring they remain competitive for future opportunities.
The compulsory core subjects are English Language, English Literature, mathematics, combined science, PSHRE and core PE (PSHRE and PE are non-examined). Students will then have a choice of either History or Geography as a compulsory subject. and a further two option subjects they can choose from the option columns. The optional subjects may be traditional GCSE and/or vocational qualifications.
Choosing your options for Year 10 is an important step and the first of many you will have to make regarding GCSEs, Sixth Form and the careers you will eventually follow.
You cannot make good decisions without the information this booklet gives. It explains the courses that are available. It shows you how to go about making the decision which is right for you. Read it carefully and talk it over with your parents, teachers and advisor.
Please click on the questions below for more information.
You have to study for GCSEs in English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Combined Science, Spanish or German, History or Geography. You will also have lessons in PSHRE and Core PE which are non-examined.
Vocational Qualifications
You can choose from OCR Nationals and BTECs which lead on to level 3 courses.
GCSE Option Subjects
You can choose from a list of subjects, but the choice is not completely free. You should aim for a broad selection of subjects to keep your options open in the future. Choose one subject from each column and not the same subject twice!
Not every combination of subjects is possible. Check the options grid carefully before making your choices.
In most cases you will, but this cannot be guaranteed. Although every effort will be made to accommodate your wishes, it is likely that some courses do not attract enough students to go ahead, be oversubscribed or have minimum criteria for entry. Ensure you have also decided on reserve choices. We will endeavour to meet your needs.
Most students in Year 9 have little idea of their career choice and even if you know about a possible career you may change your mind. You should select a balanced range of subjects.
English is a key subject.
Maths is another key subject.
Science helps us to understand the world around us. It is a key subject.
Foreign languages are useful for developing ever closer ties with Europe. They are helpful in widening the scope of career opportunities as Britain expands trade with our European partners.
Visual art subjects such as art and design, help us to understand the world around us and communicate ideas in order to interact with it.
Humanities e.g. History, Geography and Business Studies help us to understand the way people live and act.
Digital Information Technology (DIT) provides a vital skill which is useful in all careers and important in supporting work in all your subjects.
Drama and Vocational Studies help us explore and respond to the world around us as well as enabling us to express ourselves, grow in confidence and shape our identity.
It will help to have a broad selection of subjects which will help give you a wider choice of courses and careers. Employers and Further/Higher Education institutions look for a balance of subjects!
There are two key questions to ask when choosing subjects for the next two years. These are:
What am I good at? What do I like?
You will be given the opportunity in advisory time to examine your strengths and weaknesses in the subjects you currently follow.
You should not necessarily choose only your best subjects, but it may be foolish to choose subjects in which you are not likely to be successful (discuss if you are unsure).
Enjoying a subject can make a big difference to how well you do, so what you like is particularly important.
Choosing what you are good at and what you like is strongly advised and much better than jumping at a career idea and working backwards
You must seek out people with whom you can discuss your choice of subject.
Your subject teachers
Your parents
Your Advisor
Family
Friends
Employer contacts
College teams
They may recommend certain choices knowing your strengths and weaknesses.
do...
read about all the subjects on offer. Many courses are different or new. Find out whether they will suit your needs or not.
ask questions and discuss the choices with teachers, parents and careers staff.
aim for a balanced choice to keep your career and future course options open.
look at yourself honestly and discover what sort of person you are, i.e. your interests, abilities and personality.
do not...
be influenced by your friends as to what you choose. It MUST be your choice.
choose subjects because you may like or dislike your present teacher.
choose a subject for a certain career if you are weak at that subject.
be totally influenced by any one perspective — take a range of views when you make your choice.
choose a subject because it is ‘new’ and it must be ‘better’ than what you know. Make sure you check it out!
Above all – choose wisely and well!
COURSES/FURTHER INFORMATION The information in this booklet is based on such advanced information as is available at the time of writing. However, some of the courses are new and not all the details are yet available. We have tried to provide enough information to help you make decisions but it is possible that some details given will change. Parents may be aware that the GCSE grades changed in 2017 from A*-G to numerical grading’s’ of 1-9 with grade 8/9 ranking as the highest.
INDEPENDENT STUDY Independent study is an integral part of most courses. Some subjects still set independent study on a regular weekly pattern to prepare for or to consolidate the work in lesson time. Increasingly however, GCSE, OCR Nationals and Diplomas require projects to be completed over several weeks usually to a deadline. These may be part of the required assessment. Sometimes students are required to plan their own independent study. It is normal for students to have two independent study assignments on most evenings. Parents who feel that their son or daughter is significantly over or under-burdened are encouraged to contact the advisor at an earlystage.
COURSEWORK DEADLINES Some courses include an element of coursework. There will be coursework deadlines and mid-course modular examinations. It is important that candidates understand that failure to meet these deadlines can seriously reduce the grade. Parents will be notified of the main assessment deadlines, as far as they are known, in the third Semester.
COSTS In most cases there are no significant additional costs to be borne by parents because textbooks and some other materials are supplied. Limited costs, such as occasional school trips will fall to parents. If students wish to annotate their textbooks (as is often the case in English Literature), they will be asked to pay for the books themselves. Subjects where students may require specialist materials and high levels of photocopying will need to supply these or contribute to the costs.
PARENTAL SUPPORT Many examination courses involve large amounts of continuous assessment, which can require work to be produced to a deadline. Those who develop a regular working habit are rewarded, but students who fall behind can find themselves ungraded at the end of the course. In these cases, parental support can be invaluable in helping a student plan their workload at home, and develop regular working patterns.
If you have any questions about the options process, please do not hesitate to contact us at the school.
