To think school made him take the subject, they can support him to the end?

[Bestseller]

DS2 is soon to take his GCSEs.

He's a fairly average student. Does well in maths and science, struggles a bit in English, History etc.

His school made everyone take EBac subjects which meant he had to take a language despite having done very badly in French and German in yrs 7-9. He didn't want to do it and felt he was "rubbish" at languages but the school insisted.

Until now, when he got a 2 in his mock and they think he should withdraw to concentrate on history - there's a history class at the same time which he could join I. E do an extra five history classes instead of the language.

DS is gutted, thinks he's been trying harder and can pass. He's been going to all the extra revision sessions they've put on since Christmas (mock was in Nov).

Initially, I thought their suggestion made sense, but in the face of his disappointment and renewed effort, I'm inclined to insist they finish what they made him start. What do you think?

That's the trouble really kolo. I'd like to look to them, as the experts, for advice, but it seems to me that whatever advice they give is more likely to be in the interests of the school than of DS.

DS did GCSEs last year and we made the decision to park French around this time last year. It was a good decision as he was drowning and stressing. He did take the exams and got a 2 with strong marks in the other 9 subjects. Had he spent time on French I think it likely that he'd have failed some other subjects.

Sadly you can't turn back time. You have to make the best of it.
What does your ds want to do?

I can understand the schools actions in this data driven climate. HTs are obsessed (rightly so when it's their jobs on the line).

Obscure language he only started in year 10? And he’s getting a 2? It’s unlikely (IMO as an MFL teacher) that he can breach the gap to a 4 at this stage. I’m fighting to lower the percentage of kids being forced to take MFL. When it was optional in a school where I was hod, it was the subject that attracted the highest numbers.

Currently, in my new school where 95% are doing it, management have seemingly only just realised that the students are prioritising other subjects and achieving poorly in MFL. We’ve just taken out the willing students who are achieving very low grade. They’re thrilled!

OP, you can ask for extra help and any Year 11 teacher worth their salt will be running extra classes currently, but maybe the school is right and he should drop it. I would go direct to the teacher for the most accurate answer.

@bestseller that’s why I suggest meeting with the HODs of the subjects - mfl and history. I’d bet they have a much firmer focus on what’s best for your son. Or the class teachers for those subjects. Because it’s senior leaders and HOYs that tend to have to have that whole school view. A class teacher, in my experience, will spend much more time with your son, have a better understanding of what he is actually capable of and what he could realistically do to improve his chances.