Until the end of Year 9, all students must follow the compulsory National Curriculum; this gives a broad experience of the range of skills and areas of knowledge and understanding considered essential for future learning. After Year 9, the National Curriculum becomes a little more flexible and in addition to ‘Core’ subjects you are given the chance to choose some ‘Optional’ subjects, tailored to your abilities, interests and future chosen career pathway.
The curriculum for Years 10 and 11 is one of the first big decisions you have to make in your educational lives not least because choosing the right combination of subjects and qualifications is crucial to keeping future pathways open beyond the age of sixteen.
