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Y9 Options Evening – Thursday 23rd January

Friday 10 January 2025

Dear Parents / Carers,

Your year 9 child will be selecting their GCSE options over the course of this academic year. This is an important decision with implications affecting further education and potential career opportunities. Our aim at Hanham Woods Academy is to support you and your child through this process so that you can make informed decisions about what your child will study in Year 10.

Two key dates for your calendars are:

  • Thursday 23rd January – Year 9 Options evening with copies of form to complete, information from Mrs Gardner and Mr O’Callaghan and opportunities to meet with subject leaders to discuss the courses in more detail.
  • Thursday 6th February – Year 9 Parents Evening with opportunities to discuss choice of options with your child’s teachers (this will be online).

It is important that your child chooses subjects and methods of study that interest and motivate them. They need to spend time thinking about what they enjoy doing, what keeps them interested in something and what makes them work hard.

Good reasons for choosing a subject/course:

  • You are good at the subject
  • You think you will enjoy the course
  • It fits your career ideas and plans
  • It goes well with your other choices
  • It helps to give you plenty of choice at Post–16
  • You think you might want to continue studying it at Post-16
  • Your research shows that it will interest you and motivate you to learn

Bad reasons for choosing a subject/course:

  • Your friends have chosen it
  • You think it will be easy
  • You think it’s a good option for your gender
  • Someone else thinks it is a good idea for you
  • You like the teacher you have now
  • You did not have time to research your options properly

The purpose of this letter is to inform you of the information and support available throughout the options process. Your child has received a paper copy of the options booklet at the end of term 2, spares will be available, and a digital copy is available on the school website.

Below is a timeline of this process:

Term 2·         Options assembly and small group sessions for those absent in term 3.

·         Options booklet printed and given out to every student (this will also be available on the Academy website) – please ask to see this at home

          and spend time with your child researching the courses we have on offer. See digital copy either on SatchelOne/ SMHW or here:

TERM 3·         Options assemblies every week during tutor time. The purpose of these assemblies is to enable teachers to clarify what students can expect from each

course on offer.

·         Lesson time dedicated for students to sign up to and use the careers website: https://www.liketobe.org/ – this will help students explore future careers.

·         PSHE sessions in term 2 and 3 to focus on careers.

·         1-to-1 careers appointment commence with the Academy Careers Advisor, Miss Mujkic.

·         Careers appointments continue

·         Year 9 Options evening with copies of form to complete and deadline shared Thurs 23rd Jan – Further letter will be sent

          out on how to book on to this

·         Year 9 Parents Evening Thursday 6th Feb – Further information will follow on how to book on to this 

Term 4 ·         Options form deadline for completion

·         SLT checks with your child the options requested

·         Further one-to-one meetings with tutor and SLT to ensure your child has made the best informed choice

If you have any queries regarding the options process, please do not hesitate to contact me: [email protected]

Best wishes,

Rebecca Gardner

Assistant Principal

Academic Lead Year 9