As student numbers and age groups at our international schools continue to grow, the process of selecting GCSE option subjects has become an increasingly important focus. One of our international schools, RGS Guildford Dubai, is preparing to guide its first cohort of students through the GCSE process starting in September 2025. In anticipation of this milestone, Year 9 students at RGS Guildford Dubai are currently navigating the essential task of selecting their GCSE option subjects.
Our international school community, including both students and parents, has expressed a strong interest in understanding how students in Guildford approach their GCSE subject choices. To offer helpful guidance, it was decided that Fifth and Sixth Form students from RGS Guildford, UK, who have already gone through the process themselves, would be the perfect source of insight for their peers.
To ensure the long-term sustainability and impact of this project, the focus was placed on the option subjects that are offered across all our family of international schools. Heads of Department at RGS Guildford were consulted to identify students who could serve as ambassadors for their respective subjects. These selected students were then tasked with answering key questions about their subject choices. They reflected on why they chose specific subjects, what they enjoy most about them, and how the subjects have helped them develop important skills. Additionally, for Sixth Form students, the project explored why they chose to continue studying their subject beyond the GCSE level.
In collaboration with our Marketing Manager, we engaged a specialist school marketing video agency to help capture the students’ responses on film. This will allow the wider school community to benefit from their insights and advice.
We are confident that this project will provide valuable guidance to our international schools as they help students navigate the critical decision-making process around GCSE options. By sharing the experience of our students in Guildford, we hope to empower future cohorts across our international community.