Year 9 Options
Great Western Academy provides a broad and balanced curriculum designed to engage and challenge students so that they achieve the very best possible range of qualifications to enable them to fulfil their future ambitions.
Our curriculum is ambitious and aspirational; we understand the importance of achieving the best qualifications in order to maximise chances of success beyond school. It is excellent results that will get our students to the door of the next stage of their learning journey, be it employment, apprenticeships, post-16 qualifications with another provider, or for the majority, a place at GWA sixth form.
The curriculum is designed to offer students a diverse and coherent choice of courses and learning experiences. The knowledge, skills and understanding from their Key Stage 4 studies will remain with them long after examinations. Ultimately, our goal is for GWA students to leave school as confident, independent life-long learners, equipped with the transferable skills needed to thrive in an ever-changing world.
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All students follow the core curriculum until the end of Year 11. These courses and the qualifications which they lead to are shown in the table below. The core curriculum alone gives students the opportunity to achieve up to 6 GCSEs.
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All students must make four option choices, of which at least one must be French, Spanish, Geography or History. Students will then have 3 other choices. Details of all choices students can take can be found in this booklet.
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Please see below the presentation slides and FAQ document from the Year 9 options evening - 11 January 2022
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In order to help you decide which subjects you may wish to choose, you can watch the following videos