Year 9 GCSE Options
Wondering which GCSEs, you should take?
To help you decide what to study in Years 10 and 11, start by asking yourself what you enjoy doing and what you're good at.
Think about:
- what you’re interested in: it could be other cultures and languages, writing projects, helping people, being outdoors or designing things
- what types of activity you enjoy most - working things out and thinking them through, practical activities or artistic options like painting, drawing, or performing music
- what you're like at home, as well as in school - what skills have you developed following outside interests?
There are some subjects so important that everyone must take them, but you still have options in Year 9. If you have a firm career idea, research it, and choose your options accordingly. Remember, no qualification is ever wasted. You don’t have to have a career in mind at this stage – you just need to choose subjects and courses that will give you plenty of choice later. Choose subjects that you enjoy!
Key Dates
|
Options Evening |
3rd February 2026 |
|
KS4 Taster Day |
12th February 2026 |
|
Year 9 Progress Evening |
12th February 2026 |
|
Initial interest Deadline (Microsoft Form) |
5th March 2026 |
|
1:1 interviews |
9th March—16th April 2026 |
|
Options Form deadline |
23rd April 2026 |
|
Confirmed options to parents and pupils |
24th June 2026 |
Options Information Booklet & Form
Year 9 Options Booklet
Link to Initial Interest form - YEAR 9 OPTIONS 2026 – Fill in form
Year 9 Options Information Evening - Presentations
Below are copies of the subject presentations that provided information to parents / carers at the Year 9 Options Information Evening.
Year 9 Options - Subject Presentations
Where can I get help and advice?
The choices are yours, but there is plenty of advice in the links below so you can do as much research for yourself. Parents, carers, family and teachers probably know you best, so talking to them can help you what might suit you. Ms Louth, our Careers Advisor can guide you towards advice about which subjects and qualifications are useful for particular careers.
Useful websites to help you start thinking about your options:
Careerometer: Careerometer compares jobs by salary, working hours and employment prospects.
https://careerpilot.org.uk/job-sectors/subjects
Bitesize: Explore all Bitesize Careers' job profiles by specific school subjects to find out about jobs, training and top tips. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhst2sg
Quick guide: Picking your GCSE options is an exciting time. Here's a quick guide about compulsory subjects, what you can choose, and more to help you make your decision.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zrjh92p
Keep an eye on this page for updates!
