How many GCSEs is too many?

Definitely push to drop those two that are currently 3s especially as the English are borderline. Also anything below a 3 will not be considered a pass so actually he will end up with 11. When he applies to university if he does he has to put all qualifications on his UCAS form. It would be far better to concentrate on the 11 and make sure his English is as good as he can get it.

A 7 at gcse in Maths is more likely to lead to a lower grade if taking Maths A level. See this old thread www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4007205-How-maths-GCSE-result-predicts-A-level-maths-result-important-for-grade-6-7

I went to a very selective grammar (albeit 20 years ago) and we did 9. Some local comps did more, but, there was very much a "quality over quantity" ethos.

Much better to get 9 great GCSEs and have time to do other things to make you a more well-rounded individual

It's a lot of maths. I'd focus him om getting a better mark at Eng Lang than the RE/ Geography.
That will be more useful to him. What are his other 3 7 grades (I assume 3 maths, 3 sciences and???)

Are they in Year 10 now? My son's school do GCSE Statistics in a year, so he took the exam at the end of Year 10. Could that be the case for your child?

If I were his parent I'd tell him to not worry AT ALL about revising the '3' subjects. What's it geo & RE?
Surely he won't have time to revise all of those subjects. ( I get maths & further maths is revising the same)
It's excessive

My son's school won't let them drop a GCSE as they've no provision to look after the student whilst the dropped subject takes place.

If he drops Geography and RE then he can spend a bit more time concentrating on English.

GCSE entry date is 21st, but school might have already paid his entry fees. Sometimes they’ll let you withdraw if you’ll cover the entry fee because they won’t get it back.

At our school, it's offered to all top set students and a handful of set 2 students. They're all predicted 7+. They don't have to take the exams but they teach them all the advanced syllabus and let them choose.

What are the extra subjects?

My daughter did 11 and that included 3 x science and stats as well as std maths and 2 x English and her 4 options.

13 does seem a lot.

Have entries for this summer been finalised yet? Just tell school he will not be attending geography and re. Unfortunately you need to declare all those entered, even if failed, so better if he can withdraw now. English needs to be solid to support other subjects and progress. Other than maths (2/3)and science(3) what subjects are left?

That's odd, especially nowadays. Isn't 'extra maths' usually only for kids predicted 8/9 in maths?

My dd did 12, but that was pre-reform with mostly A* or A predictions. She had a few days when there were clashes with 3 exams, and she got a grade lower in some of the clash day subjects than she'd been predicted.

DD is doing 12 for similar reasons (stats and further maths on top of maths, as well as triple science). The numbers are bumped up because of that. However, in her case all top set students are taught the same maths syllabus so the stats GCSE and further maths are taught in usual lesson time. They can opt not to take further maths or stats if they like.

DD is predicted all 9s or 8s (and got them in mocks) but if she were predicted below a 5, I'd consider asking them to rethink.

Is he predicted a 7 for maths? what about the other maths.

Hate to say it, but I'm not sure a 7 is really enough to be comfortable for A Level. It's a very hard A level.

Sounds completely nuts to me. Especially if dropping 2 leads to a greater likelihood of the 8/9s in maths which are aligned with greater likelihood of success at A level maths.

He will have been entered. So not much you can do except not bother with the 3s...
Out of interest how is he doing 2 extra maths gcses...

I would 100% want my child putting effort into securing a good pass in English at the expense of RE & Geography. I'd be tempted to tell them not to bother revising or putting much effort in and focusing on English. It seems like a crazy set up! I'm surprised the school are willing to allow it as it must impact on their overall grade picture/averages etc.

The school may say he cant drop GCSEs but there is nothing stopping him either
A) not doing any revision for them, concentrating on his other subjects especially English, sitting the exams and seeing what he gets
B) not revising for then and not turning up for the exams, although you will have to pay the exam fee and I think it goes down as a U or whatever the equivalent is in the new system.

What's going on with school then? Most schools don't impose that many, is it an unusual school or some kind of you've started so you'll finish?

Unless the grade 3s are maths, science or English then it's sensible to not put effort into those subjects and concentrate on the ones predicted at 4/5 and above. Especially if the 4/5 are English or maths to ensure he passes those. Or he will have to resit in Post 16. Suspect the school have entered him into the exams by now

Over 12 is excessive imo