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Original poster

GCSE options - music withdrawn - what should child do?

36 replies

GCSEmusichelp · 09/05/2022 09:48

Hello - name changed for this as identifying.

We have two girls at the same large comprehensive - year 8 and year 10. School has always prided itself on balanced curriculum and offered lots of Arts subjects. Both my girls enjoy music and drama and it has been a given that they would be able to study the GCSEs there. DD1 already is in both cases.

During Covid the school lost its main music teacher. DD2 was incredibly sad about this as she loves music most, and wants (probably not definitely) to be a musician of some type. Of course older years were prioritised for what music teacher time they had. Her class has had supply teachers taking music all this year, and it has been very very dull.

The school does its GCSE options picking in Year 8 for Year 9. As a result of the lack of interesting lessons, only four children in the entire school have picked GCSE music, and predictably the school will not run with this number.

DD2 is very sad and angry. She feels that the school deprioritised her favourite subject and now no-one wants to take it. The school has had no concerts or performance opportunities, and has lost its orchestra and many ensembles.

Dance, drama and sport are very 'visible' but music is no longer mentioned or promoted - because no teacher.

A new teacher has now been hired. The school is offering her GCSE music after school as a result. However, they didn't see through their last 'twilight' subject (pulled it after a year) and with four children interested I'm not sure they will see through this one.

She's also worried about the fact that the school's other music offerings are now so underwhelming.

For context, she probably doesn't need the GCSE to take A-Level (though she would need to learn to compose). She is preparing for grade 8 on her main instrument (has grade 7) and is grade 5 and 6 on her two others. She also sings and has grade 5 theory.

She chose the GCSE because she couldn't imagine not having music in her day - so I think will be a bit sad if it continues to decline.

Her options are basically
a) take the twilight option and stay at the school - she's broadly happy but not amazingly so. It is the 'devil you know' in terms of school and her sister has been well served there.
b) find a school with better music nearby - we are in London so have options - and hope she settles and has better opportunities
c) Drop music GCSE and assume she can take A-Level with her instrumental grades and a bit of composition tuition?

What would people do in her situation? She's only 12, so this feels very early to be thinking about A-Levels etc but I guess we have to be realistic.

Thanks for any thoughts!

OP posts:
LouisRenault · 09/05/2022 10:36

But if she moves to a different school, what guarantee is there that the same thing won't happen there in the next two or three years - teacher leaves and can't be immediately replaced, or opportunities for orchestra, performance etc are reduced for whatever reason?

clary · 09/05/2022 10:32

Ah OP how sad for her. TBH I would look seriously at moving schools, and I don’t say that lightly. They are surely very unlikely to run music for A level? If you DD is already at grade 7 that is amazing, well done her, she needs better music support in school.

My DCs’ school had a reasonable music dept and DD took music GCSE, played in various ensembles and sang and played at school concerts. She was at G7 standard in sixth form so not amazing, chose other subjects for A levels and now plays for fun as a an extra curricular.

Her friend who was a genuinely talented musician moved for sixth form to a school with a much better offer and was blown away. For example, her new school had an ensemble for those playing at G6 and above – in DD’s school that would have been DD, this friend and the friend’s boyfriend who was also talented. So it is worth it even if it means initial disruption. Yr 8 is not a terrible time to move as well.

SneezesHaveStarted · 09/05/2022 10:27

I would say first step is to tour some other schools and take her with you, and ask if there is someone available to speak to about music provision in particular - I wouldn’t move her unless she is on board with it though, if she doesn’t want to move I’d probably go with the twilight option.

sjxoxo · 09/05/2022 10:21

I think move schools. She’s young enough and on reading your second post it’s clearly her main joy in life!! X

Original poster
GCSEmusichelp · 09/05/2022 10:15

Thanks all - she does have lots of music out of school - youth orchestras and choirs and a Saturday School (Sadly not one that offers GCSE music), but nothing seems to be enough music for her.

She likes her peri teachers at school, and is involved in pretty much everything available - so it's not all disastrous, but it is very much less than she had hoped for.

It's hard to know whether it will be a music degree she wants (maybe most people know at 12, and that she doesn't is an indication that it won't be?). She talks a lot about musical theatre - she has a lovely voice, sings with a national choir etc, but isn't that much of a dancer...She is very academic too though.

She doesn't really want to leave her friends - a Covid secondary school transition isn't an easy thing and hers was pretty rocky but she's stable there now, so it's really hard to know whether it is better just to bite the bullet and take her out and hope for better or hang on there.

OP posts:
mummysnetadmin · 09/05/2022 10:14

could she potentially go to a college/another school to do just music?

EduCated · 09/05/2022 10:13

Agree that if she’s likely to stay at the same school for A Level, then there’s a good chance of the same thing happening with low interest u less there’s usually a large influx of new students at that point.

Also agree that it’s not just about the GCSE, it’s about the lack of extracurricular too that goes hand in hand. Twilight GCSE May not be massively fun if she doesn’t also get opportunities to play. Not absolutely necessary, but she sounds like a child who wants and would enjoy that.

Do you have realistic alternatives nearby? Looking at those may help her decide whether the upheaval is worth it for her.

Justkeeppedaling · 09/05/2022 09:56

If she stays at the school, there's no guarantee they'd continue to run the A level, if only 4 pupils want to take it at GCSE.

Does DD want to take music further than A level? ie do a degree in Music? If so, I think I'd encourage her to change schools. Being involved in music at a school is a great way to make new friends.

If, however, she wants to study Music because she enjoys it, and not because she sees it as a career, I think I'd go with the extra-curricular option. That way, it's an addition to her other GCSEs, not instead of one, and if it does get dropped, then it's not the end of the world educationally, although I'm sure she'd be disappointed.

I expect she already takes part in lots of out of school music activities, but if she wants music to be "part of her day", then maybe you could look at what's available near you. Youth orchestras etc.

Sockpile · 09/05/2022 09:55

I’d also consider changing schools to one with a busy music department so as well as being able to take GCSE music she’ll have other music opportunities too.

Enko · 09/05/2022 09:52

I would look at other schools abd then decide.

Tough.for your dd to have this happen

Bramshott · 09/05/2022 09:50

That's so sad OP. I think if music is a big part of her life (which it sounds like it is, as it is for my DC), I'd look at moving schools.