Year 9 – Virtual Options Evening

At St Nicholas Catholic High School, we aim to provide a broad and balanced education for all. This enables students to develop a wide range of capabilities and skills designed to keep Further or Higher Education and career options open.

The Government introduced a programme of Key Stage 4 reform in 2017. The key features of the new GCSEs are:

•         Qualifications are graded on a scale from 1 to 9 (with 9 being the highest).
•         Courses are fully linear, i.e. no modules, no coursework, no controlled assessment, “except where they cannot provide valid assessment of skills provided”.
•         Increased extended writing with fewer bite sized questions in examinations.
•         Focus on knowledge curriculum.

Click here to view the 10 minute information video

Core Curriculum

Some subjects are compulsory. You must study RE, English, Maths and Science. You will also study PE.

GCSE RE 1 subject

GCSE English 2 subjects (English Language and Literature)

GCSE Maths 1 subject

GCSE Science* Combined Science (2 GCSEs) or Separate Science (3 GCSE’s)

Core PE (Non-exam)

*A decision whether Combined or Separate Science is followed is taken from the performance within KS3 and is communicated later in the year.

The subject information contained within the Options Booklet and the website is  the most up to date information we have available. Should there be any further significant changes we will of course notify you.