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Original poster

GCSE Choices 2013 (exams 2015) support thread

206 replies

DizzyHoneyBee · 11/02/2013 15:27

Here we go....options choices this month, exams in summer 2015. We're choosing options at the moment but I've not come across a support thread.

Does your DC know what they want to do already or are they needing a lot of help deciding?
Where have you gone for information?

We get a booklet this week apparently and then have a meeting at school to discuss listen to a sales pitch by the teachers discuss the options that are best and then we have about 2 weeks to make a decision.

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OddBoots · 16/02/2013 08:50

My ds has very little choice, most of the choosing is done for him but his subject teachers, he gets a choice between History and Geography and a choice between Spanish and French then gets one free choice.

His science results will decide if he is double or triple, his English results will decide if he does lit and his maths results will decide if he does the fast-track (with a view to doing it as an AS in Y11).

Chavvytastic · 16/02/2013 08:48

We are just in the midst of all this and off to a meeting later this week. My DC is very keen to a linguist or language teacher and has been for a few years now.
At DC schools they have to do Maths,Eng x 2, Dbl or Triple Science and Modern Foreign language.

DC has opted for:

dbl science
French
Spanish
German
History
Latin and Greek

Not sure it is balanced enough myself but will see at the meeting next week. Does seem pointless DC opting for art etc because they are just not very creative/good at that kind of thing but flies at languages, so it seems daft not to take them.

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 16/02/2013 08:42

We got given several forms, one for each pathway. The idea being that each pathway suits a different academic ability - there is the extended baccalaureate which is for children in sets 1&2, the baccalaureate for sets 3&4 and a vocational pathway for sets 5&6. Each pathway is not setting by ability, for example if you are set 1&2 and choose history you might be in class with somebody from set 5&6 who has chosen history. That said, triple science is only available for set 1&2.

If it is any help, the columns are:

A: applied engineering (single), art and design, computing, drama, french, german, sports science, triple science

B: art textiles, business and economics, dance, drama, french, geography, history, music

C: applied engineering (double - columns C&D), art textiles, AS ICT, Catering, geography, graphics, history, resistant materials, triple science

D: applied engineering (double - columns c&D), art and design, business studies, creative ICT, french, german, product design, resistant materials, sport science

they choose one from each column and then have the option to write in their 4 preferred choices on the form if they don't fit the columns.
DD wants applied engineering from A, geography from B, triple science from C but she wants either graphics from C or art and design from D but graphics clashes with triple science so we need to talk to them after half term.

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Sparklingbrook · 16/02/2013 08:34

There are 'columns'? Confused

Hi Dizzy,. Smile

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 16/02/2013 08:32

Well done SanityClause :)
My DD wants to do triple science, applied engineering, geography and either fine art or commercial graphics plus maths, 2x English, ICT, RE, Sports and then AS Critical Thinking.
Unfortunately commercial graphics doesn't fit because it's only in one column, as is applied engineering but that one works because it is in the same column as triple science which is also in another column - unfortunately the same one as graphics but the school did a presentation and said that each year they move subjects from one column to another to accommodate what pupils want so we will see. It all revolves around triple science because she wants to go into science for her job and wants to do sciences at A level.
Welcome Sparklingbrook, seen you on a couple of other threads, just off to check out wanted down under...

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Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 16/02/2013 08:27

DD was asked to give one reserve subject in case she couldn't have one of her choices.
She has now decided that she might do graphics (commercial design) instead of fine art but it doesn't fit so we are going to put the options down in the space provided for options that don't fit and see what the school can do. She can do her main options but graphics is only in one of the four columns and so it doesn't work.

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Sparklingbrook · 15/02/2013 23:30

What are 'reserve subjects'?

SanityClause · 15/02/2013 23:28

Wow! Our forms had to be in on Monday, so all done and dusted.

DD1 is doing Maths, 2x English, RE, DT (Textiles) ICT (actually an OCR, I think) Dual science (but they are allowed to go on to study individual sciences at A level/IB) French, Geography, Dance and something called the Enrichment option, which is an extended project, equivalent to a GCSE, and then AS Critical Thinking in year 11.

She is currently doing GCSE Drama outside the school.

Her reserve subject is Music.

She loves English, but doesn't know what she wants to do, yet, career wise.

HoraceTheCheese · 15/02/2013 23:17

We had options evening and parent's evening this week. DD already knew what she wanted except for which MFL - she prefers German but her report seemed better for French. Unfortunately one teacher was ill and the other overbooked but we spoke to the deputy head who looked into it and said she's fine to do German . So:
Maths
Eng x2
Science x3 (separate subjects, the chemistry is an accredited iGCSE from a different board for some reason)
Geography
German
Electronics
Computer Science
Drama
reserve choice RS

BehindLockNumberNine · 15/02/2013 23:02

It has, hasn't it Smile

Ds has a vague idea of what he wants to do in the future but nothing definite so has kept his options open by going down the triple science route and double humanities.
I feel he has chosen a well-rounded-covers-all-bases set of GCSE's which should allow him to do most A levels Smile

Sparklingbrook · 15/02/2013 22:11

Thanks Behind. It just seems to have come round so soon. Smile He has no clue what he wants to do career wise.

