How many GCSEs is the norm these days??

[alexaisrising]

DS is early secondary but in an autism specialist school and we need to think about the KS4 plan well ahead of others in mainstream (according to the professionals!) and figure out with school what they can offer etc.

He has a profoundly gifted IQ but struggles with many aspects of education so it's anyone's guess how the exam system will go for him but currently he's doing well, thriving and has tons of potential to do well.

When I was at school we had to do 10 GCSEs inc a language, a humanities and an art subject on top of the usuals. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore? What subjects are expected for college or a levels as we want to plan for the best so he can go on to whatever it is he wants to do.

Thanks!

It sounds like he has university potential, so he needs enough GCSEs to meetventry requirements there (and that can vary).
Does this help at all?
https://www.theuniguide.co.uk/advice/gcse-choices-university/how-important-are-my-gcse-grades#:~:text=GCSEs%20may%20limit%20the%20universities%20you%20can%20apply%20to&text=Grades%204%20to%206%20at,with%20top%20GCSE%20marks%20applying.

Mine only did 6 (3 x GCSE and 3 x BTEC L2) at special school and that was enough for colleges and 6th forms so long as he got the grades needed in the subjects he wanted to take at 6th form. He’s at university now.

At dcs grammar school 10 or 11 depending on whether you are any good at maths when you are then made to take further maths too.

I'm in Scotland and the school only offers 6. We are comprehensive. Others offer 7 or 6. Some privates do 8. Totally ridiculous that we get only 6....

DS at state grammar = 11
2 x Eng
Maths
3 x science
2 x mfl
1 x humanity (ancient history)
2 x free choice (In his case, comp sci and psychology

However, was struggling with all the content in Ancient History so dropped it. Also won't be taking Eng Lit (just won't go to the exam) for same reason. But has added Further Maths (lunchtime club) so he'll end up with 10.

He has ADHD and struggles with organisation and school haven't supported him. The sheer number of subjects and quantity of info has been hard to manage. His strengths and weaknesses are quite extreme so i feel he would be much happier if he were doing just 8 subjects.

Maths
Eng language
Eng lit
2-3 sciences
RE
History or geography
Language
Choice. (Arts ICT, PE etc)

So 9-10. Lower sets can do one fewer so 8-9.