Yr 6 are choosing schools without a clue as to the exams they will take!?!

Yup. Infortunately when teachers try to bring this to the attention of the public at large, they are accused of whinging, and don't get a lot of support (in general) from society as a whole. It's the constant changes and government interference that drive teachers out of teaching usually, not the actual teaching part of the job. . It would be fantastic to actually let experienced teachers decide - based on real research - what works well, and how things could be improved for all of our children, but politicians always think they know best.

Its always crap when they change the system. I am victim of the 1st year to do GCSE all those years ago. Most of my coursework ended up in a bin and redone 1 weeks before deadlines because the syllibus in most subjects simply had not arrived so the teachers just taught us what they thought would be needed from the old O'level and CSE courses.

I think I was looking at schools I would still aim for the one that would suit my DC best with the best results. What else can you go on really?? Crap situation though.

It is always diffcult to know what to base the choice on as so much can change. Either with the school itself, or from a higher influence.

For DD1 (now yr 11) we had a realistic 'choice' of 2 averagish comps. Not much between them in the league tables.
DD1 was at the time science mad and keen on music.
Our first choice was the school that had a sixth form, offered triple science, more than one MFL, and had a better head. The other school had a Performing Arts specialism, alhough dd not appear great on music. Never thought of asking whether triple science took up an option, or whether any GCSE's are sat early or modular/linear.

Fast forward 5 years, she is taking the triple science (at the cost of another option), not altogether happy about the GCSE's/modules she was forced to take in yr10. And now being music mad, not struck with the facilities and attitude to music at the school. Also, whilst having a sixth form is a bit of a security blanket in a competitive area, she would have to compromise subject choices to stay as the option blocks are so limited.

The head in the other school has also since changed for the better. I have heard they now offer triple science too.

Next year, we will face the same choice for yr5 DD2. Also in catchment for a superselective, but not sure we want to put her through it. (Streets ahead in literacy, especially writing, but maths very average).

We will be going to the open evenings for both schools this year and next and keeping a close eye.
As for specific questions - not a clue. Final choice likely to be down to gut feeling alone.

The point is OP, schools are a constant political football. Things change year upon year. You can't choose a school based on a particular style of exam, because it's almost certain there will be forced changes before your Yr6 child hits GCSEs. What people are trying to explain to you is that you are in no different position from any parent over the last 15 years. What you have to do is look at the schools that may be a possibility for you, and look at their ethos, as much as anything and see if that suits your dc. You then submit your preference based on the information availabel at the time. There is never any certainty that what is on offer when you choose will be on offer once your child is in the school, you just have to trust that the school will do it's best with what is imposed upon it. You get those 'vibes' from what the school is offering now, and from what parents of current pupils say, and from the information the school gives you. that has always been the case, since this theoretical choice business came into being.

You can ask all the questions you like and then they change things once your DC is there anyway.

DD1 is only doing double award science and we are appealing it.

But it wouldn't have been an issue when we choose schools as almost half the cohort not just top sets took it.

Exactly what we are going through at the moment! They honestly don't care!

Remember that there will be at least one general election between now(yr6) and yr11. Gove will be long gone and the new ed minister will be trying to justify their salary. Probably everything we know now will be swept away and something else will be brought in.

I think you are looking for problems where there are none.

My DD is in year 7.

I chose her school based on the facts that she would be able to take triple science GCSEs and that they do not start GCSE's until year 10 (also that it 'felt right' and it has good results). The GCSE factors are irelevant now but I still feel it's the right school for her.

Im struggling with this too

I have no idea what the new exams will look like so asking questions reagarding opportunity to study language/science may or may not have any bearing

I'm literally going on the feel on the school and whether I think DD will be happy there

We all do it! My youngest dd (yr10) will be the first to do linear GCSEs that we knew nothing about in yr 6. My older dds were the first to do non-courswork GCSEs, A* GCSEs, triple award sciences, Ebacc, etc etc. That's why the ethos and gut feeling of the school are more important than results!!

GIven you have no idea what your child will be capable of or what their best subjects will be, you are not in a worse position by being unable to ask some of those questions. Is there a benefit of knowing if they do early exams in Y9 if your child may turn out to be unable to access that level of achievement?

I already have a preferred as I'm looking now for DS2, and would like him to go to the same school as DS1, so the other schools will have to go a long way to persuade me they are a better option.

I'm mainly interested in how happy DC are there.

The quality of teaching (current exam results)

Extra curricular activities available

Do they stream, and if so, how and when? (I like, no love that the school DS1 goes to doesn't stream in Y7, and I say that as a mother of a high flyer, an average DC and a dyslexic DC who also isn't brilliant at maths).

I chose the school for my current Y7 without knowing the exams would change. Am I worried? No because I know I've chosen the right school for my child. I am confident that the school are more than capable of teaching the subject regardless what exam is taken at the end of it.

I don't believe that the change in exam will affect what subjects the school is known for - they will still have the same teachers with the same equipment and the same attitude

Well, I've asked questions like...
"I realise things can change, but can the current cohort....

• do triple science without using up an option block?
• take 2 MFLs at GCSE?" etc., etc. Shows if they can cater for things my dc might want to look at when they do their options in Yr9. Where I live, some schools don't cater as well for those who might be as academically able. If my dc had SEN, then I would be asking questions relevant to that support and that need. For all needs of children, I would be asking about if and how they set - supporting those who need to go at a slower pace and challenging those who need to go at a faster pace. I ask about things like music and PE and outdoor ed opprtuinites, and drama, and school councils and sports leadership awards and DofE and other 'interest' clubs. I ask about the pastoral care - how forms are sorted, what systems are in place for parents to have a voice in the school. Some things are bound to change over the years they are there - a different HT for example can make a whopping difference, but you can only judge on reputaions, gut instinct, and the information that is available at the time you make the choice.