To have done a nutty over GCSE options

[chorltonwheelies]

This is going to sound terrible, but here goes. Probably outing and long so as not to drip feed.

DD at an independent school. One of the reasons we chose it & she liked it, above other schools was that it offered lots of language options. Her primary school had 4 languages on the curriculum (it got swallowed up by a big chain when she was in Reception who introduced them) and fortunately she had excelled in them all, despite my thinking it was too heavy. She's got a natural aptitude for language.

School said that it offered French and Latin in Year 7, then they could chose to pick up an additional language of Spanish or German in Year 8. Cool beans thinks DD, having already studied French, Latin & Spanish.

Midway through Year 7, school informs us that they are changing policy and for Year 8, they all have to keep on with the Latin, but choose between either keeping on French or dropping it for German or Spanish.

DD disappointed, but chose to keep on with French. School says that they will have the option to pick up Spanish or German in Year 9.

This time last year, school then informs us that they are effecting a change and that pupils will need to pick their options for Year 9, before then choosing their options for GCSE.

As part of this process they get taster lessons in Spanish and German. DD decides that she really wants to try German, much to my surprise, I thought she'd resume Spanish as she'd enjoyed it before, but hey ho, her choice.

She was a bit disappointed at having to drop some subjects she really enjoyed, (drama, ICT, art) but realised that you can't do everything. I let her make her own choices.

They've then had to choose their GCSE options and DD really wanted to do French, German and Latin, amongst other options. Spoke to all the teachers at Parent's Evening a few weeks back and they were all delighted she was plumping for their subjects, because she is so naturally good at languages and has really hit the ground running with her German. No indication that she couldn't do both. They don't have option blocks.

Anyway, she comes home today, angry and upset because deputy head has informed her and other pupils, that due to low pupil uptake, they can't do either French & German, or French and Spanish.

They can only do 1 core language. Reason given is that there will only be 4 people in her German class and that's not conducive to learning, however she can swap French for German which will put her in the core German class. Currently there's only 2 people in the core German. She doesn't want to swap, but also doesn't understand why they won't run it. I'm not sure I do either.

Apparently the German and Spanish teachers had no idea about this, and only found out from their students today, about not being able to do a 2nd language. They then went back to Head of Department who didn't know either.

It all sounds like a disorganised cock-up. I've written a sharp letter to the Head of Year and cced in the deputy, pointing out that we feel disappointed and misled and that actually the pages on their website are misleading because they state that students do 2 modern languages from early on, and it clearly lays out that students can choose 2 modern languages for GCSE.

I understand that it's sometimes not viable for schools to run small classes etc, but another part of me thinks feck it, why are we paying school fees? If it's a change of policy also think it's a bit shit to spring it on her without telling parents first. Apparently deputy tried to ring me a few times today, but she tried my landline instead of my mobile.

I'm not sure I understand it and I'm really peeved on behalf of my daughter who feels she has been lied to and wouldn't have dropped other subjects, to start German if she'd known that she wouldn't be able to continue it.

I know that it's not going to be career ending or anything for her, but she'd really set her heart on languages.

Written a pissy letter. I've probably been completely unreasonable haven't I?

If they're advertising two languages then they need to provide them
Anything can affect what schools can offer.

Our options provision changes year on year.

It's not on for the deputy head to have fobbed the OP off with a stupid excuse, but ultimately if it doesn't with timetable abd staffing then that's annoying but life.

Last half term we did our options. Some studnets couldn't get what they wanted. So yes we offer all those subjects but that doesn't mean any combination is possible.

There is absolutely no pedagogical reason why the class cannot run with four students. The reason will be one of finance, staffing, or timetabling.

but ultimately if it doesn't with timetable abd staffing then that's annoying but life
Mine are in a comp and I would accept that in a comp, especially with the funding cuts, (although I'd be disappointed that dc weren't getting to study what they wanted) if i was paying for private though I'd expect them to bend over backwards to provide what they promised.

I get that forget, but paying school fees doesn't entitle anyone to the subject combinations they want at any cost to the school.

