To think GCSEs should only be maths, English and science unless request otherwise?

[Conmoenotcalltoe]

DD is beginning her GCSEs this spring and the pressure and stress she has been placed under has been difficult for her.
She has had several pieces of homework a night, plus expected to stay behind for studying until 4pm daily, and a huge amount of weekend prep to do for the following week.
She knows what job she wants and she has been given a placement in college already, so the majority of the subjects she does is wasted on her.
i think it would benefit teens more if schools allowed year 9 options to be optional. For example she has to do history, cooking, German and design which she has no interest in and will serve no purpose for her future (she can already cook) if she didn’t need to take those subjects it would free more time for the important ones, English, maths and science. She doesn’t enjoy these subjects and finds the teachers expect too much from her knowing she is trying to focus more on maths as she struggles in that area.
i know several parents and relatives who think the same and would prefer their teens to study important lessons unless they chose to study all/any of the options as extra.
Would your child prefer to learn the staple 3 lessons or would they still chose their options? What would your opinion be if it was an option to cut out subjects to lessen the stress during year 11?

I see your point.
I asked my sons school if he could drop his languages to do other things because he knew where he wanted to go in his career. It was allowed.
My daughter was a covid child and missed SATS. Her year group were given options at the end of year 8 instead of the end of year 9 to allow them more time to cover GCSE subjects. It's actually worked so well. She's thriving. But again, she knows what she wants to do.
I hoped they'd keep it for my other daughter but alas, not.
Narrowing the curriculum wouldn't work. But more choice over what they do going forward and allowing longer to study would be good. So they can tailor their education towards an actual career rather than a variety of subjects they don't like.

That would be complete madness. DS is Y11 so sitting his exams soon, he enjoys maths, science and English but the subjects he's passionate about (and taking at A level) are history and classics (along with economics and politics which will be new). He's taken PE for GCSE which he absolutely loves and helps enormously with his sports, but ultimately not taking forward because he doesn't see his future career in sport. How narrowing for kids to only take maths/science/English.

At DD's school they have a reduced timetable for some kids but not many (mainly those who have had extended periods away from school). I think they are only required to take 5 or 6 GCSEs.
I think studying a wide range of subjects is better for the individual (and society) generally though if possible.

Dd is year 9 and choosing options soon for year 10. School offers a great range of different choices, but students have to pick 5 options as they can't guarantee you'll get more than one of your 3 choices! Now dd is worrying she won't get more than one of her actual options choices, and the other two will be ones she wouldn't really have chosen to study, but had to add them to the list.

So for instance she'll end up with two subjects she's not actually into, like say geography and food science, and not two of her actual choices which are art and creative based subjects. She put History as an option choice and apparently everyone who wants History will get it as they have a large fully staffed history dept. But there are lots of subjects offered as options that only has one or two teachers in a large town secondary school. School told us for e.g if say 120 students choose something like psychology or business studies, only 60 will actually get it as an option. Just seems unfair and causing unnecessary worry to the kids about their options, why not offer fewer options and have them covered with enough staff so that the majority if not all students get to study the 3 options they actually want to!

Such a reduced timetable should be an option for children who genuinely can't manage more, but otherwise it's hardly the hardest they'll have to work in life, is it? GCSEs are not just the content but also a chance to learn how to learn, time management, perspective, resilience, maybe even be surprised by a subject you didn't expect to love.

I work at a university and do not want to be teaching people who have been told they can just ditch anything that's a little bit hard and only do the things they really want to all the time or that their mummies thought was important.

For those saying that maths and English being important in only an opinion.... almost every college course above level 2 and every job I see advertised asked for min of English and maths grade 4. It is important as young adults face blockers from the start if they don't have these 2 subjects nailed.

It's not that maths and English are not important - but op thinks maths, English and science are the only subjects which are important. Which is of no use or benefit to those who are not scientists.

Your poor dd :(

My children would have hated that despite loving maths and science. It would be far too much of the same subjects considering they have to be in school all day doing something. It would result in a pretty intense and potentially difficult day.

To be honest I think a broad based education to 16 is valuable and gives them a grounding in lots of different aspects of the world they're going to be living in.

They may well have no idea what they want to do and a later developing interest can be supported by a general wide education.

Specialising at 16 with 3 Alevels or apprenticeship etc then allows them to focus.

And college and employers will always want to see they've had that level and breadth of education to GCSE.

Maybe the answer is better organised study and homework options at school.

Perhaps doing 9-5 with homework/self study periods throughout the day would work. So when they're home - they're HOME and can switch off.

YABU. As people have said, that's far too narrow a curriculum. Additionally, you can't possibly say that you know for sure that the other subjects will never be of use to your daughter. Suppose she receives an irresistible job offer for which a good knowledge of German is essential? Cooking will always be useful, and it's unlikely to say the least that your daughter is already a proficient cook in every type of cooking. There's also the issue of quality of life; I've never had a real use for my history GCSE and A level, but I love history still and am very glad I did the groundwork at school.

It's slightly different here in Wales currently - my DC will end up with/or have ended up with 12-13 GCSE - and as they still only need 5 above C for A-levels seems mad.

Though other posters at probably better welsh schools are looking at 14-15 GCSE.

However they only got a choice of 3 at DC school- rest are compulsary subjects. It does seem odd though as so many at DC school miss the C and above in Maths and English which really does hamper the next steps they can take.

However not so keen on narrowing subjects as it's been some of the options my DC have most enjoyed- and year after next it's all change again with GCSE in Wales - back to one maths - English exam - lit and lang combined - same for welsh - though DC school don't do welsh literacy -and just science no triple. Not sure that's actually better.

