Help in Year 9

Young people today are being faced with increased curriculum choices at Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11). Therefore, Year 9 is a very important time for them to be thinking about the subjects and qualifications they want to study in the future. This could influence the decisions they will need to make about further education, training and employment.

It is an important time, too, for them to have support for making those decisions. However, because their option choices are different from those made by young people in the past, parents are often not sure what support to give, or where to start. Some qualifications, such as the Diplomas which will be available in some schools from September 2008, are brand new.

Questions to ask

If your son or daughter has no idea what they want to do in the future, a good starting point is for them to ask themselves:

• What sort of person am I?
• What do I enjoy doing?
• What skills do I have already, and how would I like to use them in the future?
• How do I learn best?

and then:

• Do I know what all my options are?
• If not, where can I get more information?

Your son or daughter’s school will provide a careers education programme to help them develop the knowledge and skills they need to make the right choices. Many schools will organise a special event for parents of year 9 pupils and their children to help with option choices, or will use the Year 9 parents evening for that purpose.

Your son or daughter’s Connexions Personal Adviser can also help with the choices and decisions they have to make. They can be contacted through your son or daughter’s school or your nearest Connexions Centre. Connexions Cornwall and Devon is also holding events in each of its centres during January 2008 for parents of Year 9 pupils – click here for information.

Further information

For further information on supporting your son or daughter to make choices in Year 9, see the parents section of the national website and helpline "Connexions Direct"

To know about all the courses and qualifications available in your area, you can now look at a local on-line prospectus. For courses in

Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly: http://www.cornwall.futures4me.co.uk
Devon & Torbay: http://www.options4me.co.uk
Plymouth: http://www.findacourse4me.co.uk