Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Dropping a GCSE, non core subject?

32 replies

Goldenbear · 31/01/2023 13:47

As thread title states, my DS is really struggling to produce the work needed for music GCSE. He has a medieval composition to complete for coursework which is proving problematic as we don't own the £2000 software and he's only a couple of hours a week after school to use it to finish the piece. He feels that the work involved is 3 x that of other subjects and it is taking away from his efforts and revision for other subjects. For example, he is in top group for all core subjects and has been put in for the triple science GCSE but after a couple of mocks before Christmas (more to come after half term) he dropped to a 4 for Chemistry and the teacher has said it isn't good enough and unless he improves this 4 in February mocks he will be moved down and won't be able to sit the triple science. He feels that music and his lack of progress with the subject is demanding a disproportionate amount of his time and he can't afford to devote half term to the composition (music teacher suggested we download the free trial of software but we only have chrome books, could probably by a laptop but it seems excessive considering). He wants to quit it as that would still leave him with 9 GCSES, does anyone know if this is possible at this stage? After the science teacher's dressing down, he was actually called out of the classroom to be told off about that and she said he wasn't working hard enough, he is getting visibly stressed. He never ever gets this upset and is very laid back but I am worried about him. He really dislikes school at the moment and he used to like going, he can't wait for 6th form college.

I would imagine the school will say no but has anyone successfully done this, any advice would be much welcome.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
Goldenbear · 08/02/2023 12:42

Fifthtimelucky, thank you for your tips, I passed them on to DS and it is very helpful.

Many thanks for all your advice, it has been advised that he would have to put it on the UCAS form bit actually he has really worked hard on it this week, he has been allowed to use the room and software on more occasions and the music teacher has praised his work so far. He seems to think it is no longer insurmountable and I spoke to the science teacher yesterday as didn't manage to get a slot at Parents' evening, I think some of her approach may have been to put the wind in his sails as she said he is more than capable but was chatting too much when they should be practicing questions. She said she has mixed up the top two classes now as some are poorer on content and some are poorer on exam technique so as my DS falls in to the latter he is in a different group and sitting next to different people. He told me last night that he said that he was getting frustrated and finds school boring now as it is all about past papers and no fun but he wants to so well. I know there is also some kind of friendship issue, big group of friends has split up a bit which is also resulting in less fun. DS is a sociable boy so these things alter his outlook on his whole life, hence I think the stress over these subjects. Thanks again for advice.

OP posts:
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 03/02/2023 06:49

Anyway OP do speak to the school about his options. It's unlikely in most state schools he would be allowed to drop a subject, as then he wouldn't have anyone to supervise him during that time, which becomes an issue.

But hopefully the school can come up with an option to get him through the coursework with minimal stress and ask his other teachers to back off for a bit?

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 03/02/2023 06:45

Choconut · 02/02/2023 17:51

He wouldn't have to put all his subjects on his UCAS form if he didn't want to I'm sure. He'd still have 9 grades which is the number of GCSE's lots of students do - some do as many as 12 and some do very few. No one would know or care if he left off something he did badly in I'm sure - as long as he passes maths and English gets 5 at 5 and above I don't think anyone worries too much beyond that. His A-levels will be much more important.

Yes, he really really does. If a uni finds you have not been honest on UCAS (and they will receive/check his GCSE grades) they can withdraw their offer, even at the point of enrollment. It may be unlikely to happen but it is a risk.

It's also likely a sixth form college will not allow a student to make a false application under their name.

But fortunately most unis will not be bothered about a single low grade among lots of higher ones.

SteggySawUs · 02/02/2023 20:48

Ellmau · 02/02/2023 01:13

I would let him drop it. If the school won't let him, just stop doing any work for it and accept he will fail the exam.

Exactly what I was coming on to say!
Spend the time on the other subjects.
Our school only do 8 GCSEs as standard so your DC is not ruining their future by taking this approach.

Batcountry8 · 02/02/2023 20:22

It depends what course is applied for at university, what the end game is with the amount of GCSEs and the grades.

Someone I know got 5 GCSEs.
Two x 4, 3 x 8.
A very bright person with mental health problems and that was a long struggle.
Got 3 a levels. AAC.
Now finishing a humanities degree.

The secondary school mindset is very pressured.
The end game isn't the same for everyone so even getting a lower mark in music and a better one in chemistry really won't matter.
Not for the anxiety it's causing.

Untitledsquatboulder · 02/02/2023 20:02

F'ing spellchecker mediocre

Untitledsquatboulder · 02/02/2023 20:01

@Bambala maybe some universities want 8 or 10 gcses rather than 7 but I honestly think ds will have a better chance with 7 good gcse grades than with 8 medicare ones (or with a fail).

Bambala · 02/02/2023 19:10

@Untitledsquatboulder i got the feeling this was the case with my DD too - they know they can trust her to work in the ‘frees’ and she seems to be getting lots done. However I am worried that @Goldenbear thinks it will affect an UCAS form to drop a subject. It was my understanding that they didn’t care how many GCSE’s you took it was A levels that mattered but maybe I am wrong?

Untitledsquatboulder · 02/02/2023 18:43

Ds2 has just dropped a non- core gcse but that's because he has recently been diagnosed w crohns disease and has missed a huge amount if school. In his case the school were very cooperative whereas usually the z swer would be "hell no".

