Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the deadline for sending in my option choices?

Friday 11^th March 2022

 

2. How will I let the school know what my option choices are?

We will email your parents/carers in due course about how to go about letting the School know about your option choices. 

 

3. When will I find out whether I’ve got my option choices?

 We will let you know before the end of the summer term whether you have got your option choices.  Any students who have not got all of their first choices will be spoken to before then about picking one of their reserves.  Please  remember that when making your option choices you are indicating a preference.  The School tries to satisfy all choices, but may not be able to do so in all cases.

 

4. Can I change my options once I’ve chosen them?

It is really important that you make the right choices of option subjects by the deadline of Friday 11^th March.  There is plenty of information on this website to guide you and if you are still unsure, you can always contact your subject teacher, tutor or Progress Leader for further advice.  If they are unable to help, you can ask your parents/carers to email yr8options@highamlaneschool.co.uk and we will do our best to help you.  If you think you have made the wrong decision in your choice of options, you should ask your parent/carer to contact Mr Banks explaining which subject you wish to change and why.  Each request is considered on an individual basis.  Please bear in mind that we may not agree to your request if we don’t feel that you have given a strong enough reason for the change or if the subject you are requesting is already full or if the subject you are moving from is timetabled at a different time to the one you are requesting to move to. 

 

5. What are taster lessons?

Taster lessons are intended to give you an idea of what a typical lesson in that subject will be like in Years 9, 10 or 11

 

6. When will the taster lessons take place?

Taster lessons in those subjects you currently study in Year 8 will take place during one of your normal timetabled lessons.  Your teacher will let you know when this will be.  We will email your parents/carers in due course about arrangements for taster lessons in subjects such as Business, Drama, Health and Social Care and Sociology which you don’t currently take in Year 8. 

 

7. What is the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) and why is it important?

The English Baccalaureate (or EBacc for short) isn’t a qualification but instead is a collection of subjects identified by the government as important for students to study.  The subjects are:-

• English Language
• Maths
• two Sciences (which can include Computer Science)
• a Modern Foreign Language
• a Humanity (History or Geography).

To have achieved the English Baccalaureate you need to achieve at least a grade 4 in each of these subjects. 

As a school, we are committed to the English Baccalaureate as this offers a broad and balanced curriculum, equips you with an important range of knowledge and skills and keeps your options open for further study and future careers.  Therefore, you will continue to study GCSE French as one of the core subjects in Years 9 to 11 and must choose either History or Geography as one of your three option choices.

For further information on the EBacc, please visit the Types of Qualifications and EBacc section of the website.