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

Latymer Upper scrapping GCSE

39 replies

TheWitchCirce · 05/11/2023 17:32

Just wondering how parents and potential parents feel about this. Would it put you off applying of your child, knowing that they will only take maths and English GCSE or is it a selling point?

OP posts:
Original poster
TheWitchCirce · 06/11/2023 06:13

@Hughs I can't argue with any of that. I think the exam system does need looking at, but I wouldn't have my child there as a guniea pig.

OP posts:
Nicesalad · 05/11/2023 23:21

Coronateachingagain · 05/11/2023 22:55

Can they just scrap the exams? I suppose they are still obliged to teach the curriculum?

I don't think private schools have to follow the NC.

Coronateachingagain · 05/11/2023 22:55

Can they just scrap the exams? I suppose they are still obliged to teach the curriculum?

Hughs · 05/11/2023 21:58

Bit of a problem with moving to the state sector for sixth form though...

There are lots of reasons people might leave a school after Y11, choice of subjects, preferring vocational courses, preferring an apprenticeship or job, relocating, redundancy, divorce, bereavement, friendship problems, bullying, mental health problems, not getting the grades needed to stay, expulsion, wanting a change, preferring sixth form ethos elsewhere, wanting specialist provision eg music, thinking it improves chances of university admission.

Original poster
TheWitchCirce · 05/11/2023 20:01

I don't think it will affect moving at 6th form in the private sector. My daughter moved from WHS to Kings for 6th form. It all happened before she got her GCSE results and Kings had their own set of stringent exams and an interview that she needed to take.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheWitchCirce · 05/11/2023 19:58

Thank you, that was a really interesting read.

OP posts:
Lunde · 05/11/2023 19:58

It removes choice and portability of qualifications

If you want to move to state 6th form, need to move abroad or want to take University courses overseas then you may find out that the school exam isn't recognised

It was hard enough getting my UK O and A levels translated abroad in a (then) non-EU country and my O levels had to be counted for University entrance as everyone needs a documented level at science, MFL, a humanity, a social science as well as English, Maths and the home language at A-level - as well as specific A levels depending on the course

belladonna22 · 05/11/2023 19:34

Reddishraddish · 05/11/2023 19:32

It means their year 11s cannot go anywhere else in the sixth form, so it is taking away choice, and giving themselves a captive audience

I get that, but why switch? Why put all this energy in applying for a different sixth form when you're already at a great school? Just put your energy into your education, focus on university. If parents care about finding a different sixth form, don't send your kids to LU.

Reddishraddish · 05/11/2023 19:32

It means their year 11s cannot go anywhere else in the sixth form, so it is taking away choice, and giving themselves a captive audience

Nicesalad · 05/11/2023 19:31

Will children stay on there for sixth form and do A-levels?

belladonna22 · 05/11/2023 19:27

I see this as a plus. If your kids are planning on taking A-levels or doing IB, what's the point of spending two years obsessing about an additional set of tests? I'd rather my kids be learning the actual subjects from skilled instructors, rather than being forced to adhere to a curriculum that's constantly being changed to suit the political climate of the day. Besides, our kids will be competing on an international stage, and GCSEs are not rated internationally. It's ridiculous how much time students in the UK spend preparing for high stakes exams, rather than just...learning!

Original poster
TheWitchCirce · 05/11/2023 17:46

Thank you - I'll try & find it.

OP posts:
tennissquare · 05/11/2023 17:38

@TheWitchCirce , there was a thread on this is September called Private school scrapping gcses, write their own exam.

Bedales and Teddies in Oxford already do this to some extent.

Swipe left for the next trending thread