Year 9 Pathways for September 2023

Thomas Adams School offers a broad and balanced range of courses, with an element of choice. As well as traditional academic courses, we offer a range of more practical learning opportunities.

It is important that you consider these choices carefully, discuss them with your parents, teachers and friends and read through the booklet very carefully before making your decisions. The following information explains how the options decision process works.

Section  A : Core Studies

At Thomas Adams School we consider it essential that all of our students follow a broad, balanced curriculum throughout Key Stage 4. All students study a core curriculum of:-

GCSE courses in:

• ENGLISH
• MATHEMATICS
• SCIENCE

The vast majority of students will also study (expectation for Set 1 and 2 students to take the qualification):-

• FRENCH

as well as non-examination courses in:

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Section B : Pathway Choices

In addition, each student chooses further subjects from:

HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, COMPUTER SCIENCE, BUSINESS STUDIES (GCSE or CNAT), RELIGIOUS EDUCATION, ICT, DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY, FOOD, TEXTILES, ART or 3-D ART, DRAMA, MUSIC, BTEC SPORT, TRIPLE SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, GRAPHICS, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

Process

You will be emailed a “Pathways Form” that you are to complete and submit with your choices. Depending upon your Key Stage 3 profile you will either receive a “Pathway A or Pathway B Form”.

Pathway A

Students that are in Sets 1 and 2 in French (and therefore eligible for the EBACC) are expected to select French along with:-

• Either History or Geography
• Select a further two choices in rank order along with two reserves.
• We will strive to provide at least one of your top two choices (if not both)

Pathway B

Students that are not in Sets 1 and 2 in French follow a more technical pathway and are expected to:-

• Select four choices (that includes French) in rank order along with two reserves.
• We will strive to provide at least two of your top four choices (if not all).

This process enables all students to have an element of personal choice in the subjects they study. However, it must be noted that this is a guided choice, with some students being strongly advised to take certain subjects. Some students have a particular career path in mind and choose subjects accordingly. However, we realise that many students find it difficult to decide which subjects to study at this stage.

We look at the commitment and ability they have shown in Year 9 across all their subject areas. Discussions will have to take place with some students to agree their course where necessary.