On this page you will find the information that you need to find out about the curricula on offer at Key Stage 4 at Heworth Grange School.

Dear Year 9 student,

You are about to enter the next important stage in your school life. Over the next two academic years you will be following a range of examination courses that will provide you with your first set of school certificates and, hopefully, lead to further successes as you leave Heworth Grange to follow your Post-16 education or training.

Up to now you have been studying a wide range of subjects at Key Stage 3 as part of a balanced curriculum that has provided you with a firm foundation for your next steps. In fact, you have followed a range of subjects that has met all the requirements of the National Curriculum, and more.

In September you will progress to Key Stage 4, where each of the subjects taught have a specification which takes a certain amount of lesson time to get through.  This makes it impossible to study an unlimited number of subjects in Years 10 and 11; you need to make some choices. This is what the preferences process is for.

To reach the best possible solution we make sure you follow courses that you have to do to fulfil the requirements of the National Curriculum, and then we give you a choice of subjects to fill the remainder of your curriculum time in school. Therefore, some of your subjects will be compulsory (we call them the ‘core’ subjects), and some are optional. The optional subjects may be traditional GCSE and/or vocational qualifications. There is more information about the different types of qualification later in this booklet.

Please read this options booklet carefully. It will give you an overview of the different subjects that you may be able to choose, as well as an overview of each of the core subjects. This is an exciting time in your education where you get to make some choices, please make sure that you consider them carefully, and take note of all the advice and guidance that is given to you.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. B Vause

Associate Assistant Principal

Subjects you can choose (click to watch)

Preferences Booklet (click to read)

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Next steps

• Watch the options information videos above.
• Read the course information provided in the booklet linked above.
• Discuss your subject choices with parents/carers, advisory teachers, and subject teachers.
• Students then decide which subjects they wish to study, and which courses they will have as ‘reserves.’
• Complete and return your preferences form with your selections on it; this form will be shared with students at a later date.

 

Questions and queries about the preferences process

We encourage students to speak to school staff about the preferences process, as our staff have a wealth of knowledge about the courses on offer to students.