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Original poster

Hmm so DD has had her options book and...

30 replies

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 10/02/2011 22:04

I am wondering if it is worth trying to have a fight with the school.
Basically she will be doing
Triple science
English
Maths (with Statistics thrown in as BOGOF)
RE
She can choose two from a group of Humanities/Languages. She has chosen
German
History
She then has to choose two from a group of technology and arts subjects, but one MUST be a technology subject
She had chosen Music but would also like to do Drama. Instead she will have to do Food Tech as her dyspraxia makes all the other tech subjects utter misery for her.
Now as Gove has withdrawn specialist status from schools I can see no reason why she should be forced to take one of a group of subjects in which she has no interest and for which she has no aptitude when there are plenty of other subjects they offer which would suit her very well (Drama, 2nd language).
It's probably not worth making a fuss though, is it?

OP posts:
senua · 10/02/2011 23:12

I feel your pain. I was so looking forward to the end of Y9 when dyspraxic DS could drop Tech ... and then found it was a compulsory GCSE.Sad Ho hum - I am sure it is character forming to have to struggle through these things.Hmm

Silverstreet · 10/02/2011 23:11

At our school you are pretty much expected to do a technology, but if you have an educational reason why you want to do something else they will consider it. We said DD wanted to do music in this option as she is grade 4 piano already and she is expected to get a very good grade whereas would not in the technology. We expect to win on this based on what teachers have told us. Worth a try.

GetOrfMoiLand · 10/02/2011 23:06

It would be well worth your having a conversation with the school about it - however don't hold your breath.

I know how you feel - dd got an array of what seemed like daft options last year.

Her school is also a technology specialist so she had to do a tech subject - she is dysliexic/dyspraxic so graphics, resistant materials and electronics were no good, textiles she would have loathed, so she chose food tech grudgingly.

She has quite a academic timetable in teh end (out of her options she chose history, geography triple science was an option as well) which is quite a lot for a dyslexic, so food tech has turned out to be a blessing, it is a very enjoyable and easy subject for her, which takes a bit of pressure off. I am glad that she managed to take food tech as opposed to art, as the workload for art is very high.

I do sympathise as it is a horrible time of year - so pressured for you all.

GnomeDePlume · 10/02/2011 22:59

Dont argue but do ask. Also are there other students wanting similar combinations? If there are then it may be possible for the timetabling to be changed.

However, I'm afraid that it is often a case of choosing least worst options rather than getting all your favourites.

MoonUnitAlpha · 10/02/2011 22:07

Even if you do make a fuss, it may be impossible to take two arts subjects due to timetabling.

When I was at school, taking a Tech subject was compulsory for everyone though.