14+ Choices

Are you making a decision about what subjects to take in years 10 and 11? Your learning pathway - the courses and subjects you choose to do over the next few years - will be individual to you.

What are the main pathways on offer at 14+?

General qualifications - most young people take GCSEs in Years 10 and 11, often alongside other qualifications such as the Diploma.
A Diploma at Foundation or Higher Level combined with GCSEs and/or other qualifications - on offer in some areas in a range of applied subjects/lines of learning.
A Young Apprenticeship may be on offer in some work-related areas – combined with GCSEs
Foundation Learning Programmes - a personalised learning programme agreed with your school if you are not ready to move on to GCSEs or a level 2 course yet.
You may also be able to add work-related qualifications such as an NVQ, OCR or BTEC to your pathway - for example an NVQ as part of a Young Apprenticeship.

Why not check out how all the qualifications work together?

All pathways have to include the essential subjects all employers look for. So you’ll also work towards qualifications in:

English
Maths
Science
Functional Skills

The subjects you will also have to continue studying at school as part of all the pathways – some of which you may be able to take a qualification in - are:

Careers education
Citizenship
Physical education
Religious studies
Sex and relationship education
Work-related learning

All your other subjects will be optional and will include a range of subjects and courses. Your school will be able to tell you the number of optional subjects you can choose and what's on offer.

When you are looking at the different learning pathways consider if:

there any subjects you enjoy and are good at?
you prefer course work or exams - as some courses may have more course work
you would like to ‘mix and match’ subjects from more than one pathway - for example one of the new Diplomas with your GCSE subjects

Want to know more about...

Subject choices

Subjects and jobs

Find out how much you know by taking our 14+ quiz

Need more help?

Your Personal Tutor will be working with you for the next few years - so it’s a good idea to discuss your ideas and plans with them.
Your Connexions Personal Adviser will also be happy to discuss your options with you. Ask for help.

Subject teachers will be able to tell you more about their subject and how it will be assessed as well as giving you some guidance about how they feel you’ll do in their subject.

Don’t forget these other useful websites:

To search for 14+ courses your local area prospectus:

To find out more about how to choose your Key Stage 4 options – with quizzes and help to make decisions about your subject choices and the future check out the Which Way Now website

Got a job idea and want to know which qualifications and subjects you will need? Look it up on the jobs4u site – it like an online careers library with information about most of the jobs on offer.