GCSE options advice

[WhatHappenedHereMate]

My DD is AuDHD and doesn’t find school easy. I’m not sure whether she’ll pass her GCSEs but I’m hoping she’ll find her niche in life, maybe working with animals (something that brings her joy).

She’s choosing her subjects soon and I just wondered if anyone had any perspective/advice around aspects I may not have thought about? For example, I think art involves a lot of work outside school, which (although she likes being creative) I think she’d really struggle with.

Obviously, I want her to choose subjects she enjoys but academic work is really hard for her, so I’m mindful of not wanting her to be overwhelmed.

She likes German, food tech, design, music (but has no ability!), drama. She’s mentioned business.

Thank you 🙏

You need to bare in mind any subjects she might need for future education choices (ie prerequists for future study) but my advice is to choose what interests her with the exception of art unless she loves it because it is a lot of work outside of school.
I also suggest you go the school and ask if she can do combined science (which is like 2.5 science subjects rather than triple science). She will only get 2 GCSES for that (triple science is 3) but it will be less work. It won't affect her future doing combined science.
I would also ask the school if she can drop a gcse. This whole kids doing 9/10 gcses is rubbish. If you look at A level programmes most schools take kids with 7/8 GCSES and some schools even take kids with 5 GCSES. My daughter took combined science plus dropped a GCSE and ended up with an offer for a top grammar school in 6th form (which she didn't take) and is now at a Russell Group uni.
I think if I was you I would consider German for her, food tech and drama. Buy a business text book on Amazon (you can send it back) and have a flick through - if she is not keen on academics I am not sure she'll like business as being good at maths helps.
Also, when she is doing her GCSES focus on getting good grades in english and maths as a priority followed by science. What people really look at is english and maths scores - won't care if she gets a low grade for food science. I would consider if you can afford it getting her extra help for english and maths.

There are useful threads in secondary education.

I'd go with what she enjoys, thinking about exam load. Both drama and food tech will have practicals and fewer terminal exams. (Art is a well known time eater.)

All GCSEs are academic, food tech has a fair bit of theory and will requiring practicing the cooking side to time.

Hope your college is flexible enough to drop something if it is all too much.

Animal care, look up your local agricultural college. She will need something like 4xgrade3 inc english&maths&science for level2, and grade 4/5s for level 3. Or less for level1 if it all goes wrong.

This is really helpful, thank you both.

We have threads about BTECs running in Further Education that you may find encouraging, to help you know all is not lost even if she ends up with a bunch of grade 1-3s.

The subjects my daughter chose due to the physical aspects have been the ones she now finds hard work - dance and pe as they have a lot of written work as well. She is loving history though even though its very academic but i think a lot of that is down to teacher. I would definitely make sure you look into how much is involved in each subject as i don't think we did enough.

I’d highly recommend food tech, my DD is in year 10 and is doing it and really enjoys it. They get to cook every week so learning lots of useful life skills. The theory part of it is quite minimal and she finds it easy. Most of the mark comes from a practical exam and coursework with one written question and answer paper (short answers).

German also sounds like a good option if she enjoys it.

Drama would probably be a good option too as lots of practical assessment.

It might also be worth checking what the options pathway looks like at her school. For example, in the trust I work in all students have to pick History or Georgraphy. Other subjects are then blocked, so it's not always possible to choose a particular combination of subjects I.e. art and music might be in the same block- so a student wouldn't be able to do both.

Art does require a lot of work outside and is also quite rigid in terms of what it allowed to be produced- it isn't just a case of "draw what you like". One of the more coursework based subjects might break up the work load- Health and Social Care or Enterprise instead of Business might be a good shout if her school offers it. It will take the pressure off the exams at the end of Y11.

Has the school had a options evening? That should be the time where these things are explained. Additionally, the SENDco would probably be available at the evening to discuss an appropriate course of action.

Admittedly this was 15 years ago but I studied German, and you have to be very dedicated to allocate time every week to learn the vocabulary. You can't mass cram a few weeks before the exam based on my very difficult experience (I scraped a C because I couldn't be arsed during the year). High levels of focus are also required for the listening exam. You really need to love a language to commit to it.

It totally depends what exam boards the school does. For example I teach dt and food and my last schools food syllabus (hospitality and catering) was very different from this school (food prep and nutrition) neither of which they’re allowed to do coursework on outside of school though so that’s a bonus workload wise for many. I always tell pupils to pick what they enjoy at GCSE!

I would not pick more than one design subject as they have project work out of lessons eg art, food tech, textiles, product design. Food tech was good but they need to want to be practising at home for instance and be passionate about food (dd is dyslexic and has adhd but got an a star, lots of work) otherwise pick a spread of subjects, there’s no right or wrong really as long as she does maths, English at least integrated science ideally double science. Music is not easily unless you are a gifted musician in which case it’s a doddle (dd1 got a star but was already grade 8 on 3 instruments, she’s autistic and music is her passion and gift, shame about more useful things

How many GCSEs can she choose?

I’d start by talking to the school about the subjects they offer. Have they not had an options evening for parents yet? This is where you can get advice on each subject and what it will involve. Teachers can tell you which subjects are academic and which are BTEC so more coursework based.
My DD was interested in Business studies but there’s a similar BTEC in Enterprise that’s better for her, she would find the pressure of a final exam really difficult. Start with what the school offers.

Thanks all. I really appreciate the posts.

Yes, there’s an options evening coming up soon and of course we’ll be speaking with the SENCo and her form tutor. It’s just helpful to hear a range of perspectives.

You will get a lot more clarity at the options evening. But, she will be unable to do music lessons she plays an instrument or sings to a decent level. The other thing to consider is whether exams at the end of two years or NEAs (coursework) suits her better. But all subjects require a lot of work outside school time, not just art.