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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Year 9 timetable

30 replies

theendofsummer · 28/08/2019 19:58

DS just got his Y9 timetable and has 7 hours of English out of 30 hours of lessons. AIBU to think this is excessive?
He has English, maths, RE science, PE and two hours of study time

OP posts:
violashift · 28/08/2019 20:01

Outs have 4 out of 25.

They usually ha e the same amount as Maths or Science.

However Science and English can be worth 2 GCSEs.

violashift · 28/08/2019 20:02

Ours!
Have!

Silly phone keyboard

DanielRicciardosSmile · 28/08/2019 20:03

How many hours of other lessons? Has he started GCSE subjects this year? DS had 4 hours of maths, English and science in y9, with 3 hours of History, Tech, and ICT, 2 of RE, and 1 of PE and study.

Inferiorbeing · 28/08/2019 20:05

I'm a teacher and have my poor year 10s nine times over the two weeks.. I feel bad for them!

Malbecfan · 28/08/2019 20:06

English is 2 GCSEs. Is he doing separate sciences? What are the allocations for other subjects?

Inferiorbeing · 28/08/2019 20:06

Wait i didn't read the OP fully, if thats in one week then that is a lot!

lisaorris99 · 28/08/2019 20:08

Is he doing any other subjects? Can’t see humanities / languages listed there?

If not is he doing reduced subjects for a reason? That could explain so much english?

Original poster
theendofsummer · 28/08/2019 20:09

Yes it's per week. 7 hours a week.
Is this all language? Or do they do language literature GCSE ??he has extra English due to SEN but even so this seems excessive

OP posts:
DanielRicciardosSmile · 28/08/2019 20:10

Out of 30 hours it's not so bad I think. As I say DS had 4 hours out of 25 with more subjects to fit in. And yes, it would be 2 exams, literature and language.

Original poster
theendofsummer · 28/08/2019 20:12

He is already grumbling as he finds English very difficult due to low level reading and writing. This is going to be a tough year

OP posts:
CalamityJune · 28/08/2019 20:12

For SEN i expect he is timetabled in English as opposed to a language?

Bunnybigears · 28/08/2019 20:13

Is he only doing 5 subjects? I think 7hrs on English considering he is getting extra English sounds reasonable

Frlrlrubert · 28/08/2019 20:15

English is two GCSEs, language and literature, so assuming would usually be double the amount of other subjects. This would be 8/50 on our timetable, so I'd expect it to be 5 hours on a 30 hour timetable.

Possibly 2 extra hours due to SEN? Are those sessions shown as a different coding on the timetable to the other English lessons?

Original poster
theendofsummer · 28/08/2019 20:16

That's right. He's not taking geography, history or languages

OP posts:
Sirzy · 28/08/2019 20:16

With the reduce timetable in terms of subjects I think that sounds about right.

If it’s a subject he is known to struggle in then using it as a chance for extra support going forward makes a lot of sense

Titsywoo · 28/08/2019 20:19

That seems high. My DC have 6 lessons per 2 weeks in year 9 and 8 in year 10 (don't start GCSE course until year 10).

LolaSmiles · 28/08/2019 20:19

He is already grumbling as he finds English very difficult due to low level reading and writing. This is going to be a tough year
He has extra English due to his literacy levels and SEND. Without getting his literacy higher then he is likely to find literacy is a barrier to his performance in other subjects as well.

7 hours a week is the higher end of normal for someone who has extra English lessons. On a 25 hour timetable I would expect 6/7 hours a week.

The substantial reduction in subjects and narrowed curriculum in year 9 is quite unusual though.

Original poster
theendofsummer · 28/08/2019 20:24

They choose 3 options. He chose PE, food tech and general support (help with coursework).
The food tech does not start until year 10.
No art, drama, history or geography is taught after year 8, unless they are chosen options

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 28/08/2019 20:27

My son had 5 hours of English out of 25 in year 9, the same for maths and science.

LolaSmiles · 28/08/2019 20:31

A couple of questions:
Is this a mainstream secondary school?
Is this narrowing of curriculum something that's part of a SEND pathway or does everyone have a substantially reduced timetable?

T0rt0ise · 28/08/2019 20:33

That will be right. It will probably be 5 hours of 'standard' English lessons plus 2 hours of 'extra' English. Certainly the norm at our school.

Original poster
theendofsummer · 28/08/2019 20:34

Yes it's mainstream. No one takes history, drama, art, geography or music after year 8, unless a chosen GCSE option.
They also offer photography at GCSE.
Maths, English, RE, science and some PE is all compulsory

OP posts:
T0rt0ise · 28/08/2019 20:35

*for GCSE. From the sound of it his school are starting GCSE in year 9 rather than 10 and unfortunately that means a reduction in the diversity of subjects earlier with more focus on 'core' subjects.

Original poster
theendofsummer · 28/08/2019 20:40

Thanks everyone for helping with this. Much appreciated

OP posts:
DanielRicciardosSmile · 28/08/2019 20:40

The substantial reduction in subjects and narrowed curriculum in year 9 is quite unusual though.

Most schools locally do "options" in year 8 now and start GCSE work in year 9. I heard on results day that it's becoming increasingly popular nationwide.