A Parent and Student Guide to Option Preferences
Every student at Unity College will study core GCSE courses in English, Maths and Science as well as courses in PE, iD and ICT. (some students will study a BTEC core Science pathway rather than a GCSE)
In addition to these core subjects, students are able to make choices about other subjects they will study in Years 9, 10 and 11. Not all students will study the same amount of optional subjects. The amount of courses that students follow will also depend on the combination and nature of their choices. Once all the options preferences have been processed, every student will receive a letter informing them of which courses they have been allocated to.
When making preferences for Key Stage 4 courses, students need to consider the following:
1. There are numerous courses on offer. This site gives guidance about the different subjects that we may be able to offer. Students are to select seven subjects in order of preference from the list on offer. Students will NOT be studying all seven of their preferences. Students will study a maximum of five of their seven preferences. At this point we cannot guarantee that these courses will run but we try to give all students as many of their preferred choices as possible.
2. There are various vocational courses on offer. These courses have the equivalence of 1 GCSE in that subject. You can only choose to study a maximum of TWO vocational courses (not including core ICT). The vocational courses on offer are:
BTEC Dance
NVQ Level 2 Sport
NB: Some students will study a vocational BTEC core Science course which will count as one of their two vocational courses. All students will follow a vocational ICT core course - this does not take up one of their two vocational choices.