Does my son have to take the 5 core subjects

[hubbs]

Need some advice please before I ask school !!

Secondary have listed the following as the 5 core subjects that he has to take as GCSE

1. Maths
2. Eng lang
3. Eng lit
4. French
5. RE

He can then choose 3 others

he hates French and would like to substitute that for another subject as he knows already it's a waste of an exam !!

RE we don't value this an grade and it will have no bearing on what he is wanting to do but other subjects would help .

Can we do anything or are we stuck with it .... ?? Thanks

I didn’t say they had to have it as a core subject. State schools have to teach it to KS4 so lots of schools feel that the students might as well then do the exam or it was a waste of teaching. At my ds’s school it did not rule out either History or Geography, lots of kids did all three. Mine did RE and History. RE as a school core and History out of choice. Didn’t want Geography.

It doesn’t give ‘bumper pass results’ - not even at religious schools from my knowledge of friends with kids at religious schools!

My son is year 13 now but for GCSE’s it was compulsory to do:
combined science, English Lit, English Language, Maths, RE and a language (choice of French, German or Spanish). He then chose Geography, Business Studies and a BTEC in IT.

There can be shades of grey especially with MFL. Ours presents it as virtually compulsory for students without additional learning needs, but then quietly allows quite a few others to opt out. There's a difference sometimes between what they say upfront and what they allow when pushed. It's worth asking.

@Miala I will attend the presentation evening and then discuss it quietly - I know lots of parents are peed off about it as some students were fast tracked in year 8 to do french GCSE in May this year ---- my son asked if he cud co tiniest with Spanish as he was good at that and enjoyed it they said no due to staffing but he can do French !!! He opted out of the fast track thinking he cud drop it this year .... so I will be asking if they insist on a language can he go back to Spanish as that is an option on his lists !!!! Bit balmy coz they've now reduced his learning by a year .

There's a big shortage of MFL teachers so staffing will probably be a legit reason. Others dropping French due to having done it may help you out - maybe see what those students are doing in the French timetable slot. Do they get to choose another option, in which case could your son join them, or do they have to do some sort of advanced French course, which would be no use to you. Try to understand the constraints that there genuinely are in the timetable, and see if there is a collaborative way forward.

You used to have to have a foreign language for university entrance back in the old days and I suppose knowing French or German was regarded as part of a good education as a lot of classical songs etc are in those languages. Anyway I was glad all my children did a French or German for GCSE. It does involve quite a bit of work but as it is a traditional subject does not harm to have a good grade in it on a CV.

My opinion is that everyone if possible should continue studying a modern foreign language to GCSE. Agree with your asking for Spanish.

My experience is that schools may say that you 'have' to do certain things, but in practice that may not be the case. Generally it's easier to comply at the start and make the changes once everything is timetabled.

DD's school have their own Ebacc:
English x 2
Maths
Combined Science
MFL
Humanity - Geography or History
Performing or Visual Art

They then have to take Computer Science, RE and Citizenship in Y9 but drop either RE or Citizenship in Y10 and take an early GCSE in the one they keep.

But - children with SpLd can opt out of either MFL or a Humanity if the school agrees.

DD opted out of MFL (to the relief of all), but had to do extra Science/English/Maths instead. After 2 weeks she decided this was not really working for her so she negotiated with school to do Music twice with two separate teachers. I was convinced school would laugh and say no, but they came back and said that was fine with them. Given it's what DD wants to do at 6th form and as a career it is fantastic that they're being so flexible.

DD found that it was easier to get what she wanted once the timetables were sorted and she could go in and argue her position where they could see that it would just be a straight swap. Also being in top sets for English/Maths/Sciences meant it was easier to opt out of the extra sessions in those subjects. The SEN probably helped too as it meant she was already not going to help their Ebacc numbers.

Apart from Science, Maths and English, a foreign language is probably the only GCSE subject that (a) you can't pick up at A level if you didn't do it for GCSE and (b) is actually useful in your adult life. If I had my time again I'd do 2 languages and skip the likes of geography/history/tech.
Even if he prefers Spanish (I do too), once you're learned one it's easier to learn others, so the exact choice of language is less important. Maybe you can motivate him by holidays in France or holiday jobs in France or French films? It's pretty boring as taught in many schools but doesn't have to be like that!