Introduction to Key Stage 4

Key Stage 4 covers Years 10 and 11 of a child's school life. Under a scheme called Raising the Participation Age (RPA) students currently in Year 9 will be required to remain in education or training until the age of 18; this can include employment with training, where the training can be the equivalent of one day per week. This does not mean that students need to remain in school! 

The importance of selecting Options courses carefully cannot be overstated as the exams taken at this stage form the passport for entry into later employment as well as further and higher education. Before making choices of which subjects a student is to take in Years 10 and 11, both they and their parents or carers should spend some time reading the sections on Thinking Ahead and For Those Considering Studying At University which are intended to give a broader perspective on course selection at this stage.

It is also important to understand the following:

  • Which subjects are compulsory at Key Stage 4,
  • Which subjects are available as optional courses,
  • What each of the optional courses contains, demands and where it can lead in the future,
  • Where the optional courses are taught.

The pages in this document should provide you with the answers to these questions.