How many GCSE’s?

DD's school kept GCSEs to years 10 and 11 only. They wouldn't have been able to fit 14 subjects into the curriculum.

One in year 9. (French). Two in year 10. Rest were all in year 11

Just the way the school was. DD did really well in all of them.

Yep. Schools know what parents want.

Over how many years, and why?

Why?

And then did fsmq as well. So 14 GCSEs and FMSQ in addition

And schools.

DD did 14 GCSEs.

DD is doing GCSEs this year and insisted on doing 12 (the 12th is an AdMaths qualification, it is more than a GCSE so won’t count in the statistics, only top set do it). She is doing 3 MML because she wants to travel and she does not want to necessarily be stuck in the UK (I cannot argue with that one).
She is doing A levels in Maths Physics and Chemistry (FM tbc). So the MML was “pointless” yet she is conversational in all 3 now and has been watching Netflix and Disneyplus in French, Spanish and German for a while. Whilst it won’t help her with UK unis it may certainly help her if she wants to go elsewhere. The school insisted she does a GCSE in Music because she will get a 9 without even having to try. She had to go to all sorts of meetings to get the school to timetable her 3 MMLs.

I said all along do 9, it is pointless doing more. She wouldn’t listen. I do not really care what results she gets. I also have no idea why she wants to do STEM when she is good at MML and English and Music. But I am leaving it to her. It is her life.

I’m not sure what you mean by that.

Ours is a non selective state, Welsh medium comprehensive. The catchment area is the whole county and it caters for a huge range of children and their parents.

7 GCSE's - 15.6%
8 GCSES's - 25.1%
9 GCSE's - 28.4%
10 GCSE's - 12.2%
11 GCSE's 1.7%

The most common number of GCSE's to take is 9. Some schools only offer 8 and some students take 10.

The average number is 7 but that figure is skewed by those who didn't take any GCSE's or who took very few perhaps because of SEN.

Schools know what some parents like.

Even if they have no say in the matter?!

I understand that sentiment, @CurlewKate, but not sure if I agree. Driven by competitive universities' demand for a curated suite of perfect grades at GCSE and A levels, schools fixated on performance are responding by reducing subjects taken but also by raising expectations of perfection or near perfection. I am not sure that is any better. More GSCEs means more likelihood of a more varied and imperfect grade profile (which I think is healthy) but also the opportunity, for those who can cope, to gain exposure to a wider range of subjects and the experience and resulting confidence of being able to get through it all. Should most take 9 or more GCSEs? No, but should more of those who could do so? Possibly.

It all depends on the child and what they want to do. For a medic, I would do 9 plus FM and do extra volunteering instead (volunteering in an old people home or SEND school and St John’s ambulance type thing) and would be very focussed on nailing the triple science and a 9 in the standard maths. Our schools put most kids into FM GCSE or even AdMaths which is even harder but some don’t end up taking the exam, just doing the extra work in Year 11 so the transition to A level Maths and or FM is easier.

In my (controversial!) opinion, more than 10-or even 9-GCSEs is entirely about parental boasting rights!

Ds got 12 and additional maths. He took 2 1/2 of them in year 10 as well as some of the Science papers and finished maths in the November of year 11 (very common in Wales) so he didn’t have too many papers to sit in the summer of year 11.

Is there an option to continue going to the lessons but not take the GCSE? This is what we think might happen with DS for RE. We are fine with him (and also DD in the lower year) having RE lessons but don't want them to have to revise for it and use up time sitting 3 papers for it (they do the full GCSE, not a religious school but RE is compulsory) at GCSE exam time. It leaves them with 9 GCSEs, plus further maths, which is ample IMO.

It's worth asking to drop it, it will take the pressure off and allow her to focus on subjects that really matter to her future.
One thing I really dislike about schools and GCSEs s that there always seems to be options on the liat that aren't really options at all.

At DD’s school any pupils who dropped a subject were just sent to the library for study time during the respective timetabled periods. As long as OP’s DD is well motivated then I can’t see an issue with this

It was standard at DD’s school (very highly regarded grammar, regularly sends multiple pupils per year to Oxbridge etc) to do 10 GCSEs. This could be dropped to 9 if the pupil/their parents had a valid reason to do so. Your DD will be absolutely fine!

It won't hurt to drop a few, depending on what his plans are regarding next steps after school. My son only did 4 through a 14-16 program at a local college after suffering bullying at school. He was able to go on and do a level 3 btec which has led on to him being very successful in his chosen career.