If your DC is sitting 12 or more GCSEs this summer...

31 replies

FirstDaysOfSpring · 07/03/2025 20:01

Did they choose to do this or is it school policy?

Could they opt out at this stage if they wanted to?

OP posts:

Original poster

FirstDaysOfSpring · 10/03/2025 13:39

Thank you for your answers. I was feeling a bit like people didn't want to answer but maybe it's because people don't have DC doing 12 or more.

My DC is due to take 12. Most take 10, which includes RE. DC is not taking an exam in RE but is doing separate sciences and Statistics and Further Maths.

MFL is compulsory (EBacc pressure on schools from government)

I have asked for them not to be entered for MFL as there is such a lot of it and it now seems like a test of memory. School understandably have said no as it would open the floodgates to others.

I still feel that 12 is too many but I don't think there is anything I can do.

DC is simply good at maths and average at everything else. They have hobbies and also like a bit of time to just chill. They have been revising with a sensible plan since the start of the year.

OP posts:

LikeABat · 08/03/2025 08:49

11 plus FSMQ. 9 as standard, triple instead of combined science as top set. Additional language before and after school by choice (not home language). Those taking home language usually do that in year 10. FSMQ is optional for top set maths but taught within normal lesson time.

Octavia64 · 07/03/2025 20:13

Many DC sitting that number may be doing:

A home language such as Urdu or polish where they can drop out anytime

Further maths gcse which is generally optional and taught after school or before school and where they can drop out anytime

Or statistics gcse (same deal)

BananaDaiquiri · 07/03/2025 20:10

The only ones I know doing this at my DD school have done this through choice. Most of the year group take 10 (some may do less if they are doing some other kind of qualification alongside GCSE). But, as we are in London, many sit a community language in the language that they speak at home, so most of those kids get 11. Plus there is an option to take Latin, but it's taught as an after school club so only a small proportion (less than 20%) took it in Y7-9 and even fewer selected to take it to GCSE. So in theory you could get 12 and my daughter knows someone taking 12 - but she speaks another language at home (both parents from that country) and chose to take Latin club and continue to GCSE.

BitOutOfPractice · 07/03/2025 20:07

Why would they? I thought this kind of stuff went out of fashion decades ago!

clary · 07/03/2025 20:05

Not many people do this tbh. Last year 390 people sat 12 or more GCSEs.

For context, 189,285 sat nine (the most popular number).

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