Sheldon School

Important Dates for 2024

Options Evening

Join us Thursday 23 January 2025 from 5:30pm-7:30pm for an opportunity to meet with subject staff to learn more about KS4 options from each subject teacher. There will also be a presentation about the options process at the following times:

5:30pm - Left Side Tutor Groups (9FED, 9MRH, 9RFB, 9AMB)
6:30pm - Right Side Tutor Groups (9MAK, 9MAB, 9SLP, 9JHF, 9ERE)

Parents' Evenings

Please join us for a face-to-face meeting with your child's teachers to discuss their progress in Year 9.

Tuesday 28 January 2025 - Left Side Tutor Groups (9FED, 9MRH, 9RFB, 9AMB)
Monday 3 February 2025 - Right Side Tutor Groups (9MAK, 9MAB, 9SLP, 9JHF, 9ERE)

Options Form Deadline

The KS4 Options form will open on Tuesday 4 February 2025. Parents will be emailed a link to the form following the final Parents' Evening. It can also be accessed below.

The form must be submitted by Tuesday 11 February 2025

Who to contact for help with KS4 Options

If you have questions about what options are right for you, please get in touch your child's tutor or subject teachers. Click the links below to find contact details for Sheldon staff.

In Term 3 of Year 9, students will have an opportunity to choose their options for Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11). We recommend that students make their course choices with the consultation of their tutor, subject teachers, parents/carers and our careers advisor. Each year we hold an Options Evening so that families can visit the school to learn more about the courses on offer. It is important to attend this event along with our Parent's Evenings to discuss your child's progress with their subject teachers.

Core Curriculum

In KS4, you will follow the core curriculum which includes:

• English language

• English literature

• Maths

• Sciences

• PSRE

• Core PE

For science, students will take one of two options: trilogy, in which all three sciences are covered and students achieve 2 GCSE grades, or separate science, where students achieve 3 GCSE grades, one in each of biology, chemistry and physics. Both routes allow progress into A level. The science faculty determine which route students will follow based on their progress.

Options

You must also choose one of the following:

• Computer science

• French

• German

• Geography

• History

• Spanish

Students can then choose three additional courses from our broad range of subjects available.

We strongly advise that students take a humanity, language and creative/technical subject to showcase their range of skills and knowledge. Students who follow the core curriculum and also study a language and either history or geography will be able to achieve the English Baccalaureate (EBacc).

It is important that students choose subjects they will enjoy and will also show a broad range of skills and knowledge. More information about the selection process and courses available can be found in our KS4 Course Booklet below.

Course Booklet and Presentations

You will find links below to the Course Booklet describing the different opportunities for learning during KS4 as well as presentations from our Options Evening.

When you click on the link for subject specific presentations, you will be taken to a separate page allowing you do click links to download the PowerPoint presentation for each course. Due to their large file size, it will not open automatically. You can find the file in your downloads folder.

KS4 Options Booklet 2025-2027 KS4 Options Evening Presentation by Dr Simpson (PowerPoint)KS4 Options Evening Presentation by Dr Simpson (PDF)KS4 Options Evening Subject Presentations KS4 Qualifications Summary

The KS4 Options for will open on Tuesday 4 February 2025. Please complete the form by Tuesday 11 February 2025. If you have any questions about a particular subject, please speak with your course teachers or the Head of Faculty.