So because a broader curriculum doesn't suit your child, everyone else should have their horizons narrowed to just three 'essential' things? Talk about narrow minded. How about you request something different for your kid only, and let others have a wider range of interests? Terrible idea.

I've always thought it would be good to do lots of different subjects but not have to take exams in all of them.
Just learn things because it's interesting and useful - but not have the pressure of an exam at the end.
I think 5 GCSEs should be the minimum and all other subjects no big final exams. This could actually mean doing a bigger variety of subjects because there could be short courses (ie a term long).
Pupils should be expected to turn up to the lessons and do the work but the pressure of having to exams in them is taken away.

Perhaps doing 9-5 with homework/self study periods throughout the day would work.

Does that mean teachers teaching 9-5?

@MissRoseDurward

Think you missed my point. Society is literally saying these are the important subjects, the minimum required for further education or entry level jobs.

The only 2 subjects where compulsory retakes are required until 18 years.

I think some of you may have read my post wrong!
It wouldn’t be to force all students to take maths, English and science only. If they were the staple lessons for GCSEs, then students can pick others that interest them where some students will chose not to, it gives them more control over their exams and future.
Forcing them to pick subjects, one or the other, that they have no interest in which then causes extra work isn’t for every student.
I agree it would be boring only having the same 3 subjects each day, but they are the core subjects the Majority of courses need and as some posters hve said, not all students are made for the current curriculum.
thanks to those who see what I mean and sharing your child’s experience of GCSEs.
(my dd is 15, I was talking about year 9 options as that’s when they decide what GCSEs they want to take. )

Why do you think science is important to keep as a compulsory subject, OP? Maths and English I get, as that’s what employers tend to ask for, but surely beyond that science is no more important than any other subject. If you’re curing back, just let people choose however many subjects they like or will do well in, nothing compulsory other than maths & English Language.

As someone who, aged 14, would have loved to drop German, history, (english) and just do sciences, maths (and maybe geography) the adult me acknowledges the bredth and alternative styles I was exposed to be being forced to do subjects I have minimal talent or interest in, was beneficial. We already specialize very early in the english schoolong system. While it suits those with very narrow interests (me!) it doesn't suit those with wide ranging skills, talents and interests.

No I disagree. A'levels or alternatives are where the focus starts. GCSEs should be broad.
Most children really do not know what they want to do at age 13/14 even those that do may well change their mind. Also many subjects are valuable even if you do not think that you are using them directly...English language for example but not exclusively.

Yes, I quite like the idea of more not less.

The gcses as a two year linear course and great and are about preparing you to be able to go do an A level in that subject next really - they do sort of lead to T levels, btechs and apprentiships too, but i dont think the learning follows on so well.

I'd hate to close off doors for next steps so it would need careful planning.

But there must be a lot of people who would benefit from a one year short course in music, and a one year short course in computer science, instead of a 2 year Art gcse. People who were never going to do A level in those subject but just needed to be more rounded. I think some scottish qualifications are one year not 2.

Or they could doing one topic in each humanity and a 'skills for humanities' unit that let's you go on to A levels in any humanity.

It's about a rounded knowledge and good basic understanding as well as preparing you for the much more stressful further education. Staying until 4 and doing weekends homework is not unusual.

I mean, it's down to her how much effort she wants to put into studying each subject?
My DD has dyslexia and if she feels overwhelmed we will definitely prioritise key subjects - maths English and those she needs for her future plans.

I didn't want to do a particular subject at GCSE so I mucked about it in till school finally agreed I could drop it. Not advocating that approach of course (and it helped I was predicted straight As in the rest)

OP I think as a blanket rule it would be a bad idea to tell all 15 year olds they can give up the subjects they're not enjoying. My DS would quit almost all of his subjects, preferring to focus on his essential Xbox and football time! It's important to keep doors open, as it's common for teens to not know what they want to do in life.

However, at my DS's school, pupils who struggle academically are definitely allowed to streamline their GCSEs, to ensure good results in a small number rather than poor results in numerous subjects. It's done on a case-by-case basis.

I think OP may mean that some less able students do not benefit from getting 9 GSCE's at grades 3-6 at best and instead of doing 9 they should do 6 or 7 so instead of options 8 and 9 they do extra english and extra maths perhaps skipping english literature
so instead of doing for example maths english language English literature double science a MFL a humanity plus 2 others
they would do Maths English language ( with extra lessons) double science and 2 or 3 other subjects perhaps more vocational subjects but not be forced into humanities or MFL if they aren't going to get a decent passes so if gifted artistically they could do art and drama and design or textiles plus maths and English
so maybe if only doing 6 subjects they might get a 6 instead of 3-4 as spread too thin
it is often quite clear by year 9 that certain students have no hope of passing 9 GSCE and concentrating on 6 might be better

I think 14-16 they need a broad base of knowledge.

The problem with GCSEs currently is that most kids are shoehorned into options/ subjects they don't really like, where it's classroom taught and exam based, and there's a lot of content to cover. That doesn't work well for some students and how they like to learn.

DS's school have got better at offering different options and learning styles for y10-11. All do the core maths, English and combined science then most choose 4 other options. Those who need more support with maths or English can choose 3 and spend the extra time on those core subjects. They offer BTECs as some of the options eg health & social care, animal care, and some more unusual GCSE options like photography, dance and media studies.

But it's probably easier for them to offer this as it's a massive high school.