Getting the decision right before courses are prepared

We use the Course Choices process to design our curriculum, grouping and timetable for your child’s Key Stage 4 programme of study. In doing so we plan carefully to optimise our grouping, staffing and timetable. Any changes made after this process has been undertaken mean that we cannot guarantee that a student will have the optimal timetable. For this reason it is important that students make the correct selection of course choices from the beginning as part of this process.

Being realistic about Key Stage 4 study

All the courses that we offer equip our students with valuable knowledge and skills for future life, learning and work, so that they gain qualifications that will open doors to them in their futures; however, it is important that students realise that Key Stage 4 study will be challenging in every subject and your child should make his/her choices aware of this.

To focus our students on getting their choices right we are expecting all students to confirm the following for each of their subjects:

I have not chosen this subject because a friend is doing it

I have not chosen this subject based on the teachers

I am realistic about what key stage 4 study involves in this subject

I am realistic about how good I am at this subject

I do not think that I will change my mind about opting for this subject

Three particular issues for parents to be vigilant of are:

  1. Students assuming that new subjects will be more ‘fun’
  2. Students underestimating the amount of written work in practical subjects
  3. Students taking on too many ‘coursework’ based subjects and then struggling to manage their time in Year 11

So that we can be sure that the above has been considered, students will be required to write an explanation for their choices when submitting their Initial Course Choices.