Options Booklet Layout_2025_26

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS WHAT IS KS4? Key Stage 4 begins at the start of Year 10 and is two years of study leading to GCSE or equivalent qualifications. Many students go on from Key Stage 4 to study A-Levels in King James’s School Sixth Form and others may go to college or begin employment coupled with training. Whatever our students decide to do, the choices they make now are very important. WHY DO STUDENTS HAVE TO CHOOSE? There is not enough time in the curriculum to enable students to continue studying all of their Year 9 subjects to GCSE level therefore, they must opt and reduce the number of subjects studied. WHY DO STUDENTS ONLY HAVE 4 CHOICES OUT OF 9 SUBJECTS? Some subjects are classed as core which means it is a statutory requirement to study them up to the end of Year 11; this includes GCSE English, GCSE Maths, GCSE Science, PE (not examined) and PSHCEE (not examined). Schools are also encouraged by the government to ensure students take at least two other subjects from the English Baccalaureate to ensure a broad and balanced curriculum. WHAT IS THE ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE? This is a performance measure for schools that reports on how many students have achieved a good pass in 5 specific subject areas. It is not compulsory for students. Those subjects are as follows: • English • Maths • 2 Sciences (including Computer Science) • History or Geography • A foreign language DOES THIS MEAN EXTENDED OPTION SUBJECTS AND THOSE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE ARE LESS IMPORTANT? Absolutely not. We value all subjects as highly as each other and are particularly proud of our high achieving practical subjects. Students are strongly recommended to use their extended options to pursue their passions and the subjects they are most interested in. The core and core options ensure students have a solid foundation for further study so they should not be afraid to choose a combination of Art, Drama and DT (for example) if that is where their interests lie. As part of our commitment to strong IAG (Information and Guidance) at KJS we will ensure that the year Associate Assistant Head, SENCO, Pupil Premium Lead and Senior Leadership Team work with students to guide them towards the right choices. WHY IS THERE A RESERVE OPTION ON THE FORM? Despite our best efforts, we cannot offer an infinite combinations of subjects. Sometimes, students’ option choices will clash and we will have to ask them to study their reserve instead. Furthermore, if there are insufficient numbers of students selecting the course, it may not be financially viable to run it. With this thought in mind, we advise students to put as much thought into their reserve choice as they do into their other 4.