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Original poster

Doing additional GCSEs early - anyone here with experience of this?

82 replies

stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 14:41

I keep having a recurring argument with DH about DD who is in Y9 and has to choose her GSCE options this year.

Her school has a max limit of 10 GCSEs and she's already looking likely to do one outside of school at the end of Y9 because her school don't offer it as a language and she's already quite fluent.

He thinks she should take another optional subject early because she would probably be able to do it comfortably and because he thinks it'll "stand out on her CV". It's something she could probably do pretty comfortably this year but she doesn't want to do it because it's a subject she really likes and she wants to be part of the GCSE cohort at school.

I'm trying to see it from his perspective but every time we talk about it, it ends in a bit of an argument. He thinks I'm not ambitious enough for DD, that she's overly scared of failure etc And I think he's being pushy and that her reasons for saying no are valid etc. (NB DD doesn't know that DH and I disagree on this, I've tried to be even handed about it when talking about the possibility of doing another one early).

Anyone else have any wisdom to offer? Is it really a big asset having 12 GCSEs? Say she wants to apply to a top uni in years to come, will that extra, early GCSE make her stand out in the way he thinks? Anyone here whose DC have done early GCSEs and how has it worked out for them?

I feel really cross about the whole thing just at the moment but am willing to admit I'm wrong and am genuinely looking for different perspectives rather than people to just tell me I'm right.

Thanks in advance

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Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 16:20

@noblegiraffe yes, good idea. She's recently got stuck into some community volunteering actually and is really enjoying it.

Have to head off for a bit but thank you so much everyone for your input - it's helped to clarify things a bit for me

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Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 16:17

@PatriciaHolm no, graduate level staff. But it seems odd to me too. I stopped putting GCSEs on my CV quite early in my career.

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noblegiraffe · 07/10/2021 16:16

Adding an extra GCSE to her pile will not make her stand out. By the time she applies for jobs she probably won’t be listing them all anyway as she’ll have higher qualifications.

What about stuff like Duke of Edinburgh award or volunteer work?

TeenTitan007 · 07/10/2021 16:16

Schools limit GCSE options fir a reason - so that students can focus on fewer subjects and score better. If they thought more subjects would be advantageous they would 'allow' that (ours doesn't allow more than 10).

I know of a very brilliant student who chose 14 subjects and found it to be tedious and to no benefit anyway.

Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 16:13

@SallyDoTheDishes that's really useful data, thank you. I suspect he hasn't actually counted the number of GCSEs of the applicants whose CVs he's looking at (and he'd be recruiting largely from the state sector) it would just be a general sense of 'more is better and helps you to differentiate yourself in a crowded marketplace' and he would probably argue that being one of a tiny handful of students from the state sector who do that number would stand out. But, yes, I totally agree that higher grades in less subjects (and, crucially, getting pleasure from the subjects you are doing) is far more important than just ploughing through as many as possible as fast as possible.

I think he's touched a bit of a raw nerve because I feel he's implying that I'm unambitious for myself and that I've passed that on to DD. There's an element of truth in that, I was v academic at school and uni but have always been quite lacking in confidence and risk averse and tended to go for jobs I'm overqualified and underpaid for. But he hasn't said that out loud so there's an element of me projecting - it's complicated!!

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PatriciaHolm · 07/10/2021 16:04

@stuckinaGSCEloop

For context, DH does a lot of recruiting for work and claims that when he's looking at CVs extra / early GCSEs really stand out. But I feel quite strongly that looking ahead to the workplace shouldn't be the primary focus right now. Anyhow, we can't seem to have a constructive conversation about it without falling out each time!
Is he recruiting very junior staff?

By the time people get past university, surely few employers care much about their GCSEs, especially if they have a good degree.

I've been part of the recuitment for a number of first job post-Uni consultancy-type roles, and it would be irrelevant.

SallyDoTheDishes · 07/10/2021 16:03

Maybe show your Dh this information on the number of GCSEs taken. His magic number of 12 (surely not state schools) was only taken by 400 students and I cannot believe he chooses candidates from this criteria. Very poor.

Ds's school do 9 (combined science) or 10 if triple science which is only 30 children out of the 295 as it is an accelerated course in core science lessons, not offered as an option. Figures for that, 166k for 9 GCSEs and the most common and only 79K for 10 GCSEs.

Ds had offers from the top RG universities and "only" has 9 GCSEs but did get four A stars at A level.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographic-gcse-results-2021/infographics-for-gcses-2021-accesible

I would prefer my child to get higher grades in less subjects.

CraftyGin · 07/10/2021 16:00

What's her instrument in music?

Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:57

@CraftyGin that's v useful to know. I'll have a chat with the school and see what they say

@clary thanks for your thoughts. Other subject is music

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CraftyGin · 07/10/2021 15:55

They are fobbing you off. Getting candidate numbers are easy. It is all done through their management software.

