GCSEs 2021 - choosing options **Thread title edited by MNHQ**

I think there is a different approach due to different types of schools, different level of intake, schools with different ethos and/or concern on league tables.

So in a grammar school your could reasonably expect everyone to be capable of passing all the ebacc subjects and, so they might timetable it for everyone.

Another school may want to give flexibility for all, and not insist that anyone does it.

This year our (leafy) comp has said that their data shows that anyone doing an MFL ends up performing better across the board, irrespective of their starting point. So they are insisting that all triple science pupils also do a language (Hist / Geog are compulsory for everyone). It still leaves 2 completely free choices.

Whether you get flexibility from the school may well depend on how they set their timetables. If there are other subjects being taught at the same time, it may be possible, but if not you are probably stuffed.

I do feel your pain. DD1 didn't pass a humanity, but did get 2 MFLs. DD2 is doing 2 humanities but no MFLs.

Hello everyone! Sorry I am late to the discussion here, I have been thinking about this for a while. My dd is choosing her options. Well, she has already chosen them, and I am crossing my fingers they will let her do them.

Englishx2, maths, triple science, R.E. Are the core subjects, which leave her with 3options, one of which must be language and one humanity. She has recently been diagnosed with dyslexia and essay writing is a something she is still working on, but has not had any support as yet to help her overcome her problems, so although she loves history, she has decided that what will suit her better in terms of exam load at the end of the course will be: French Music and Art.
The school will want her to pick one of music and art and do history or geography. I feel that RE is a humanity and gives her enough essays along with English. Plus Music does have a listening exam which involves writing an analysis of a piece of music.

I think the school are very attached to their ebacc success rate, so they will be pushing all kids to do ebacc, unless they are not likely to pass MFL.

I don’t know whether I am going to be able to get any flexiblity from the school at all on this.

It is interesting that some of your schools seem to have a more flexible approach towards ebacc. I wonder why this is variable? Do some schools have such good results that they can afford to give the kids that freedom? I think our school has to work really hard to get good results.

Also people are saying not both art and music as the workload is too much... I hope dd will be ok with this, as she works extremely hard all year, but can’t deal with exam week at all.

If anybody has any insight, i’d Welcome your comments!

Thanks

Following parents evening, options decision firmed up I think.

Very jealous of the engineering gcse. DS would love that. Ours too have been in by end of Feb. Hoping will decide by half term.

How long do you have to decide?
Our form has to be in by the end of Feb. Parents evening this week.

Meant to say, DD nearly did music + art, changed her mind a couple of times and then the combination wasn't possible any more. Probably a very good thing time wise.

My youngest is this cohort, don't think we've heard anything about options yet - but he is at an independent senior school so only 1st year there, I can understand they may leave discussing choices till later. I suspect there is only a little choice the way they structure things anyway. My eldest is starting to make A level choices and I foresee at least a couple of disappointed teachers next parents evening!

Chosen not chose

We had our options evening yesterday and have a month before we submit final choices. My DD has chose eng Lang, literature, maths, combined science, economics, psychology, art and geography. She still wants to take history as well but has time until March to decide which subject to drop to take history or not. I just hope she makes the right choice for her. My saying anything will backfire, I know.

We are having to make a choice of 1 from photography, drama, media studies or geography. Anyone got experience of these, DD is so torn. Rest will be standard ebacc stuff.

DD will be in this cohort. Just added up DDs options (3 x science, maths, 2 x English, history, German, Engineering, compulsory RE) exam time = 34 hours. Plus 30 hours for Engineering practicals. How many weeks are the exams spread over? Seems a huge amount of hours.

Anyone been through it before? I can buy extra leave from work and I was thinking whilst DD is capable and independent if I am around to supply tea and help test maybe doing four days a week for five weeks during the exam period might be an option.

DDs state school she is very fortunate that they don’t put subjects in blocks that mean some can’t be studied with others. She got to meet with one of the leadership team to discuss her options which she found hugely helpful.

Time is passing too fast.

"Other children have managed this"....with good passes?
Does it matter to your daughter what her grade is?
If she wants to do it for fun, & high grades aren't the priority, go for it but open eyes. It will take time away from other subjects.

Art & DT were too much for one of mine.

The problem is if you either have a conscientious child, who doesn't know when to stop, or a last minute child, in which case you may have a final month with the entire family involved in trying to help put together a portfolio including initial & worked on projects plus final artwork & sketchbooks which should have been progressively created over the previous 18 months.

I've experience of both types, it is VERY stressful either way.

Throw in Drama, where either personality type will either carry the group performance workload or massively piss off their harder working counterparts, & you're on a hiding to nothing.

My older children have very sternly told younger NOT to do ANY of those 3 subjects, as far too high a workload ie endless, unless they actually plan to do them at A level/BTec etc. Since younger DC don't, but saw them as light relief, have been perfectly happy to continue with Art & Drama outside school & chosen traditional subjects for GCSEs.

Dd2 had parents evening last night and has set her heart on the following GCSEs:
English x 2
Maths
Physics
Chemistry
Ancient History
Italian
Art
DT
Drama

I’m worried that taking art, DT and drama is too much coursework but she really wants to do this. School say other dc have managed this in past and done well.

Thoughts anyone please?

Really interesting options evening last night. They have done something new since DD1 did her options, enabling those wanting to take triple science to do so without it being either accelerated or using an option. (Not that that affects us).

I'm just a bit concerned over the number and length of exams. I've calculated DD2 will have 20, and on average these are longer than DD1's were. DD2 gets extra time, so the longest (English Lit paper 2) will be nearly 3 hours long.

Our school offers Further Maths IGCSE. Does anyone have any experience with this qualification? Dd plans to take 2 Eng, Math, mfl, 3 sciences, humanity, comp sci and considering taking it (she can drop it if it becomes too much).

Roly Thank you. Are all schools expected to offer Comp Sci GCSE these days then?

All children now have an entitlement to study Computer Science / Computing.

It also counts as a science in Ebacc and Progress 8

dds will be Eng x 2, Maths, 3 sciences, German, Drama and computing.

still wish she had kept geography in there.

brizzle - I'm jealous of your engineering GCSE, dd would love that!

Hmm dd is now thinking maybe she will do drama instead of sociology! Does this sound ok or too heavy on the 'lighter' subjects?

Eng Lang
Eng lit
Maths
Double science
Re
French
Art
Drama

I wish re wasn't a core subject! She'd prefer to do history really.