Crap School Options - dd's school's options only JUST been given out and they are rotten

[GetOrfMoiLand]

Really just crap.

Single (single!) science with double as an option.

Loads of crappy BTEC and diploma stuff - Health and Social Care, Child Development, Bricklaying. FINE, but one of her option bands has ALL vocational/BTEC type subjects.

She has just emailed me the options list - there is a meeting Thursday night to discuss. I am pissed off. What a load of crap.

The new English course may well include Lit too - it isn't usually listed on the option pathways because it's done in English time alongside the Lang. The new specs offer a couple of pathways, including one which just leads to a single English GCSE which may be offered to some pupils.

However, if this is a National Challenge school, you will need to check that Lit is being covered. Many schools (my own included - grrr) are ignoring/undermining Lit in a desperate attempt to get more Cs in Language, so basically not allowing pupils the option of Lit unless they get a C in Lang first. You may be able to read between the lines of my post that I think this stinks!

Just read all your posts. Thanks very much for trying to reassure me.

Thanks Evil for the BTEC info. Yes I know that it is better the system now for those kids which are not academic. But I just hate hate hate the fact that the schools here are so different. It is like somthimng from the 50s. Some of the best schools in the county and some of the worst.

DD is on the waiting list for a selective girls school (Ribston) but is at last count number 46th on the list for her year.

Also on waiting list for Catholic school however we have been told there is no chance.

Also snowball's chance in hell of getting her into any Cheltenham school (the good ones anyway) whilst we live in Gloucester.

Plus, how can I move her again? She has had a shit 6 months. I feel I have let her down in every way.

The thing is, doing 13 GCSEs isn't necessarily all it's cracked up to be either, as it could include one option that 'counts' (debatable) as four GCSEs etc.

Which language does she do? French? In that case I would kick up a stink and make them put double science in both C and D as she really needs double sci and a language, it seems.

Its not soo bad (though English thing and no triple science sounds shitty)

Can't she do
Geog
Hist
Spanish
Dbl Science

I have heard spanish GCSE is pretty easy and many take it after only two yrs of learning spanish

Sorry littleducks - I buggered up, both Spanish and French are in option D, Artis in Block C.

So if she takes double Science she can't do a language, and she has to take French as she is in the French class now (has never taken Spanish, she did German and Chinese in her old school).

Thanks Janeite. Yes I really do need to make a fuss. I can'y see it is a good idea to only do single science or drop a language.

SUCH a shame as block C is such a waste of time imo - apart from Art.

Plus there are otehr options which go across 2 otion blocks - BTEC Art and Design, Health & Social Care, Construction, Sports Studies.

Oh I don't bloody know. It just doesn;t seem very good.

DD is now saying oh well it doesn't matter I will leave at 16 and go into the RAF.

My dd's school only do 10 GCSEs - 11 in exceptional circumstances - so I wouldn't worry about the number she's doing.

I remember my DH telling me that he "persuaded" his school to reschedule the timetable to enable him to take the 4 A levels he wanted to do.

They must be used to parents wanting to negotiate - perhaps there are others wanting to do what you'd like your dd to do?

Very about those bullies.

But they say parental input is a key component to academic success so I'm sure you can make the difference somehow for your dd.

Thanks Seeker. I think that there is such a disparity in schools in this area it is like comparing the sublime with the ridiculous. So the 'good' schools in Gloucester get about 97-99% A-C at GCSE. The very worst gets 19%. DD's current school gets 31%. Her old school 76%

I know statistics are not everything but it makes me rue my decision last year. But she cried every bloody day and panicked. She was so unhappy.

She was happy enough at this new school however she really misses all her old friends, and she hasn't got a close group of friends at the new school.

Polly I will certainly try on the options evening to speak to the teachers. I am jsut so pissed off at the realisation that dd would probably have got far better results at her old school than at this one, and of course it will affect her choices.

Bollocks hope I win euromillions and then can send her to Cheltenham Ladies College.

