Does anyone know what subjects Secondary Schools are obliged to provide at GCSE?

[PestoCaffeinisto]

DD1 is a term into doing Maths and Statistics at her High School, and we have today received a letter home from the school saying they are withdrawing the Statistics tuition as they are having Maths staffing issues and will instead concentrate on getting more pupils to pass GCSE Maths

We are exceedingly concerned as this will mean DD1 will have one less relevant qualification through no fault of her own. Am trying to get as much information as possible before tackling the school about this.

Thanks in advance.

Schools have no legal obligation whatsoever to provide ANY subject at GCSE. The only subject with any legally binding aspect to it is RE which all pupils must study for 1 hour a week.

At GCSE most schools are governed by league tables / parental expectations. Therefore they will provide GCSE's in englush, maths and science as this is reported on.

With the introduction of the EBacc too, league tables look at who will get English / maths / science / either geography or history / a modern foreign language so they might also concentrate on that.

Ours has core Maths (not statistics) English (some do lit and Lang and some a combined GCSE), Science (some do triple, some double, some BTEC) plus PE (not a exam just PE lessons) RE (half a GCSE). PSHCE (no exam) That's our core so, I assume, what they have to offer. I don't think they need to do the RE exam but as they have to have the lessons they do the exam in the hope it gives them some more credits.

All other subjects at our school are optional through the option system.

If it's statistics tuition when were school doing it? During lesson times or after school? If it was during lessons ask about a twilight maybe? I've rub GCSE lessons like that before when things didn't fit into option blocks.

Thanks Pottering, I am just so incredulous that this far into the course, the school can just send us a letter saying they are no longer prepared to offer it.

DD1 was due to sit her first exam in two months' time (January 2012) and says her Maths teacher is currently off sick and won't be at all happy when she learns that she is no longer to be teaching Statistics for GCSE.

Kaz makes a good distinction about core subjects; the 4 core subjects named in the national curriculum are English, maths, science and RE (despite RE not being a NC subject) but you don't have to sit exams.

It was incorporated into the Maths lessons and since DD2 wants to be a vet, we think she might not now stand a chance with one less GCSE under her belt - Grrr!!

How many GCSEs will she now be taking Pesto?
It seems a shame to delete a course once they have started it. Is this one term into a 2 year course or was she doing stats in a year?

She was doing 13, but if they drop Statistics she'll only get 12.

The Statistics was a one year course, and she's nearly done a whole third of it.

If there isn't anyone who can teach it without screwing up maths for the rest of the year group, then what can the school do? Maths GCSE is far more important than Statistics.

12 GCSE's are a lot of GCSE's. Most schools won't offer stats and I'm fairly certain that it will make no odds at all when she goes to university.

Look at the vet school entry requirements on the websites and see what they say? A quick call to the admissions tutor should clear it up.

If she wants to go to vet school she's likely to need maths A level anyway, in which case stats will be covered on the advanced course.

Agree 12 GCSEs is a lot. Universities look for A*s not the total number. One private school discussed yesterday only allowed their pupils to take 10 GCSEs. I am sure that they wouldn't do that if it affected their university places.

It is a lot, but she's already done one of them.

Thanks for that RIverside, good point. However, if she'd already done Stats at GCSE, then she would find Maths A level easier.

Pesto - top unis/top courses now are looking for consistency of grades across subjects, not vastly high numbers of subjects.

ie it is better to get 5A* 4A;
than 5A* 4A and 3B.

I really wouldn't worry about one extra subject.

ds1 is predicted very high grades, but is 'only' actually doing 9.5 GCSEs. (The 0.5 is a half course in Citizenship apparently )

Thanks Roisin, but obviously 13 As would be better than 12 As in the competitive world outside.

If the school can't cover it without detriment to other classes' maths GCSE, then what do you expect them to do?

I suggest that your DD starts to get some awesome work experience under her belt if she wants to be a vet. That will be more important than 1 GCSE.

I doubt if university admissions would really be bothered if she only gets 12 GCSEs and not 13. She will have AS levels, presumably in relevant subjects, by the time she applies.

In fact, 11 GCSE's with a stellar personal statement / work experience will stand her better than 13 A*'s and none of those things.

I know you're disappointed but she's only in year 10 and, although it's worth asking the school it does sound like they've given it their best shot and it hasn't worked out. It won't impact on her uni choices.

If you're that concerned a tutor could teach her and she could sit the exam at school. BUT think really carefully about the pressure that puts on your DD and if it's worth it.

Here are the entry requirements for Vet school. It doesn't matter one jot that she'll only have 12 GCSE's or that she doesn't have Statistics.

Thank you so much for your input.

We just wanted a bit of perspective as it was a bit of a shock to receive a letter today stating that one of DD1's subject was no longer going to be taught... especially when she was gearing up towards her first exam in the subject in January.

You've all been most helpful

Even if you could get a tutor to teach the statistics syllabus you would need the school to organise and mark the controlled assessment, and it doesn't sound like they have the staff.

DD1 did her Maths GCSE in year 10 and then did statistics in year 11. She found that Statistics was boring and no universities actually even took it into consideration. She was applying for Vet courses and Zoology. Also 13 GCSEs is a lot your DD will probably find that she'll be able to get better grades by doing 12 rather than 13 GCSE's

12 gcses is plenty for just about anything. If she chooses maths at A level, then the work she's covered may not be wasted either as it is relevant to the first statistics A-level module.