How many GCSEs?

At ds' high performing comprehensive school they do 8 GCSEs, although if they do triple science they get 9.

They also offer a couple of subjects after school (optional) so it is possible to get 10.

I think 11 is too many with the new GCSEs. They are much harder. Did anyone do 11 O levels? I think the norm was 8-9 wasn't it?

Most schools around here encourage 10 GCSEs plus possibly Add Maths FSMQ.

Typical at schools I've worked in is 9 GCSEs
Maths
English Language
English Literature
Double Science
4 options:

• MFL or Technology option
• 3 options

If someone wants to do triple science then it comes out of one of their option blocks.

With the new specifications doing 9 is more than enough even for our top end. We focus on quality over quantity. Much better to have 9 higher grades than 13 not so good.

DD's best friend went to an independent school and she had 6 x 1 hour lessons a day. DD had 5 x 1 hour lessons a day. DD did 10 GCSEs, but the school used to do 2 short, fat GCSEs at the end of year 10 and 2 short, fat ones at the end of year 11, along with the other 8 subjects. This was before they reformed the GCSEs. Her friend took her GCSEs this year and took 9. Round here the independent schools tend to do 9 rather than 10.

Sorry LucyFox, you are assuming the two schools have days of the same length. Schools I have known to only allow 8 were the ones who finished by 2.30pm.

Rather than thinking purely in terms of eight or 11, thinking about how many hours of teaching a week each subject would get at each school may help to sway your decision. My nearest school do 5x1hour lessons per day, so 25 lessons per week. A student doing 8 would average out at three hours per week plus one extra hour on maths. A student doing 11 subjects would get just two hours per week per subject plus one extra hour of perhaps maths, English and science! Could your child succeed on two hours teaching per week?

If one school has a bigger selection of clubs, excellent Pastoral support, stricter policy on mobile phones, trips to interesting places or any number of other factors things this surely would be a better way to make your decision then how many GCSE exams your child may be able to take in five years time

With no AS exams at the end of year 12 universities will be looking at the GCSE grades as well as A level grade predictions. If 8 is the max a school will allow that seems very low. As you say your child is "very academic", I would question whether this school will be able to stretch and challenge her. Find out where their year 13 leavers go, how many to university and which type of courses do they take. It may feel strange to be looking at the other end of the school when you are not in year 7 yet but it could change the path of her higher education or career. Research the travel arrangements for the more academic school again. Do you know other parents there who drive in?

So they only do 8 subjects for three years? That’s not what I would call an education. It’s about time that start of GCSEs was y10 for everyone unless lower ability. Universities ought to know it takes some children three years to do 8 subjects when others do 10 in two years. Also no child should do a subject early unless they are gifted and will get a 8/9. A year’s extra teaching could make all the difference and who wants a 4/5 when they could have achieved a better grade with more time?

Op: if your DD is bright will she not be utterly bored with 8 subjects over three years? Such a waste of her potential and not remotely a broad education. It’s very sad schools do this.

At my dc’s school, most take ten. Maths, Eng Lang, Eng Lit, triple Science, a modern foreign language and a free choice for the three others. About a quarter who struggle with science take the dual award so they end up with nine. Ten is quite a lot of work and another one would have been onerous.

Lonicera, if we were able to choose I would’ve definitely dropped RE and PSHE.

My DD has just started Y10 and is only doing 8 GCSEs (the normal number at her school). There are 4 compulsory subjects (maths, English language, and dual award science), leaving her with 4 optional subjects (she’s chosen French, history, drama and PE).

I only did 9 GCSEs (at grammar school). This didn’t adversely impact my future - I went on to do the usual number of A-levels (3 + general studies - is that still a thing?), and ultimately went on to study chemistry at Oxford (followed by a PhD at Imperial).

I don’t even include my GCSEs on my CV any more. They were an important stepping stone, but they don’t really have any long term relevance.

That's ridiculous maz. Triple science is far more useful than RE and PHSE.

DD had to take Citizenship at GCSE, which I felt was a waste of time, but at least she could take triple science. Just as well as she took chemistry and biology at A level.

My DD’s school ‘force’ them to them to take 11 GCSEs, because all students have to take RE and PSHE - this would make it 12 GCSEs if taking triple science.

They have to take 4 options - 1 Language, 1 Humanities, and 2 options.

Students also have the choice whether to take PE as a GCSE or not - my DD chose not to.

Also, Info Tech is a mandatory subject, but I’m not sure if they take it as a GCSE.

I've got the opposite problem. I think I only want DD2 to do 8 but suspect the school will insist on at least starting with 9.

Given that you say she is academic, I would go for the school that says up to 11 GCSEs (accepting that might actually mean 8, 9 or 10). I would though check with her first that she is happy to do the bus journey. She may prefer to walk to the local school.
I would also ask the local school if there is any option for DC to do more GCSEs if they are capable, eg at lunchtime or after school clubs. That might in reality be possible, even if they don't advertise it.
If it were my DD, I would prefer her to do 9 or 10. I think 8 isn't enough, and 11 too many.

My children have been to 3 different schools both state & private & all of them allowed them to take 9 GCSE’s. The private school allowed 10/11 if taking Further Maths and/or extra curricular Computer Science. Dd’s School was 8 for low ability children who needed extra numeracy/literacy instead.

At DS school the max is 9 (8 if they aren’t doing triple science)
They were adamant that due to the change in GCSE’s it was more than enough for kids to cope with & would have no impact on their future.

8 is hardly any choices. I'd go for 11.

Triple science is 3 options not 2

DD2 is taking 10, including triple science.

DD1 took 12 - did an additional maths in Yr10 and did a full RE GCSE too.

I think 10 is fine for an able student, 8 doesn't leave you much wiggle room.

I think 8 is great as you can fit in lots of other things without getting stressed, too much.
Mine is doing 8, our older ones did 14, absolutely ridiculous.

TO add - DD did 2 x Maths, 2 x English, 3 x Sciences & 4 x Options subjects.

DD did 11 but i felt she was a bit overwhelmed by them at times. It depends on how academic your DD is? 8 does seem low though. Does she have a school preference?