Year 8 options - have a few questions for other parents or teachers of this year group - would really like some perspective before speaking with the school. Thanks!

[TroublesomeEx]

Hi

My son is currently in year 8. We haven't had a parents evening this academic year so we have no idea how he is doing other than his end of year assessment levels from yr7. He doesn't bring school books home from school (they don't have lockers so the teachers keep the books) - we don't even get chance to look in his books when he does homework because he doesn't really get any!

He gets the occasional online maths homework (he had some this week but this is the first lot he's had since September/October); his homework consists of "find out a little bit about..." in preparation for classwork but even then perhaps only once a month or so. He's had to do an assessment for a couple of subjects for homework - but neither was done in books but on the computer and printed out; and he gets a shopping list for cookery. The lack of homework is across all subjects. So we don't get to look inside his books for teachers comments, feedback on homework.

Firstly, is this common?

Secondly, he is choosing his options this year and we're a bit confused/befuddled/getting ahead of ourselves/justifiably concerned!

We have a parents info evening in the middle of Feb., there's an options workshop towards the end of Feb., and the final options have to be in the following week. Parents evening is not until 3 weeks after that.

So is this normal? I remember all the advice about choosing subjects you're good at and not the one's your friends are doing etc, but without any feedback/consultation with parents how on earth are we supposed to support him in his choices?!

I know what subjects he wants to do, and I am supportive of these, but don't know if the combinations he wants to do are possible, the implications for A Levels, how he is likely to do in them...

It's an outstanding state comprehensive in an affluent area with very supportive parents. To me, there just seems to be a disparity.

What are other people's experiences of this? thanks.

Well, what subjects does he want to do? And what is he choosing between? It may be that at this point, the choices aren't actually that significant.

We have:

Dec 2011 Long report with teachers advise on subject suitability at GCSE
Jan 2011 Options evening talk
Jan 2011 Parents evening
Feb 2012 Option applications to be in

So, yes, we do have the parenst evening within the process.

That was very useful for my daughter who was umming and arring over Art versus French. Meeting teachers helped make her decision (however, decision has since been proved to not have been the best one, but there you go, that isn't the teachers fault!)

So is about to go through ths process. Knows exactly what he wants to do if it fits with one spare option choice at the moment. Not sure, therefore, how necessary the parents meeting will be for support in the process but we wait and see.

No idea what he's choosing between - no idea what the options are. Or how many he can/has to choose. Clearly they'll tell us more about this at the info evening, but it doesn't give long to choose and without knowing how he's doing in the subjects it's difficult for him to choose.

He's keen on art, music, drama, history, graphics, Spanish. He likes the sciences but isn't sure how it's done (separate like I did or combined), he'd like to do biology. Obviously maths and English are compulsory.

As far as he understands, it's his GCSE options. They just focus on them from year 9 to give them the best chance of success.

But he's not sure about that either.

I just wondered really whether the lack of homework is a problem for others. I don't want homework for the sake of it, but not having a clue what is going on just feels a bit strange.

Tbh, I can't give any info - you now know as much as me!!

Kez see it's that lack of a detailed report and a parents evening that makes it all feel very uncertain tbh.

There's no indication that there will be a one to one consultation with subject teachers.

Last year, we didn't even see all of his teachers at parents evening because of the way the school organises the parents evening. In fact we saw the core subject teachers plus history and German. That's all.

I've got a yr8 DD.

She gets significant amounts of homework in all subjects (except PE/music). Usually somewhere about an hour a night. Unless your DS has a longer day and they do their 'homework' in an extended lunchtime or something like that, it seems rather odd he doesn't get any.

So far this year we've had a parents' evening and one set of effort grades and target levels.

I haven't heard anything about GCSE options - I assumed they chose those in Yr9. I don't know what's the norm on that.

Ours choose gsce options in year 9. My dd is only in year 7 but she has a lot more homework than your son and we've had a parents evening (informal) and a full written report with effort and achievement grades (this is private btw not sure it makes any difference)

Options in year 8 is definitely unusual!

Thanks Grimma. You've described my own experience of being in that year group and certainly what I expected for DS re homework, and also in terms of consultation and feedback.

Is your DD at grammar school or comp?

No they don't have a longer day and he does clubs/other activities at lunchtime.

It just seems very odd that we'll go straight into choosing options without a parents evening to give us a heads up on how they're doing!

I don't think the options in year 8 are uncommon, but don't think everywhere does them.

The thing is, the school always gets brilliant GCSE and A Level results but my DS is one of those who's capable gets by on the minimum amount of work and I don't want him to be let down by his school's system - or his own meh-ness! it would seem like a very tough way to learn a lesson!

