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

Has anyone succeeded in persuading school to change GCSE options offered? And how much does private schooling cost?

81 replies

diydemon · 05/03/2010 09:09

It was the Yr 9 options evening last night - the first time they'd dared to reveal the options columns to parents and pupils.

And our misgivings were confirmed - they've broadened the range of subjects to include lots more BTECs including media studies, hair and beauty, sociology.

As well as the core subjects, dd has to choose one from each of 5 columns.

4 choices are ok (ish), but there's nothing in the 5th column she wants to do - the choice is:
-Triple science (she will definitely do double, but she doesn't want triple after seeing her sister struggle with it, also the school has been told to improve science and maths teaching)
-AS level music (she'd need grade 5, only has grade 3 and stopped playing in primary school and doesn't really want to pick it up again),

  • Or a load of what we (and she) consider to be Mickey Mouse subjects - non-academic (BTEC) ones where she has no interest and would likely be in with a bunch of disruptive kids.

Ideally, if they could move Art GCSE from the column where it clashes with History (she'd love to do both), or allow her to study Art externally (we'd arrange that and pay) and sit in the back of the art class and get on with work for that while others are doing their 5th column options, she'd be happy, problem solved.

But the headteacher is adamant she has to choose a 5th column option, and that the options columns are a fait accompli not a consultation document.

She doesn't really want to move schools - very happy there with good friends - but this seems the only option if she wants to do the subjects she'd like.

Has anyone had any luck in persuading a school to be more flexible? How did you do it? Or did you come up with an alternative arrangement?

Finally, how much does private day school cost on average? I'm seriously contemplating looking into taking her out of state sector because of the political interference that is forcing them to offer so many non-academic subjects - it might suit those who are non-academic, but imo is penalising the academic ones.

OP posts:
DecorHate · 05/03/2010 12:04

If she is quite academic I would encourage her to do the triple science as the lesser of all the evils. Don't let her be put off by her sister's experience. They are different children. And then if she really wants to do Art as well, see if she can do it somewhere externally. Though if you think she would want to carry on Art at A-Level maybe she should do it at school and drop History. I have always been keen on my dcs doing History but having read what they are likely to study I am beginning to change my mind!

seeker · 05/03/2010 11:58

Tell us what the subjects in column 5 are - someone on here might be able to reassure you about them.

ageing5yearseachyear · 05/03/2010 11:51

what are the Mickey mouse options?

in my experience the school wont bend- and i can see why- if i had the job of sorting out 250 kids into a timetable there cant be unlimited options so the sensible thing is to make everyone choose. just moving an option from one column to another has a huge impact on rooms and teachers. there is nothing to stop her doing art in addition but i would be suprised if the school were willing to let her sit in the art room during her fifth column time.

i guess that even if it seems like a small concession the knock on effect- of dozens of parents saying you made an exception for X so what about my child? consistency is everything in all aspects of people management- and that is what a school is!

Original poster
diydemon · 05/03/2010 09:48

Thanks for your replies. GCSE music is offered in another column - it's not one she really wants to do.

It is offered as level 3(i.e. AS level) in the 5th column though - the column where she is struggling to make a choice.

If she is forced to choose (and the school is telling her she must choose) one from that 5th column, then it's going to have to be the lesser of all the "evils" so to speak - there's not one she really wants to do. So she might have to think about working hard on music over the summer and picking up the violin again if she doesn't want to to triple science or one of the "Mickey Mouse" options.

I really don't want to send her privately - we like our holidays too much! - and agree it would be a shame for just one GCSE/BTEC issue. Ideally we'd like her to study Art GCSE and for the school to help us accommodate that rather than force her to spend 2 years doing one subject she hasn't chosen.

OP posts:
gramercy · 05/03/2010 09:39

Interested in any replies. Ds isn't at that age yet, but I can see he might want to go "off menu" so to speak, and wonder if you can, as OP asks, pay for different GCSEs and skip ones that the school offers.

ageing5yearseachyear · 05/03/2010 09:36

we pay for private school for dd2 at the moment- £12000 per year once we have added on the extras. Worth every penny for her as this has enabled her to catch up generally.

However- is it worth it for one GCSE choice. Even if you have to write off one GCSE, will she still be able to get 8 or so good ones? If so, then I wouldnt- I wouldnt do this for my older dd who is academically able. She has one choice which she wouldnt have picked but i take the view that it is impossible for the school to accomodate everybody and everything and she got the 4 that were important to her.

bit confused about AS music - is it not offered at GCSE? dd was grade 3 at the start of gcse and is predicted an A. Or if your dd has a decent voice she can claim this as her instrument.