Can they do this? Advice from Secondary Teachers please.

[tabitha]

My dd2 is 14 and is in her third year of Secondary. This is the year when they start studying for their Standard Grades (equivalent of English GCSE). Dd made her choices in May and the courses started in June, which means they have been running for about 5 weeks or so.
Problem is that she came home from school today and told me that her Guidance teacher had pulled her aside and told her that she could no longer study music (one of her Standard Grade subjects) as there were too many pupils in the class (21 instead of 20) and as her marks in the second year test were lowest (she tells me that this isn't actually true, but that's by the by) she can no longer take Music and should choose another subject.
I am totally appalled and furious about this, particularly as we have already had problems with another of her subjects - she wanted to do German but there weren't enough pupils to make it viable, so the school just decided she would do Admin.
Can the school do this and what can/should I do about it. I have phoned the school but her guidance teacher has left and will, so they tell me, phone me back tomorrow.

bump

anyone?

Not sure how they can say that 21 is ok for 5 weeks then not. I was not aware of any class size limit except for technology but I could be wrong

does seem rather silly when some of the science classes for GSCE at the school I work at have over 30 pupils.I presume dd plays a instrument and plays in the school band? The school is shooting itself in the foot to dicourage talented children.

Unfortunately the school can withdraw the courses that serve as options (as opposed to the compulsory ones) but I'd definitely question the criteria for chucking her off the music course. Ask to see the list of marks and then fight for her place if what she said about not being lowest was true, as this was used as the reason wasn't it? Ask why 20 is the 'cut-off'. Is it due to equipment or another (potentially solvable) practical reason or is it because they just decided they only wanted classes of 20? If it's the latter you may well be able to bargain your dd's way back into the class. As far as the German goes, you can't do a lot.

How did you get on at school today, tabitha?

In a previous life I taught music. The only logical reason I can see for a class limit of 20 is a lack of resources - if they are all keyboard players for eg and there are only 20 keyboards... hardly likely. I have certainly taught larger GCSE classes although the ideal for me would be about 16.

Hope you manged to kick up a stink about this tabitha. Sounds really rubbish to me. And I didn't know you could do an admin standard grade... What on earth does that involve?

Managed to speak to dds guidance teacher yesterday. She said that it was the Head of the Music dept who had said that the class was over-subscribed. Apparently they had looked at the pupils overall 'performance' in class (whatever that means and how they could judge that after 5 weeks of teaching, i don't know) and decided that dd should go. I know that dd has a 'laid-back' attitude and has friends who are seen as 'less than desirable' - in the guidance teacher's words "she doesn't do herself any favours!" but she is an intelligent girl and she does have a genuine interest in music. She has been getting guitar lessons (from her uncle) over the summer and is, according to him, really doing well.
On the guidance teacher's advice I have made a formal written complaint to the school and hopefully that will do the trick.
Have also contacted my local councillor who on the Education Committee and he has (more than happily) agreed to support us in this.
Watch this space
Scummy - I don't have a clue what an Admin Standard Grade consists of. Personally, it sounds like a bit of a waste of time to me.

anything new,Tabitha?

Its been nearly 2 months since you posted about dd2's music problem (how time flies) any news?

bump