The Options Process
At Didsbury High School, it is extremely important to us that all our students have the right information, advice and guidance to enable them to access the future of their choice. By the time they choose their options in Year 9, students will already have had careers education to help them make informed choices about their options at Key Stage 4 (KS4).
We encourage students to think carefully about their choices, keeping as many options open as possible when they leave us at 16 or 18.
All students attend an options assembly and receive careers and progression guidance throughout Key Stage 3. Before selecting their options, students and their parents and carers can discuss subjects with teachers at the Year 9 parents’ evening to help inform their decisions.
Year 9 Options Booklet
Our options booklet is updated each year and can be accessed below.
The booklet details the subjects that all students study at KS4, alongside the different options available and which combinations are not possible. Both GCSEs and BTEC qualifications are offered at KS4.
Options Subjects
In Years 10 and 11, students will study three option subjects alongside their compulsory curriculum of English Language, English Literature, Maths and Science. By the end of the options process, students need to have selected four option subjects they would like to study next year. These should be ranked in order of preference.
All students should pick ONE option from Pool A:
All students should pick a further THREE options from Pool B:
The options window will open for Year 9 students this year on Thursday 26th February 2026. The deadline for choosing options is Friday 20th March 2026.
All options are chosen on the MCAS App. Instructions will be emailed on how to do this when the window for selection opens.
If you are having trouble accessing the MCAS app to choose options, or have any questions about the options process, please contact us on [email protected]