Guided Choices For Year 9 | The Samworth Church Academy

Choosing your GCSEs is an important first step in shaping the direction of your future. Learn how we guide you through this milestone.

The process begins with a Year 9 parent and student Information Evening in January/February and initial choices are requested from students shortly afterwards. This helps with curriculum planning and recruitment and at that point decisions are made by the executive team about which non-core subjects are likely to run. All group sizes need to indicate financial viability, except for where there is a particular special case for operating a smaller class as a ‘lost leader’. All students study our core subjects which are:

English Language
English Literature
Maths
Core and Additional Science (2 qualifications)/Separate Sciences
Religious Studies (RS)
Core PE (non-qualification)

Prior to student choosing their subjects there is a team leader analysis exercise of students’ ability to access Full EBACC provision. No students are force to access the Full EBACC, however personalised intervention will take place if a WILL student (see below) has not selected the Full EBACC but has been recommended for it. This intervention will take the form of an initial letter to make parents/carers aware of this, meetings and phone calls may then follow this. Students are categorised into three groups:

Will (study the Full EBACC) – students choose a language, a humanities subject and one other free choice. Designed to secure the full English Baccalaureate qualification for our more academic students.
Should (study the Full EBACC) - students choose one from either French, Spanish, History, Geography or Computer Science plus two other free choices. Designed to ensure a good range of subject choices and skill development for student and to meet the demands of the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 performance measures.
May (study the Full EBACC) - students choose one from either French, Spanish, History, Geography or Computer Science plus two other free choices. Designed to ensure a good range of subject choices and skill development for student and to meet the demands of the Attainment 8 and Progress 8 performance measures. Some students will study an in-house designed Life Skills course (instead of a compulsory EBACC subject) plus two guided choices predominately from our vocational subjects but tailored to the particular skills and interests of the students.

The current offer of optional subjects for our Year 9 students includes:

Animal Care	Dance	Geography	Media Studies	Spanish
Art	Drama	Hairdressing	Music	Technology (Systems)
Business Studies	Film Studies	Health & Social Care	PE	Technology (Timber)
Computer Studies	Food Studies	History	Photography	Technology (Textiles)
Construction	French	iMedia	Sports Science	Technology (Paper)

The first process of information gathering in February is then followed by a prolonged period of consultation and guidance of students utilising the knowledge and skills of a range of stakeholders (Careers Inc our IAG provider, the SENDCO and Student Values team, the relevant learning manager, the Curriculum Vocation team, tutors, subject leaders and parents/carers). The choices are then communicated home for final confirmation and checking in May ready for the new Year 10 courses to start in September.