Year 9 Careers Information

Y9 Preferences Process

In the Spring Term, Y9 students decide which preference subjects they wish to study for GCSEs in Y10-11. They will receive information to help them in a special assembly, PSHEE lessons and Form Time. They will also be given a booklet with information on all our KS4 subjects.

To submit your preferences, click on the green button below. The deadline for applications is Friday 16th February.

Y9 Preferences Form

You need to include either Geography and/or History as one of your preferences.

You need a preferred subject and a back-up preference from Block 1 and Block 2. See the quick guide below for more info.

Quick Guide to Preferences

Preferences at a Glance

The slideshow below contains the key info as shown in an assembly and discussed in your Spring PSHEE lessons.

Y9 Preferences Schedule 2024

During the Spring Term we provide Y9 students and their families with the information and guidance that they need to make their GCSE preferences. We will follow this schedule:

Thursday 4th January: Y9 tutors pick up preference booklets from Pastoral Office.

Friday 5th January: Preference booklets are given to students in form time and placed on the website

Wednesday 10th January: Y9 Preference Assembly and Speed Careers Networking event (in school).

Thursday 11^th January: Students complete Speed Careers Network survey and hand in with their Speed Careers Networking booklet to their tutor in form time. Form tutor to pass these documents to the Pastoral Office by Friday.

Thursday 18^th January: Y9 Report published online to parent/carers and students

Monday 22nd January: Booking opens for Parents Evening

Thursday 1st February: Year 9 Parents Evening

Friday 2nd February: The Preference form will be available to complete from the Year 9 section of the school website

Friday 16th February: Deadline for Preference form to be completed

Compulsory GCSE Subjects

The following GCSE subjects are compulsory at NDHS:

English Language
English Literature
Mathematics
a Modern Foreign Language (see next drop down)
Religious Studies
Science (Combined or Triple pathways – the Head of Science will assess which course is appropriate)
Physical Education (GCSE or non-examined – to be decided by the Head of PE)

Modern Foreign Languages Preference Block

As Notre Dame is committed to languages, you will continue to study your current language, French or Spanish, at GCSE. You will select your current foreign language in your MFL Preference Block

You may wish to be considered eligible to study a GCSE in Japanese. Your application will be based on your achievement in French or Spanish by the end of Y9 and your overall attitude to learning and progress in other subjects.

If you wish to study second foreign language you will see them listed in Preference Block 1 and 2.

KS4 Subject Pages:

Preference Subjects

You can choose two preference subjects. You do this by selecting 2 subjects from each block. Your choice must include either Geography or History.

KS4 Subject Pages:

Careers within PSHEE

In your PSHEE lessons you will learn about your unique personality traits and the transferable skills that you most enjoy using.

You will learn how you can develop your personality traits and transferable skills in our broad curriculum of subjects.

Autumn

Interpersonal Skills-How your strengths can help you to succeed in any career.

My Targets-Setting achievable targets based on employability skills.

Spring

My preferences-Understanding the preference processes and making informed choices.

My Skills- Identifying and finding ways to develop employability skills.

My Money-Including consumer rights

You can explore our subject pages to research your GCSE preferences, Post-16 courses, university courses and possible career pathways.

What type of personality do I have?

To identify how you like to receive and process information, have a go at this 5 mins Buzz quiz and remember what 'animal' you are. Then follow the links to suggested careers that match your personality.

Buzz Quiz

Want to explore some more?

Find out what a variety of former students did after they left Notre Dame by watching these videos.

We have special pages for career sectors that are particularly popular for our students and are in high demand in our region.

Which are my favourite subjects and why?

Another good way of identifying a possible career pathway is by focussing on the subjects that you enjoy to study most. Each subject page on our website can help show the skills and knowledge you can develop and possible careers that require those qualifications.

Visit our KS3 Curriculum page

You have not allowed cookies and this content may contain cookies.

If you would like to view this content please

Careers Events

Careers Networking Event

During the Autumn Term, you will have the opportunity to speak with a wide range of guests. Each representing a different occupation. You will move around the room in small groups, changing every 5 minutes. Allowing you the opportunity to ask questions about each job and the guests' roles.

Careers Networking Booklet

Evaluation Booklet

Careers Blog

Check out our latest blog posts here, to find out about events and opportunities available.

Unifrog

Unifrog is an online platform that we use to help you search for Post 16 and Post 18 qualifications and career pathways including apprenticeships..

We set up an account for you in Y7 onwards and help explain how to use it in your PSHEE/6th Form Studies lessons

Unifrog brings all the available information into one single, impartial, user-friendly platform that helps you to make the best choices and submit the strongest applications.

You can use Unifrog in the following ways:

Explore what subjects you would be interested in studying and how these choices can lead to different career paths and higher education.
Discover and sign up to online courses in areas that you’re interested in.
See what is needed to make a successful application to a College/Sixth Form.
Explore how to successfully apply to an apprenticeship or university course, including universities abroad.