Key Stage 3 Options

The Year 8 into 9 Options process is the start of an important and exciting phase in students' education at Ilkley Grammar School. For the first time in their school lives, students will be able to personalise parts of their curriculum by making individual choices from a range of options subjects. Students will continue to study the national curriculum and maintain as broad a curriculum as possible in year 9, but have the experience of personalising parts of their curriculum. During the options process, students will receive a lot of advice and guidance to help them make informed decisions; these decisions will not only shape their Year 9 curriculum at Ilkley Grammar School, but will also help to support their decision making process when they select their final GCSE options next year. 

Our curriculum is ambitious, aspirational and is designed to provide opportunities for all students to achieve.

For students of Year 8, the Options process will begin with a ‘Year 8 into 9 Options Launch Assembly’ during PBT. Over the course of this term, students of Year 8 will then receive multiple opportunities to consider their option choices in order to make informed decisions about their future study. It is important to note that:

• All students will be seen in tutor time by Miss Claughton, Deputy Headteacher, or another member of the Leadership Team to discuss options, the online options form and ask questions
• All students will be further supported through follow-on PBT sessions where they will be given the opportunity to hear from fellow students who have been through the Year 8 into 9 Options process last year
• All students will also have the ability to book a ‘drop in meeting’ with a member of the Leadership Team, if any questions cannot be answered in the assembly, booklet or tutor sessions
• At the Options Evening, there will be a presentation, supported the opportunity to visit each subject area to further support students in making their choices 
• The year 8 Options mailbox will be monitored throughout this term to answer any questions from students, parents and carers: year8options@ilkleygs.co.uk

Click below to download/view:

• 2025 Year 8 into 9 Options Launch
• 2025 Year 8 into 9 Options Booklet
• 2025 Year 8 Options Evening Presentation

Timings for our 2025-26 Key Stage 3 options process (Year 8 to 9):

Year 8
PROCESS	DATES
Year 8-9 Options Assembly Launch  Distribution of options booklets electronically	Wednesday 4th February 2026 during PBT
February Half-Term	16th - 20th February 2026
Year 8 Parents’ evening	Tuesday 24th February 2026
Options forms available electronically	Wednesday 25th February 2026
PBT sessions with Leadership Team	Wednesday 25th February & Wednesday 4th March 2026
Year 8 and 9 Options Evening	Wednesday 4th March 2026
Optional drop in meetings with Leadership Team	Monday 2nd March – Friday 13th March 2026
Deadline for submission of electronic options forms	Friday 13th March 2025