Subject choices

The school believes it is essential that we have a curriculum that supports all individuals in fulfilling their potential.

The school provides a broad and balanced curriculum that is accessible to all students.

Key Stage 4 sees us offer students a range of subjects, from which they are encouraged to study a curriculum focussed on progression into education, employment or training. We promote the importance of an academic curriculum, in particular the English Baccalaureate subjects. All students are supported to achieve the very best that they can achieve.

You will be supported to make informed decisions about your subject choices. This will include an options assembly, course taster sessions and an options evening.

More information about the curriculum and subjects available can be found on the school website.

 

Reasons for choosing a subject

• Enjoying it.
• Finding it interesting.
• Being good at it.
• Teachers indicating that you will do well at it.
• The subject is needed or useful for future career ideas.

You should not choose a subject just because your friends are doing it!

It is advisable to discuss the courses available with parents/carers, family, subject teachers and careers staff.

GCSE grades

 

The Government has introduced changes, including a 9-1 grading scale to replace A* to G grades. For example, grades 4/5 will be equivalent to a grade C, grade 6 is equivalent to a grade B and grades 7-9 are equivalent to A/A*.

 

For further details, please refer to the DfE information below:

English Baccalaureate (EBacc)

The EBacc is not a qualification in itself. It is a particular group of GCSE subjects looked on favourably by universities. The subjects are English, maths, science (including computer science), history or geography and a modern foreign language.

You do not need to have studied all these subjects to go to university but having your GCSE mix steered towards the English Baccalaureate will help keep options open.

Subjects and careers

Check out BBC Bite Size  and UCAS  to see where subjects could take you.

Alternatively, use the National Careers Service to explore and check out careers.

Specialist colleges

It is also possible to transfer at the start of Year 10 to a specialist vocational college, such as Aston University Engineering Academy (which specialises in engineering and science courses) and Birmingham Ormiston Academy (which specialises in creative, digital and performing arts courses).