The subjects your child chooses to study at key stage 4 can go a long way in setting them up for higher and further education.

Encourage your children to choose subjects they enjoy

You should remember that there doesn’t necessarily need to be a career in mind (your life long ambition for them to be a doctor is unlikely to be affected by choosing Spanish over German) and it is much more important they choose options that suit their ability and interests.

Give your child space when it comes to making these decisions, it is their choice, not yours.

Who can help?

Encourage your children to talk to as many people as possible, those who know their strengths and weaknesses and the subjects they are likely to excel at. If you have your own reservations arrange a meeting with subject teachers or the careers advisor, these people are there to help and that shouldn’t mean solely on parent’s evening. There are various websites which are also packed full of tips and advice, check out the young people section of www.directgov.co.uk and www.connexions.co.uk

Get your child to make a list of what they feel are the things they are best at, the subjects they most enjoy at school and where their weaknesses lie. If they take this to the career’s advisor, it will be a great overview of the options they should focus on.

What subjects are on offer?

No two schools are the same, so you should always check the prospectus before making any concrete choices. Compulsory subjects will always include English, maths and science as well as courses and activities in P.E, ICT and P.S.H.E. Many schools will also make a foreign language compulsory but this is not always the case.

The other subjects that are on offer vary considerably, but some examples are history, geography, expressive-arts, business studies, catering, drama and music.

What are the different qualifications available?

GCSE: This will be the main element of your child’s education up until the age of 16. There are three different types; a full GCSE, a short course GCSE and a double award GCSE. There are over 50 subjects that schools offer as a GCSE and they range from the traditional maths and English to subjects such as media studies and archaeology. GCSEs are graded from A* to G and can be assessed in a number of different ways; including a formal examination, coursework, oral and listening exams. Achieving five GCSEs at grade C and above will keep options wide open when it comes to higher and further education.

Diplomas:Some schools may also offer a diploma as a key stage 4 option. You can do a foundation and higher diploma and they are available in 14 subjects including travel and tourism and engineering. The diploma is a mix of classroom work and hands on experience and will be assessed by a mixture of written and practical work. A diploma will not qualify your child directly for a specific job but they will help you move on to an apprenticeship and other jobs which include training.

Textiles is just one example of the variety schools have to offer

Vocational Qualifications:Many schools offer these alongside GCSEs and they are work related qualifications that link directly to a certain career path. Employers and professionals are widely involved in putting together these qualifications and there a number of different ones available such as BTECs and OCR Nationals. The subjects offered have much variation and there truly is something for everyone. For the budding beauticians, there are beauty therapy courses and an agricultural course for those wanting to get into farming. The assessments are both practical and theory based and are perfect for those who don’t necessarily thrive in a traditional classroom environment.

Foundation learning: Schools also offer flexible learning programmes that are specifically designed to meet your child’s needs. It often combines subject and vocational learning alongside personal and social development. Children will often learn functional skills in English, maths and ICT and a work related subject such as caring for children. Individual schools will advise you and your child about the qualifications available but many people take GCSEs alongside another qualification such as a BTEC.