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.