Page 4 - Seaford Year GCSE Options Booklet 2020 A5

Your choices
Something that is right for you
At Seaford, all students take Mathematics, English and Science. Mathematics and Science are offered at both higher tier and foundation tier level, and the decision as to the best tier to pursue is taken over the duration of the GCSE course with your teachers.
Science can be studied as a Combined Science course or as a Triple Science course to enable a student to achieve the highest attainment. In English, most students study English Language and English Literature within their normal lessons but there may be some students who only study English Language. This is again advised towards the end of Year 9 and the start of Year 10.
Each student then has four option subjects. One of these choices we would expect to be a modern foreign language, and we advise another should be a humanities subject.
We encourage balance to a student’s range of subjects and so
advocate choosing a humanities subject (Geography or History). However, if your child would like to study both of these subjects, that is possible. We would expect most students to also choose a modern foreign language (French or Spanish), and it should be noted that if you are likely to wish to apply to a Russell Group university in the future, a modern foreign language is a requirement.
This then effectively leaves two option choices. We would encourage you to weigh up the amount of coursework a subject may have (Creative Arts, Design & Technology, BTECs) in helping to achieve a balanced curriculum. For example, choosing two heavy coursework subjects may prove too much, and three almost certainly.
Ultimately, we want you to choose subjects that you will enjoy and be passionate about. Sometimes there is a tendency to select an option because there is a career aspiration in mind but actually the subject is not a good fit for you. Whilst we recognise career aspiration is important, we would also suggest that a lot can change in the years ahead, and that choosing subjects that you love should be a guiding priority.
The most important thing is to talk your choices through with your subject teachers and tutors who are here to help you. Take your time with this and choose the best fit for you which enables you to succeed and achieve your personal bests!
Mr James Passam
Deputy Head - Academic
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