Advice for parents/carers of children making GCSE subject choices

Date published: 07 February 2022

During Year 10, your child will be asked to make choices about the subjects or courses they'll study in Years 11/12. The process of choosing subjects will be organised by the school. Students and parents may feel apprehensive about making these decisions but there is help and support available.

Definition of GCSE — Choosing GCSE's in Year 10 is an important process.

As well as the support from careers teachers in schools, careers advisers from the Department for the Economy’s Careers Service provide careers information, advice and guidance about GCSE subject choices. This help is normally delivered through class talks, group work and individual interviews. However, things will be a bit different again this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is important for students and parents / carers to be aware that careers advisers are still available to provide support.

To contact a professionally qualified careers adviser for free impartial advice and guidance you can:

go online and chat with an adviser
telephone: 0300 200 7820
email Careers Service by completing the online form at Ask Careers

Parental support

Your support as a parent/ carer is vital when your child is choosing their subjects. Your support will help them make the right choices to reach their full potential.

Try considering the following with them:

• subjects they enjoy

• subjects they are good at or find challenging

• subjects that can link into careers ideas

• how they like to learn (coursework, exams or both)

• hobbies/ interests they enjoy

• the type of job they would like to do and what qualifications are required

• researching jobs through the Careers Service website

• talking to the careers adviser

• talking to subject teachers

Subject choices video and quiz

For more information, and to watch the Subject Choices video and take the quiz, go to:

Subject Choices at Year 10 - Video & Quiz

Social media

Follow the Careers Service on:

Twitter - @economy_ni
Facebook - @SkillstoSucceedni
Instagram - @Economy_NI
LinkedIn - Department for the Economy NI

Careers Service privacy notice

See how the Careers Service handles personal information at this link:

Privacy notice - Careers Service

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Extra comments (optional)

Advice for parents/carers of children making GCSE subject choices

Parental support

Subject choices video and quiz

More useful links

Social media

Careers Service privacy notice

Translation help

Help improve this page - send your feedback

Messages

What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment