During Year 9 you'll have to choose the subjects to take in Years 10 and 11, some of the subjects are compulsory and others are optional. They could lead to exams like GCSEs, or vocational qualifications, so it's important to choose ones that interest you and that suit you. It's possible that in your school you may make your choices in Year 8.
Here are a few examples of the choices you will need to make over the next few years about your education and what you want to do afterwards.
Choices about your education like:
Choices about the work and training you could do like:
Talk to your subject teachers and your school's Personal Adviser, so that you're clear what subjects are on offer and which ones might be the best for you.
Download a copy of 'Which Way Now' from Connexions Direct, it's a magazine that looks at how to choose your options in Year 9.
Remember the age at which you must remain in education or training is being raised to 17 in 2013 and 18 in 2015, so if you were born on or after 1st September 1996 this will affect you! Remaining in education or training includes staying at school, going to college or going into a job or work based training where you can get a qualification like an NVQ.
Choices about your lifestyle- you can find out about:
- What to do if you've a problem with your health, with housing, with friends or family
- Financial help
- What to do in your spare time
- Your rights
- How to get around.
There are plenty of other choices you'll need to make later in life too.