Making your Key Stage 4 option choices is an important time for all Year 9 students. Please take the time with your parents/carers to review the information below to ensure you make informed choices.
Welcome
The next two years represent an important stage in each student’s education at The Kingsway School. The qualifications gained will provide the basis for future studies and careers. Students should therefore ensure that their decisions are informed and responsibly taken.
Whilst we have made some changes to the options process this year, we have maintained a broad curriculum which provides the best foundation for the next stage in student careers.
All students will need to select three subjects to study in addition to the core curriculum (maths, English language, English literature, science, PPE and PE).
Resources
Please click here for a copy of the current Year 9 Options Booklet.
What is the English Baccalaureate?
The English Baccalaureate, or EBacc, is a set of subjects that seeks to maximise young people’s options for further study and future careers. In order to complete the EBacc, students need to study English, Maths, Science, a Language and a Humanities subject.
The subjects that count towards this include:
• English (Literature and Language)
• Maths
• Science (Core science, Separate sciences, Computer Science)
• Humanities (History, Geography)
• Languages (Spanish, French)
The Ebacc is seen to have tangible benefits. A study by the UCL Institute of Education showed that studying subjects included in the EBacc provided students with greater opportunities in further education and increased the likelihood that a student would stay on in full-time education. Sutton Trust research also revealed that studying the EBacc can help improve a young person’s performance in English and maths.
The EBacc also has implications for further study. If your ambition is to go to a top university, these universities have made it clear that they will be looking for high grade A-Level passes in some of what they consider to be the most challenging subjects:
• Maths and Further Maths
• English Literature
• Physics, Chemistry, Biology
• History
• Geography
• Languages (Classical and Modern)
• Computing
Therefore, if you think you might want to go on to do A-Levels in any of these subjects, then you should think very carefully about taking some of them at GCSE.
What Different Types of Qualifications are Available?
Students at TKS are able to choose from two types of qualification: GCSE and VOCATIONAL subjects. Below is a summary of each, as well as some of the key differences.
GCSE:
GCSE qualifications take a more ‘traditional’ approach to assessment, with all assessment taking the form of exams at the end Year 11. All of these exams are set externally by exam boards. GCSEs are more content driven than BTECs, with success relying upon a student’s growing ability to recall and apply factual information and skills. Colleges and Sixth Forms do not always require GCSEs for further study, but more selective providers may.
VOCATIONAL:
Our vocational subjects at TKS are Level 2 qualifications. It is worth noting that these courses are not less challenging than GCSEs and in some cases can be more challenging. They are the equivalent to GCSEs and are fully recognised by post-16 education providers and employers. The main differences between vocational courses and GCSEs relate to the course content and assessment procedures. Instead of just exams, BTEC courses are also assessed throughout the two-year course by way of a portfolio of work. Much of that work is practically based and linked to real world scenarios. Vocational subjects provide progression onto Level 3 courses offered by post-16 education providers in the area. These Level 3 qualifications (post-16) attract UCAS points in the same way that their A Level equivalents do, enabling progression to university and further study.
Choosing Options
All students will need to select three subjects to study in addition to the core curriculum.
Students MUST choose one of the subjects from the top section of the options form.
Students should then indicate their preference (1st to 4th) for four additional subjects listed in the main section of the options form. The school will allocate students two of these subjects. Where possible we will allocate students to preferences 1 and 2.
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All students must choose one subject from the list below: |
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Computer Science (GCSE) |
Geography (GCSE) |
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History (GCSE) |
MFL - French (GCSE) |
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MFL - Spanish (GCSE) |
Separate Sciences (GCSE) |
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All students must indicate their preference (1st to 4th) for four additional subjects listed below. |
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Art & Design - Fine Art (GCSE) |
Art & Design - Photography (GCSE) |
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Business Studies (GCSE) |
Computer Science (GCSE) |
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Creative Media (Vocational) |
Digital IT (Vocational) |
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Geography (GCSE) |
Health & Social Care (Vocational) |
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History (GCSE) |
Hospitality & Catering (Vocational) |
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MFL - French (GCSE) |
MFL - Spanish (GCSE) |
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Performing Arts - Dance (Vocational) |
Performing Arts - Drama (GCSE) |
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Physical Education (GCSE) |
Religious Education (GCSE) |
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Separate Sciences (GCSE) |
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Entry Requirements
It is important to us that our students have as much choice as possible when it comes to their options choices, as well as ensuring that students are studying subjects that give them the best possible chance of success. For this reason, we have a small selection of subjects that have ‘entry requirements’ that ensure students can meet the demands of the course.
If you feel there is a specific reason why the school may need to make a reasonable adjustment to our entry requirements, please discuss this with Mr K Bourne.
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Subject |
Entry Requirements |
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Computer Science |
Students need to have a score of at least THREE for ACQUIRE and APPLY in both Year 9 Computing and Maths. |
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Separate Sciences |
Students need to have a score of at least THREE for ACQUIRE and APPLY for Year 9 Science. |
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Physical Education |
The GCSE PE option should only be taken by students who play AT LEAST TWO SPORTS, either for school or for an outside sports club, and have a genuine interest in sport and exercise. Students need to have a score of at least THREE for ACQUIRE and APPLY for Year 9 Physical Education and a strong knowledge of Biology. |
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Vocational Subjects: Creative Media Production* Digital IT Health & Social Care Hospitality & Catering Performing Arts: Dance |
Our vocational subjects require completion of coursework throughout Years 10 and 11. For this reason, all vocational subjects require students to have AVERAGE or ABOVE AVERAGE attendance in Year 9.
*Please Note that for Creative Media Production, students must also have a score of THREE or above for ACQUIRE and APPLY in English, due to the extended writing requirement on the course.
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Key Dates
• Options booklets issued - week beginning Monday 26th January 2026.
• Year 9 Options Evening - Thursday 29th January 2026.
• Digital option forms made available - Monday 2nd February 2026.
• Year 9 Parents’ Evening - Thursday 12th February 2026.
• Completed Options forms must be submitted by Monday 23rd February 2026.
Mr J. Weil
Assistant Headteacher responsible for Options