The aim of this booklet is to outline the curriculum which boys follow at Solihull in their Lower and Upper Fifth years (Years 10 and 11 in National Curriculum terms).
Introduction By The Head Of Careers
The GCSE booklet gives details of the two-year courses which your son will be starting in September. He will study the core subjects of English, Maths, French, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In addition, he will be able to choose three subjects from the range described below. It is clear that this is an important decision which will lead on to choices about AS and A Levels, university courses and, ultimately a career. First of all, may I encourage you and your son to obtain as much advice as you can before you make a selection; your son should, at the very least, consult with the staff teaching him for the relevant subjects, so that he can obtain some idea of his relative ability and likely prospects at GCSE, and he should also discuss the matter with his Form Tutor, who will be able to help him get an overall picture. More specialist advice is available from the Heads of the Academic Departments (whose names are listed by subject below) and, with regard to careers, from myself.
As regards the criteria to adopt in making a selection, can I recommend the following:
1. At which subjects is he best?
2. Which subjects does he most like?
3. Which subjects does he need to study?
In addition, every boy should seek to:
a) maintain a balance of subjects (unless he is very significantly strong or weak in particular areas);
b) keep open as many career options as possible.
Boys should also avoid attaching too much importance to the views of their friends, or to their like or dislike of particular members of staff who may currently be teaching them.
Although it is unlikely that a particular subject choice made now will prove disastrous in career terms in the years ahead, it is, nevertheless, important to consider the career implications of the important decisions which now have to be made. While thought of careers is but one of the many factors which you will need to consider, it is an area which few boys are likely to have explored in any detail. Please, therefore, encourage your son to give serious thought to his future. In the GCSE booklet we can only hope to give very general advice and guidance, and the comments (made on pages 12-15 inclusive) should not be regarded as specific to any individual; each boy has a personal responsibility to find out the career implications of the subject choices he is considering.
For almost all the boys in the School, GCSE will be a stepping-stone to A Levels. Therefore, it is important for boys to choose subjects in which they can do well at GCSE. Thus, career possibilities are but one of many factors parents and pupils need to consider. Nevertheless, I have included in the section on pages 12-15 some general comments on the application of subjects at A Level and beyond.
One of the great dangers of indicating subject-career links (see pages 12-15) is that it may encourage boys to make career decisions before they have weighed up all the pros and cons: for example, a boy might well decide that he likes the idea of being a pilot, and so will make his subject choice accordingly, before he has realised:
a) what the job actually entails, including the physical attributes required;
b) what level of academic qualifications is required;
c) the true extent of his interests and ability in certain subjects.
Thus, it is imperative that boys use this information only as a guide and that each boy seeks individual advice to help him with his particular decision. Despite these problems, I do believe it is important for parents and boys to have some careers information to hand when they discuss subject choices, even though careers are but one of several factors that must be considered.
Clearly the information given on pages 12-15 is only a selection; further details are available from the Library. I do hope this information will be helpful to your son when he makes his subject selection. If there are any queries or problems, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Rev N A Cluley