In year 9 pupils have to make choices of the subjects that they will study for the following two years.  Full information and guidance will be provided.

All schools must provide courses in the following subjects:

• Citizenship
• English
• Mathematics
• Religious Studies
• Science
• ICT

Pupils will follow these courses to external examination accreditation.  There are a wide range of courses on offer and Heads of Department select the accredited courses most beneficial to individual pupils.  All schools must also provide general courses in the following subjects:

• Personal and Social Education including Careers Education and Guidance
• Physical Education

All the above courses form the core of your child's Key Stage 4 programme but there are other important subjects which pupils may choose to follow.

Pupils have the opportunity to complete this core programme with three option choices.  All courses that were made available are shown below.  Currently, at King Ethelbert School, one of these choices must be from a vocational area of study.  (NB: Some of the vocational courses took up two choices, these are indicated with an asterisk.  These courses gave pupils the opportunity to achieve the equivalent of 4 GCSEs).

* Courses marked with an asterisk are multiple awards and take up the vocational choice and also one of the two other choices.

** Courses marked with 2 asterisks take place at Thanet College, Thanet Skills Studio or Mark Andrews Hair Academy and involve a full day at the relevant centre.

*** Pupils doing C.O.P.E. undertake level 1 and can progress to level 2 (GCSE equivalent to D-G grades) or level 3 (GCSE A*-C)

Level 1 courses are the equivalent of GCSE grades D - G.  Level 2 courses are at the equivalent level of GCSE grades A* - C.  NVQs are appropriate to pupils of all abilities as NVQ1 is frequently required if pupils wish to move on to NVQ2 at the age of 16.