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Year 9 Options Pathway
Options Evening on Thursday 12th March 2026.
16:00 – 18:00
Why Year 9 Options Matter
Choosing your GCSE options is a defining moment in your education. It is the first time you move from a universal curriculum for everyone to a personalised pathway that reflects your interests, strengths and future goals. To make the best choice, we encourage you to Be Responsible and give the process careful time and attention so that you make the right decisions for you.
While it feels like you are just picking subjects for the next two years, your choices can have a domino effect on your future. Be Responsible by researching how these choices impact your next steps:
- University Requirements: For competitive courses like Medicine or Engineering, universities often look for specific GCSEs.
- A-Level Readiness: Some subjects are difficult to pick up later if you haven't studied them now.
- The Advantage: A broad curriculum of English, Maths, Science and a Humanities subject is known to keep the most doors open for your future career.
Good career guidance is the key to social mobility. It is about showing you that whatever your background all options are open to you. We ask you to Be Respectful of the opportunities provided by our careers team and teachers; they are here to help you make informed decisions that set you on a rewarding path.
Discovering Your Working Style
Year 9 options allow you to explore different ways of learning. You might prefer academic GCSEs or more practical, vocational pathways like BTECs. This requires you to Be Resilient. Some subjects will challenge you in new ways, but sticking with them builds the problem-solving and communication capabilities that employers value most.
Personal Motivation
The transition to Years 10 and 11 is demanding. You are far more likely to succeed in subjects you enjoy. Be Responsible for your own success by choosing subjects that genuinely interest you, rather than just following what your friends are doing.
Your Success Checklist
Hylands Habits |
How to apply it to your options |
|---|---|
|
Be Responsible |
Do your own research. Check the subject outline and understand the assessment methods (exams vs. coursework). |
|
Be Respectful |
Listen to advice from parents, teachers and careers advisors. Respect the expertise they offer to help you succeed. |
|
Be Resilient |
Don't be afraid to pick a hard subject if it's right for your career goal. Hard work now leads to rewarding careers later. |
The goal is to ensure you leave school not just with good grades, but with a clear sense of direction and the tools to achieve a rewarding career.
Key Dates
We will shortly be conducting a student survey in school. Feedback from this survey will be used to confirm which subjects we will make available to meet the demands of the student community. At Year 9 Options Evening you will be given an options information booklet. This will include all the information you will need to make your child’s option choices with them.
Here is the Options 2026 timeline for your information:
- 23rd October 2025 - Careers Fair
- 15th January 2026 - Options Assembly
- 9th - 13th February 2026 - Student Survey
- Thursday 12th March 4.00 - 6.00pm - Year 9 Options Evening (full school uniform required)
- Late January and early February - Tutor time options sessions with information videos
- February to March - Careers Advisor support sessions
- 18th March - Options guidance delivered by Mr Smith from the Department of Work and Pensions: ‘What to Consider?’ and ‘Linking to Careers and Jobs’.
- 19th March - Google Form for final options choices sent out to parents
- February to April - Individual options support meetings with selected students
- 5pm on Friday 17th April - Deadline for final options choices due via Google Form
- 29th June - Parents and students notified of student’s options for September 2026
Should you have any questions about the options process please contact Ms Hart at sarah.hart@hylands-tkat.org