Secondary school in simple terms please?

[MaggieW]

I wasn't educated in the UK and know a little about state secondary school but not enough! I'd like to know some basics such as
a. which subjects are compulsory and until when?
b. when do pupils choose their subjects for exams?
c. how many subjects are usually taken?
d. are GCSEs taken over one year or two
e. ditto A levels
If someone can answer these, great and thank you but, if not, is there a website where I can find out the basics please? TIA.

DD is going back on Wednesday to start year 8 (second year in high school)
She is studying:
English
Maths
French
Citizenship (whatever that is)
PE
Art
ICT
Science
Geography
History
RE
DT

Of those I think the only truly compulsory one is RE, although it follows that English and maths have to be studied as well.
They choose their GCSE options in year 9 and the syllabus is a two year one. They take AS levels in year 12 and A levels in year 13.

I am still on a steep learning curve with secondary education as it has changed so much since I was at school.

Maths, English, Science, Humanities, PE, Religious Studies, Language, Art, Music, IT, maybe some other depnding on the school (Drama, Dance for example) generally taught at all secondaries for the first three yeasr (years 7-9), age 11 to 14.

Exam (GCSE) subjects usually selected in year 9 to be studied in year 10 and 11. Some subjects dropped at this point, but Maths, English, Science, PE and RE still compulsory (the latter two don't have to be studied to GCSE though).

NB Some schools start GCSE courses in year 9....

A reasonable able child would typically do 10-12 GCSEs.

Usually theyare taken over twoyeasr (10 and 11) though some schools might start some a year earlier, and maybe take some a year earlier.

A Levels are years 12 and 13. Taken at 16+ years old, taken over two years. Examinied at the end of first year, and student get an AS Level. 'Cashes' in that AS if they continue the subject into the second year to get a full A Level.

Typically students do 4 subjects at AS, and continue with 3 in the second year.

HTH

OH, Personal Health and citizenship also compulsory till year 11 (again not examined though).

I forgot music.

It used to be the case that only RE was compulsory until the National CUrriculum came in. THe core subjects, which must be taken by al pupils up to age 16 (Y11) are English, Maths and SCience (and Welsh in schools in Wales). PHSE is also compulsory now. THe other subjects, called FOundation subjects, may be given up at the end of Y9 (Age 14). Your DC will chose during Y9 from the FOundation subjects - the number of choices will depend on the school but typically about 4. THe GCSE courses are studied over 2 years. (Actually, some schools start in Y9 now, but I think that is bonkers).
A levels are chosen after GCSEs, most take 3 or 4, and they are taken over 2 years, with AS exams at the end of the first year.

Thanks ladies. Very helpful. Is there anything else I should know re subjects etc that may be important. Think one school we're looking at starts GCSEs in Y9 and other in Y10 - what are advantages/disadvantages to this?

Education in England sums up the situation nicely.

From 2014 most GCSE exams will only be taken at the end of Y11 so if your DC hasn't started school yet then when they start GCSEs will make no difference as it will all be reviewed anyway in the next couple of years. From this year there is an expectation that for many pupils schools concentrate on the "English Bacc" subjects of English, Maths, 2 GCSes in Science, a language and eith History or Geography. This will inevitably tend to be for the more academic students as Michael Gove is mad keen for schools to demonstrate academic rigour. These students will then take some options and schools are only able to count two non-GCSEs (eg BTEC) in their league table information. Many of the subjects studied at secondary are essentally the same as we had but might have posh new names.

Don't worry about what subjects are taken when for GCSE and which are compulsory. These are at the whim of the current and future government, who will inevitably have come up with another fabulous idea of what is important in education by the time your child is doing GCSEs. Why History and Geography for the Ebac and not RS? Apparently it was only going to be History originally and then Geography was added in at the last minute. If you read the Conservative manifesto from the last election it said how important it is everyone study Churchill. Presumably not the Gallipoli disaster or his anti female suffrage stance or the fact that he was out of government for ages because no-one could get on with him, but anyway. Patriotic English history is what they were going for I think, in contrast to the last change which emphasised migration and diversity. The next government will probably say something different. (sorry little rant there)

More important is the atmosphere in the school, attitude of staff and students you meet, are they honest and open. (eg. They do not say 'there is no bullying here', as there is bullying in every school, its how its dealt with and how soon that matters.) Also if you have an academic DC, do the allow students to take triple science, what variety of subjects do they offer, what extra curricular do they do etc. It is also important how schools respond to these decrees from on high - do all children now have to do a language GCSE, even if it is not suitable for them (suggests panic!) or do they do what is best for the child rather than immediate concern for league tables and government agendas.