Options - KS4

Welcome to Key Stage 4 Options information for the academic year 2025/26. This page will help you to understand the options process, ahead of Year 9 students making their options choices. The options booklet below provides you with key dates and summarises the process.

QES Year 9 Options Booklet

Options Introduction

KS4 students study a core curriculum and then will select options subjects based on their own personal preferences.

Students will choose 3 option subjects to study alongside either history or geography and their chosen MFL subject.

Options Presentation video

For parents who were unable to attend our Options Presentation, or those who would like a reminder of the information discussed, please see the video below.

/i/video/Options_presentation_2025_Year_9_assembly___1_.mp4

Core Curriculum Subjects

All KS4 students will study the following subjects:

English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
Science
Physical Education
PSHE/RSHE/ Core Religious Studies
PDS (Professional Development Studies)

Options Subjects

The range of subjects offered at Key Stage 4 includes options in GCSE or GCSE equivalent (shown in brackets):

Art
Business Studies
Child Development and Care in the Early Years
Computer Science
Construction in the Build Environment (WJEC)
Creative iMedia
Design Technology
French*
Football Academy
Geography
Health & Social Care (BTEC)
History
Hospitality and Catering
Music
Performing Arts
Philosophy, Religion & Ethics
Psychology
Spanish*
Sports Science
Statistics & Level 2 Extended Maths Certificate

*Students must have studied this subject at KS3 to select as an option.

Where possible, we also support students in completing a GCSE in a range of additional languages in which they may already be fluent.

Please click below to view the videos for more information on each option subject.

Options Subject videos

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Art__1_.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Business_Studies.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Child_Development__1_.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Computer_Science.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Construction__1_.mp4

i/video/Subject_videos_-_Creative_iMedia.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Design_Tech.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Football_Academy.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Geography.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_HSC.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_History.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Hospitality___Catering.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_French___Spanish.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Music.mp4

/i/video/Copy_of_Subject_videos_-_Performing_Arts.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_PRE.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Psychology.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Sports_Studies__1_.mp4

/i/video/Subject_videos_-_Statistics.mp4

Each subject lesson is 50 minutes long, with the number of lessons per fortnight below:

The KS4 core curriculum is comprised of: English, maths, science, PE and PSHCE / RE. Pupils also select from a range of subjects as part of their option process. Allocation for subjects is as follows for Year 10 (number of lessons a fortnight):

Maths	8
English	8
Triple Science	12
PE	4
Option A	7
Option B	7
Option C	7
Option D	7

Allocation for subjects is as follows for Year 11 (number of lessons a fortnight):

Maths	10
English	10
Science	12
PE	4
Option A	6
Option B	6
Option C	6
Option D	6

Options courses are reviewed every year to ensure that the courses offered continue to meet the needs of each particular year group.

Subject options will only run if there is sufficient student interest to make the groups viable.

Careers

The options process is supported further by a Careers Education Information and Guidance (CEIAG) system across the school. This includes students having careers interviews during KS3/KS4, work experience opportunities, guest speakers from local further education providers and careers fairs. The school has been awarded the national Quality in Careers Standard Award. Further information on the school's Careers Programme can be found here.