An Introduction for Parents

Year 9 is a very important year and we are fast approaching the time when critical decisions about which subjects to take in Key Stage 4 have to be made. The results of these decisions will take your sons/daughters into years 10 and 11, Post 16, higher education and employment.

We have arranged a comprehensive programme of guidance for students and parents that will help everyone to make informed choices.

This booklet is intended to give you and your son/daughter information about the opportunities available at Macmillan Academy. Each subject page gives an idea of the route needed in order to arrive at a chosen area of higher education or employment.

There are three issues to be taken into account when considering subject choices:

• Does your son/daughter enjoy the subject?
• Will your son/daughter be successful in this subject?
• Will your son/daughter be able to use this subject in later life?

The Government’s commitment to lifelong learning recognises that students of today will need to be prepared to be flexible as the job market will call for several changes throughout their career. The most important consideration is to ensure that students do not close the door on a subject in Year 9 that may be needed in order to move in a certain career or employment direction. It is therefore important that students select a wide ranging choice of subjects.

Routes to further and higher education and employers usually require that students have a minimum of five GCSE passes (including Maths and English) or the BTEC equivalent and choices should be made with this in mind. Our results in recent years demonstrate that the majority of our students achieve this and in fact, surpass this minimum requirement.

The comprehensive programme of guidance includes not only this booklet, but also an invitation to accompany your child to an interview with a senior member of staff and a subject teachers' consultation evening. The Macmillan Academy website also contains subject choice information and here, many subjects have provided video clips to show students what the subject involves at Key Stage 4.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Academy should you have any queries regarding the Subject Choice Programme.