Year 10 GCSE Options

Introduction

Key Stage 4 covers Year 10 and 11, and it is at this stage that Year 9 students can start deciding which subjects they require to further their aspirations. Whilst some courses are compulsory, others are optional, and thus selecting the subjects to study is known as 'Options'.

Choosing your option subjects is an important process, as this forms the passport for entry to further and higher education as well as employment.

It is important you understand what each of the optional courses contain, how they are assessed, and where they lead to in the future.

Useful Websites

Choosing Your Options

When making your option choices, you need to find out as much information beforehand to ensure you are making the right choice. As well as exploring the website, you can also talk to your Form Tutor, Subject Teachers, Careers and Guidance Teachers, Parents, and of course, Employers.

Make sure you have read each subject's information page about each subject that is on this webpage. Students are encouraged to speak to their subject teachers and parents before making their choices.

All students study English, English Literature, Maths, Science, and Core PE.
Personal Development and RE is delivered in Personal Development lessons.
You need to pick four options and a reserve option.
A reserve option is a subject you might be allocated if one of your chosen subjects doesn’t run. This may be because not enough students have chosen the subject or if the course is oversubscribed.
During lessons week commencing 31st March 2025, you will discuss each subject and the GCSE course. In addition to this, there will be assemblies this week from the Curriculum Leaders about each option course.
We do not operate a first-come, first-served process with options. It will be the Principal’s decision on who is accepted on a course or whether it will run.

Options Evening

Options Evening will be held at Somercotes Academy on Thursday, 1st May from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

Making Your Options Choices

You will complete your option choices online. You will be sent an email detailing how to submit your option choices. You will choose your options in the Academy during the week commencing 5th May 2025. Parents will be able to see their child’s choices via the MCAS app.

Do not make choices based on the following:

My friends have chosen it
I like my current Year 9 teacher
It sounds easy or 'different'
It sounds good / cool
My family member took it and liked it
It's new and I've never done it before

All students will study the CORE CURRICULUM, which is compulsory. The subjects that make up the core are:

English
English Literature
Maths
Science
Core PE

All students will be required to select one subject in Section A and Section B and 2 different subjects in Section C

Section A

Art
Catering and Hospitality
Technology
Physical Education
Triple Science

Section B

Geography
History

Section C

Students will then choose two of the following subjects. You will not be able to choose the same subject you have chosen in Section A or B.

Art
French
Geography
History
iMedia / ICT
Performing Arts / Music
Physical Education
RE

Subject Information

Please click on the subject title below to get a better understanding of the courses that are on offer.

GCSE Grading System

GCSEs are graded 1 to 9, with 9 being the top grade. It may be that you are more familiar with the A*-G grading system previously used. Below is a diagram produced by Ofqual indicating how the grading scale compares with the legacy scale.

Some GCSE equivalent qualifications that we offer, L1/2 technical awards, use a different 8-point grading system of Level 2 Distinction*, Level 2 Distinction, Level 2 Merit, Level 2 Pass, Level 1 Distinction, Level 1 Merit, Level 1 Pass.

The diagram below shows how the grading system for L1/2 Technical Awards compares to the 9 -1 GCSE grading structure.

L2D*	L2D	L2M	L2P	L1D	L1M	L1P
8/9	7	5/6	4	3	2	1

This means your child’s progress reports over the next two years and final GCSE/Technical Award grades published in August 2027 could be a mixture of grading systems.