Year 9 GCSE/BTEC Level 2 Options Booklet 2026-2028 - Advice and guidance for students and parents/carers

Sep 5, 2026

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Year 9 GCSE/BTEC Level 2 Options Booklet 2026-2028 provides advice for students and parents/carers on choosing Key Stage 4 subjects starting September 2026. It explains the core curriculum requirements, the purpose of pathway guidance, and how students select up to four additional options through a questionnaire linked to future aspirations. The booklet also clarifies reserve choices, oversubscription or non-running courses, and the process for making final decisions in Year 9.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages35

Reading Time1 h 28 min

AccessFree to download

Letter of introduction

FAQs

Can I choose any subject I want?

Why am I asked to make a reserve choice?

Can I change my mind next year?

What is a BTEC Qualification?

What is a non-qualification course?

Sixth Form

Pathways

Core subjects

English

Mathematics

Science

Physical Education

Success for Life

Optional subjects

Art

ASDAN

Business

Computer Science

Design and Technology

Drama

Film Studies

Geography

Health and Social Care (BTEC Tech Award)

History

Hospitality and Catering (Vocational Award)

Modern Foreign Languages

Music

Philosophy and Ethics

Physical Education

Sport (BTEC Tech Award)

Sociology

Non-qualification subjects

Cooking for Life

Year 9 GCSE/BTEC Level 2 Options Information, advice and guidance for students and parents/carers 2026-2028 CONTENTS Tip: This table is interactive. Click to navigate. Letter of introduction 3 FAQs 4 Sixth Form 6 Pathways 8 CORE SUBJECTS English 9 Mathematics 11 Combined Science Trilogy 12 Separate Sciences 13 Physical Education 14 Success for Life 15 OPTIONAL SUBJECTS Art 16 ASDAN 17 Business 18 Computer Science 19 Design and Technology-Product Design 20 Design and Technology-Textiles 21 Drama 22 Film Studies 23 Geography 24 Health and Social Care-BTEC Tech Award 25 History 26 Hospitality and Catering-Vocational Award 27 Modern Foreign Languages 28 Music 29 Philosophy and Ethics 30 Physical Education 31 Sport-BTEC Tech Award 32 Sociology 33 NON-QUALIFICATION SUBJECTS Cooking for Life 34 Dear Student and Parents/Carers In Key Stage 3, students follow a curriculum with a wide range of subjects. This provides the breadth of study ensuring you, as the student, can make an informed choice regarding the subjects studied at Key Stage 4. The options process will offer you the guidance to choose the right GCSE/BTEC Level 2 subjects for your future aspirations. The school’s aim is to continue to maintain a broad and balanced curriculum for all students. This booklet has been produced to help you understand the Key Stage 4 (Year 10 and 11) curriculum and to support you in making subject choices for GCSE or equivalent courses, which begin in September 2026. This booklet outlines the different types of qualification available and lists the subjects which can be studied. We hope that all the information you will need to make your choices is contained in this booklet, but staff are always happy to help and advise you should you have any queries or need more information. The opportunity to choose certain subjects is an important difference at Key Stage 4. You need to think about what subjects you are interested in, as well as your ability in particular subjects. In addition, consideration should be given to how different combinations of subjects or qualifications fit in with future career and educational aspirations. You will be guided onto the right pathway to ensure that you are on the most appropriate and relevant courses to meet your full potential; we strongly advise you to consider the guidance provided. All students, including you, will follow what we call the core curriculum; this comprises of English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Science Trilogy (double award) or Triple Science (three separate Science qualifications), Physical Education and Success for Life. This range of qualifications is compulsory and studied in all schools. You, as students, will then, depending on your pathway, choose up to four further choices and complete a questionnaire as part of your option process. This is done to check that the courses you have chosen will support you with your future career aspirations. It is possible there will be some courses that do not run, due to lack of numbers and others that maybe oversubscribed, due to the number of staff available to teach a course. If this is the case, you will meet with a member of staff at that stage to discuss your choices and will be given further time to choose alternative options with your parents/carers before making your final decision. Yours sincerely Mrs K Davis Assistant Head-Director of Key Stage 4 Mrs L Holley Assistant Head-Director of Key Stage 3 Frequently asked questions Can I choose any subject I want? You already know that some subjects are compulsory. You will be guided onto a pathway which is based on your prior attainment. This will offer you a broad curriculum and the best opportunity to progress at post-16 into A Levels, college and apprenticeships. Why am I asked to make a reserve choice? You are asked to make a reserve choice/choices in case your preferred option is not run

FAQs

Can I choose any subject I want?

Some subjects are compulsory, and students are guided onto a pathway based on prior attainment. This supports progress at post-16 into A Levels, college, and apprenticeships.

Why am I asked to make a reserve choice?

A reserve choice is required if a preferred option does not run or is oversubscribed. Changes are discussed with students and families to help select the best available alternative.

Can I change my mind next year?

Decisions need to be made carefully now. While there may be a short cooling-off period before the timetable is written, by Year 10 choices will be set.

Sep 5, 2026

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