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Secondary education

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Help please with decision to drop a GCSE subject in year 11

30 replies

noavailablename · 18/09/2013 16:48

I would be really grateful for advice.

I have a very stressed yr 11 dd. She is struggling with GCSE music. Not because she isn't a good musician, but because her music teacher has left the school, having covered less than half the syllabus in year 10.

Due to building work, the class are being taught in a portacabin and have no access to rehearsal space, computers or recording equipment.

The teaching is now shared between 3 temporary staff, only one of whom has any up to date knowledge, and she has been brought out of retirement.

Realistically I don't think there is time to salvage anything from the situation.

My dilemma is this:

I want to help dd maximise her chance of a place at a good school/college for A level, but the competition is fierce.

Is it better to drop a subject, or continue with the certainty that the only outcome will be a poor grade? Which would be the better option in terms of applying for sixth form?

She is currently studying 11 GCSEs.

TIA.

OP posts:
Wuldric · 20/09/2013 17:05

An important lesson we, as parent's, have to teach our children is how to communicate with other professionals in their life, in order to solve problem's. This valuable lesson ought to happen while mummy and daddy are still around and not once they have left home and can't cope without overinvolved parent's .

I do wish that you, as a parent, or as an adult, had learned how to use an apostrophe. Your post has just made my eyes bleed.

noavailablename · 20/09/2013 17:14

Thank you to everyone who has posted with their thoughts and advice.

I am not the only parent who is concerned about the very poor state of the music department. I think we have come up with some good ideas and will communicate with the school as a group.

I think dd is feeling more positive about making a decision. Like many things in life, they look better after sleeping on it and considering advice, suggestions and other points of view.

OP posts:
minidipper · 20/09/2013 18:00

Letyourkids I don't think it is within many teenagers capacity to assess how best to proceed when a department at school collapses. I've seen this happen in unis too, and both students and other staff are very distressed. Why expect a 15 year old to be able to handle the outcome of quite a severe staffing problem at her school if the school hasn't managed?
You sound glib and smug and dismissive, not constructive.

NoComet · 20/09/2013 18:23

Who teaches your DD her instruments?
It happens that DDs teacher is a relatively recently retired head of music, who continued to do some supply. Consequently this year, they are as much GCSE tutor as singing teacher.
(DD is only a grade 5 singer so, she cant get UCAS points that way.)

DD has found being able to work through some of the composition stuff with some one else really helpful, despite her music teacher being lovely. It is not an easy subject and very very different to the style of music O level DH did in the dark ages.

I think it's well worth asking if her instrument teachers themselves, or anyone they know can help, or at least advise her, before she just gives up.

morethanpotatoprints · 20/09/2013 18:28

Hello OP.
Afaik colleges only ask for 5 GCSE's and they expect the students to put forward their best results.
In terms of saving time to concentrate on something that will do your dd some good, I would say drop the music GCSE.
That's only my opinion though.

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