Head of Year 9

Sophie Rylance

As Head of Year, I work with tutors through the options process and look at whether a pupil’s stated interests line up with the subjects they have selected.

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A little about me

Year 9 brings an important set of choices. As Head of Year, I work with tutors through the options process and look at whether a pupil’s stated interests line up with the subjects they have selected.

A mismatch is a prompt for conversation, not a verdict on what the pupil should choose. I want tutor briefings to make it easier to notice where a question may be useful before the deadline. The information needs to be specific enough to start a discussion and open enough for the pupil to explain what matters to them.

The tutor team is central to this process because it gives pupils a familiar person to talk to. Good planning helps those conversations happen in time, while leaving space for the pupil to explain their choices. I focus on useful signals and timely follow-up rather than simply recording the options.

How I approach a lesson

  1. Use stated interests and selected subjects to identify where a conversation may help.

  2. Frame a mismatch as a question for the pupil, not an instruction to change choices.

  3. Share tutor briefings early enough for discussion before the options deadline.

Templates I'd use with my class

Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.

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