Should I move my son over Ebac?

[mdwim]

I am new to this but really do not know what to do. My son will be starting his GCSE's. We already had problems when choosing his options as lots of the subjects were not on offer to him as an Ebac students. However after talking him round one subject he was happy to be studying was history. We have now found out that history is not to be offered to the Ebac students. They are only offering geography. The option to take GCSE history was under another option and open to all students.

He is really upset, not like him at all, but will not change to history because he feels there are students who will not behave or work.

There are other issues like class sizes.

I am really stuck of what to do for the best and ask you for your advice.

Not sure I understand about the Ebac student thing - History counts towards the ebac too. Or do you mean certain more able students are selected to do ebac subjects and the less able ones will be the only ones allowed to do history?

What is the issue with class sizes?

Either way, I would contact the school first to discuss yr concerns.

Yes it is important to do academic and balanced subjects for GCSE if you want to go to a good Uni, the Ebac in itself is not important. If you were happy with the school until now don't change it - but speak to them about options. It seems very late in the year to be choosing them tbh.

The Ebac isn't a qualification as such, more a description of a certain combination of subjects. It is unlikely that universities will discriminate between students on the basis of having the correct combination for the government to call it the Ebac.

So, not sure what you should do, but I wouldn't give much, if any, weighting to having the Ebac.

I'm not sure I understand this at all. History would count towards an Ebacc (IIRC you need English, Maths, Science a MFL and a humanity).

Golly.

OP, if I'm reading your post correctly, is your son in a school where they have decided that good students can do the Ebacc and should thus be in one stream of options choices and that naughty students are not allowed to do it and thus are given another set of choices?

If that's the case, wow! There will be some bitching and fighting in the staffroom. What did History do to lose out?

Yes Tortu I was wondering what History had done that was so naughty! If you were a Geog teacher I'm thining you would be cheering! (if we have read OP correctly)

It must be just a time tabling thing - nothing to be with Ebac per se. Very strange that history should somehow be stigmatised as a lesser subject - makes no sense At all!

On of mine starts his GCSEs in Sept - he is going down the Ebac route and is taking both History AND Geography.

I wish I could tell you what history has done to be taken off the Ebac. His teacher told me that the school felt all the children would benefit from the geography as the results were generally higher. I have no idea if this is true or not. History can be taken but on speaking to other parents the Ebac children were told that they would do the half a year of each subject and then be to choose at the end of the year what they would like to do their GCSE in. Now they are starting the GCSE this year and have no choice.

I am not sure about timetables but my son goes to a new school where they have very large classes. He has just told me there are 82 children in his class and says that he thinks the GCSE classes for geography, english and maths will all be the same.

Actually writing this I am wondering what is good about this school and how can my son achieve with that many students in a class. We need to really think about this.

Very odd if I am reading this correctly - "the ebacc children"??? what is this? The children who are deemed intelligent enough to be permitted to study MFL and humanities?? or the children who have chosen those subjects (let's hope it's the latter tho to then thus name them seems odd).

82 children in a class cannot be right OP. MAybe 82 students in a group that has chosen a subject - to be cut up into three classes I would think? Where is this school and what kind of school is it? (without revealing too much, obv)

82? Wires crossed I'm sure.

It will be all about options blocking and timetabling. Schools have less staff (and often students) than times gone by, so have to make difficult decisions about dropping certain subjects to save others.

I would be looking for the best school that offers what he wants to do.

I bet it's because Geography's easier (or deemed to be). Sound's like your DC's school is an awful one if it's that obsessed with league tables.

Thank you for your replies. Yes the classes can cater up to 90 pupils at a time. I am concerned though LLCP if it is about 'blocking and timetabling'...(what is blocking?) as this is a new school so surely that should not be an issue?

I would have thought history was a major subject or surely it would not have been put in the Ebac?

Is geography easier? I would have thought that both history and geography should have been the same. More writing if I remember rightly in history though!

I said that basically because I get a very strong sense from your posts that your child's school is obsessed to the point of ludicrousness with league tables. Those kinds of schools know exactly how to play the system to their advantage, hence using the easiest exam boards, and not allowing weaker students to sit particular subjects, etc. In this case I reckon someone in the school has crunched the numbers and worked out more of their students pass geography at the right grades....so they are going to make it impossible for students who have a hope of passing all the ebacc subjects to take history.

Just guessing. It sounds like an awful school if that's the case. I'd move your child. Or point blank insist that they are going to take history. I can't see how they can stop you.

Up to 90? You mean in a year, cohort or subject. Not a class. Not in the UK.

Is your DS in one of the schools that is doing team teaching. I've heard of one that has 60 in a classroom with 2 teachers. I've not heard of 82 though!

One school near us teaches classes of up to 90 children

Bexhill high school

Yes surely not 90 in a class in one room with one teacher. Not in the UK, I agree. Where is this school OP?

3 teacher for the 90 'pod' of students

Well there you go.
I've not heard good reports about the 60 in the class with 2 teachers model. The feedback I've heard, is that its great when you have 2 strong staff but a nightmare if one is weak as the other teacher ends up carrying them and doing more of their fair share of work. Probably better for the students but looking at the high turnover of staff, the staff may not like it.
I suppose 3 staff in the room means if one is weaker, at least there are 2 others to carry the weight.

Clary the others have the right school. This is our local school and I must say that my daughter attended a few years back and did very well. She is off to university this year, however that was at the old school.

So far this week I have spoken to three other schools in the area about viewings, and the GCSE'e they have for their children. All of them are teaching history and all of them have far more subjects for GCSE options than my son was given. He also knows children at all of these schools which helps.

Is there anything I should be doing to make sure the new school is the best for my son?

sorry mdwim only just seen yr pm.

I don't know what to think about a school where classes are run like that. It's quite outside my experience but that doesn't make it a bad school!

The whole thing about history etc seems odd. If I were looking for another school I would ask them in detail about options - especially as now your possible options might be limited as students everywhere will have chosen theirs.