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Parents and carers

If you are a parent with a child in Years 9-11 or in sixth form or at college, you have an important role in supporting them with the choices they have to make.

Today’s teenagers can choose from a wide and exciting range of courses which can start them on the way to sixth form, college, university or the workplace.

Choices after Year 9

All students in England have to study English, maths and science and will take an exam, usually a GCSE, in these three core subjects. Students will also study information and communication technology (ICT), physical education (PE), citizenship, religious studies, careers education, sex and relationship education and work-related learning, although it's up to the school whether the course ends with a qualification. Some schools may have additional compulsory subjects.

Students can choose to study at least one other optional subject in modern foreign languages, design and technology or humanities and arts.

Not all schools offer the same options, so it is important to check what is available. Subjects and the levels at which they are offered vary from school to school.

The majority of students in Years 10 and 11 study towards General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) qualifications which normally take two years to complete.

If your teenager is likely to find GCSEs difficult, some schools offer Entry Level courses leading to a Certificate of Achievement.

The Diploma is being offered in a wider range of subjects at an increasing number of schools. The Diploma can be studied instead of or in addition to GCSEs. The Diploma combines classroom learning with practical experience.

You can support your teenager by finding out as much information about the available options as possible. You can encourage them in their choices, manage unrealistic expectations and help them consider alternatives.

Choices after Year 11

After Year 11, the range of qualifications and places to study widens considerably. You can help to encourage your teenager to explore the best way for them to continue their learning. Remind them that better qualifications lead to improved job prospects and higher earnings. There are now few jobs around that require no qualifications and even fewer expected in the future. By 2020, the Government expects that 40% of all jobs will require a degree.

Your teenager could decide to stay in full-time education, start a training course or Apprenticeship or look for employment. If they already know where they want to be in the future, they may need to gain qualifications in specific subjects. If they want to keep their career options they should think about the subjects they enjoy, the most useful qualifications to take and the methods of learning that would suit them best.

There are a number of useful resources and websites that parents and carers can use to help their teenagers make the right decisions.