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Original poster

Dd in tears over gcse options.

138 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 05/05/2015 15:40

Aggh.

She's been told she can't do art and graphic design as they're in the same option block. Which is a bit shit when you want to be a graphic designer for a career and have been told you're amazingly talented at both subjects.

She's got to pick an option from a different block, so drama, music, computer sciences, history or geography. None of which she wants to do.

When the bloody forms came out the subjects weren't in blocks. I can't understand why they don't do options forms with the subjects in blocks and tell the kids months ago they need to pick one from each block.

Dd asked if she could carry her second language on rather that do something from block D but was told that's not possible as all the languages are in one block as well. Which for a language specialist academy seems stupid. Surely they should put similar subject areas in different blocks?

Anyway, what do you think my chances of arguing it with the school are. Apparantly head of yr 10 told dd he'd try and sort something but he doubted he'd be able to do it. I want to tell the school that unless they're taught at the same time on the same day I want her to be able to do both. Is that unreasonable?

OP posts:
cricketballs · 05/05/2015 16:19

Subjects are placed into blocks after the initial consultation as this suits the majority. Subjects offered in one block will be taught at the same time, so unfortunately for your DD she will not be able to take both subjects. (To be honest, it's one that really is a blessing given the heavy coursework load they both have)

Lottie4 · 05/05/2015 16:16

I'm not sure if they will be able to accommodate her as they'll probably be teaching the subjects in each block at the same time. It might help her if she goes and speaks to the Art Department. They will be able to tell her which subject would be better for her to do.

Bilberry · 05/05/2015 16:12

I agree with Baby, art and ICT. Seem a good combination for graphic design.

PurpleDaisies · 05/05/2015 16:04

I think GCSEs are a bit like that. Even in subjects you've chosen there are going to be dull bits that you just have to power through to get the grade. I had to do combined humanities gcse which was a total waste of time.

At least if she is bright she's in the really lucky position of not necessarily having to work too hard at her least worst option to get a decent grade.

noblegiraffe · 05/05/2015 16:03

If they are in the same option block then it's highly likely that they will be taught at the same time on the same day. That's how the option blocks normally work.

BabyGanoush · 05/05/2015 16:02

I'd do Art and ICT, that makes sense for her ambitions.

LIZS · 05/05/2015 16:01

I'm surprised a humanity isn't a prerequisite anyway.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 05/05/2015 16:00

I've told her she ought to do geography if she can't do graphics. Mmshe currently doesn't have a humanity subject. She's top set in geography and her teacher was very keen for her to do it.

She says she doesn't enjoy it much, especially the last term as its all been human geography and she reckons most of the gcse is human geography.

OP posts:
TheWildRumpyPumpus · 05/05/2015 15:55

Years back, I wasn't allowed to do DT and Computing GCSE as the exam boards said there was too much overlap between the subjects.

I ended up doing it anyway but not getting a grade as I really didn't want to do Drama, Art, Music.

PurpleDaisies · 05/05/2015 15:55

I think it probably is unreasonable sorry. Unless your daughter is at a tiny school there are likely to be over q hundred students that the school is trying to timetable and there will only be so much wiggle room that is possible to accommodate. Most schools don't offer graphic design gcse so not doing it (or art) won't in any way affect your daughter's long term career plans. Similar subjects go in the same block so the students end up with the broadest range of knowledge. I can understand why you're annoyed but I unless you're prepared to move school you'll probably have to make the best of it. Lots of graphic design involves using CAD so computer science might be a good second option.

If your daughter is really keen is there any possibility of her doing it as an extra and you getting her a tutor?

Hope you find a solution.

morethanpotatoprints · 05/05/2015 15:53

The importance of GCSE's is to show that dc have received a general and broad education at high school.
A level choices are the important ones where you need to choose for your future career and uni course.
It really doesn't matter OP, and the reason they are confined in blocks is to enable timetabling for each subject/teacher.
I do think they should change the heading from options though as this gives dc a false sense of the process, there are hardly any options.
Tell your dd to choose what she is best at out of each column and then specialise at A level and beyond.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 05/05/2015 15:50

That's what ive told her, she's still gutted.

OP posts:
LIZS · 05/05/2015 15:48

I don't think she needs graphic design at gcse to become a graphic designer, many schools don't even offer it. Art would keep more options open and she can specialise later. There may be a conflict over resources and time tabling.

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