KS4 Options

Students at Hall Park Academy will be given the opportunity to make choices about their education as they move into Key Stage 4. Along with decisions after Year 11, these choices will play a big part in how successful they are in the future and their route into further education and employment in the years to come.

Our curriculum in Key Stage 4

The curriculum that students will follow in Key Stage 4 is made up of core subjects and options choices:

Core subjects are those that will definitely be a part of the curriculum for a student. However, students will have some choices that can be made within these subjects.

• English Language and Literature

• Mathematics

• Science or Triple Science

• Core Religious Studies

• Core Physical Education (PE)

Options choices give our students the flexibility to choose particular courses that they wish to study in addition to their core subjects.

• History

• Geography

• French

• Art and Design

• Business Studies

• Computer Science

• Drama

• Design & Technology

• Hospitality and Catering

• Food Preparation and Nutrition (Vocational)

• Health & Social Care (Vocational)

• Music

• Physical Education 

• Sport Studies (Vocational)

• Religious Studies

All students will continue to study English, Mathematics, Science, Core Religious Studies and have periods of Physical Education (PE). Most students will achieve two GCSE grades for their English studies: ‘English Language’ and ‘English Literature’. If they are successful, students will gain a half GCSE in Religious Studies after Year 10.

Students will also have a humanities subject (Geography or History), and some students will have a language subject (French) as part of their core curriculum. This particular combination of subjects - along with English, Maths and Science - has been established as the pathway for students who are considering further and higher education (sometimes referred to as the English Baccalaureate) and so will maximise their chances of success over the coming years. Other students will be directed to make choices from particular subjects to be part of their core curriculum (humanities, languages and sciences). This is because we believe it is important for all students to continue with at least one of these academic subjects in Key Stage 4.

The remainder of each student’s timetable will comprise of other subjects that they are able to choose themselves, allowing them to focus on particular strengths or areas of interest. For various reasons, some students will be targeted with special options where it is deemed more appropriate for them.

The wider curriculum comprising of personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) will be delivered in tutor time and at other points throughout the year.

Guidance for students and their parents

Hall Park Academy runs a special Key Stage 4 Options Evening in the spring term for Year 9 students. The event usually includes a presentation outlining the Key Stage 4 curriculum, including the core subjects that our students will study, and the choices available to them. Further information about the different subjects we offer can be found in our Options booklet at the bottom of this page. 

In addition to this, a Parents Evening will also take place shortly before or after the Options Evening which serves a valuable opportunity to help students decide on their subject choices.

We also deliver special assemblies to our students about the process and they will all be given the opportunity to discuss their choices with a senior member of staff. 

You can download our Options Booklet below