Students experience a wide variety of subjects throughout Year 7-9 to help inform them about the option choices they want to make for their GCSE's in Year 10 and 11. 

Option Choices Letter

Year 9 Options Guidance Evening Thursday 6 March 2025 4.30pm – 6.30pm

This letter marks the beginning of the options process for our year 9 students which, as you are no doubt aware, is an exceptionally important and crucial juncture in their academic journey. It represents the first time they are able to express a degree of autonomy over their curriculum which will help them on their individual path toward the future of their choosing.

We will be holding an Options Guidance Evening for Year 9 parents/carers and students on Thursday 6th March 2025. Prior to this, to make the evening more beneficial for students, we will share information about the options process to students in an assembly so they are already able to think about potential options and come prepared with any questions they may have.

Our Option Guidance Evening will run between 4.30pm to 6.30pm at school. There will be a formal presentation in the school hall and the opportunity for students and parents/carers to discuss the different options available with subject teachers. Teachers will be able to discuss in more detail the content of the different courses and answer any questions you may have about a specific course. You will receive an information booklet on the evening with details for each subject and we encourage students and parents/carers to also visit our new school website.

As students are making these significant decisions about their next two years of study it is important to consider these within a wider picture of future studies and/or careers. We offer a wide variety of option choices to meet the needs of our students. To help students and parents/carers to identify choices which will both be enjoyable and valuable for students as they progress through, we have developed three pathways; English Baccalaureate, General and Flexible. On the options evening you will receive alongside your booklet an information sheet with your child’s recommended pathway. To further help students with their options decisions. For further advice and support, our sixth form team, representatives from local colleges and our SEND department will be present during the evening.

We are offering three presentations throughout the evening at 4.30pm, 5.10pm and 5.50pm. To book your place for one of the presentations please follow the link here. Depending on the time of your presentation you may choose to look around the subject areas before or after the presentation. There are enough spaces available for every student’s parent/carer to attend a presentation. However, as the times are on a first-come-first served basis, if you are unable to attend a presentation you are still able to visit the school on options evening to look around the subject areas.

Students will need to make their option choices by completing an online form.  You, and your child will receive an email from Noreply@SIMS.co.uk inviting you to sign up for options online. This form will be available from Friday 7 March February 2025. If students have difficulty with accessing the form please contact their Head of Year Mr Charlton in the first instance who will be able to assist them with its completion. rcharlton@guilsborough.northants.sch.uk

As the time for decision making draws nearer, I should like to suggest that careful thought is given to the choices, including reserve choices. Last year very few students were disappointed, and we will try to achieve the same level of satisfaction again this year, but we cannot guarantee every student their first choices.

It will be very helpful if your child can complete the online choices form by the requested date of Saturday 19  April 2025, as a late return may reduce the chance of your child following the courses they have chosen.

Yours faithfully

Mr Harrison
Assistant Principal

Year 9 Options Programme for 2025

Wednesday 26 February 2025

Year 9 assembly to introduce the options process

Thursday 6 March 2025

Our Options Guidance Evening takes place between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. You will have the opportunity to book to attend one of the presentations at 4.30pm, 5.10pm or 5.50pm and to speak to subject teachers in more detail about their subject options.

Friday 7 March 2025

Online choice form will be available for completion online.

It is important your child completes it in priority order with the subject they want to study most as their first choice.  They must also define a reserve choice. You will receive an email from SIMS inviting you to sign up for options online. A how to guide is available at the bottom of this letter You can access options online anytime through https://www.sims-options.co.uk.  Please do not use the link sent through to you after your initial log on as it will no longer be active.

Saturday 19 April 2025

The online options form will need to be completed by midnight. All choices completed before this date will be given equal consideration. There is no “first come, first serve” protocol.  The information is then collated and the option blocks will be created from these preferences. 
Any late admissions or changes will need to be put in writing or emailed directly to Mr Harrison. mharrison@guilsborough.northants.sch.uk