Sent to parents and carers of Year 9 students on 24/03/2025
Year 9 Pathway Information for KS4
Thursday 24 April 2025
As you will likely be aware, Year 9 completes the Key Stage 3 period of your child’s secondary education. During Years 10 and 11 (Key Stage 4), students will follow a curriculum made up of compulsory core subjects and also subjects chosen by them. The core curriculum subjects are English, Maths, Science, Physical Education and PSHE. Students will potentially be able to choose up to four subjects that they would like to study within an assigned pathway.
In order to further explain the process, we would like to invite you to attend our Year 9 Pathway Evening on Thursday 22 April 2025. The evening runs between 6.00pm – 7.45pm. At this evening, detailed information will be provided about Key Stage 4 subjects by subject teams in the sports hall. It is crucial that parents/carers attend with their child, in order to be able to help students choose the subjects appropriate to them. Introductory talks explaining the pathway process will take place in the main hall at the following times:
18:00 – 18:20 for students with surnames – A to L
18:30 – 18:50 for students with surnames – M to Z
It is important that all parents/carers attend the introductory talk before going to the sports hall. All parents/carers with surnames M to Z should arrive with their child no earlier than 18:30. This will allow all parents/carers to receive as much information as possible, before entering the sports hall. Following the presentation in the main hall, parents will have an opportunity to speak to staff and student ambassadors from each of the subject areas in the sports hall.
On Monday 31 March, students will have an assembly with me and Mr Clarke during tutor time at 8:35 – 8:55 in the girls’ gym. In the weeks commencing 28 April and 6 May, Year 9 students will be submitting their subject choices in school, during an Enrichment lesson. Please encourage your child to attend the Pathways Evening with you and speak to subject staff, in order to help inform their final decisions.
We have produced an online Year 9 Pathway Guide for 2025 which you can find on our website here – this will also be shared with students on 31 March in their assembly:
WA Year 9 Pathway Guide 2025-2026
In addition, we will be communicating home the pathway colour that your child has been allocated before the Easter break. This will enable you to take the time to discuss what subjects your child may be interested in studying ahead of the pathways evening on Thursday 24 April.
The start of Key Stage 4 marks a most significant and very important step on your child’s academic journey, as we look to fully prepare them for both employment and life, after leaving the academy. We hope that you will be able to join us in supporting your child with completing this process. Should you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us using the details below.
Regards
Mr R Hawkes – Assistant Principal
Email: richard.hawkes@attrust.org.uk
&
Mr J Clarke – Team Leader for RS & Enrichment
Email: jamie.clarke@attrust.org.uk
Academy vision: Westbourne is an inclusive academy. We support all students, regardless of starting point, to achieve their potential and develop the skills necessary for employment and life.
Academy values: Be Safe, Be Thoughtful, Be Accountable and Be Respectful.
General queries to: wes-office@attrust.org.uk or 01473 742315
Attendance or Absence queries to: wes-attendance@attrust.org.uk
Exam queries to: anna.fulcher@attrust.org.uk
MCAS, online payments and data information queries to: wes-data@attrust.org.uk
SEND queries to: opal.degville@attrust.org.uk