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Original poster

Am I right to be angry ??

154 replies

Sometimesoon · 13/07/2019 12:58

My 14 year old chose his GCSE options earlier in the year , because he is in the higher pathway he has to follow the Ebac system , so he gets to choose 2 subject of his choice ( he chose Music and Graphics) . We heard last week he didn’t get Graphics . This is a child who predicted to get 7/8 , has shown consistently good marks in the subject , has a genuine interest in design , has done his work shadowing in the design sector and achieved a good attitude to learning grade from his teachers . This counts for NOTHING . He had been given art instead and we have been told basically, suck it up . His friends who are predicted a 4/5 have got Graphics ( but in a lower pathway ) we have been told everyone's choice goes in the computer and 95% of the pupils will get all their choices. This seems so bloody unfair . He works hard ,achieves good results and now had his career path screwed. Meeting the deputy head ( after chasing for a week) on Monday. Anyone else had this ? Anyone know what the legal requirements are as far as the school is concerned , Class numbers etc ? . Just want to get my ducks lined up before the meeting . Thank you .

OP posts:
Teachermaths · 14/07/2019 08:56

But is the DH in charge of sixth form admission and does he actually know everything about graphics? If your school is one that has a sixth form attached and accepts external students this would be an incredibly harsh entry requirement. Google the school and there should be the relevant information on their website.

SavoyCabbage · 14/07/2019 08:54

One of my friends dc wanted to do GCSE textiles as she wants to be a fashion designer. At the last moment the school said she couldn't as there wasn't enough dc who wanted to do textiles. After weighing up the options, my friend and her dd decided that the dd would go to a different school where she could do it.

Schools can't make their timetables work so that every child can do every subject they want to do. Ask for a meeting and see if anything can be done. If it can't, you have to accept he can only do art or move schools.

Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:54

So a child that has shown determination, ability and a genuine interest in a subject shouldn’t be acknowledged in any way ? Sure about the fact that he can’t do A level Graphics , straight from the deputy heads mouth .

OP posts:
Teachermaths · 14/07/2019 08:52

Is the deputy head in charge of sixth form entry? You really need to query this.

happygardening · 14/07/2019 08:50

Just looked on the university’s website physics maths DT etc seem to be the main requirements for a degree in product design.

Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:49

Yes sure about A level , told by his deputy head.

OP posts:
themimi · 14/07/2019 08:49

Please Sometime calm down before you meet the DH. You have been offered lots of fair replies but it boils down to the fact that your child is not more important than someone else's. I am a Deputy Head myself and can assure you that we try to make things as fair as possible but not everyone gets their first choice. I've never worked in a school that offers Graphics. Art will be fine. If you want your child to stay at the current school for A Levels ask the DH if he can be accepted onto the course with Art GCSE. This would be a fair compromise and I'd be really surprised if they didn't agree.

slipperywhensparticus · 14/07/2019 08:48

There is always room for manoeuvres as long as your prepared to sacrifice something yourself however if you go in demanding you get everything you want be prepared to be told no because to them all children are equal in the nicest way your child is more important to you only not to them

Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:48

I know the child very well , he’s one of my sons best friends , I know the family , it’s nothing to do with his ability, he doesn’t put the work in . He got a 3 in Attitude to learning . I also have a sen 2nd son so I’m really not discriminating against SEN kids .

OP posts:
happygardening · 14/07/2019 08:45

My DS has a friend at an top RG uni doing product design he doesn’t have graphic design A level or GCSE but he does have DT.
I think you need to look carefully into university requirement before jumping up and down at the school.

Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:44

I’ve already been told , there is no room for manoeuvre apparently.

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 14/07/2019 08:43

Sometimesoon if the 3/4 student doesn't work hard he must have a genuine aptitude for the subject then.

However, that is irrelevant. It is most likely a timetable clash.

noblegiraffe · 14/07/2019 08:43

This other kid hasn’t stolen your son’s place, he’s on a different pathway so you have to stop thinking that way because it will just piss the school off.

Your only concern is your DS and his ability to continue to A-level so query that. But calmly.

clary · 14/07/2019 08:43

Oh well that's fine then, you know he doesn't work hard so he's clearly less deserving than your son 🙄 If I were you OP I'd lead on that angle in your chat with the dep head.

Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:42

Product design comes under the Graphics umbrella at GCSE level .

OP posts:
SolitudeAtAltitude · 14/07/2019 08:42

Talk to the school, but not in an angry way

I had the same with DS, he wanted to.do.Computing and Design and Tech

We looked into the system with the HoY, who said it was a scheduling issue as DS was the only child choosing Computing and German, and those subjects clashed.

We asked if he could drop German (and ebacc) instead, as he wanted to take computing for a-level.

They allowed it, without any issue.

It's always worth asking, but there is no need for anger!

Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:41

I know the 3/4 student very well , he’s one one my sons best friends . I’m friends with his parents . I know he doesn’t work hard .

OP posts:
LIZS · 14/07/2019 08:41

Surely product design is different to graphic design?

clary · 14/07/2019 08:41

So a child who had shown determination and ability already should lose out to a child who hadn’t put the work in?

How can you possibly know that this is the case?

Teachermaths · 14/07/2019 08:40

OP are you actually reading these replies?

It's not personal. Options cannot be decided on a personal basis. That's why it's left to a computer.

Check the entry requirements for A Levels and stop thinking your son is more worthy.

noblegiraffe · 14/07/2019 08:39

If your husband is working in product design then surely he should be able to reassure you that graphic design GCSE isn’t the vitally important qualification that you seem to think it is.

Todaythiscouldbe · 14/07/2019 08:39

Are you not listening to anything? How do you know they haven't put the work in? Your son is not losing out to another pupil, it is more than likely to be a timetable clash.

Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:38

We as family ( husband is a product design consultant ) are seeing the opposite , he’s currently turning down work .

OP posts:
Original poster
Sometimesoon · 14/07/2019 08:35

So a child who had shown determination and ability already should lose out to a child who hadn’t put the work in?

OP posts:
Sunshine1239 · 14/07/2019 08:34

Art is defo seen as better but that aside, my husband and most his his family own design companies and graphic design is on its arsed it really is, every company I know has gone under near us, most graduates are now employed on a salary basis and a very low one at that given the huge numbers of graduates available to choose from

DH can take graduates on for free through the government scheme - it’s a terrible industry at the moment and there’s no way I’d steer dd down it. Maybe think about widening his options

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