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Secondary education

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Original poster

When is it too late to drop a GCSE?

15 replies

Phaedra11 · 08/04/2014 09:34

DS1 is in Year 11 and considering dropping GCSE Further Maths. He is planning to talk to his teacher about it today. As I've said on another thread, I can see reasons for and against the idea, but obviously the final decision will be with him. (If only to avoid being told it's all my fault he did/didn't do FM at some point in the future!)

My big concern is that it's getting late to drop a subject and the request may not get processed, resulting him being graded as if he did not attend the exam. Does anyone know if this is the case? I have rang the school and someone is supposed to be ringing back but they haven't yet - I imagine they're pretty busy right now!

OP posts:
notnowImreading · 08/04/2014 09:35

It can be done right up to the day of the exam.

Original poster
Phaedra11 · 08/04/2014 10:16

That's great. Thank you, notnow.

OP posts:
Suffolkgirl1 · 08/04/2014 13:08

But you may be charged. We have been told that if DS pulls out or does not show up to any of his GCSE's(other than due to illness) we would have to pay the exam fee.

Original poster
Phaedra11 · 08/04/2014 14:44

Thanks, Suffolkgirl.

OP posts:
notnowImreading · 08/04/2014 15:19

It's not that dear - I think about £30.

TalkinPeace · 08/04/2014 16:33

filestore.aqa.org.uk/admin/library/AQA-ENTRY-FEES-2013-2014.PDF
exam board picked at random - late entry fees and cancellation fees all listed

for DD it was in late march : I had to sign for the list of exams she'd be sitting

EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 17:03

Depends on the school. DC at my school have been told they cannot drop subjects now - one boy decided he wanted to drop my subject to "focus on the others" (translation - I'm a lazy sod and I don't want to do that essay I'm late with") but was told by the HOY that he couldn't.

It's pretty annoying as a teacher, TBF - preparing a student for a GCSE is a lot of work and for them to decide to drop it shortly before the exam is quite galling.

Original poster
Phaedra11 · 08/04/2014 18:24

The school allowing DS to stop isn't really the issue. He had reservations about doing the course at all but was told he could drop out any time he wanted. This has been confirmed to me at a couple of Parents Evenings. Apparently DS spoke to the Head of Maths today who said he was quite happy for him to drop the subject if that's wanted, but he would like to leave it until after the holidays, as he didn't want him to start a domino effect with other kids doing the same.

I would be surprised and annoyed if, after all of that, I had to pay a fine but would be prepared to do so. My concern was that there might be a point at which the change was not registered on DS's exam results but that does not seem to be the case.

OP posts:
Original poster
Phaedra11 · 08/04/2014 18:29

That's wanted should have been that's what he wanted.

OP posts:
Original poster
Phaedra11 · 08/04/2014 18:33

The Further Maths GCSE was not one that he chose as an option but something recommended because he achieved an A at GCSE Maths in Year 10. If he hadn't been reassured that he could drop out at any point, he wouldn't have agreed to it.

OP posts:
EvilTwins · 08/04/2014 19:47

In that case, I really don't see it being a problem. Sounds like the Head of Dept is pretty reasonable.

intheenddotcom · 08/04/2014 20:29

It's £29 to drop a GCSE now, as the entries will have gone in. Some schools will pay it themselves, most will charge the parents.

Why is he dropping out now when he has done all the hard work and (should) only have revision to go?

Wolfiefan · 08/04/2014 20:33

Yes it seems odd to drop it when the exam is only in a few weeks.

Original poster
Phaedra11 · 08/04/2014 20:58

I've said a bit about it on another thread. DS is concerned about taking this exam. Apparently he generally follows what they do in class okay but hasn't been given any experience of answering past papers in exam conditions. The kids that got As had a Mock exam and a couple of other test papers in exam conditions but whenever this happened, the kids that got As last year were given standard Maths GCSEs, in the hope of raising their As to As.

When DS has tried past papers at home, he's got quite confused. DH (who has a Maths A level and used Maths in his degree) has talked him through them and then he's got it, but he doesn't seem to get far without DH. DH will probably give him a bit more support over the holiday (which hasn't started yet for us) and we'll see how DS feels about it when he returns to school.

He is predicted As and a couple of A*s for his other subjects but it seems really difficult to gauge what grade he might get for this one.

OP posts:
KatyMac · 08/04/2014 21:12

I understand how you feel; my conversation went

(Meeting with teacher Last July)
Me:I don't want DD to do this exam (4th option), she won't have time to do the homework and I think she needs to concentrate on English & Maths
School:We think she will be fine
(Meeting with teacher in March)
School:DD appears to be struggling with her coursework and may not pass the exam
Me:Told ya so!

Only I didn't - I made a little speech about prioritising DD's time on to subjects she needed for her future

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