Doesnt really sound like an "outstanding" ofsted school tbh. My ds also goes to a very good comp and we get a lot of information on what's happening (in the form of newsletters, options booklets, ks3 handbooks and outline of topics covered by term by subject).
If I received as little information as you indicate I would be quite concerned and would be asking his form tutor or Y8 learning manager for a face to face meeting so that I could learn more.

DS (y9) and Dd (y7) both have significant amounts of homework. School has rebranded it 'homelearning' and has been encouraging parental involvement a lot.

DS (y9) has just chosen his GCSE options, we had a report with comments in November, a parents evenings in December to speak to teacher individually regading aptitude and progress and finally an options evening last week which was a bit like a 'roadshow', you could go round each department and discuss the courses in more detail.

We have also had letters explaining the process and a very lengthy booklet explaining all the choices.

Option in Y8 seems to be making them specialise very early, DS is disappointed about stopping some subjects at the end of Y9 (although not Art, he would have given that up happily last year). They have started core subjects (Science/Maths/English) this year though.

We are at a comprehensive by the way.

My DS is in Y9 at a comp and will be choosing his options over the next half term. We get a parents meeting with time to meet subject teachers and they get lots of information in a booklet which is discussed in tutor time (haven't seen the booklet yet.)

English, maths and science are compulsory, double science is usual (all 3 sciences leading to a double GCSE) single for those who struggle and triple for the top set only in his school. They also have a compulsory DT subject to choose as the school has a Technology specialism. The options appear to be only 3 1/2 subjects as RE is a compulsory 1/2 GCSE, from French, Spanish, History, Geography, ICT, Computing, Art, Drama, Music, and some more vocational diploma type options that count as 2 or more GCSEs. RE can be taken as a 1/2 to make a whole GCSE, or 1/2 French, 1/2 ICT, I think.

I've never heard of choosing options in Y8. My DS has started some GCSE syllabus work in Maths but that's due to him being in the top set for that subject and he may take the GCSE early. And it's a core subject of course. I'm not sure if that will actually benefit him.

He's in a bit of a dilemma, actually, as he hates languages and is likely to do fairly poorly at French. He's tempted to drop it entirely for geography, RE and computing instead, but I'm not sure if that's a good idea if he wants to go to university. It's tricky to know if it would be better to get an A or B grade in RE or risk a D grade in French.

Which is why it's essential to talk to the subject teachers before you have to make these life changing decisions. The wrong GCSEs now may rule out access to courses that mean certain careers are also ruled out. Weighty decisions at 14, even tougher if you are only 12 or 13. I'd want much more information from the school to find out what effect these Y8 options will have on your DSs GCSEs.

I know some schools do an accelerated KS3, so it's only Y7 and Y8, not Y9 as well. So I guess these ones would choose options in Y8.

Interesting, LadyWellian. I'm not convinced of the benefits of taking GCSEs early, but perhaps having 3 years to cover the GCSE syllabus and taking the exams in Y11 could work. I'd still hate for them to have to make these decisions so young...

State grammar. They have already had to decide which two of French, German and Spanish to do at the mo (unless they do a 'twilight' class for all 3), but AFAIK they keep doing the full spread of subjects next year.

My dd is in year 8 and we are choosing options in March. We have a parents evening in Feb and an options meeting in March. When we went to the last parents eve in year 7, each teacher told us that they wanted dd to gcse in their subject. But our options are limited

At present dd wants to be a vet so we have picked the following but are open to discussion and it depends on her results at the parents evening

English, Maths and RE (compulsory)
Triple science
French or Italian
Geography
Art
PE

I just find the whole process really early to be honest but hope to get advice from school during the process.

Just looking at DDs school website, they do 3 year ks3 2 year ks4 except for Tech subjects where its 2/3. Don't know if that means they have to decide which tech subject they are doing for GCSE next year (they have to do one) - DD would be all too happy to drop Food Tech asap but not to have to choose yet between Electronics and Product Design

Hi

Thanks all for your replies.

I was really surprised when he first mentioned taking options in Y8 and thought he'd got his wires crossed! Seemingly he hasn't, I've checked the calendar this morning!

notatigermother no it doesn't to me either! The school has great pastoral care and extra curricular/enrichment opportunities but I have wondered how much the great GCSE/A Level results are down to good raw material and committed parents. We get a weekly newsletter, but nothing like you describe. That would be brilliant! We don't have a clue! I have requested a meeting. Just waiting to hear back now. I just wanted to gauge other people's experiences to make sure what we are seeing isn't what is happening everywhere. So thank you!

Raspberry YY regarding meetings about aptitude. That's exactly what I feel we're lacking in! And without homework/homelearning (like the rebrand ) we just feel completed alienated from what he is doing in school and how he is doing. We've had a couple of congratulatory letters/emails and no phone calls. I agree it sounds early to make them specialise. This is why there seems to be such a contradiction. On one hand, they seem very much focused on academic development and success, yet on the other there's a huge void! I think the 'roadshow' you describe sounds like the workshop planned at our school. But without knowing his potential...

