Welcome to the Noel-Baker Year 9 Options page. Below are the two different pathways available as well as information on each of the subjects and some frequently asked questions to help you. If you have any queries about your options please contact us on [email protected]
Mr Oliver
A General Certificate in Secondary Education (GCSE) is the culmination of all your hard work in from primary and secondary school. As well as giving you useful skills and knowledge in themselves, GCSEs are an important steppingstone if you want to get a job or continue studying. Most employers and colleges ask for candidates to have at least five GCSEs, so they will come in useful, whatever you choose to do.
In year 9, you can select some of the subjects you would like to study in years 10 and 11. This is called choosing your guided curriculum pathway.
Everyone must study Maths, English, Triple Science and, depending on their pathway, a selection from French, Geography and History, at GCSE-level.
The other subjects you can take are detailed below, including some you will not have studied before.
You’ll be studying the subjects you choose for the next two years, and it’s no fun being stuck with one you don’t really like. It’s also worth looking ahead as decisions you make now may narrow your choices later. What do want to do after year 11? Can this help you decide which subjects to choose?
Sometimes you need a GCSE in a subject in order to study it at A-level or equivalent. In the same way, university courses have set entry requirements and often require certain subjects at A-level. Check carefully as this is not always the case and you can start some subjects from scratch, both at A-level and university.