With ds2 we had to submit a scheme of work to show how he'd spend his free periods (he has to work independently in the student support unit). It helped that he's got a reputation for hard work and good behaviour so they could trust him to make good use of his time with minimal supervision. He's now petitioning to be able to work in the library as student support is too noisy.

NotDonna · 02/02/2023 18:37

@Choconut that’s incorrect. You absolutely must list all qualifications including any fails or low grades on the UCAS form. Now there’s no longer AS levels, GCSEs can be quite important for some university courses.

redskydelight · 02/02/2023 18:22

Choconut · 02/02/2023 17:51

He wouldn't have to put all his subjects on his UCAS form if he didn't want to I'm sure. He'd still have 9 grades which is the number of GCSE's lots of students do - some do as many as 12 and some do very few. No one would know or care if he left off something he did badly in I'm sure - as long as he passes maths and English gets 5 at 5 and above I don't think anyone worries too much beyond that. His A-levels will be much more important.

You are required to put all your subjects on your UCAS form. But most universities won't care if there is one poorer subject.

Choconut · 02/02/2023 17:51

He wouldn't have to put all his subjects on his UCAS form if he didn't want to I'm sure. He'd still have 9 grades which is the number of GCSE's lots of students do - some do as many as 12 and some do very few. No one would know or care if he left off something he did badly in I'm sure - as long as he passes maths and English gets 5 at 5 and above I don't think anyone worries too much beyond that. His A-levels will be much more important.

mondaytosunday · 02/02/2023 16:55

How can a school force him to take 10 GCSEs? It's not like it's a core subject. I'd be meeting with the head pronto - surely they would much prefer 9 better grades than 9 grades and a very low one.
And no teacher should humiliate a child - my son has been through that and I wish I had been more vocal about it at the time.

euff · 02/02/2023 15:15

I can't advise on music but has he talked to the school? Getting a dressing down for not doing enough work when you feel you are putting in work but can't devote enough time due to having to put more in elsewhere must be horrible. I would want to address that and say that it's causing him stress and it's showing (if he can't himself). I do get the impression that subjects like music and art and other creative subjects will be different for different people and some will feel they need to put a lot more time in to get results.

Fifthtimelucky · 02/02/2023 14:27

Any writing out of scores has to be done under controlled conditions, so students with access to Sibelius at home still have to write the score at school under supervision rather than being able to do it at home

However if the OP's son is struggling mainly with the software, there is nothing to stop him from writing his composition by hand.

Also, a traditional written score is not essential. The exam boards don't require one so it might be worth him checking with his teachers what other options he has.

It may be too late now, but if I were a guitarist having to write a mediaeval composition I would compose a lute-type song and provide a single melody line and a chord chart rather than a traditional score. Much more authentic too!

Hercisback · 02/02/2023 13:42

First port of call needs to be the school. We don't let students drop things.

Bambala · 02/02/2023 13:39

@Goldenbear what happens with UCAS when you drop a subject?

Original poster
Goldenbear · 02/02/2023 13:32

minisnowballs very good point there about it being front loaded. DS prefers exams and I think this is the only bit of coursework he has done, other than a recorded speech for English Language. I think it may be because he is shocked by the quantity of work for coursework. Tbh he does find Maths easy as it is exam based and he has an aptitude for it.

redskydelight, yes, I think it is the precedent that they won't want to set but good point about using tutorial time. As
Chiasmi points out it is late on in the year and yes my DS is so over school now, desperate to get to 6th form college.

NotDonna that is perhaps a good approach but we definitely want to avoid putting down a very low grade for UCAS application.

Bramshott thanks for tip, I'll ask as if that's the case i can understand myself what he has to do at the moment I don't know how the software works.

Bambala, I'm glad you've managed to sort this for your DD. I am happy for him to drop it but it is just the UCAS application and school probably won't allow it

Thanks for advice

OP posts:
maddy68 · 02/02/2023 13:11

Yes let him drop it. It doesn't matter in the grand scheme of thing.

Bambala · 02/02/2023 13:10

My DD has just dropped a non core but it wasn’t easy. Lots of discussions with the SLT as they don’t like to create a precedent for everyone who is finding it hard at this late stage, but they decided her mental health was being impacted and let her drop it. She is like a new person and actually embracing school life again rather than dreading it.

Bramshott · 02/02/2023 12:34

Is the software Sibelius? If so, you can pay a monthly subscription for the period you need it (we've just done this for DD2). IIRC it's about £10 or £12 a month and she's needed it for 3 months.

Wannakisstheteacher · 02/02/2023 11:07

100% drop. No way would I have a subject like music risk a science grade!

NotDonna · 02/02/2023 07:45

@ellmau I don’t think he has to fail the exam. My friends’ daughter wanted to drop history but the school said no so she just stopped studying for it and didn’t turn up for the exams. I’m guessing if she’d have sat it, she would have to put the low grade/fail on her UCAS. She went to all the history lessons until study leave iirc There was no NEA though.
It’s not the approach I’d encourage and You may want to double check this would still work with an NEA. Be much better to get schools’ permission.
Alternatively can he get the composition up to a passable 4/5 standard and then be done with it?

Ellmau · 02/02/2023 01:13

I would let him drop it. If the school won't let him, just stop doing any work for it and accept he will fail the exam.

Chiasmi · 01/02/2023 23:14

Some schools will not permit students to have a gap in their timetable, others will allow it.

It's very late in the year to be dropping one though and as PPs say, a lot of Y11s are struggling with NEAs and revision pressure at the moment. Mine and all her friends seem desperate to get out of school and start college.