Ellen A dilemma indeed! And yes, you're right, the implications of these decisions have such far reaching implications. And I don't feel that we/he can make them without a greater understanding of what it will mean for him. As with your DS, do you risk a lower grade in a potentially 'more useful' subject or a higher grade in one that doesn't necessarily 'go' so well. And does it even matter at GCSE!!!

Lady are there benefits to an accelerated KS3?

Argh.

Well thank you. It has confirmed my suspicions that it's not necessarily a standard approach and have some good food for thought for the meeting!

thanks

Some schools play the statistics - get kids to focus on fewer subjects earlier and/or take a couple of subjects a year early, guide pupils towards subjects which they are most likely to get the precious A*/A or A-C rankings. Its why a lot of schools which were high ranking by those metrics fell down when 'English Bacc' suddenly appeared. Of course the schools know where the goalposts have been moved to, but the league tables for the first couple of years including EBacc can be quite revealing.

FolkGirl, we didn't choose a school with an accelerated KS3, but here's a bit from the prospectus of one that we looked at (I don't think it was the only one, but it was the one I could remember):

'Year 9 is seen as an intermediate GCSE year and allows for more accelerated learning and a wider range of accreditation options and learning experiences'.

Whatever the hell that means.

Mm interesting! I wonder if DS's school might be doing something along those lines then!

Although DS has started his core subjects apparently they are not taking exams any sooner, just having more time to cover the syllabus along the way. Of course our Y9( Or Y8) DCs are the first to do the new linear GCSEs so it will look different for schools anyway.

DS is doing triple Science, Maths, English. A 1/2 GCSE is compulsory in Beliefs, Philosophy and Ethics. He had four choices and has chosen Italian, Geology, Geography and Music.

How are other people's schools handling the Ebacc? DSsSchool advised students following acadamic pathways to consider their choices in regard to the requirements of Ebacc but didn't push it.

Haven't heard of options in Y8 before. I would be horrified if our dc hadn't been doing homework in Y8. Both have had at least an hour an evening with perhaps two and a half at weekends.

Have you thought about making an appointment to see the head of year? Presumably the parents evening will provide you with quite a lot of feedback to support your decisions.

When it came to it there was never much choice for ours. DD is in Y9 now and DS in L6. We have felt a bit of a hiatus with DD because she moved schools at the end of Y8. Both at different schools but both have ended up doing similar with a hard core of English, English Lit, Maths, French, RS, History (choice), Latin (choice), three separate sciences and one has done art and one likely to go for music or spanish.

We have an appointment now to speak with someone next week so hopefully a few of our concerns will be addressed then.

Raspberry I checked the prospectus and I think his schools doing the same - not taking exams sooner, just giving more time to cover the syllabus.

married an hour a night seems to be quite a standard experience. The lack of homework is startling. I realise it looks on here like I might have exaggerated but I checked his homework diary last night and it's page after page of nothing, or the occasional bit of research in preparation for classwork. But nothing major.

It's been really good to get an insight into what other people's experiences are!

DD1 in year 8 So I have limited experience as I learn as I go along with her.

WRT homework DD gets more than your DS, very often projects on several weeks that could if done every night in bits take an hour +. She does also get computer maths homework but it is exercises, not preparation/research for next lesson and they get marked when submitted.

Is your son maybe in a high set where they are pushed sufficiently in class so do not need as much homework or in a lower one where they do not want to overload the pupils with homework? (I have no idea if it is how it works but was just wondering if it is a possibility)

We have not yet had a parent evening this year, I think it is somewhere during the second half of this term. In year 7 we had one after a few weeks but it was just to meet the form tutor, the one where we met each subject teacher individually was at the end of April.

DD is asking me if your DS is in a HS that specialises in languages as some of her friends did have to choose their language option in Y8 and will pass their language GCSE in Y9.

gorionine YY to learning as you go along with them. It's so very different from primary - you go from being heavily involved with everything to being a total stranger to the school!

DS's maths homework is along the same lines as your DD's.

His school does have a specialism, but it's not languages. The specialism is reflected in a range of optional extra GCSEs they can take by staying behind after school and in lunchtime clubs once they get to year 11. Sounds like they do it the other way round to your DD's school.

We had a similar set up re parents evenings in year 7 too, and our programme sounds similar to yours this year. But no, they are taking all their options this year and it is this, without the parent/teacher consultation that's leaving us a bit concerned.

DS is a bit of a 'good all rounder'. I don't suppose he stands out as being particularly spectacular in any subject area, but he's not struggling either. The school seem to be happy with him, but we're just in the dark!

Hopefully the meeting will clarify a few things for us!