Money doesn't mean people can have their own way. A school shouldn't be obliged to pay more money out in teacher salaries than hours available (for example) just to make the timetale right so 3 children can have what they want.

There are many perfectly reasonable reasons why it might not work. For most of them 'but i pay money to you' won't solve them.

But then the school should be honest about their reasons and not make out that the decision is taken for teaching or learning reasons.

So DD told deputy today that she wants to change her reserve subject in the light of the change.

Deputy made out that she was being oh so gracious and would try to accommodate it. So no doubt I’ll get a call telling me how great they are being in allowing DD to change.

I chose to send DD to a school on the understanding that they would be offering 2 MFL.

Why offer students the option of a 2nd MFL in Year 9 at the expense of existing subjects if they can’t then continue it?

Why offer them it as an option only to withdraw due to 4 people? If they were not going to let students study 2 MFL then they needed to manage expectations when choosing options & amend their website.

It effectively means that DD is choosing her A level options aged 13. Despite us paying £15k a year in school fees on the explicit understanding that they would offer multiple MFL. I’ve gone from AIBU to raging!

And I hate that the school have put me in this position.

I don't understand the issue with small classes. I had 4 in my GCSE German class, and 3 in GCSE Spanish (both were "crash" classes, and I went to a very bog standard comp). It was fine - As all round I think. I found learning in these small classes far easier than learning in a class of 20+ for French.

They’ll tell you it’s too expensive a model to run a class of 4 or whatever. But they have mis-sold this and in fact are making themselves liars. What bollocks about too few kids to interact! I’ve taught 2 at A level, then 4, I’d rather not have more than 4! Go nuts, OP.

If she’s doing triple Science, that ticks Bucket 2 on the Progress 8 measurement which is how all schools in England are measured now. This bucket is otherwise ticked by a language plus an humanity, so that’s all schools care about. It means they timetable to ensure the ebacc is covered by either triple Science OR a language and humanity. Depressing that kids can’t do what they want, especially when they’re told they can and there are.no blocks constraining their choices.

Despite us paying £15k a year in school fees on the explicit understanding that they would offer multiple MFL
I agree with you. They've mis sold the school to you

Progress 8 is not published for independent schools. It can't be accurately calculated because such a high proportion of the cohort don't do KS2 SATs.

kaitlin
Now that I agree with.
They shouldn't be talking shite.

This is clearly about money but they are costing themselves pounds to save pennies. You have mentioned that you have 4 other children OP are they all younger? That’s 4 other potential fee payers to the school and you should make it clear that you won’t be sending them if the school can’t meet its promises. It would be extra helpful if the next oldest is due to start in September because you can also go to all the open days and loudly complain in front of other perspective parents

Great news. They have relented, had a rethink about the importance of MFL & are allowing her to take German after all. There are going to be only 3 people in her core French class though 😀

That's good!

State schools here (abroad) mostly offer at least 2 foreign languages simultaneously to GCSE equivalent, grammar school 2 modern plus latin. Bit backward not to, certainly not worth paying for!

WOW that is amazing news

Good news

Of course you can learn with four in the class. I loved languages at school and luckily my school was quite big on them. I was the only person to do GCSE Italian, they taught me one on one and I ended up doing an AS level (as it was then) because I learned so much in the two years that GCSE was too basic.

Is she still doing Latin as well

That's hilarious

Yeah. Parent power rulz!

I wonder if any of the staff are MNers?

Great news - and it will be almost like individual tuition in French - this is the sort of thing I imagine people go without for to pay for independent schools.

Yes still doing Latin.

Full list is Eng Lang, Eng Lit, Maths, RE, French, German, Latin, Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Then Greek extra curricular but she can drop it at any time or decide not to sit the exam.

Apparently it was only allowed when HoD explained all girls involved were talented linguists. Which TBF, you’d need to be if you were picking 2 MFL.

I think three languages is overkill. No history, geography, drama, art?

I like all of your subjects, but history and geography are both a big loss. I would with sadness sacrifice Latin to one of those, for the sake of a rounded education. Or do one of the languages outside of school. Music can be done as extra-curricular.