GCSE options - different in state/private?

I should also point out that private schools get mucked around just as much by Gove's experimentation, unless they offer only IGCSEs, perhaps.

All schools are different, and you are wise to be considering this when choosing a school.

At DD1's school, it is possible to do all three sciences at A level, having done dual science at GCSE, provided you get A for all the modules. So, if you want to study Chemistry, you would have to get an A for the two chemistry modules.

As I understand it, triple science is not "harder", there's just more of it!

However, if your DS loves science, I would look for a school where he can do triple science, as it is always best to study the subjects you enjoy.

At an independent pupils tend to do 9-10 GCSES.

At some State schools they are encouraged to do 12.

Although in an independent they are much more likely to look at the options and make them 'fit' the pupils as opposed to putting the subjects in blocks and making the pupils fit the boxes.

So your DD might end up with 9-10 subjects she really wants to do.

As opposed to 12 best fits.

Obviously not quite as bad as that as some subjects are core everywhere.

Nobody needs more than 9 GCSEs for anything. And it's far better to have 9 good grades than 12 mediocre ones because you were spread too thinly.

You need to find out about the schools in your area. You can't generalise from one to another. Although private schools may be likely to be more stable as they wont have a twerp of an education secretary (of any persuasion) mucking around with the system continually!

Your problem OP as stated above is that there is no hard and fast rule for either state or private ed. At my DS"s school they do 9 IGCSE's, history and Eng Lit are studied up to yr 11 daily but not taken at IGCSE's, although both are offered at Pre U. So they have to do Eng Lang/maths obviously, Latin, 2 MFL or Ancient Greek and 2 MFL are the norm but not compulsory I think, some do three and the majority also do triple science.
The other two problems you have especially if your choosing a school for 11+ entry is. that you just simply don't know what they will want to do when they choose their GCSE's (my DS 's 2nd choice of MFL was not what we would have predicted when he was 13 yrs old and starting at the school and one of his Pre U choices is even more surprising I wouldn't have predicted this even 1/2 a term ago) or what the school will be offering the year you have to choose.

Dual science generally involves studying the sciences separately, but only 2 of the 3 modules that the kids doing separate sciences do for each subject. Core science would be only 1 module of each of bio, chem, physics to make 1 GCSE.

Some sixth forms won't let you do science a levels if you only did dual science, though presumably schools that only offer dual manage it.

Some of the state secondaries round here only offer double science. Some of the privates make triple science compulsory. That might be worth checking, if it is likely to be important.

It's different school to school... Nothing to do with state or private.

Private schools as a very general rule if thumb do fewer GCSEs than state (10 rather than 12) so private probably less choice. Choices pretty limited in either case tbh, 2 English, maths, double science, 1 MFL and 1 humanity are usually compulsory, so only 3 or 4 other choices left, which may included ones that school considers compulsory.

There's not one rule for private and one for state. Each school will have its own options system. If that's what is most important to you then that's what you should ask about when you go visit them.

IME state schools all differ, they do not all do the same number if GCSEs and MFL provision varies enormously. The DDs school is on it's third system in 5 years.

DD1 got the choice of Four optional subjects (on top of English Lang/lit, maths, double or triple science and RE).

I guess you could do two MFL, you'd have to be brilliant or mad given we only seem to keep the teachers no one likes.

DD1 is dyslexic and got let of MFL, thank goodness.

Her dyslexic DF, who goes to a private school managed to get them to let her do Latin rather than annMFL because she's, weirdly, much better at it.

All state schools are not the same.

DDs school there are 5 options. But science and an MFL are included in the options. Some schools mandate these but then only give 3 options. You need to look at your local schools and ask to see their most recent options choices to get an idea. But them remember it may all change before your child gets to that point.

Similarly MFL. Some schools only provide one in y7. Some split the year and you take pot luck on the language. Some you get to select the language. Ditto starting a second MFL. Some start in y8, some only offer it for GCSE options.

I very much doubt there is de fcato more choice in private schools. These tend to be smaller and may actually in some ways have less choice at GCSE or earlier than state schools.

Your DS would be able to do the options you listed at my DD's school. But there again just because they like things at primary level it doesn't mean they will like them at secondary!

You need to ask these questions of your possible schools, state or private.