Options - Year 10 Curriculum

Year 9 Students: You are at a very exciting stage in Year 9. This is your opportunity to choose part of your curriculum to study through Years 10 and 11. Combined with the Orchard Core Curriculum the choices you make will enable you to be successful now and in the future: through Post-16 education, higher education, employment, training and beyond!
We know that every one of you has different interests and career aims. We also know that GCSE courses have changed a lot, and learning is more individual. More courses now end in exams in the summer of Year 11 and there is only coursework in a few practical or technical courses. You will therefore study an appropriate number of subjects which gives you more time to learn more deeply, becoming skilled and confident.

Think carefully about your pathway choices and get advice and information: talk to subject teachers, ask to see examples of student work, research Post-16 college and sixth form courses that you are interested in. Talk to Mrs Thorne, our school Careers Coordinator and our pastoral staff. Talk to staff who know you well in school and who can advise you on an individual level.

Importantly, also discuss your pathway ideas with your parents/carers. Both you and your parents/carers will need to agree your Options Choices.

Remember to focus on the very best reasons to help you make your choices:

Good reason	Bad reason
I’m good at the subject.	My friends are doing this subject.
I really enjoy the subject.	People say it's easy.
It’s more creative and will be a good balance for my well-being.	I like/don’t like the teacher.
It’s got practical assessments, so it’s not all based on written exams in summer 2025.	My brother did this course 3 years ago, so he can help me with the coursework.
It will open up choices to me in the future.	I don’t really know, I’ll just put this subject down.

Enjoy and make the most of this opportunity. Be open-minded, curious and show great responsibility in ensuring you make the right options choices for you, by the deadline of Thursday 14th March.

Options Pathway Booklets

You can download the purple options pathway booklet by clicking here.

You can download the blue options pathway booklet by clicking here.

How to complete your option choices:

1. Please read the letter included in your Year 9 Parents’ Evening Options Pack. Discuss and agree your choices with your parent/carer.
2. Open your option choices email which has been sent to your school email address.
3. Open the Edval website link, enter your webcode and click on ‘Click Here’ to open for submission.
4. Enter your choices, remember to enter your top subject(s) in the ‘Option’ boxes and your next favourite subjects in the ‘Reserve’ boxes.
5. Save your choices and request an email copy to be sent to you.
6. If you change your mind you can go back into the website and make changes up until the deadline date.

Key Dates

• Thursday 29th February: Parent Consultation Evening and Options talks at Orchard School Bristol.
• Thursday 14th March: Deadline for submitting 'initial Option choices' using the form sent out.
• Monday 18th - Wednesday 27th March: 1-1 conversations with members of staff will be held regarding choices.
• Thursday 28th March: Confirmation of which courses will be running based on take-up, and online system opens for 'Final Choices'.
• Thursday 18th April: Deadline for submitting 'final Option choices' using the online system.
• Thursday 9th May: Digital copy of the option choices form emailed to parent/carer for checking.
• Tuesday 14th May: Deadline for any parent/carer queries about the option choices.
• Friday 17th May: Paper copy of final options choices posted out to parents/carers.