Year 9 Options Information

23rd February 2021

Year 9 Options

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are approaching an important milestone in your child’s education here at Halewood Academy, as in September, students will enter Key Stage 4 and begin their chosen GCSE courses.

Over the next few weeks, students will be receiving advice during their lessons about the subjects that are available to study at Key Stage 4. In addition to this, there is an options booklet available on the school website that outlines all the courses that we are offering as a school. As you will be aware, some subjects will be compulsory and others can be opted into. The information provided will outline the learning content of the courses on offer, the assessment procedures and links to future career pathways. Each student will also receive advice on the most appropriate option pathway depending upon their needs, abilities and aspirations. In addition to the option booklet, there will also be subject specific video clips to watch to further support their decision making. All these resources should be used alongside any previous details about their prior attainment, reports and assessment results to help you and your child to make informed choices about the most appropriate curriculum for them.

Whilst the curriculum provided is broad and balanced, we have also taken into account the current pandemic and ensured we have provided enough learning time across the options to ensure students can achieve well. As you look through the booklet, we hope that you agree that it offers some exciting opportunities for your child that will challenge them to work hard, focus on their learning, promote their love of learning and enable them to exceed their potential and to ‘seek the best’ in everything that they do.

All students will have the opportunity to meet with an appropriate member of staff when choosing their options during a Parents /Options Evening on Thursday, 18th March. The exact details of this will be communicated at a later date once we have further information on the re-opening of schools. During this event, suggested option pathways will be distributed and there will be further opportunities to discuss appropriate next steps and choices.

All students will be expected to have made their options by Wednesday, 24th March following the parents/options evening. They will be asked to provide first and reserve choices, as depending on numbers, it cannot always be guaranteed that all courses will run. We look forward to working closely with you to ensure that your child makes well-informed choices to support their continued journey beyond Halewood Academy.

Yours Faithfully,

Miss J Hayden

Assistant Principal