Two of my nephews are at the top selective Gloucester schools, and tbh, I'm not impressed by their education at all. Their youngest brother (yes, the system means that they are at three different schools) is at Newent. The others are at Chosen Hill, and seem very happy

TBH though, the options sound much like they did way back in my day - you could only do one language with sciences (separate back then), and you had to do a craft/art subject

Crikey CMOT that must be a nightmare - 3 different schools.

DD is also on the waiting list at Chosen Hill and Churchdown.

Oh I don't know. I think as some have posted if she has to stay at this school I will have to arrange some extra tuition. And obviously keep my mouth shut to dd about not thinking the school is very good.

I will ask questions of the school though.

looking beyond GCSEs to A levels - what are her options there? Does she stay at the same school, or do you have seperate 6th form colleges? Is she aiming at uni? If so, I'd start with uni entry requirements for either a course she wants to do, or a fairly general academic-type course in a subject she's interested in, and work backwards. What are the entry requirements for a 6th form which will let her get the grades in subjects she needs for uni; how do they regard the subjects on offer for GCSE (and the levels she's likely to get in those subjects?

Also remember that universities have a system where great results from a generally rubbish school are given more weight than average results from a good school (and ppossibly than great results from a good school, which is a seperate rant).

In your shoes, I'd be tempted to go for the least rubbish option (which included double science), and focus on getting getting top grades in those, plus as much additonal "reading round the subject" as possible. The OU have some courses (or part-courses) availble for free, plus they have options for doing courses alongside A levels if it comes to that.

And don't worry about having done what was right at the time by changing schools - I reckon a motivated child with motivated parents will do OK more or less regardless of where they are, it might just take a bit more effort.

DD is thinking about Physics, Maths, Geography and/or Art for A level. So that's why it is so important for her to get double science.

All the sixth forms are attached to schools in Gloucester as far a I know - her current school has a sixth form. However I do not want her to attend there, and would prefer that she went to one of the selective school sixth forms, however this will be difficult to get her a place.

She has very fixed ideas about what she wants to do at uni - either Geography or engineering, and then subsequently into the RAF. She wants to go to Bristol uni (Oh another worry that she has such fixed plans at such a young age, so much potential for disappointment).

Bloody options is a nightmare. When I took mine I don't even think that my gran even knew which ones I took. Don't think I consulted her at all!

I can assure you that pupils at THE top selective school in Gloucestershire do only 10 GCSEs, that is the norm!!!

The main thing is, is she happier at the new school? That really is the most important thing. She will presumably be in the 30% or whatever who do achieve above 5 GCSEs or whatever. She will probably excel in the GCSEs she takes and then can go on to a sixth form at a much 'better' school. There is plenty of opportunity to transfer to the GS schools and good comprehensives at that point, lots transfer from Pittville to Balcarras for instance, and some to Pates.I am sure it is the same with the Gloucester GSs too.

I would be disappointed with her 'choices' (ha!) too but surely her happiness and well-being is of the most importance really and if she does want to go into the RAF, will they be sufficient? If they are, then it's not really a problem.

Thanks LOunge.

I will have to have a look and see if it is possible to transfer to the sixth forms at the Crypt, Ribston etc for A level.

You made a good point that it is likely that dd will be in the 30% or so which achieve 5 GCSEs. I do need to stop being so negative.

The horrible thing is (less so for dd as she has onlyt been at teh school 3 months) that the kids at this school know that they are the 'thick' kids. All the clever ones go to the grammar schools (4 of them) when they do well at the 11+. All the 'thick' kids go to the sink schools with crap facilities, opportunities everything. It is horrible that 14 year olds realise that they are not viewed as important as the kids at the grammars.

It seemed less so in Cheltenham - yes there was the option of taking the 11+ for Pates (we didn;t live in Gloucestershire then so dd didn't take it) so your chance of getting into one of the good Cheltenham schools was based on where you lived, not your academic attainment.

I think it is bloody wrong to select at the age of 11 personally. That's probably a whole other thread.

Thanks again everyone. Iprobably do need to chill out.

Yes I think it must be more devisive in Gloucester with 4 grammar schools, whereas Chelt has the 'super' selective Pates and some very good comps. Most children don't get into Pates so it isn't see as a failure.

