To think that 4 G.C.S.E's needed to do business studies is ridiculous

[magicalmadmadamim]

My eldest DS is 16 and been at college since September. He has 2 G.C.S.E equivalent certificates in English and Maths.
I'm sure back when I was in college business studies was always a foundation course?
He really wanted to do business studies and they have put him on some really rubbish courses that he is super bored with.
Is it me or is education getting much harder now?
Hardly any of his school friends passed any g.c.s.e's :(

Why did he want to do business studies? Did he not pass his GCSEs because he was dicking about or because he’s just not academically able enough?
To answer your question though, no, I don’t think asking for 4 GCSEs to do business studies is unreasonable.

i don’t think it’s unreasonable for someone wanting to run a business to have basic maths & English skills (which is what GCSEs are).

I would question why a whole group of friends have failed to access the most basic level of education offered to all in this country.

how would he run a successful business without these skills?

The opposite seems to be true. Every year when the exam results come out there is always a headline “record results this year”

I’m sure if he bides his time and does the foundation courses they may let him swap next year.

What level is the business studies qualification that he wants to do?

Well done to him for getting his maths and English so quickly (assuming he did them at college?). I'd encourage him to do a trade apprenticeship - if it's a good one, he'll learn the relevant business skills along the way.

Without knowing more about your son, I think there are two routes here.

If he is genuinely academically able but for whatever reason wasn't able to or didn't apply himself fully to his studies, then I would retake GCSEs.

If he isn't academic, then I would be gently encouraging him towards something a bit more in line with his talents or something more vocational. If, academically, scraping a pass in English and maths is the limit of his abilities, then he is going to struggle in business studies.

What level/qualification is the business studies course?

I see where you are coming from and do sympathise as it sounds like there might be additional circumstances here? Did he go to a mainstream school? Ultimately though, with an academic course of a reasonably high standard it makes sense that only those who have a chance of keeping up with it are given a space.

What is he interested in? Is there any scope to look again at where he goes to college, or at least help him make some future plans to help him feel like the boring bits are a means to an end?

Business studies involves quite a high level of academics and I wouldn't say it's a suitable pathway for someone who struggled so much at GCSE. 4 GCSEs is really a very small number to get and in order to only get 2 he must have failed the majority of his subjects.

4 GCSE passes is very basic. I don't think it's a high standard at all, no.

What's "rubbish" and boring about the courses he's doing now? Is it because he feels they are too basic for him? TBH, there's no way a college would put anyone with 2 GCSE passes on anything other than a course teaching the fundamentals.

No it’s not unreasonable to ask for 4 GCSEs to do Business Studies.
The vast majority of young people manage to get at least 4.

What happened to your son and his friend group? Is the school awful? Were they just mucking about?
He may do better to resit some if it means he’ll then be able to study what he wants.
Alternatively, he could look at some more practical, rather than academic, options.

You can do business studies at gcse (clearly don’t need a gcse) or a level or btec,

4 gcse passes is reasonable for a level or btec

He have never been great in a school environment but is very switched on with techy things, he already has a little side hustle online which is doing well.
He is very interested in economics, investing etc.
Sadly he was expelled a few weeks before his exams which IMO was completely out of order. It wasn't worth expulsion at all.
Because of this he got to do 'Functional skills' english and maths and passed.

I dont think 4 GCSEs are a lot no. You dont mention specific grades so I assume it is simply 4 passed here.

I have children in their early 20s they all as did their friends pass 4+ GCSEs.

A quick google states

The average number of GCSEs passed by students in England is approximately 7.8 (based on 2023-2024 data), typically covering a range of 8 to 10 subjects taken.

In 2025 approximately 67.1- 67.4 of all GCSE entries in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland achieved a grade 4/C or above, considered a standard pass, which is stable compared to 2024.

It’s about time the requirements for courses were widened with two entry paths. One traditional GCSE based set of criteria and another non GCSE set for those without formal qualifications for whatever reason. This would help with employment rates later on.

I've taught for years and the majority of kids can get a pass at a GCSE if they put the effort in.

It a whole group of them didn't pass then it suggests a group mentality of not doing enough work.

One of my Y11s wants to join the army. Apparently that means he doesn't need any GCSEs so he is refusing to do any work and decided his mocks werent worth any effort. He is going to be in for a nasty shock in the army.

BTEC level 2 business studies.

It's pretty much unheard of these days for a year 11 to be permanently excluded a few weeks before their exams. Ofsted are rightly incredibly hot on this as it can constitute off-rolling.

Except in the most extreme of circumstances the student will usually be put on early study leave, and be permitted to sit their exams but usually in a separate room. It's very unusual that this wasn't the case for your son.

My guess is that a school would be VERY reluctant to expel a student at such a critical point, so I would question your statement re it being a minor incident.

I don’t think I understand. Putting students who aren’t able to achieve GCSE’s on a higher level course is just setting them up to fail and wasting everyone’s time and resources, surely?

Right, well if it's the environment he struggles with then can he study privately for the exams and try to get a few more under his belt?

I think he should apply himself and complete his current courses rather than declaring himself “super bored” so early on.

I expect college need to see he can apply himself!

Although I’m going back many many years ago than I care to admit……. I found gcse business a challenge as a ‘reasonably’ academic (with effort) person……. I don’t think 4 GCSE’s to study it at a higher level is unreasonable. That is no disrespect to your son, he just needs to find something to suit his needs and abilities, just like everyone does x

I mean this kindly, OP but are you in some sort of denial? In the absence of serious SEN, I think 4 GCSEs (what grade?) and expulsion is not great at all. Although it may seem good if many left his school with no GCSEs, which I find mind boggling.

I think the expulsion changes things rather a lot. I would suggest that he needs to knuckle down and put up with the "boring" courses, he is at risk of throwing away his education. What courses is he doing? Are they GCSEs?