Year 9

Are you panicking about which subjects to choose at the end of Year 9? Don’t! Read our essential guide below to choosing your options.

Subject Choices

• In year 9 you will be asked to make choices about courses that you will study for years 10 and 11, like GCSEs, although there could be other courses on offer such as NVQs or City and Guilds.
• Your school will be able to tell you in detail and will usually produce information about what‘s on offer (normally Spring term).
• They will give you plenty of information and there will be the opportunity for your parents or carers to come to the school and discuss options with you and your teachers.

Career choices

• Nobody expects you to map out your whole life but what you decide now may influence your study path for the next few years.
• Now is your opportunity to find out more about what is available to you.
• You may have some ideas about what you would like to do e.g.doctor, lawyer, motor mechanic but is there anything else that will suit you?

What can you do now?

• Check out jobs that interest you and find out if there are any subjects you have just got to have to do them.
• Some subjects you have to do anyway, like English, Maths, Science and IT.
• You may need to do extra sciences if you are thinking of careers in medical subjects, health and social care, science or engineering.
• Don’t forget to look at vocational GCSEs, which might be available in subjects like leisure and tourism or business (and there could be others).
• You might also find there are courses which are studied part time at a local college and could help you with certain careers.
• Find out as much as you can about the subjects on offer and think:
• do I need them?
• will I enjoy them?
• will I do well at them?
• If you start thinking now, you will be in a good position to make those choices.

For more information go to the Which Way Now? website: www.connexions.gov.uk/whichwaynow