If a school change a GCSE exam board...

[OddBoots]

for a cohort already half way through the course (so, at the end of Y10) in a non-core option subject and the new exam board style will cause your child to drop several grades (a probable B/C to a D/E) could/would you ask for your child to drop that GCSE?

I would be very tempted to.

Would the child have chosen the GCSE if he/she had known the style of questions of the new board?

As a matter of interest, what subject is it that can have enough of the same syllabus to swap part way through, but radically differing style??

Why does the school want to change exam board? Surely the change of question style will affect all the children.

He wouldn't have chosen the GCSE with the new exam board.

It's Drama and would be moving from a board that allows technical aspects (costume, lighting, sound etc) to be the focus of a substantial part of controlled assessments to a board with a focus only on performance. DS has ASD which is why this would make such a difference to him.

I have not yet found out why they want to change board, I will do but in the mean time I'm trying to work out how to deal with it.

DS is academic and predicted mostly A*-A grades but enjoys drama so could accept a B-C but as the sixth form he wants to attend has external admission based on average GCSE grade any further drop could really scupper him.

Well, given that my DD would hate to move from her performance based drama GCSE to one involving lighting, costume design etc I can see where you are coming from.

Given that it is 'only' drama, I would drop it. Primarily though I would be looking for a very good explanation from the school.

My DS had a change of exam board for one of his subjects - it was because they had changed for his year and the one above. The year above got such bad results they decided to change back.
DS though pretty much ended up dropping the subject. If it will make such a difference I would strongly argue your son should be able to drop it.