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Original poster

GCSE options totally suck

163 replies

Windywuss · 04/10/2024 20:36

My son is in y9. He's got ASC and had issues at school. Things seem to have settled a bit now and I've just started looking ahead to options.

I don't get it at all. He loves computer science and science. The school don't do GCSE computer science at all. Sciences are not single subject but a triple science option instead. The options look awful. There's loads of dance and PE and some Digital creative alternative qualification that isn't a GCSE and vocational subjects.

If his school doesn't do computer science then is he not going to be able to do this at A level? I just feel it's all geared to the less academic kids which make up the majority of the catchment.

It wasn't our first choice school..no chance of moving.

I would want him to go elsewhere for sixth form but I feel like he's already going to be behind, and possibly won't be able to do what he wants. I feel I've failed him (though I'm really tired and emotional tonight and I'm a single parent and just exhausted with everything). Sad

Anyone else been stuck with poor choices for GCSEs?

OP posts:
POTC · 07/10/2024 19:09

Windywuss · 04/10/2024 21:51

Yes well that's why two tier educational in this country also sucks. I cannot afford private school. All kids deserve good schools. But I don't want to set Mumsnet off on a private v state rant. There's been too much of that already lately.

I don't think my son would cope with online study due to his autism but thanks for the suggestion.

I am trying to work out where he can go for A Level if not staying on at this school. May be able to move to a different school sixth form. The two schools I would have preferred for him may be possible at sixth form but I've no idea if catchment is still a thing post 16 or how it works. They're both over subscribed in the lower years.

FE colleges are not for academic kids here. The next city has a good sixth form college but don't know how he'd get there. It's not in the city centre.

Show quote history

My DS is 17 and autistic. He did CS GCSE self taught along with a few others at his school and did well. He is now taking CS/Maths/Further Maths at a level and the start of CS bored him as it was going over what he already knew.
He is looking to take CS at uni so we've been visiting several recently. Cambridge and a few others are now saying that if your school/college offered Further Maths at alevel you must have that. Some are saying you must have Maths. None are saying you must have CS!

Comefromaway · 07/10/2024 19:16

I think the confusion is that there is no such thing as “triple science”. It’s simply a nickname for taking separate science GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry & Physics.

clary · 07/10/2024 20:08

Comefromaway · 07/10/2024 19:16

I think the confusion is that there is no such thing as “triple science”. It’s simply a nickname for taking separate science GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry & Physics.

Edited

Yes thank you @Comefromaway that's very true. It's a shorthand from the students as much as anything - Oh he does triple - but in fact yes it is simply separate sciences, three GCSEs.

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MrsAvocet · 07/10/2024 20:39

Though "separate" is a bit misleading too as it suggests you can do one without the others whereas you do in fact have to do all 3. (In England anyway, I don't know about elsewhere, I have a vague feeling that you might be able to do singke subjects if you do iGCSEs).

RampantIvy · 07/10/2024 21:20

TizerorFizz · 04/10/2024 21:53

@noblegiraffe ? Really? So you never met anyone who went to a grammar? How could you be in such a bubble?

There is no need to be so sneery. We don't have any grammar schools in our county. I joined MN when DD was at primary school and learned from MN that some counties still had grammar schools.

Obviously, by the time DD was in year 6 I knew that they existed, but the ones in the next county are extremely competitive to get into and far too far for a daily commute.

Re triple science being harder - it depends on how the school does it. Cramming triple scince into the same time as double science makes it more difficult. DD's school used it as an option instead, so the triple science students only had three extra options to choose from, where the double science students had four.

clary · 07/10/2024 21:54

MrsAvocet · 07/10/2024 20:39

Though "separate" is a bit misleading too as it suggests you can do one without the others whereas you do in fact have to do all 3. (In England anyway, I don't know about elsewhere, I have a vague feeling that you might be able to do singke subjects if you do iGCSEs).

You can do only some of them at a private school too. A friend's DD was at a local private school and just took biology and physics GCSE - no chemistry. Not great IMO but hey.

Treesinmygarden · 07/10/2024 22:14

PhotoDad · 05/10/2024 07:54

A tiny word of caution about art as "light relief." At GCSE, and much more so at A-level, it tends to absorb all available time as it has coursework. Which is fine, unless you're also studying other coursework-heavy subjects too (like Design/Technology).

I second that - they have to have portfolios and produce a massive quantity of work! It just takes over everything!

Treesinmygarden · 07/10/2024 22:23

PhotoDad · 05/10/2024 09:58

"It's not needed for A-level" is a very different argument to "it's helpful for a broad education even if you don't pursue it further." Arguably the world would be different if more people, whatever their eventual career, had a better understanding of history, or geography... and you could definitely make the same claim for economics! Our school insists on 3 x science, 2 x English, 1 or 2 x maths, and 1 x MFL, then students can take any three options at all. I'm not saying it's the right model for all schools.

I think the EBacc is a little bit of a red-herring here, though. Sorry for derailing.

Show quote history

Our school (which I realise may well be different as in NI) insists on 2 x English, Maths, 1 x Science, 1 MFL and RE (!) Mine all hated Science pretty much so each of them did one! I was only able to study French, Spanish, German and Latin because I got off without a Science back in the day, and didn't have to do RE!

Bedbugdilemma · 07/10/2024 22:29

You can do just one science??? Wow even when I was at school we had to do all 3 in the UK

Treesinmygarden · 07/10/2024 22:31

TizerorFizz · 05/10/2024 12:25

@PhotoDad I think Economics for understanding the basics of government finance and decision making on economic matters, but of course History is vital for learning from mistakes. Although in my day, history was regurgitating facts. However economics is rarely available at GCSE but I think young people should prepare for adulthood by understanding the basics of economics regarding government, taxation and spending. I listen to the radio a lot and the knowledge of basic economics is woeful, although I accept few have the opportunity.

Our school didn't offer GCSE economics but they did A level. I think you need to do decently in Maths - DC3 did A level and is doing a relevant degree now.

I did Economics as part of a postgrad I did and it was a mystery to me lol!

Treesinmygarden · 07/10/2024 22:33

Bedbugdilemma · 07/10/2024 22:29

You can do just one science??? Wow even when I was at school we had to do all 3 in the UK

Luckily for my three, yes, they could do just the one. In my day at O level TG we didn't have to do any!! A lot of the kids do double award unless they are considering medicine etc.

RampantIvy · 07/10/2024 22:33

Bedbugdilemma · 07/10/2024 22:29

You can do just one science??? Wow even when I was at school we had to do all 3 in the UK

No, not usually in state schools in England. All 3 sciences are covered, whether it is double or triple science. Private schools give the option of one, two or three science subjects.

Comefromaway · 08/10/2024 09:42

My son was able to take only two single sciences in a state school (he was 2020 GCSE year) but that is very unusual and the school removed that option very shortly afterwards.

The single science GCSE's are completely separate from each other, it's the national curriculum framework that dictates that science should be taught at Key Stage 4 in roughly equal proportions of biology, chemistry & physics.

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