Is it too late to change a GCSE option? (Y10l

[purpleroses]

My DS is Y10. He chose French as a GCSE option, under some pressure from both the school and me. He's hating it, not working and got a D in his latest assessment. (He's predicted As and Bs in his other subjects) At the same time he's developed a real interest in art over the last 6m. He's bought graphics tablet for his computer and had been producing all sorts of interesting art work.

He wants to switch, but asked the school on Friday and they said no, it was too late. Is this definitely likely to be the case? Or is it worth me putting some pressure on his behalf? He's really keen and says he'd be happy to work after school or over Christmas to catch up.

[ihatethecold]

My son. Yr 10 has just dropped his computer science gcse this week.
From next week it will be replaced with a btec pe option.
His school have been great helping him to change.
What reason have your child's school given?
Timetable?

[cricketballs]

I don't teach art or graphics, but in my subjects at GCSE (ICT & Business) a definite no this late on as we have covered a lot already. Having previously been a KS4 form tutor (now share a 6th form group with art teacher) I very much doubt the art department would agree given the amount of work for sketch book already completed

[purpleroses]

They started GCSEs just in September this year. I'm pretty sure there isn't a timetabling problem as his friend does art when DS does French

Yes I am aware French would look better for university applications, but he's likely to be doing something science /maths related, so it's not critical. Yes he could in theory go from a D (which was a spoken assessment) to a B in the next year or so, but that's only if he works and makes progress....

The school just told DS it was too late. He just asked the head of KS4. Maybe it would be worth asking the art teacher direct? He got a really good grade at at at the end of last year (7a, compared with a 6c the previous year)

[clary]

I would say as a secondary school teacher it is too late. We tend only to allow moves (which are not encouraged for obvious reasons!) in the first week or so. There may well have been a good deal of coursework done already in art.

It's early days to judge on assessment. If his work was at GCSE D level now then that's a sign of a possible B in 18 months' time IMO (I teach MFL).

[grunty]

Both my kids did art. My elder daughter was asked to produce her first work during the summer before starting year 10. There is a very heavy workload and most of it is prescribed by the teacher to meet the course spec rather than being a free choice. My DD didn't use the tablet at all although she was an avid user at home. I think it is too late tbh. I also think your son might be disappointed when he realizes what the art syllabus is.

[bigTillyMint]

Art is very time-consuming and he would have a lot of catching up to do - would he be willing to spend all his Christmas holidays on it if he was indeed allowed to swap? Plus as others have said, it isn't just "do your own thing" - they have to do projects and study different artists and come up with their own annotated interpretations...

My DS is Y9 and currently struggling a bit with French - I am going to see if me doing extra practice with him might help, if not then a tutor because it is very easy to get lost with MFL. Could you try that with your DS?

[purpleroses]

Thanks all. DS is very keen right now and I think would happily spend all Christmas doing art. So I've dropped an email to the head of art just to see. Doesn't sound too hopeful though from what people are saying here :-(

[Bunbaker]

DD is doing GCSE art and started her year 10 work at the end of June. I don't know how it would be possible to catch up with the coursework at this stage. DD has spent hours and hours doing art homework so far.