(Am posting this in SN Children and Secondary)
I would value your opinions please - DS struggles at school, gets extra literacy help and doesn't do a foreign language. His target levels for end KS3 are all in the 5 range.
Just had to choose options, had parents eve and an options eve, and DS chose History, PE, ICT ECDL, Business Retail (BTEC). Had detailed convo with History teacher and SENCO as to whether DS would cope with the written work, neither discouraged DS from taking History (which they admitted they had done to other students), as DS really enjoys the subject (finds Geog boring) and they can see him getting an acceptable D or a C if he works really hard.
DS had an interview with a senior staff member today. He comes home and tells me because of a timetable clash with PE he can't do Business Retail, but has to do Business Studies instead.
I'm upset because no-where on the school options website or at the options evening was it mentioned there could be timetable clashes, and also I feel it should be discussed with the parents!
DS isn't academic and I was really happy he had chosen History, he will get lots of support at home, his best subject is PE (has reached KS3 target already) so doesn't want to drop this. I deliberately avoided BS as I looked at a paper at options eve and it seemed DS would be way out of his depth.
His reserve is Music - which wasn't discussed with us, just with the senior staff member - DS doesn't sing or play an instrument, he does do DJing but the theory is hard, teacher said her grade 8 students struggled.
What would you do? DS didn't want to take the Tech subjects, nor drama and Art.