KS4 Options Choices Guide
The following pages are designed to help you understand the process to make your Key Stage 4 subject choices and the range of subjects available.
Introduction
In Key Stage 3 (Years 7&8), all students study essentially the same subjects determined by the national curriculum. During Key Stage 4 (Years 9-11), there is a shift towards a more flexible model where students are given the opportunity to select some of their courses to begin to tailor their education for future needs in further education or training.
You will be aware that the age of participation has recently been increased. This means that children will need to be in either full-time education, an apprenticeship, or part-time education or training up until they are 18. We advise that you plan for the whole of that time, not just the next three years. Make sure to keep career options open by choosing a broad range of subjects. The English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) is a useful starting point. To achieve the EBacc students must study at least seven GCSEs in the five areas: English language, English literature, maths, double science or biology, chemistry and physics, history or geography and a language.
Students should play to their strengths and choose subjects they are good at and enjoy. Choosing a subject because their friends have, or because they like their current teacher, is not likely to lead to success.
Below we outline each of the subjects on offer at KWS. Please use the links to explore and research each subject to support your decision. The option subjects provide a video to support further. But first we ask you to watch the introductory video at the top of this page.
Core Subjects
All students at Key Stage 4 follow a “core” curriculum of maths, English language, English literature, science, PE, PRE (Philosophy, Religion and Ethics), PSHCE (including the statutory elements of Careers Education & Guidance, Personal, Social, Health & Citizenship Education).
- GCSE English Language
- GCSE English Literature
- GCSE Maths
- GCSE Science (Combined & Triple)
- GCSE PRE (Philosophy, Religion and Ethics)
- PSHCE
- Core Physical Education (PE) – All students will participate in 2 core lessons of PE each week.
Option Subjects
Students will choose three additional courses from those outlined below. We will then do our best to timetable these choices, it is not always possible to timetable every combination and so some students may be asked to make an alternative choice. Similarly, if too many or too few students choose a particular course, an alternative choice may also be required.
Option subjects A&B
In November 2025 the government introduced new criteria to ensure a breadth of study at Key Stage 4. and you therefore must select subjects from across two of these categories for your Options A & B:
Humanities
Creative Subjects
- GCSE Art: Fine Art*
- GCSE D&T: Resistant Materials
- GCSE D&T: Textiles
- GCSE Drama
- GCSE Dance
- GCSE Music
Languages
Option subjects C
Options subject C can then be any of the subjects we offer, including additional ones from Humanities, Creative Subjects or Languages.
- GCSE Business
- GCSE Computing
- GCSE Drama
- GCSE D&T: Resistant Materials*
- GCSE D&T: Textiles*
- GCSE Food and Nutrition
- GCSE I.T
- GCSE History
- GCSE Mandarin
- GCSE Media
- GCSE Music
- GCSE/BTEC PE
- GCSE Spanish
- BTEC Home Cooking
- GCSE Dance
* Students are unable to study more than one Art based course and must only select one as an option.
Support
As outlined in the above video, you should use the subject pages linked to guide your choices, alongside your report card and conversations with your subject teachers – the upcoming parents evening is a key opportunity to discuss your options choices.
Timeline
- Launch of KS4 option choices to Yr 8 students – 26 Jan
- Launch of KS4 option choices to parents – 27 Jan
- Yr 8 Reports issued – 05 Feb
- Yr 8 Parent/ carer consultation evening – 10 Feb
- Online System for entering option choices via TOOLS opens – 09 Mar
- Deadline for option choices to online system via TOOLS – 18 Mar
- Review meetings (as needed ) – w/c 13 Apr
The student selections will then be used to generate the school timetable. Unless students, parents and carers hear from the school the assumption is that the process has been successful. The school will contact students, Parents and carers only if a subject clash has been identified and needs to be resolved.
Useful Websites
Website written by the Careers Writers Association for Parents and Carers, or those supporting young people with their future decisions
https://www.parentalguidance.org.uk/making-choices/making-subject-choices-at-age-12-14
YCH Services for Young People is part of Hertfordshire County Council and provides youth work projects, information, advice, guidance, work related learning and wider support for young people.
https://www.ychertfordshire.org/
https://www.ychertfordshire.org/careers/careers-and-choices/choosing-your-options-in-year-89/
UCAS website allows you to research future possible university courses to determine entry requirements.
