Length of time for schools to decide on Year 9 Options

[Lottie4]

Just wondering how long it takes schools to decide who gets which options once they have made their choices. I'm not expecting it to be quick as DD goes to a big school.

However, DD is having doubts about her last option choice (this is a spare choice in case any others are oversubscribed), so is now a little tense over the final decision. I've suggested she go and speak to the teacher who deals with this and ask if the choice can be changed, but she doesn't know what she'd choose instead (which isn't helpful!)

[MrsSquirrel]

In my dd's school, they didn't find out the final decision until July. Plenty of time.

Definitely encourage dd to speak to the teacher. Whether or not she decides to change her choice, the teacher will be able to reassure her.

[AuntieStella]

I think it took a week or two.

They have to choose their options from blocks, and it's a big enough school for a kind of law of averages to apply, so it's really unusual that people don't get their choices.

There really isn't much you can do unless/until she settles on something she's rather do instead of the fall-back choice she's already listed. Because settling the timetable and teaching groups is a huge task, and not really fair to ask for a change unless it's something she really means.

[catslife]

At dds school, the teacher responsible did meet with the few pupils (about 6 out of 220) who had missed out on their main option choices to discuss this further. I think this took place close to Easter and options were finalised in early May.

[Lottie4]

Thanks. Her first two choices are guaranteed. Also, Head of Music decides who gets music places, so DD should as once sixth formers have left, she will have the highest violin grade in school. If they are oversubscribed, they look as effort grades - she only has a b grade (still good though) for Ethics but has increased a massive two whole levels (not sub levels!) this year, so has to be safe on this one.

The main one to doubt is art, so I think another art or DT choice would be good, instead of the history she's having doubts about (she's saying she's lost interest and acknowledges her levels aren't as good as in other subjects - also from my view if she gets French, geography and ethics, music then maybe doesn't need history for an all round education).