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Secondary education

How many gcse's do year 10 study?

54 replies

bellarations · 13/06/2014 17:57

Our school is forcing all pupils to drop one subject from their options, how many do most schools take? Can they do this? They are an recently converted academy.

OP posts:
creamteas · 13/06/2014 18:40

Ours do 10, but no one needs more than 8 really.

MillyMollyMama · 13/06/2014 18:43

8 would be too few for Oxbridge unless there were mitigating circumstances. My DDs took 10 and 12. 10 is plenty. They were all proper GCSEs, not equivalents. Make sure it is quality, not quantity.

Scoobyblue · 13/06/2014 18:48

10 at dd's school if doing triple science, 9 if doing dual science.

chickydoo · 13/06/2014 18:48

My DS is doing 11 this year DD did 12, 2 years ago.

HPparent · 13/06/2014 18:53

12/13 in DD1's school - super selective grammar
Same overall number in DD2's comp - they spread GCSEs over three years though and 5 or 6 are taken in year 11, the rest earlier
Both schools offer an option of AS in year 11
I would say 10 is more than adequate especially if they are solid subjects.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 13/06/2014 18:58

DS1 is doing triple science, double English, maths and additional maths, RE full course and 4 options. So 12 altogether. Most do double science, RE short course and no additional maths, so 9 is the norm at his school.

bigTillyMint · 13/06/2014 19:04

13/14 in my DC's school - mixed comp. However, DD has dropped one so it's 13 for her ATM. She has done two GCSE's this summer (fingers crossed) so that leaves 11 for Y11Shock

lljkk · 13/06/2014 19:24

I thought most schools did 9.
At DS's school you either have
7 GCSEs + 1 BTEC
or
9 GCSEs
or
(support group) 8 GCSE or 6GCSE + 1 BTEC.

they don't offer any twilight options, but I have heard of twilights at other schools (one extra option timetabled after normal hours).

ps: like 0.3% (?) of each crop of school year leaver's go to Oxbridge. I wouldn't make any decisions based solely on what they want.

OddBoots · 13/06/2014 19:28

My ds is doing 11. It's interesting to see the range.

bellarations · 13/06/2014 19:28

Thank you for your replies. I'm concerned they are focusing on improving results rather than students capabilities .

Is triple science considered one or three gcse's?

Cream teas - why do you think no one needs more than eight?

Hp why is 10 adequate?

I'm trying to gauge if I'm over reacting? My dd is very upset .

OP posts:
lljkk · 13/06/2014 19:29

actually, I think DS might be doing 1/2 GCSE RE as well. At least, it's only timetabled for 2 hours / fortnight, so some kind of partial GCSE might be the explanation.

OddBoots · 13/06/2014 19:30

Triple science is three.

lljkk · 13/06/2014 19:31

Our local 6th forms only require 5 GCSEs & of those at least 2 must be B grade. Relatively few university courses care about GCSEs beyond a minimum 5 passes. Of those that do care they may want quite high grades, but still tend to only require up to 8.

So how much it matters may partly depend on where your kid is going onto.

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 13/06/2014 19:36

Triple science counts as 3. DS1 dropped down to double science so is now doing 12 instead of 13. He's in the top band though so is doing more than others in his year. Doing 9 or 10 (or less) would be just as 'normal'

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 13/06/2014 19:37

IME, even Oxbridge prefer quality over quantity. Most sixth forms look at your top 8 GCSEs including Maths and English. 13 As aren't viewed as positively as 5 As and 3 As. Triple science is useful if you want to do science A levels, but not essential. Again two As at double science is better than threee Bs.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 13/06/2014 19:37

Feels like dd is doing loads compared to what I did ... I did 8 and passed 7 (did a bit better at A level) I just asked dd and she's doing 12. No wonder it sounds a lot!

weegiemum · 13/06/2014 19:39

In Scotland it's typically 8. My dd is doing 9 - English, Maths, Ghaidlig (native speakers Gaelic), French, Spanish, History, Physics, Art, Design and Manufacture.

The extra is Ghaidlig - she's at a bilingual school so has to do Gaelic and English. Fantastic!

lljkk · 13/06/2014 19:44

Can someone link to a state 6th form that requires 8 GCSEs for most of the courses it offers?

HPparent · 13/06/2014 19:44

Just looked at the requirements for vetmed. They only want 5 A grades but must have English, maths and physics if not offered at A level at A or B. GCSEs not that important.

I think 10 could include 2 x English, maths, 3 x science, 1 language and 1 humanity for example (plus Art an extra language or whatever). I did 8 at my school - standard in those days. In general I would say to keep options open but spreading yourself thinly over 12 subjects is crazy and stressful. Plus the pressure to get A* in bloody everything.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 13/06/2014 19:46

Asking everyone to drop a GCSE at end of Y10 does seem a bit harsh OP.
Put it this way, though some might be happy enough to drop a tricky subject, I don't see it going down well with many 15 year olds to suddenly change plans and expectations.
I feel for you both. Does your dd have an idea which subject she might drop if that is needed?

HPparent · 13/06/2014 19:47

Lljkk

This one wants 7 at A or B - comp in London

www.hollandparkschool.co.uk/admissions/sixth-form-admissions

lljkk · 13/06/2014 19:48

So what I want to do is see if the 3 closest 6th forms are just as demanding, will take a minute...

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KittiesInsane · 13/06/2014 19:53

This sixth form wants an average grade B across an applicant's top 8 subjects.

JugglingFromHereToThere · 13/06/2014 19:53

Or is your dd currently in Y9 OP?
(I just naturally first thought of her as being the same age and stage as mine)

EvilTwins · 13/06/2014 19:54

18 points from 8 GCSEs - grammar school.

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