GCSE options and very low academic attainers

[Rattrapjudy]

DS needs to select GCSE options in the next month. He has very low academic attainment (dyslexia, ADHD), low reading age, bottom stream in subjects, that are streamed. Struggles with all aspects of writing. He has support via EHCP and we put in place the obvious - laptop, talking stories/videos etc but he struggles to retain information he’s not interested in.

We are looking at functional options/entry level options at school. Its likely some of these woud sit alongside less academic GCSEs of his choosing.

Anyone have similar experience of low academic achievers taking GCSE’s and if so, which ones? I know people say to go for subjects of interest - that’s basically sports science which DS will choose (although still looks very theory based). Beyond this DS has no areas of specific interest, struggles with art as same poor fine motor skills for writing affect him in art.

School seems to have lots of advice re high achievers in terms of courses. What do the low academic achievers do? If you’ve experienced this, can they take less GCSEs to accomodate interventions such as reading/literacy etc even into KS4.

Geography has a huge amount of content even if the answers are shorter than history.
foundation combined science - the questions are incredibly formulaic, same ones come up in a slightly different format every year, designed to help someone pass, and then that’s 2 GCSEs. So if you had maths, English, two sciences, and one more humanities - RE is a good shout, or even English lit? I agree to steer clear of the ones that look “easy” - dt, media or food and nutrition. They are technical, lots of coursework, tedious in part. That said if you could get him to do the science a lot of that comes up in the food as well, and you can help him with the coursework, although not the on the day practical (would he enjoy that? They have to make a 3 course meal as part of their exam)
Might in any event be worth choosing six, so you have leeway for one to come in at below a 4.
good luck.

Thanks all for your feedback. Too be honest its a bit soul destroying to know the level he’s functioning at and the demands of GCSE’s, even vocational courses. I’m thinking cooking is a possible as he might not be able to pass a GCSE in it but it will give him a lifeskill. I am going to push for functional english and possibly maths. He wants to do sport and although it’s heavily theoretical I know he’ll have friends in the classes and have some interest in the subject area. I’m under no illusion that he will pass 5 GCSE’s. I’d be so proud if he passed one.

I think you are right to consider courses he will enjoy and get something from rather than for grades. Things that interest and engage him and give him some life skills are the way to go. Add in whatever English and maths that will allow him to access college and apprenticeship and you should be ok.

Do they offer things like engineering, construction, business, sports vocational option / Btec?

OP, irs worth remembering that GCSE grades 1- 3 aren't fails, they are Level 1 qualifications. He can then progress to college to study Level 2 qualifications. Which ca then lead to apprenticeships etc.
He's also got supportive parent(s), which is a massive help.

Is there an option to attend a 14 to 16 college instead? They may offer more vocational subjects.

The school will have a 'pathway' as others have said. They will also likely have links to a 14-16 provision at a local college (courses like mechanics and what our are calls 'technical skills days' so things like health, hair and beauty, mechanics, plumbing etc) Start with the senco and make sure they give you the information you need.

Look at creative options. Photography is one that is popular at our school and students achieve high grades despite not being academic. The hospitality and DT options you mentioned sound good too. I think schools are coming around to less traditional academic subjects making great GCSE options.

I worked for a long time as cover supervisor so often covered those subjects. All have a significant written proportion. Food for example, has researched and written coursework and a written exam, ditto h&sc and pe. Food and pe a lot of science, h&sc lots of theories. DT also requires written coursework.

Indeed, but maybe more manageable than a foreign language etc

Better a course half practical and half writing than one 100% writing.

As an English teacher, explore whether he can drop literature or at least not sit the exam - many schools teach the two GCSEs in the same lesson slots, alternating though the two years.
if there’s any language-only option it might help as lot is hugely content heavy and challenging and doesn’t sound like your boys going to get much out of it except stress.
If there isn’t a language only option, see whether he can use it as language practice and in y11 gradually shift to doing practice papers or reading (being read to if needed) as that’ll help enormously with the language paper which frankly is unseen literature.
there are functional versions too which would be better suited probably but check the level equivalent