Skip to main content
N I Direct government services

Main navigation

  • Home
  • News
  • Contacts
  • Help
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. News

GCSE subject choices advice for students and parents

Date published: 06 February 2023

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 guidance and support available.
Definition of GCSE
Choosing GCSE's in Year 10 is an important process.

Careers advisers

As well as the support from careers teachers in schools, professionally-qualified careers advisers from the Careers Service provide careers information, impartial advice and guidance about GCSE subject choices. 

This help is delivered through class talks, group work and individual interviews.  

Careers advisers are available to provide free support and guidance at any stage through the decision-making process.

To contact a careers adviser you can:

  • go online and chat with an adviser 
  • phone 0300 200 7820
  • email 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

More information

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

  • Subject choices at Year 10 - video and quiz

There is also lots of useful information available at these links:

  • Careers Service
  • Helping young people with career choices
  • Young person's guide/ parental guide
  • Skills in demand

Social media

Follow the Careers Service on:

  • Twitter - @economy_ni
  • Facebook - @SkillstoSucceedni
  • Instagram - @Economy­_NI
  • LinkedIn - Department for the Economy NI
Share this page Share on Facebook (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share on Twitter (external link opens in a new window / tab) Share by email (external link opens in a new window / tab)

Featured news

  • Spotting the symptoms of prostate cancer
  • Think carefully about alcohol limits
  • Heavy rain warning - advice and information
  • Snow and ice weather warning - information and advice
More news ...

Translation help

How to translate this page

Help improve this page - send your feedback

What do you want to do?
Report a problem
Which problem did you find on this page? (Tick all that apply)

Messages

You will not receive a reply. We will consider your feedback to help improve the site.

Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers.

What is your question about?

What to do next

Comments or queries about angling can be emailed to anglingcorrespondence@daera-ni.gov.uk 

If you have a comment or query about benefits, you will need to contact the government department or agency which handles that benefit.  Contacts for common benefits are listed below.

Carer's Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912
Email 
dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Call 0800 587 2750 
Email 
customerservice.unit@communities-ni.gov.uk

Disability Living Allowance

Call 0800 587 0912 
Email dcs.incomingpostteamdhc2@nissa.gsi.gov.uk

Employment and Support Allowance

Call 0800 587 1377

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Contact your local Jobs & Benefits office

Personal Independence Payment

Call 0800 587 0932

If your query is about another benefit, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

Comments or queries about the Blue Badge scheme can be emailed to bluebadges@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk or you can also call 0300 200 7818.

For queries or advice about careers, contact the Careers Service.

For queries or advice about Child Maintenance, contact the Child Maintenance Service.

For queries or advice about claiming compensation due to a road problem, contact DFI Roads claim unit.

If you can’t find the information you’re looking for in the Coronavirus (COVID-19) section, then for queries about:

  • Restrictions or regulations — contact the Department of Health
  • Travel advice (including self-isolation) — contact the Department of Health
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations — contact the Department of Health or Public Health Agency

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk and for queries about your certificate, email covidcertni@hscni.net.

For queries or advice about criminal record checks, email ani@accessni.gov.uk

Application and payment queries can be emailed to ema_ni@slc.co.uk

For queries or advice about employment rights, contact the Labour Relations Agency.

For queries or advice about birth, death, marriage and civil partnership certificates and research, contact the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) by email gro_nisra@finance-ni.gov.uk

For queries about the High Street Spend Local Scheme,  email HSSS.mail@economy-ni.gov.uk.

For queries about:

  • Car tax, vehicle registration and SORN
    contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Swansea
     
  • Driver licensing and tests, MOT and vehicle testing
    contact the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), Northern Ireland

If your query is about another topic, select ‘Other’ from the drop-down menu above.

For queries about your identity check, email nida@nidirect.gov.uk.

 

For queries or advice about passports, contact HM Passport Office.

For queries or advice about Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs), including parking tickets and bus lane PCNs, email dcu@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about pensions, contact the Northern Ireland Pension Centre.

If you wish to report a problem with a road or street you can do so online in this section.

If you wish to check on a problem or fault you have already reported, contact DfI Roads.

For queries or advice about historical, social or cultural records relating to Northern Ireland, use the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) enquiry service.

For queries or advice about rates, email LPSCustomerTeam@lpsni.gov.uk

For queries or advice about  60+ and Senior Citizen SmartPasses (which can be used to get concessionary travel on public transport), contact Smartpass - Translink.

If you have a question about a government service or policy, you should contact the relevant government organisation directly.  We don't have access to information about you.

Related sites

  • gov.uk
  • nibusinessinfo.co.uk

Links to supporting information

  • Accessibility statement
  • Crown copyright
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • RSS