I have a friend whose daughter is still unhappy with her GCSE choices

[paulkal]

I have a friend whose daughter is still unhappy with her GCSE choices which she made just a few weeks ago at the start of term. She has chosen Art as one of her subjects and French because it is compulsory to study a language but is not happy with either because she doesn't think they will be useful to her in the future. She has tried to talk to her form teacher but without success and her father has also tried. Who else could she go to, to get this matter discussed adequately?

head of year ?

Head of KS4. I'm a teacher, ours are still swapping around now.

What does she want to do instead? She'll needy replace French with another language, and art with something else in that timetabling slot.

Well if a language is compulsory then she's stuck with that.
Parent should email the head of year asking what other options she could do that fit with the timetable instead of Art.

But (word to the wise) going on about them no being useful in her future is unlikely to go down well.

We all refused to do French, as the teachers were useless, we got lots of prospectus so could prove we didn't need it for Uni (we being a group of somewhat bolshy top set scientists)

And no, I've never needed it, but in educated company or watching reading somethings "Then it says, ‘attach one of the two stabilizing bars to the end panel using the enclosed (DD) long bolts like I asked you to do 3 weeks ago.”knowing a bit would be very nice.

Art is only worth doing if you love it, and are prepared to throw your heart and soul into it.

It's my scientist DDs safety valve (it's her 4th AS), but if your friends DD would rather be watching Eastenders or FBing her mates to chill, don't do it!

sorry no idea why random paste about putting cots together, just appeared. It was from a totally different thread

But Elephant, I am so glad it did appear!

To OP, if it is compulsory to study a Modern Language, then how is discussing it with her form teacher going to help?

Actually it's not compulsory. It's a school policy maybe. But it isn't a national requirement

GCSEs are about a well rounded education and transferrable skills, not about career choices. So, not wanting to do them for that reason is irrelevant. However, wanting to do a different subject because it later needed at GCSE or A level for her career choice would be a good argument - if that is the case.

However, if she simply does not like them and wishes she could do something else in those option blocks and she is allowed to change (which she might not if it is compulsory or the other classes full) then she can only ask.

Our school has some movement allowed before half-term so it may be possible. But come up with a better reason than not useful in the future!

Elephants lol at the cot instructions suddenly appearing! I was trying to work out if they were in French so you couldn't understand them until I saw your second post!

I didn't think French would be useful to me in the future as I wanted to be a scientist.

I am a scientist. I got my current job because I can speak reasonable French. The other scientists applying couldn't. My company does lots of collaboration with a French company.

I don't understand how you can "try" to speak to a form tutor, though. They need to make a fuss until they get an appointment. It's urgent as she's missing out on the content of any subject she wants to transfer to.

Thanks for your reply. I will pass on your observations.

Thanks for your reply. I will pass your observations on.

Thanks for mentioning that. I will certainly pass it on.

Thanks for your reply. Certainly some food for thought. I will pass your observations on. My friend's daughter is certainly not one to spend too much time watching Eastenders and on FB, just someone who wants to feel that she is making the best use of her time.

Point taken. I shall pass your observations onto my friend.

Thanks for your reply. I will pass it on.