BehindLockNumberNine · 15/02/2013 22:10

Hi Sparkling

Ds is August born, so 13 and has just submitted his options last Sunday (they were due today)
The process itself was less painful than feared and we had plenty of time to meet teachers, talk about subjects etc.

It will be fine Smile and for us parents there is always Wine

Sparklingbrook · 15/02/2013 21:06

Hello. Can i join? DS1 is a summer born 13 year old and seems so young to be doing this. Meetings after half term-then decision time.

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 15/02/2013 21:03

Thanks, that's good to know. She wants to do science at A level (all 3) so as long as she does triple science she is fine.

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fubbsy · 15/02/2013 10:17

English Bacc probably doesn't matter for university. Have you seen the Russell Group's Informed Choices? It's mostly about A level choices, but there is a section on GCSEs.

They say "the English Baccalaureate includes academic subjects highly valued by the Russell Group but is not currently required for entry to any Russell Group university. With the exception of English and Maths, and in a few cases a Modern Foreign Language, most universities have no universal entry requirements in terms of GCSE subjects."

IMO the more important thing to think about would be to make sure her GCSE choices will allow her to do the A levels she might want.

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 14/02/2013 16:24

DD has come up with two shortlists, namely triple science, geography, art and design plus the core subjects then either French or Applied Engineering for her last option. She'll then do the standard English Language and Literature, Maths, RE and ICT so will end up doing 12 GCSEs. She also wants to do A/S level critical thinking.

Options evening is tonight so we'll see what they have to say, our main concern is that if she doesn't go for French (which she doesn't like) then she won't have the English Bacc. but we're not sure if that matters for university.

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Incogneetow · 13/02/2013 21:28

ds2 changes his mind every day.
Depending on what he's read, who he's spoken to, etc!

ds1 knew which GCSE options he wanted to do from wk1 of yr7.
ds2 is not like that!

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 12/02/2013 12:32

Yes, I lay my trust in them as well, though it means telling my inner control freak to shut up and mind her own business.
92% 5 GCSEs is impressive, it's about 62% here after an awful OFSTED report three years ago.

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Erebus · 11/02/2013 19:59

I lay my trust in the school to know what they're doing! That's the only way through this! But the way I see it is they know they can carry on the way they do (slackish Y8...) because they know us parents will pick up and help apply the necessary 'pressure'!

TBF, the school does have the runs on the board. It's a true comp but it's 92% '5 GCSEs inc Eng & Maths' and 58% Eng Bacc demonstrates they've done it all before- like maybe putting the frighteners on a clever-enough but slacking off boy near the start of Y9!

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 11/02/2013 18:22

Ah, now I see. DD's school tend to keep the pressure on from Yr 7 and it has served her well in a lot of ways.
I take it that your DS wants a career in IT/Science then, that's a lot of IT related stuff, stuff that I hadn't expected to see offered to be honest.
DD wants to do Latin but I doubt that it is offered at her school.

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Erebus · 11/02/2013 17:10

Nah, DS needs some pressure on him tbh. For the first time ever, he got a 2 for 'effort' on his last report - in Science! That's 'doesn't always fully concentrate'. I believe he'd actually have better served by attending a school that kept a certain degree of pressure (or 'expectation') on him from Y7 instead of this sudden mid-Y9 rev-up.

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 11/02/2013 17:01

Erebus, I hope that the pressure is off him soon, it all sounds very tough.
Wasn't it easier when we did the exams when we just got our choices automatically?

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Erebus · 11/02/2013 17:00

DS wants to do:
Business and Communication System (Y10)
Eng Lang
Eng Lit
Maths
Spanish
Geography
Computer Science
Systems Control (electronics)
Triple science

I think it's a bit sciency myself! But we have parents eve before then and they have 2 more assemblies.

BehindLockNumberNine · 11/02/2013 16:51

DS submitted his choices (via online Frog thingimijig) last night. The school held form-tutor progress reviews, an options information evening and then a meet-the-teacher evening to help. Special assemblies and talks on certain subjects were also given to the pupils during the course of several school days.
We were advised which pathway our child would be on and what options would be available for them.
Ds is top set science so provided he is still top set at the end of Y10 he will be put in for further additional science which will give him three science GCSE's.
He had to choose one humanity (he has gone for history) and one mfl (he has gone for German) and then two free subjects (he has gone for geography and drama)
I feel he has chosen well.

Now we just have to wait and hear he has been given his choice of subjects. He had to put down a reserve just in case though...

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 11/02/2013 16:43

I haven't seen the booklet from DD's school yet, however we have had a letter which says we will be told which pathway is most appropriate for our DC. I've heard somewhere that they have to be level 6 for triple science but also that the government have now removed this requirement.

Good luck to your DS1, keeping my fingers crossed that he does well at the assessment. At DD's school the top X number of children get to do triple science, last time I was told anything she was fine thankfully.

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