GCSE options

[Creamycoolerwithcream]

DS2 is choosing his options at the moment. He's thinking of doing double science during the normal school week and than an extra double lesson after school once a week to make it treble, English language and literature, German, RE as a full GCSE, geograpghy, history and ICT. He really doesn't like any of the art, technology, or sporty subjects to the point that technology makes him feel stressed. His best results are in maths and science but he actually slightly enjoys humanities more than science. His strength is Maths. Do you think this workload sounds too much?

The after school bit can be hard. Last year's GCSE lot doing Triple Science at DD's school had to do that and it was agony apparently, they were just knackered by the end of the day and couldnt take it in.

Other than that observation, it sounds a pretty good spread of subjects that leaves plenty of doors open.

Yes I am concerned about the after school class. They didn't offer it for my older son and I'm not sure if it would be as good as doing treble science during the day. Also my son has epilepsy so we have to prevent him getting too stressed and tired. He suggested it rather than we pushed it.

DS1 also doesn't enjoy practical/creative subjects and will be choosing a very similar combination to your son. The only differences are that he wants to do Latin language, Latin literature & Classical Civilisation instead of geography, RE and ICT. RE and ICT are in his reserve list though, if he doesn't get his first choices.
Luckily three sciences don't use up one of his options. At his school, from Y10 they have a long day on Tuesdays and Thursdays (10 lesson periods, finishing at 4.20). All the boys do this and it seems to work.

If you are concerned about the workload, then maybe suggest he reduces his extracurricular stuff for the first term or two. If his health is being affected, then of course that must come first.

Thank you for replying.

Could he drop either the ICT or RE and do triple science in the timetable? We are currently dong choices for ds1 and I have discouraged him doing music after school (he will do it in timetable) as I think it will cause us both too much grief. He may do PE partly after school. He will do 3 science, 2 Englsh, maths, Spanish, history, geography and music I think. Don't think he needs more than 10 really.

Yes I am working on that suggestion but I think it's a no. I want him to do that as at his school there seems to be the worst behaviour in science and I thought the children choosing triple may be better behaved as they want to do it. I know that's a massive assumption but my son hates the mucking about. RE, he will probably keep as most of it is a core subject and if he gives up a bit of pe time he can make it to a full GCSE. He wants to do that and the geography, history and
Silas, your DS's choices sound really good.

Could you ask the school for a results breakdown based on how the pupils timetable the three sciences? If your hunch is right it's possible the pupils in timetable will be getting better grades than the after school class. We were told for music the after school option was not good if you wanted it at A level - they would get you the grades but didn't have time to cover things in depth so this may also be a consideration. Ds had very little choice really - the school insists on the first 6 plus a MFL - then you just tweak your last three slots with humanities/extra language/ICT/ music.

We just get three options too. This is the first year doing the after school science class. I emailed the school and for the normal day time he would be in with the pupils doing double science so I don't think the results would be as good as doing triple during the school day. There is also an option of single science which I think a lot of the more disruptive pupils may take.
Thank you everyone for replying, it seems like a quite most of your DC are going for the more academic subjects like my son. We went to a meeting and there was so much talk of imedia, construction, salon services, two types of PE, resistance materials etc I wasn't sure if were picking the right sort subjects.

School is stressing this year that more academic students need to get the EBACC (Bacclaurate) and for this you need maths, english,2 sciences, either geog or history and a foreign landguage.
They think the top Unis will be looking for this EBACC
Don't know much about it as Options night is next week so please correct me if I have it wrong

It's difficult as double science could be the less committed children as you imply. But the new option of doing triple after school might make the double science lessons cadre more academic now as there will be others in the same boat as your DS Iyswim.

Top Universities are not thinking of insisting on EBacc for admissions. Trust me, I work in one. If the subjects don't suit your child, don't choose them.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to answer. I think my son is going to go with original choice and if the after school science lesson proves to much for him hopefully he will be able to drop it.

I would say stick with 10 gcse's
That number is more than enugh

I just had a thought and may suggest to my son he doesn't make his RE into a full course by dropping some PE time. That way his work load will be a less.

So the options he would choose are
German, history, geography, ICT, triple Sci
Which is 5 options. Or would be in our system.
DS only gets 4 options. Can your son actually do triple sci syllabus (will he be taught the right material during the day) if he's on the double sci schedule in regular school hours?

Plus a core of 5: 2xEnglish, 1x Math, 2x science, RE. And usual PE sessions.

I think a lot of people would say the ICT syllabus is pretty basic stuff, it's an obvious one to drop if the workload is looking too heavy.

I suspect OP's son's choices are more academic than average.

ps: does your son do stuff to keep fit out of school? DS doesn't which is why I'm so keen on him doing GCSE PE.

A lot of GCSE PE is classroom based (anatomy, nutrition etc) so they may not do much more physical exercise than non-GCSE PE kids.

Core- double science, English language and lit, short course RE, Maths, 3 hours a fortnight PE
Options- Ict, Geography, History.
Extra bits- 2 hours after school lesson to make science a triple and drop an hour of PE a fortnight to make RE a full GCSE.
There is the option to do triple in school time by using an option but DS doesn't want to give up History or Geograophy and I'm not sure about the ICT. His maths and Science results are high but he doesn't actually like science as much as History or Geography.

Oh I forgot he's doing German and plays in a footie team so that's training and a match each week. He also does golf and cricket training in the summer.

It's the science that is bothering me as it sounds a bit 'messy'.

I guess that's possible, Titchy, but it's not what we were told on options evening! Plenty of extra exercise to get when doing GCSE PE.

OP: If he doesn't like science so much why do triple at all?

He does not like it as much as humanities but more than French, technology, art, drama and all the others he is dropping. Also his marks for science are among his personal highest. He's getting 7a's so he suggested pushing himself a bit and doing it.
Also we have just been choosing his older brothers A levels and I think he's picked up that it is easier to do an A level science subject if he's studied triple.
Luckily we have another month to decide.