12 GCSEs

My DD has struggled at times doing 11 with art. I always say she could probably have done another at least in the time art has taken. So just don't do Art as well.

I tried to persuade her not to take the FM this year but it's less work than I imagined. Maybe take a look at the Spec for the various options your DC is interested in. There are definitely some GCSEs that are "easier". DD finished the curriculum for Comp. Sci early.

No, it's not bonkers if he's good at maths. It will just provide additional breadth. As others have said, there is overlap between maths, stats and further maths so it isn't like doing 3 separate GCSE's. If he is minded to do maths A level it will set him up well - he's very lucky.

My son did short-course RE in Year 10, then Maths, 2 * English, 3 sciences, Geog, History, a language and computer science, and also a level 3 diploma in algebra. He found it fine.

Dd 1 was at a state school and took ten
Dd2 was at a grammar and took eleven which I thought was ridiculous .
Can’t see the point of twelve

I agree that 12 is ridiculous, but statistics and further maths I suspect are probably not too bad as extras for a mathematically bright chid. (Though I'd be annoyed about the enforced MFL and 3 sciences).

As your DC is in Year 7, I suggest it's far too early to be worrying though - a lot can change in the next few years - the school organisation might change; your DC might not be in a set where they take extra subjects etc.

This is the schools curriculum - why did you send him there if you don’t like it?
No decision until y11 if he’s struggling and in conjunction with school policies.

My son did 12 including FSMQ (further maths). He didn’t do statistics as a separate subject though. His others were 3 sciences, 2 English, 2 languages, history, computer science and DT. All taken end of Y11. He regretted choosing DT over music, as it was hugely time consuming and he plays music anyway. Other than that, it was fine.

The overlap between stats and maths is substantial. Further maths gcse is standard for top sets who are often working beyond gcse level in year 11.

Technically it is three maths GCSE's but in practice the content isn't.

My kids both did this. Their teacher covered the gcse maths material by the end of year 10 and they spent year 11 doing the further maths material. It was no more work than 1 gcse.

It significantly helped with the step up to a level as well.

12 can be okay if you get one out of the way in Y10

Mine is doing 11 (2 languages). She is top set maths but said no thank you to further maths!. I think she does regret a little doing the extra language but it’s not affected her grades.

On the latest stats, only 2% of those taking GCSEs sit 11 or more at one sitting, so it is not usual. However, it is likely the subjects taken will be pruned if your DS's performance, relative to other students, declines. My DC's school is a comp and the most academically able sit 11 GCSEs in one sitting, but some do double science (ie one less) or drop RE or one or more electives to be given extra time on Maths and/or English in Y10 and Y11.

Some schools limit the number GCSEs taken to 9 to maximise the average grade per pupil and to yield more 'perfect 9s' to aid application, further down the line, for competitive entry unis. There are arguments for and against this. If a bright student can cope with a lot of GCSEs in one go, it prepares them well for the step up in workload at A Level and enables them to experience a broader range of subjects and so better inform choices for A Level and post-A Level.

Mine are doing that. It’s fine if you’re good at maths. They had a few extra lessons to cover statistics and sat it in y10, got excellent grades. They’re doing maths and further maths gcse this year along with all the others. It’s a good way of keeping the maths challenging and interesting for top set. It really doesn’t take any extra time and maths isn’t one you have to revise much for.

Ours is just a normal state school in a non selective area. The top set maths kids do get a choice whether to sit the extra exams or not but they pretty much all do it. They’ll be covering it in class time anyway.

Yeh the only extra ones are stats and FM. While I agree for sure there is no need to take 12 GCSEs, the extra ones follow on from maths, so I suppose it's not like taking history, geography, French, German, music and RE on top of the six basic ones.

But if he is struggling when it comes to it, speak to the school about him dropping FM in year 11 maybe @Thingsthatgo ?

if that is how the school is set up, i'm sure they can manage it - the maths / stats / further maths are all closely related topics that kids can go through quickly. Then the rest is pretty standard for a good school.

My dc is currently doing 10 GCSEs (stats & further maths weren't available at this school) and that seems to work out fine.