Help! My non arty dd has been given gcse art!

I completely agree with everything you've said about art and its transformative powers - same with music - I feel quite passionately about all of that, especially as so much funding has been removed for creative subjects. The issue is just that GCSE - at least in our school - is ridiculously busy and high-pressure. They move so fast, it's extremely stressful. Miss one lesson and you're so far behind. It can take away from all of the positive aspects.
Each person would have to make their own decision, of course, but it is worth knowing that GCSE art is incredibly difficult and time-consuming. My daughter, who found it very stressful to get all the work done, is now at college doing only art and considering a career in art therapy, as she knows how beneficial it can be to people. Everything you said is completely right about art - beautiful to see people unlocking all sorts of things they never knew they had in them.

Would only contend one item that you mentioned. Art can be very transformative for those with learning difficulties, it can help them access skills they didn't know they posessed and, via engagement of their spatial brain and colour work unlock lots of other abilities like concentration, literacy and anxiety reducing practices. In other words via the spatial brain they unlock senses that cause them to access succes and support for all learning. Same for the performing arts....have a massive think before give up the opportunity for her to build life enhancing skills that she'll access through art. Good luck with it.

Glad she got a space and all has been resolved!

For those who are confused about how this sort of situation can happen, a lot is to do with the teacher shortage. If you can only recruit one DT teacher with a food specialism, that will really limit the classes you can put on (as an example). It's often hard to recruit teachers to just teach a few classes, and there's a lot less flex in school budgets than there was, as well.

Due to this, it's very common to timetable subjects in "blocks" and ask students to pick a choice per block (plus often a back up). Something popular where you have plenty of teachers can be in multiple blocks. Something you can only offer once is only in one block. It's not ideal, but not much about secondary schools is, at the moment. Sometimes, there's nothing a student really wants to do in a "block", but the student has to pick something.

If your daughter is struggling academically I would ask if she could drop that subject and use the spare time to study in the library

Sorry op, normally read the full thread, just have seen your update - tired this morning and skim read, good news she got what she wanted in the end!

Maybe offering a different view from others here.. I got given art and design when I was doing my GCSEs not out of choice, I’d not even considered it. I am now a graphic designer and photographer, it was the making of me and showed a talent I never realised I had as I’d not really explored it. I always had to try hard at school and whilst it was one of my best gcse grades it wasn’t an A or A* but after I realised I enjoyed it I went forward and did it as an a level, and then went on to get a 1st degree at university. I am not a natural artist, I can’t draw that well compared to people who just “have got the drawing knack”… but I am a good designer and I’ve made a good career out of it. You never know, something could click. Hope that helps offer another perspective, you know your daughter best and all the best in hoping you get what you both want with the school.

Good news

that is good news @Hairyfairy01

That's great news, Op.

I am really pleased for your dd. She must be so happy

So glad the school saw sense eventually.

Thanks for the update and good luck to your DD.

Thanks for the update and good luck to your DD.

I am conflicted here. On the one hand I think it's unfair. On the other, I remember having to do maths, science and French and I hated those subjects and they really stressed me out.
I think perhaps it's different for GCSE than ALevel... Alevels should definitely be subjects the child enjoys.
That said, if there are places on other subjects, there's no harm in being asked to move.

I can understand why this is so disappointing - I'm old enough to have been one of the last few years to take O levels and the option blocks and curriculum design - I assume to ensure balance - involved having to do a creative or practical subject - I chose Domestic Science reluctantly. Typing didn't count (it presumably wasn't an O level - not sure if it was a CSE course or another qualification. There were only 4 of us in Domestic Science and we had a change of teacher in the 5th year (equiv to year 11) who gave us a test on the written paper. No one did well but I did so badly I was advised to drop it...

Is there still a place available in Digital Technology? What's the syllabus for it? Hopefully someone will drop/switch out of Food Nutrition. It might not be of much interest/what DD wants to do, but if there's less of a workload than in Art and she doesn't have to worry about a portfolio, it might be better as a reluctant option.

Have you asked why those who got Food & Nutrition, were given it above your daughter? I’d be interested to know how they allocate places where demand outstrips space.

Personally I would pick free periods rather than an unwilling Art gcse, especially if she would benefit from extra work on other subjects.

Like a PP I’m from an era when you got to choose your gsces and timetable issues were rare - BUT the range of subjects was much narrower then, a lot of the options mentioned in the OP didn’t exist or weren’t offered in many schools. With a wider range of subjects clearly there will be more problems with clashes, over/undersubscription or finding a teacher.

Some schools do offer bespoke timetables - I know that because my DD has one at her school.

However, there are over 430 kids in her year alone which makes bespoke timetables rather easier. Most of the kids on them are either SEN or are doing incredibly large numbers of GCSEs.

So not quite 'supervised self study' but in some cases almost exactly that. It's not advertised and is on a case by case basis, but has been a massive positive for us.

OP will send you a DM

When l was teaching groups often got full. It was a first come first served basis.

But with the ones who didn’t get in there was often discussion with the teachers who would be taking them on. I wonder if her art teachers think she is is more capable than she herself thinks.

It could be an error. She may not be able to.do her first voice in that option block due yo numbers. Have a second choice available. E mail whoever is in charge of options with the more suitable choices as well as Head of year. U could also back this up with a letter when ur child returns to school . Doubt u will hear anything now if school broken up

What school won't allow is a child to not be in a lesson BUT could you ask if she could self learn GCSE Sociology in the Art slot? If there's a learning area for SEND children for example she could use, do supervised but not tutored. And sign up for something like home made education (assuming you could afford to fund this yourself, which I appreciate is a big assumption as you said you can't afford tutors). Or ask if school will provide the learning materials, but my concern there would be she wouldn't get any feedback on her work.

As long as it's the same exam board, school could enter her for that exam. And if she really enjoys it, she's more likely to be engaged.

What?!

So you think anyone who is good at art can't learn any more?
Pardon my daughter's degree then!

tbf tho some specs only ask for three sports (DS2 did PE GCSE) and I did film some athletics but in the end was never asked for it. Tho I agree - if sport is riding or skiing then you will need to film.

I agree - doubles tennis or badminton (for example) counts as a team sport - any mileage in something like that?