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Original poster

How many GCSEs does your child's school allow them to take?

115 replies

ArcherQueen · 01/10/2016 22:13

My son's non-selective independent school is restricting all pupils to 9 GCSEs. My son is very bright and while I do not have an issue with the number, it does mean he has to give up French, which is is really good at and is likely to get a top grade in. I don't want to list all the subjects he wants to take but French will have to go as it is the only one he is definitely not going to take at A'level. He has a pretty good idea what he wants to do but wants to keep his options open in case he changes his plans.My son takes his options at the end of this academic year (9) and is gutted at the prospect of not studying French after that. I know the GCSEs are going to be more rigorous and "harder" than in recent years but I also know he is more than capable of this type of study. I certainly don't think adding an extra one is necessarily going to adversely affect his grades.Basically his only option would be to take it outside of school which quite frankly is not going to appeal to him and I don't blame him.

I don't really want a debate on whether 9 is enough, that may or may not be the case for a very bright child, but what I would like to know from other parents is: does your child's secondary school restrict the number of GCSEs in the same way? Our school insists that all schools do this but I cannot find any information on websites. I guess with the changes they are all still deciding what to do.I feel the school may be doing this for their own convenience, i.e. timetabling, as it meets the needs of the majority of their students, and there are not enough outliers to justify having to accomodate them. I would really like to know if other schools are doing the same.

OP posts:
JacquettaWoodville · 02/10/2016 19:37

".I feel the school may be doing this for their own convenience, i.e. timetabling"

Timetabling must be a nightmare to get right, and the bar must be 'works well for the majority of the students', surely?

JacquettaWoodville · 02/10/2016 19:35

I did nine, when I were a lass.

G;ad that's the norm again!

surreygoldfish · 02/10/2016 19:30

Highly selective independent all do 10, some do additional maths on top of that.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/10/2016 19:25

Ballet - thats fair enough to some extent if the school can provide those opportunities other than via gcses.

QueenofQuirkiness · 02/10/2016 18:33

DD is doing ten. She goes to an independent school where most do 10, some do 9 with extra English/maths support and some do 11 if they sacrifice a study period and stay later one night

Balletgirlmum · 02/10/2016 18:33

My children's schools would argue that more than 9/10 would impact on a child's ability to spend time doing sport, playing an instrument or doing dance/drama b

drummersmum · 02/10/2016 18:26

Totally, Errol.

ErrolTheDragon · 02/10/2016 18:19

When people say things like, why take more than X, they don't need them for A-levels or uni, i wonder whether they've forgotten that the point of education actually isn't just to pass exams, its to learn a range of skills and acquire knowledge. If a child is able and not stressed by learning then why limit them?

NicknameUsed · 02/10/2016 18:14

What is the point of half a GCSE?

DD had to do Citizenship, which she didn't enjoy, but it was a full GCSE.

MsMermaid · 02/10/2016 18:08

Dd just did 11. But most at her school did 9.5. The top sets did triple science, and top RE group did a full GCSE in RE, while most classes just did half a GCSE.

My school allows 9 or 10, depending on if you do double or triple science. We also have an option choice of extra maths and English rather than another subject. So some pupils who are C/D borderline in a lot of subjects can choose to only do 8 subjects and spend more time on the core subjects so they are less likely to have to resit them while at college.

Hulababy · 02/10/2016 18:00

Forgot to add - selective independent girls school - restricted to 9 on the whole.

Hulababy · 02/10/2016 17:59

As of this year - 9.
It is possible to do a 10th by doing an after school class each week - but only one subject available, or if you have an additional language that you speak (i.e. your first language isn't English) then you can also do that as a 10th if you wish.

Following the new GCSEs they have moved to this, In the past they had children finishing GCSEs with 11/12/13. Which always seemed a bit daft having that many anyway.

The new GCSEs are supposed to be much more challenging, with a lot more pressure all at one time at the end. And sixth forms and colleges will only be interested in the ones they sit at the one go, all together - not ones done a year or two early, etc.

NicknameUsed · 02/10/2016 17:52

DD's school used up an extra option for triple science. More students than ever took triple science this year (about 90 students), and they did fantastically well. I doubt that the outcomes would have been so good if triple science had been squeezed into 2 slots.

English certainly would have suffered if squeezed into one slot. As it is, most students failed to achieve their predicted grades (Although I think the English department was pretty poor anyway)

Ta1kinpeece · 02/10/2016 17:46

nickname
easily.
triple science in two slots, double english in one slot, double maths in one slot, extra language one lunchtime a week

Marmitelover55 · 02/10/2016 17:38

My year 10 DD is doing 10 at a comp. she is taking triple science so I think those doing double science will be taking 9.

NicknameUsed · 02/10/2016 17:29

"Remember that state schools will normally do more as they attach a GCSE to every timetable slot"

But how on earth did they fit 13 GCSEs into the curriculum? DD did 10 GCSEs and had a full on timetable.

16augustholiday · 02/10/2016 16:56

Ds currently in yr11 will be doing 9 at a state comprehensive. The only people to add one are those who do additional maths.

TheDrsDocMartens · 02/10/2016 16:17

Dd1 did 10.5, dd2 is doing same combination with 9.5 in school plus one at home due to school timetabling changes. She's v capable in the home one or I wouldn't consider it.

chocolateworshipper · 02/10/2016 16:13

Just a thought - could he do French at college alongside A levels if it is important to him? At DD's college, they can do a language as an "enrichment" alongside A levels.

Ta1kinpeece · 02/10/2016 16:10

DD did 13
DS did 11
With the new system the school is restricting to 10

Remember that state schools will normally do more as they attach a GCSE to every timetable slot
whereas private schools can have non examined subjects

Cocolepew · 02/10/2016 16:08

DDs school is a High School, probably equivalent to a comp?
DD 1 had to go to a grammar school for A levels because the school didn't have a 6th form.
She's now at a RG uni.

RaskolnikovsGarret · 02/10/2016 15:57

7 seems very low, I've never seen that before.

RaskolnikovsGarret · 02/10/2016 15:56

11 in one go, grammar

TinklyLittleLaugh · 02/10/2016 14:12

I would encourage your DS to take a language though Archer. One of DD's Uni choices makes a language GCSE a requisite (admittedly non UK, but you never know who else might).

BakewellTartAgain · 02/10/2016 14:11

In Scotland here. At the equivalent age level our school does 6 subjects to examination level in one year. This includes Maths and English by the way.

The previous year the pupils will have been studying 11 or 12 subjects.