Year 8 Options

Phone: 01296 651382Email: office@waddesdonschool.com

Take the Next Step

At Waddesdon Church of England School we are fully committed to the educational programme on offer for our students and believe that all children can make the right decisions through careful consultation. Key Stage 4 is an important time in any child’s education as it lays foundations for Key Stage 5, university, lifelong learning and the world of work. The Key Stage 4 Options Booklet provides details on each of the subjects available and advice on how to make this next step. But it is important to remember that nobody makes this decision alone. Heads of Year, Form Tutors and Class Teachers work closely with students and welcome the support from parents.

Subject Choices

What should I base them on?

The need for a balanced education
Pathways to post-16 learning and higher education
Career aspirations
Personal abilities and interests
The changing/advancing world of the 21st Century

Our prospectus shows the range of educational opportunities available during Years 9, 10 and 11. We are very grateful for your continuing support at this important stage in your child’s education.

Prospectus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc)?

The Government is recommending that all students take a foreign language and either History or Geography at GCSE Level. This may be suitable for your son or daughter, but we are not making these subjects compulsory. Your son/daughter has been asked to think about whether these are the right subjects for him/her. We encourage all students to consider whether they can study both a foreign language and History or Geography, and we expect all students to study at least one of these subjects.

How are the final choices decided?

Since we do not ask students to pick from prescribed pathways or option blocks, it is only once the choices have all been submitted that we sort the choices into groups for timetabling purposes. Usually there are about 20 students who need to choose another option. This is done in consultation with your son/daughter and is the reason why we ask your child to offer two reserve choices. Please be aware that we will not run a course if too few students opt for it.

As a student, where can I get additional advice and help?

If you are looking for additional help, then there are many people who can listen to you and advise you. Speak to your parents and your teachers first. Then consider talking to the subject leader for the subjects that you would like to know more about. Don’t forget that students from older year groups can often give you good advice and have been in your situation most recently.

Our in-school Careers Advisor, Miss Bridges, will be able to talk to you as well as helping you to gather more information through contacts with external support agencies.