However, she will be in the top 30% of the school she is at. So that is good news!!! And she will be able to transfer to a very good school (in the context of schools in the whole country...) for Sixth form.

Also thanks mrsflittersnoop for your kind words, I forgot to say that earlier. Yes I probably am forgetting that I was delighted to get a place at this school a couple of months ago, dd was in such a state.

So yes her choices for GCSE are not ideal but better than having her cry and cry every day and beg not to have to get out of the car.

Yes that;s it exactly Lounge, so yes you have Pates (which is n top 15 schools in the whole of UK isn't it?) but also 3 excellent state schools. Even the 'bad' secondaries in Cheltenham (Christ College and Pittville) aren't that bad.

But Gloucester is completely different - it is either an excellent school or an awful one. Thank god I have no other kids to go through this system!

I didn't have this myself - I grew up in thje middle of nowehere and there was only 1 secondary school in about 30 square miles!

Loads of kids seem to transfer for Sixth Form. Where I teach, we do have a Sixth Form (obviously) but it's fairly small, and so a great many transfer from there to others - last year we had kids moving to Chosen Hill, Tommy Rich's and a couple to Ribston, so try not to panic! KS4 is just a stepping stone to KS5, so the Sixth Form entry requirements (5A*-C, presumably) is what she should be aiming at - if she can choose courses she will enjoy (as far as possible), then she'll likely do better and can make further, more specialised choices in a couple of years time. If she's happier at her new school, then you absolutely made the right decision.

That's really reassuring Evil, hopefully that is what she will be able to do. I don't want to put acres of pressure on her, but will look into extra tuition if required.

I feel rotten becaue I didn't hide how upset I was earlier at the choivces, can't imagine dd felt too happy about it herself.

Bless her. I maintain that weaning and potty trraining was a walk in the park compared to this!

Can I also add that it can be good for confidence especially after bullying, to be a "big fish in a little pond" or in a not quite so competitive atmosphere. One girl in my sixth form got a C in an end of term maths exam. She had gone to a "good" school and been tutored etc. She couldn't cope and went to pieces, switched classes and everything . There were lots who had "issues" wrt to being the best, and obviously must have had lots of parental pressure.

Even my friend who got an A* in maths (was also tutored) came out with an E at A-level. GCSE's are not the be all and end all .

Gah x-post, backtracks rapidly on tutoring and pressure

Yes, it probably does help that she is in less of a hot house atmosphere.

Thanks everyone again for helping me some perspective, I truly was in bits earlier.

Seems as if Geography, History, Double science and either Art, Photography or ICT would be good for engineering or geography type careers. I am an engineer and have survived with no history, biology or 2nd modern language since the age of 13. You just have to choose, and there is always scope for topping up languages later. The science and maths (or geography) are the main thing.

I did Art O level, it was hard work (coursework time consuming) but at least a change of pace from endless essays and maths problems of my other subjects, a bit of a sanity saver. No idea about ICT GSCE but again is of utmost relevance to modern engineering and those who understand the basics of programming (as opposed to being end users) are at an advantage.

I knew what I wanted to do at 13, very similar, although did not follow through on RAF. Tell her from me it's the best career in the world, and if she changes her mind with those subjects she will have loads of choice too.

I'm confused about having Science as an option, and weird that they are calling it double science. It should be a compusory subject.

The course structure of Science nowadays is to to "Science" in Year 10 and "Additional Science" in Year 11. Both are one-year courses. If the school is planning on doing Science over two years, it will a) drive your DD mad, and b) not prepare her at all for A-level Physics. She has to do Additional Science.

You need to find out from the school exactly how they teach science.

BTW, ICT DIDA is not a GCSE. It's one of those courses that is 'worth' 4-GCSEs, iirc. GCSE ICT or Applied ICT is fine as one of the tech options and will give your DD lots of transferable skills. If she doesn't choose ICT, what ICT/Functional Skills will she get?

If she wants to go to Bristol Uni DO NOT let her do BTECs. They wont be viewed favourably. She needs 8 academic GCSEs.

p.s. before I get flamed and accused of not taking BTECs seriously, Bristol Uni make their admission rules, not me.