Year 9 Subject Choices

At Key Stage 4 the aim of the curriculum is to give each pupil an individualised curriculum offered through both the Core Subjects and their Subject Choices, to enable pupils to progress on to the right 16-19 Study Programme or Apprenticeship. We aim to develop pupil knowledge and wisdom of contemporary living in modern Britain and focus on strategies that aid successful learning.

The compulsory core subjects are English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Science, Physical Education (P.E) and Religious Education (R.E); and in these subjects your critical thinking skills will be sharpened whilst enjoying sport. The English Baccalaureate (EBacc) combines English, Mathematics, Science, History or Geography and a Modern Foreign Language, either French or Spanish. EBacc is a set of subjects at GCSE that keeps your options open for further study and future careers. This will be an important qualification in your aspiration for university. Consider your subject choices carefully and we will provide you with advice and guidance.

Pupils will also have access to further enrichment through our extra-curricular offer such as trips and visits, school teams, clubs, arts and drama opportunities.

All pupils will have the opportunity to do a week of work experience at the end of Year 10 and will be able to develop employability skills through our Careers Curriculum and volunteering opportunities. Pupils will have access to an outstanding Lea Manor High School Careers advisor, external 16-19 programme providers and other external careers advice.

Our timetable is organised on a weekly cycle of 25 lessons. In Year 10, there is a core curriculum of 16 lessons per cycle that all pupils follow.

It consists of:

• English Language and English Literature - 4 lessons per week
• Mathematics - 4 lessons per week
• Combined Science - 4 lessons per week
  
  • Some pupils may study a Triple Science programme of individual Science qualifications in Biology, Chemistry and Physics instead of Combined Science.
• R.E - 2 lessons per week
• P.E - 2 lessons per week (Non-assessed subject)

All pupils then choose three subject choices, each occupying 3 lessons per week, for a total of 9 lessons.

Making your Subject Choices

There is a very wide variety of courses available, and it is important to consider these choices carefully as it not only affects what is studied for the next two years, but it could also affect the choices available to you at 16+ and beyond. We would advise you to talk to subject teachers about the subject choices on offer.

Every effort will be made to accommodate pupil choices, however, all pupils should make a reserve choice in case other choices cannot be accommodated.

All subject choice forms need to be submitted by Friday 6th March 2026 by 4pm. This will be done via a Google Form.

Please note that pupil choices will NOT be dealt with on a first come first served basis. All forms handed in by the Friday 6th March 2026 4pm deadline will be treated equally. Any forms handed in after the deadline may result in subject choices being unavailable.

We will be holding our Subject Choice Evening on Thursday 12th February, 4pm-6pm. This will allow for pupils and parents to come in and speak to members of every department to find out more about each of the subject choices on offer and find out more about the KS4 curriculum.

If parents have any general queries or questions regarding the Year 9 choices, you need to email year9subjectchoices@leamanorhighschool.org, and a designated member of staff who is dealing with your child’s choices will contact you.

Navigating your Options: The Best Approach

Choosing your subjects is one of the first times you really get to be the architect of your own future. It’s an exciting milestone, but let’s be honest it can also feel a bit like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube in the dark. The goal isn’t just to fill a timetable; it’s to build a path that keeps you motivated and opens the right doors.

When you’re weighing your options, these steps will help you stay on the right track:

• Give the booklet a proper read from cover to cover.
• Talk to your tutors, teachers, and parents. They’ve watched you grow and can often see strengths in you that you might have overlooked.
• If you’re unsure, just ask. Teachers are surprisingly objective; they won’t just try to “sell” you their subject; they will tell you if they honestly think you will thrive in their classroom.
• Look for the overlap between what you actually enjoy and what you’re good at. Life is much easier when you are studying something that doesn’t feel like a total chore.
• If you have a dream job or university in mind, take ten minutes to check UCAS. It’s better to know the entry requirements now than to find out two years down the line that you’re missing a specific subject.
• Mark Friday, 6th March in your calendar. Give yourself the gift of time so you aren’t panic-filling the form at 11:00pm the night before.

On the other hand, try to stay mindful of these common traps that can lead to a bit of “subject-choice regret” later on:

• Choosing a subject just because your best friend is doing it is a classic mistake. You will likely end up in different classes anyway, and two years is a very long time to spend in a classroom if you don’t actually like the material.
• We all have favourite teachers, but staffing changes every year. There’s no guarantee they will be the one at the front of the room next year, so make sure you actually like the content.
• It’s great to listen to advice, but the final signature on that form needs to be yours. You are the one who has to do the work and sit the exams; not your cousin or your neighbour.
• If you genuinely dislike a subject, don’t take it just because you think it “looks good.” Misery is a terrible motivator, and it’s much harder to get a top grade in something that makes you want to hit the snooze button every morning.
• Don’t rush the decision just to get it over with. If you are still feeling uncertain, keep asking questions until the deadline. This is one of those times where it’s okay to take your time and be certain.

Choosing your subjects is ultimately about making your future self’s life a little bit easier. You’ve got this.

Learning Journeys

Pupils will be put on either Learning Journey A or Learning Journey B to select their subject choices. Learning Journey A pupils will continue on their Modern Foreign Language (MFL) course as one of their subject choices. If pupils choose to do a Language in Learning Journey B, they will continue with the language that they have previously studied, either French or Spanish, and will not be able to change to the other language.

In the Summer Term we will be contacting the parents/carers of any pupils who need to further individualise their curriculum beyond these subject choices.

Subject Choices Booklet