They will do candidate numbers for younger (eg Y10) students, if they do BTECs.

But she shouldn't need to do the exams elsewhere.

There is no advantage for the school to be difficult here.

clary · 07/10/2021 15:54

MFL is my subject and I agree with @CraftyGin. Will post a bit more later but I agree with you op FWIW.

What's the other subject btw?

Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:49

@CraftyGin I'm pretty sure (from what I've seen of DD's school thus far) that they won't help facilitate her doing it at the school. A friend whose DC did a native language GCSE early there said it was tough just getting the candidate number from them, which apparently was needed to do the exam elsewhere. But it's definitely worth an ask!

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Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:45

lol @DaisyChain16 thanks. He seems to feel oddly strongly about the whole thing but perhaps only because I"m pushing back in the other direction and therefore we're kind of egging each other on.

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Namenic · 07/10/2021 15:45

I think she should do what she is comfortable with. I really don’t think it’s gonna make a difference to have 12 or 11 or 10. Better to make sure she is less stressed and able to prepare adequately and do the best she can in the ones she does do. I did 1 early and 9 at normal time.

CraftyGin · 07/10/2021 15:45

@stuckinaGSCEloop

Thanks *@CraftyGin* that's really helpful. Great idea to do an Italian GCSE alongside A-levels!

And yes, she's kept up reading and writing (though the latter is probably her weak point). But just logistically it'll be harder for her to be studying for / sitting her Mandarin GCSE at the same time as all her others as it'll be in a different place.

She should be able to do her exams at school. The only thing you would need to organise is for someone to do the speaking exam.
Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:43

Thanks @CraftyGin that's really helpful. Great idea to do an Italian GCSE alongside A-levels!

And yes, she's kept up reading and writing (though the latter is probably her weak point). But just logistically it'll be harder for her to be studying for / sitting her Mandarin GCSE at the same time as all her others as it'll be in a different place.

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CraftyGin · 07/10/2021 15:41

I also think that when your DH is looking at CVs, he might be reviewing them of candidates who did early GCSEs when it was fashionable. DS1 did early French and RS and he is 29 now.

DaisyChain16 · 07/10/2021 15:41

It will not make any difference to her life, uni or career whatsoever. Tell your DH to give his head a wobble.

Some employers still struggle with the new 9-1 grading system...
They will not work out that your DD did anything early nor will they care.

Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:40

@titchy Well, he reckons 12 is a standout number and why wouldn't she if she can etc But I also find it really hard to believe it'll make a difference. Re GCSE I guess it's just an independent marker rather than 'self-certifying' so to speak.

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CraftyGin · 07/10/2021 15:39

It would good if a MFL teacher came along to comment.

IME, when a student has done a GCSE/A-level in their native language (not taught by the school), they have not aced it.

Without formal teaching, they don't necessarily have the more formal register required for the writing exam, or the spoken exam. They often use a lot of slang.

They may be good at some speaking and listening, but less good at reading and writing.

When you say your DD has kept up Chinese, has she had lessons where she has worked on reading and writing?

Obviously, I know nothing about your DD, but I think she will have a better chance of reaching her potential if she does the exam in Y11, assuming she is studying another MFL at school.

She can also do it in sixth form. My DD crashed Italian in sixth form - two lessons a week - and got a 9. It was so straightforward having done French and Spanish in Y11.

titchy · 07/10/2021 15:38

And if he rates early GCSEs in his recruitment strategy he's likely missing a lot of high calibre applicants who didn't have pushy parents.... fortunately most employers aren't dinosaurs any more.

titchy · 07/10/2021 15:36

Dear god it will make fuck all difference to her CV. Honestly how does he think a future employer is going to know that 12 isn't the normal for her school. And does he really think that GCSEs will be her highest qualifications and therefore what she's assessed on? Hmm

Being fluent in a language though is a stand out thing - but why bother taking a GCSE to prove that? What looks better: 'GCSE French grade Astar' or 'Fluent French speaker'?

Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:28

@PlumeMoth thanks for your post and congrats to your DD

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Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:25

For context, DH does a lot of recruiting for work and claims that when he's looking at CVs extra / early GCSEs really stand out. But I feel quite strongly that looking ahead to the workplace shouldn't be the primary focus right now. Anyhow, we can't seem to have a constructive conversation about it without falling out each time!

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Original poster
stuckinaGSCEloop · 07/10/2021 15:22

Thanks v much @CraftyGin

Re the early GCSE, it's Mandarin - not her native language (which isn't offered at her comp) and she's quite fluent because we lived in a mandarin-speaking country when she was younger and she's kept it up outside school. So there's no option to take it at the school and we thought it'd be easier for her to get it out of the way in a quieter year i.e. before GCSE study takes off.

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