Year 9 Options Process 2025

The Year 9 options process is an important first step in your child making decisions that will shape their educational future. All students will continue to follow a broad and balanced curriculum, but within that, will begin to make choices about some of the subjects they want to study further and that will set them up well for the future.

What does Key Stage 4 look like at HASJW?

Key Stage 4 is Year 10 and Year 11. Most students study for ‘level 2’ qualifications during these two years, which includes GCSEs and vocational qualifications, such as BTECs.

All students study the ‘core’ subjects of English Literature, English Language, Maths and Science. Some students will obtain three science GCSEs by doing ‘triple science’ and some will obtain two GCSEs by doing ‘combined science’, but all students will study the three scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics.

All students will take part in ‘Core PE’ lessons, in line with government policy. They will not obtain a GCSE in this subject, but it is important for their physical health that they take part in regular sporting activity.

Many of our students at HASJW study the ‘Ebacc’ suite of subjects, which is the core subjects plus a ‘humanities subject’ (History or Geography) and a modern foreign language (French or Spanish).

For the language option, students will continue to study the language they have been learning in Year 7-9.

For the humanities option, students can choose History or Geography.

Students then have two further option subjects from the following list:

• Art
• Design Technology
• Food Technology
• Photography
• Religious Education
• Computer Science
• Creative i-media
• Sociology
• Drama
• Music
• Sport
• Business Studies
• Health and Social Care
• Arabic

This provides students with a broad curriculum, and most students will finish KS4 with 9 or 10 GCSEs.

Students who do not follow the full ‘Ebacc’ curriculum will choose additional options.

You and your child will be supported to identify the appropriate balance of options.

The booklet here: gives information about all the subjects we offer.

Options showcase presentations that have been shared with students can be viewed here:

Options process timeline

We want to support you and your child to make choices that will allow them to achieve their destiny, and we have a comprehensive process to do so. The timeline below gives more information, but please do not hesitate to contact Ms Stockdale (Vice Principal) at Elizabeth.stockdale@harrisstjohnswood.org.uk if you have further questions.

Thursday 13^th February 2025

4pm - Parents Evening and Options Evening

Friday 28^th February 2025

Deadline for completing ‘expression of interest’ form: https://forms.office.com/e/NymDY33ZyJ

March 2025

Careers meetings in schools and 1:1 with families as needed

Friday 4^th April 2025

Students in Year 9 will choose their options on 4^th April 2025 in a 1:1 meeting with a member of the senior leadership team to help them make the most appropriate choices for KS4.

May-June 2025

Options confirmed and shared with parents.

Parent actions

• Complete ‘expression of interest’ form with your child to support making the option blocks: https://forms.office.com/e/NymDY33ZyJ
• Discuss with your child which options will be the best fit for them.
• Contact HASJW if you have any questions or concerns.