Year 9 Options

During Key Stage 3 at Saint Aidan’s (Years 7 – 9) students follow a broad range of subjects that are required as part of the National Curriculum.   Students have no choice at all with regard to the subjects they take.  At Key Stage 4 (Years 10 – 11) students have some limited choice regarding subjects and it is important that they choose wisely.

The government has produced a list of subjects which it sees as the “academic core” which many students should be studying until they finish Year 11. This academic core consists of:

English Language and English Literature

Mathematics

Science (Double or Triple Award Science GCSEs)

A foreign language.  This means German or Spanish

A “Humanity” subject.  This means History or Geography

To encourage as many young people as possible to take these subjects the “English Baccalaureate” is awarded to students who achieve a good GCSE grade in all of these.  This is not a separate certificate but it does show the sorts of subjects you should be taking if you can reach a good grade in them. 

Saint Aidan’s encourages students to follow subjects which will lead to the English Baccalaureate and this is built into our options process.  There is a recognition however that this may not be suitable for all. 

Further details of the choices available to students in the academic year 2022-2023 can be found in the Year 9 Options booklet.