Welcome, you have succeeded in the first part of your GCSEs, you are reading the options booklet.

This is a significant milestone in your education. Until now, you have had little or no choice in the subjects you are taught. You are now at a stage where you can reflect on your learning and start to identify a clear pathway to your future. Choosing your options is a significant task and requires careful consideration. If you get this decision right and apply yourself to your learning, then you can go on to great things.

As the world becomes more competitive and challenging, you need to ensure you stand out. It’s important to pick a language, to be able to communicate with others around the world, and to broaden your possibilities and your horizons. It’s important to pick a subject that teaches you more about the world we live in - and how it came to be the way it is - subjects like History, Geography and RE. It’s important to pick subjects that enrich your experience at school and develop your skills in the widest possible sense. Finally, it’s important to consider variety in your study - and to see each subject as a cog in your wheel of success.

When choosing your options, you need to have a clear sense as to why you have chosen specific subjects. Therefore, it is important that you pick subjects based on valid criteria that make sense to you. These could be from the following: do you have a particular strength or talent you want to really excel at? Are you interested in learning more about a specific subject? Is that subject a good route to a future career you want to pursue? Do you know older students who have already studied the course and given you some experience of what it is all about? Have you listened to the advice around university admissions, and which subjects they are looking for?

There is much to ponder. One piece of advice would be to embrace this process and treat it as an opportunity to have ownership over your education. However, the most important thing is that you pick the courses that make you happy, that make you love to learn, and open opportunities for your future.

Let’s RISE to challenge of our Key Stage 4 studies here at Sir Thomas Fremantle

If you would like further information about the process, please contact Assistant Head Teacher - Kayleigh Shaw - kayleigh.shaw@sirthomasfremantle.org