Dropping a GCSE subject in year 11?

[TattiePants]

Are any secondary teachers or parents who have gone through this able to advise?

DS will be sitting his GCSEs in the summer and we’d like him to to drop German. He has dyspraxia and his slow processing combined with poor memory recall means he is really struggling. Having read around the subject, MFL does seem to be tricky for some kids with dyslexia, dyspraxia etc. In addition to his SEN, he is struggling with his mental health and having regular panic attacks at school and at home. The SENCO managed to get him a CAMHS referral within 2 months and he has his appointments in school so they are aware of how difficult he finds things at the minute.

In his November mocks he got grades 1-3 and he’s in the middle of his final mocks and is likely to get similar grades. We could spend hours doing extra work (we’ve done no German revision for either sets of mocks) but that would mean taking revision time from either core subjects like English or subjects that he wants to do for A Level.

Can anyone offer some advise?

I work in a private school and have to supervise 6 periods with my form per week where they do independent study as they all say one of their exams in general. Even when it's a form of 20 it's hard work with a few, and that's when 3/4 of the students actually want to work.

The last few messages also hint at part of the problem, staff don't want to supervise it, and also schools aren't going to want to use their best behaviour management staff in that way, rather than actually teaching a trickier class .

@TeenPlusCat my DS1 who has SEN was given the option by school of choosing one fewer option subject and spending that lesson in the SEN dept (The Hub) working on homework, additional supervised work on core subjects or things like CV, mock job applications an the like. I recall really deliberating whether he should do this (took him to 8 GCSEs) and I cannot imagine why - it was totally a positive move. So some schools do it - but you do need I suspect a proactive SENDco.

@TattiePants If I were you I would push for the school allowing your DS to drop German - and I speak as an MFL specialist. It sounds as if it would be really beneficial for him, especially with his focus on what he is not doing well at. DW about progress 8 - it is perfectly possible to fulfil that (FWIW) without doing a language; if it weren't, every school would insist on everyone doing MFL which they don't.
At my old school a good number dropped French in yr 11 (for various reasons) and a few dropped German too. Nothing very terrible happened - they just spent 2/3 periods a week for the last term or so of yr 11 in the libraray IIRC.

@Imitatingdory Thanks for that link, really useful for me too.

Thank you for all the advice and I'll speak to school next week. Fingers crossed we can make it work.

No one needs 9 GCSE's plus 2 equivalents. He can either officially drop it and the school avoid a low grade on their records or unofficially drop it and just do absolutely no work for it beyond sitting in the exam room and accepting the result will be a very low grade but just not worrying about it. I hope the school see that there is potentially a much better use of time and energy than flogging a dead horse.

UPDATE

I've spoken to DS's SENCO today (who's also one of his subject teachers) and she was very supportive and understands why dropping German would be a benefit. She's going to speak to the head of MFL and as long as she is on board, will then speak to the Deputy Head.

She confirmed that the pupil support unit is always staffed and they have other year 11s that aren't doing the full set of GCSEs that do independent study there during lesson time. Hopefully we'll find out in the next few days as DS is absolutely terrified at the thought of doing his speaking exam so hopefully he can avoid it.

Oh good, that sounds hopeful.

@TattiePants I’ve been researching this very question and have just read your post.

Realise this is a number of weeks ago but just wondered if you had success?

DS (Y10) is currently struggling with MH burnout. SEN, suicidal thoughts (recently admitted to hosp) now CAMHS involvement etc. So I’m hoping a follow meeting with school (when he returns) will allow for a reduction in his GCSE options.

I hope you were successful.

@WiseRobin sorry to hear your DS is having such a bad time. It's horrible to see them struggle when you just want to make everything right for them. We were successful and DS dropped German 6 or 7 weeks ago. He has 5 hours every fortnight where he goes to the pupil support unit, logs on to a pc and completes a piece of work we have set him. The school also uses lots of apps like Mathswatch and MyGCSEScience that he can also work on.

It took about 2 weeks for us to get agreement. Our SENDCO was very supportive and I then had a couple of conversations with the head of MFL who in turn spoke to the Deputy Head. The Deputy Head wanted DS to sit his oral mock which DS was terrified about. In the end, I asked if I could speak to the Deputy Head directly and we agreed between us that it would be best for him to drop German. The Deputy Head just asked that DS didn't spread it around that he had been allowed to drop a subject in case it set off lots of other pupils asking!

My advise would be to speak to a member of staff that knows your DS well and that you think will be supportive (in our case it was the SENDCO). See if they think it will be a good idea and find out what he would be able to do during the lessons he is missing. We made it clear that as long as they could find a place for him to go during the lessons he missed, we would manage his work so not to put added pressure on the staff. Ask to speak directly to the person who will be making the decision and stress the effect doing too many subjects is having on him and what the risks are if he continues as he is. If you can get back up from CAMHS or your GP even better.

Good luck

@TattiePants thanks so much for replying, I’m so pleased this has worked out well for your DS, well done to you for fighting his corner and getting a positive outcome.

I will make sure I fight DS’s corner and hopefully have the support from school.

My Grandson took performing arts/drama as 1 of his chosen subjects. He is 15 and leaves school in May /June this year. It has came to light he doesn’t enjoy this now and has missed the last 8 lessons as he becomes upset.
he has been told if he drops the lesson we have to pay£85 can anyone shed any light. He attends a Roman Catholic school. Not sure if they can implement charges due to being separate from other schools.
thanks.

@Din1965 I wonder if they have already had to pay to enter him, as drama will have some level of practical which may need to have been done earlier. In which case they may be claiming back the entry fee?

It isn't unusual for schools to charge for exams if the pupil chooses not to turn up (as opposed to being ill).