Year 9 Option Choices

Are they options? Are they choices? No, they're option choices (official name used by teachers)! In January Year 9s have to drop some subjects and take the others further, for GCSE in most cases.

Mandatory

These are the subjects which everyone must take:

• Maths GCSE
• English Literature GCSE
• English Language GCSE
• Biology GCSE
• Physics GCSE
• Chemistry GCSE
• RS GCSE
• IT Short course GCSE
• Core PE (the GCSE course is optional) lessons just to keep fit
• PSHE lessons just to learn everyday skills (pre 2010, students would take an exam to gain half a GCSE in PSHE. Sadly, this is no longer the case)

Option 1 - Languages

You have to choose one of the languages you are studying for this option. If you want to do two languages, don't worry, you will have the choice the other language in options 3 and 4.

• German
• Spanish
• French

Option 2 - Humanities

In this option you can choose a "Humanity", Obviously! Again, if you want both you can choose the other in options 3 and 4.

• Geography
• History

Option 3 - Free Choice

These choices are what some people would consider to be the more "fun" subjects. They usually have smaller sets with not as many classes. Students can choose one from:

• Art
• Computing Plus*
• Drama Studies
• Geography
• Maths Plus*
• Music
• Technology: Food
• Technology: Resistant Materials
• Technology: Electronic Products

Option 4 - Free Choice

This is the similar to option 3.

• Art
• Computing Plus*
• Geography
• German
• History
• Maths Plus*
• Music
• PE

Plus's

• Maths Plus will earn you an FSMQR (qualification between GCSEs and A-Levels worth 20 UCAS points) in addition to the compulsary GCSE. Computing Plus students will finish their IT GCSE in Year 10 and focus on the AS qualification in Year 11.

You can only choose one of the Plus subjects.

Option 5 - Critical Thinking

This is an AS level which will be done after school during Year 10. Yes or no, Simple!