Thinking about your Options?
Start shaping your future with the right choices.
Explore how the subjects and skills you’re learning now can lead to rewarding careers in Health, Social Care, Sport & Public Services — one of the UK’s largest, most caring and most vital sectors. From saving lives as a paramedic to coaching the next Olympic champion, supporting vulnerable people or keeping communities safe, this is where empathy meets action and every day makes a real difference.
Check what’s available at your school and remember: choosing a strong mix of caring, scientific, and people-focused subjects keeps your options wide open and your future full of possibilities.
Core subjects
What to study?
Relevant Year 9 Options Subjects
Closely Linked Subjects
⚽ BTEC Sport – Opens pathways to PE teaching, coaching, physiotherapy, sports therapy and uniformed services fitness training.
🍽️ Food Preparation & Nutrition – Directly leads to hospital catering, public health nutrition, dietary care plans and roles supporting people with eating disorders or diabetes.
🩺 Health & Social Care – The core subject that prepares you for nursing, care work, social services and safeguarding roles.
🏛️ History – Builds empathy and understanding of society; valuable for social work, youth justice and community support services.
🙏 Religious Education – Develops cultural awareness, ethics and sensitivity—crucial for supporting diverse patients, families and communities.
Linked Subjects
🌍 Geography – Helps with emergency planning, environmental health, understanding community needs and disaster response roles.
✂️ Hair & Beauty – Links to therapeutic wellbeing roles, dementia care, hospital salon services and boosting confidence in social care settings.
Career areas
Unlock Careers in Health, Social Care, Sport & Public Services
See the life-changing career areas you can unlock by studying subjects within this gateway. From rushing to emergencies to helping people live fuller lives, these roles are always needed and incredibly rewarding.
The table below highlights 10 of the most popular and diverse roles currently in high demand—perfect starting points for your future.
Career Areas within this Gateway |
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| 👂 Audiologist
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💉 Anaesthetist
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👨⚕️ Doctor
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| 🧪 Biochemist
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🦷 Dental Nurse
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🦠 Virologist
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| 🩻 X-Ray Technician
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🚑 Paramedic
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🔪 Surgeon
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Post-16 opportunities
T Levels are a two-year qualification equivalent to three A Levels and combine classroom learning with an extended in-depth industry placement lasting at least 45 days. On completion, progression can be onto Higher / Degree apprenticeships, university or employment.
The course is offered at:
NSCG – View All Courses | NSCG
Stoke on Trent College – T Levels – Stoke-on-Trent College :Stoke-on-Trent College
A-levels are a 2-year programme ideal for students who want to study 3 subjects in depth and plan to progress onto university or a Higher apprenticeship. They can be a great option for learners who enjoy learning facts and theories, are good at exam assessment and are good at doing independent learning and research outside of the classroom.</>
Maths and Physics are important subjects for Engineering. Other relevant subjects include: Chemistry, Computer Science, Further Maths, Product Design
A levels are offered at the following local colleges and 6th Forms:
NSCG – A Levels and A+ Programmes | NSCG
City of Stoke on Trent 6th Form College – Courses Archive – City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College
St Thomas More – Sixth Form – St Thomas More Catholic Academy
St Josephs College – Sixth Form – St Joseph’s College
St Margaret Ward – Sixth Form Courses | St Margaret Ward
Apprenticeships can be a great option for learners who are ready for the work place and are sure about the job they want to pursue. Learners will have to find an employer to take them on by searching for apprenticeship vacancies and going through the employer’s recruitment process. Employers are generally looking for applicants who are self motivated, have a good standard of maths and English and are reliable and passionate about achieving their goals.
Search for Engineering & manufacturing vacancies by postcode Browse apprenticeships before you apply
Pre-apprenticeships are ideal for learners who want an apprenticeship but may not yet be work ready. Need to improve your maths and English, develop your confidence or gain some relevant work experience? If so, a pre-apprenticeship at a local training provider could be right for you.
Martec Training offer motor vehicle pre-apprenticeships Motor Vehicle Courses – Martec Training