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Original poster

Are GCSE choices as complicated as they seem? Is there an idiot's guide?

38 replies

ragged · 05/02/2012 21:12

I am foreign so come from a very different system.
Modular vs. linear GCSEs, taking GCSEs too early, coursework GCSE vs. IGCSEs, BTecs (what are they, anyway??), what's wrong with league tables, what's wrong with EBacc, what's wrong with MFL, whether GCSE results matter that much, how do I know which options are best for my DC (etc.)....

Has it always been this complicated? Do I just listen to what's on offer at my own DC high school & try to ignore the rest of these gabillion possibilities & considerations? How in the world can anybody plan their child's University future at age 12-14, which seems to be required? I feel like I understand so much but still after years of perusing relevant threads on MN, I still understand so little.

Sigh.

ps: oh, and it seems like the goalposts keep moving ("reforms"!), so it's pointless to try to understand the system now because it could completely change at any moment, anyway.

OP posts:
ShagOBite · 05/02/2012 22:02

or IGCSE, is equivalent )real equivalent - some are harder, some the same, some a little less). BTEC tend to be vocational, ie. not for academically minded students.

ShagOBite · 05/02/2012 22:00

Is your child bright? If so, GCSEs.

RandomMess · 05/02/2012 21:58

Well I thought I understood it only to discover dd1 is going IGCSEs and it seems that some of them are more in depth/more difficult than the GCSE equivalent...

Original poster
ragged · 05/02/2012 21:56

What sort of child is your DC? Do you think they are heading for University?

But that's the question that infuriates me (& baffles me). Why do I have to typecast them at age 12-13, which seems like the English system does? (Friend being called in to discuss her y8 DD's GCSE strategy, the child is only 12).

Twelve.

Fuck me, I was still learning how to pick my nose properly at age 12. I certainly wouldn't want my parents to be making choices that could strongly impact on what I might feel up to achieving by age 17-18.

OP posts:
NonnoMum · 05/02/2012 21:51

What sort of levels is your DC at now?

Some schools like to enter kids early for GCSE. Don't let them. Kids will get a B in Year 10 when they could get an A or A* in Year 11.

What sort of child is your DC? Do you think they are heading for University? Are there certain subjects he/she thrives in?

Your DC will be swayed to make more traditional choices as the Ebac has been foisted on schools by a Tory government to try to make all 21st century kids have an education like Tory boys in the 1950s (i.e Geography not music, French not Drama).

Every school has its own way of doing things, but make a fuss if you do not like the options they give you.

Clary · 05/02/2012 21:48

OP yr DS will most likely be advised to take GCSE or BTEC in certian subjects I imagine.

There are differences eg f you do GCSE music, it's quite traditional (playing a classicaly instrument etc) but BTEC music is much more about composing rock songs (slightly glib, that, but that was my observation at the secondary I wrked at last year). BTEC science is (in general) suggested for lower-achieving pupils but IMO it should be more about what would suit the child (ie exams or coursework based) rather than how able they are!

Original poster
ragged · 05/02/2012 21:42

eek, major X post, will see what other replies said.
Clarifications on what BTec means, when they might be best, are very helpful!
Friend with DD in y8 is being called in to talk about GCSE choices soon.

OP posts:
Original poster
ragged · 05/02/2012 21:40

Sorry, it's just that the phrase "good education" has cultural assumptions built into it that I think I'll struggle with.

But it's helpful to learn that schools tend to only offer one or the other (types of GCSEs), I didn't realise that would be the case. Are BTecs always "vocational" qualifications, then? Does that mean they're no good to enable entrance to 6th form college and/or Uni? Don't most state secondaries offer both BTecs & GCSEs? Does this mean that expectations about how academic a kid is, are supposed to be set by age 12-13?

Is "good education" the same as British thing about "having standards"?. It's like when friend told me that a school used "old fashioned teaching methods", and I well and truly didn't know what that meant & friend was flummoxed that I couldn't immediately understand, except that it now is evident that my DC at schools that use "new" teaching methods turned out to be more stimulated & satisfied (maybe just anecdotal that experience, though, my conclusion that old-fashioned = unimaginative).

Keeping options open makes sense, I hope I can cling to that as a principle.

OP posts:
cottonmouth · 05/02/2012 21:33

If your child is in Year 9 or below, then they will be doing linear GCSEs. Don't worry about modular.

If your child is in a selective independent schools, they may do some IGCSEs. IGCSEs tend to be linear (exams at the end of the course) and do not have intermediate assessments.

BTecs are for lower achieving students who benefit from doing bitesize pieces of work.

IMO, Ebacc is a good thing. It is to the benefit of the student to have a rigorous and well-rounded education. It's what I got 30+ years ago, so doesn't faze me now.

I think some reforms are very good, especially those that allows every student to achieve something. But it has to be clear what the student is achieving and put into perspective.

As a mother of a variety of teenagers, I can reassure you that no one is choosing their future at age 12 or 13. If a student does traditional courses, they will keep most of their options open.

Clary · 05/02/2012 21:32

Ah yes you see what senua said, only she said it more concisely Grin

Clary · 05/02/2012 21:31

Nothing wrong with MFL to start with! (Wink MFL teacher here!)

seriously tho, you need to go with the options at your DCs' school, yes, as anything else will mean changing schools in year 9 which is no a good idea, other things being equal.

So as far as options go, these vary from school to school; most (all) insist on Eng, Maths and Science; some will strongly encourage a modern language (because of the Ebacc), others will not; some will insist on a tech subject (DT, food tech, textiles etc), others that everyone does ICT (this often but not always depends on the specialism of the school).

I would in general advise a choice with an element of academic rigour as long as the student is up to it (eg history/geography, MFL) alongside something they love to do (art, food, etc).

BTECs are a coursework based route to a qualification so eg science BTEC is a good way for a student who does less well in exams to get a science GCSE equivalent (for purposes of uni/future jobs).

Not sure if that answers all your qus but hope t helps.

mycatsaysach · 05/02/2012 21:27

what senua said - keep all options open

senua · 05/02/2012 21:23

On the question of modular v. linear or GCSE v. IGCSE, I don't think there is a question. You do what the school offers! How can you do an IGCSE if the school doesn't run it?
I haven't got much experience of vocational qualifications, only GCSE. I would recommend that your DC keep their future open for as long as possible i.e. do a wide spread of subjects. This means the essentials of Eng Lit, Eng Lang, Maths and double science. Then choose options: say one each of a Humanity, a MFL, and expressive art and a technology.
That's it really. Concentrate on getting them a good education and the rest follows.

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