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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.

OP posts:
Erebus · 11/02/2013 16:37

Actually, the pressure is on for DS, a bit. He didn't get offered Statistics GCSE taken in Y10 but that only goes to the top 27 out of 270, bearing in mind there are some very clever DC in the school (3 in Y9 already have A* Maths A levels...); he was then 'borderline' for a second MFL (he was given the choice and declined)- it's automatically given to the top 2 groups (in their MFL), so 54 DC;but the top 3 groups (in science) get triple science, about 90 out of 270. I believe DS is in that category but he will have to do a serious rethink about his future if he doesn't get triple science!

Erebus · 11/02/2013 16:32

Our issue is that the school don't let DC undertake courses unless they're likely to get a good pass! Right now I am making DS1 revise Science as he has a Science assessment 'in a couple of weeks' which is when his options booklet has to be in by. Coincidence?! I have pointed out that us ticking the triple science box will be noted when it comes to his result, but it doesn't say 'Tick here to do triple science' it says 'tick here if you wish to be considered for triple science'. The booklet needs a bit of interpreting. It describes all the courses but you have to read between the lines esp in the IT/computing options to work out if the qualification is aimed at lower ability DC who won't manage the full GCSE or at selected higher ability DC who can do better than the GCSE! It's not necessarily obvious!

Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 11/02/2013 15:59

That's good about being told the topics, hopefully that will help DD make her choices of the language and humanity that she does and then to choose her "fun" subject (her words not mine) from art or music (she knows both will be a lot of work).

OP posts:
Original poster
DizzyHoneyBee · 11/02/2013 15:58

Mine is pretty certain yes, they just need to choose between French/German, History/Geography and Fine Art/Music. She wants to do triple science.
We had parents' evening last week and got no useful insights they, they all wanted her to do their subject. I'm told that is fairly typical really. Hopefully we will know more at the options evening - I will report back as well as that is this week.

OP posts:
fubbsy · 11/02/2013 15:56

My dd wasn't sure what she wanted to do until we went to options evening. They have 4 choices, but she had 7 things she was thinking of.

My dd's school have been great with giving out information. Options evening was certainly helpful for dd. Yes the teachers give a bit of a sales pitch, but they also tell what topics they will be covering. So, for example, my dd picked history rather than geography because she liked the topics better.

I also managed to have a little chat with the deputy head (even though dd was embarassed about me approaching her) who steered us in the right direction.

Magdalena45 · 11/02/2013 15:45

It is hard, my daughter knows most of what she wants but there are a couple of spaces free... and about 6 potential options to fill them. Parents' evening this week. If I get any useful insight, I will report back! Does your DC know what sort of area they might be interested in for the future?