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Secondary education

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Original poster

Year 9 Options Advice desperately needed!

49 replies

angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 13:27

My DS has been given his options booklet. In the first column he has chosen to do Geography, in the second, he wants to do Spanish as he has been predicted an A* at GCSE. In his current year group only two sets do Spanish, the remaining six sets do French. We have now been told he can't do Spanish as there isn't enough interest but he is unable to do French as he hasn't studied it so his only 'option' in the second column is History which he is doing ok at, but isn't excelling at. He is so disappointed that he isn't allowed to take a Modern Foreign Language. In the third column he has to choose between PE and RE, both he is excelling at, so isn't sure what to take, and in the fourth column he has to choose between Media, Graphics, Art, Resistant Materials and Design and Technology, all of which he struggles with. I am really at a loss as to how to best guide him. I fully understand that the School cannot accommodate every pupil, but feel a bit disheartened as he is losing subjects he's good at and having to take things he isn't too good at. Does anyone please have some practical advice on how best to help him choose the correct path. He ultimately wants to teach at Secondary level, and is very interested in both PE and RE. Thanks in advance!

OP posts:
TeenAndTween · 25/01/2015 15:06

Is it a small school? The options seem very limited to me compared with my DD's 200-in-year comp.

I would be kicking up a fuss regarding being left with no MFL option, that seems disgraceful.

I would also not have been happy if my dyspraxic DD1 had been forced to take a tech subject.

Don't suppose he could change schools?

Lucycat · 25/01/2015 15:09

Is Geography just in the one option box? Is there any flexibility there?

VivaLeBeaver · 25/01/2015 15:15

I'm dreading this. Dd also in year 9 but we don't get the option blocks till next month.

She wants to do loads of arty subjects and I'm worried they'll all be in the same block and she'll only be able to do one.

Seems stupid that in your DSs school they've put them all in one block. Mit prevents the arty kids from taking more than one and forces the non arty kids to take one when they might not want to.

Leeds2 · 25/01/2015 15:15

I too would be extremely annoyed if a MFL wasn't available. I don't know if you have spoken to school about it but, if not, it might be worth having a word.

If it any comfort, most schools will allow a student to do RE A Level without having done the GCSE so it might be worth checking if his school would allow that.

makati · 25/01/2015 15:17

This does sound like a very limited set of options, but both my kids attend a 270 per year secondary school. For what it's worth, Graphics has been really popular with both of them. Neither of them are arty as such, but love it.

Original poster
angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 15:21

Thanks for replying. It isn't a small school, it has recently taken on Academy status. I am so frustrated and don't know how best to advise him. He has no interest in Tech subjects, mainly because he struggles so much with them. And the subjects he is excelling at, he isn't able to take. The first column was Geography, History, Computing, Spanish and French. The second column was the same as column one but with IT instead of Computing, and column three is PE, RE, Photography, Triple Science, Art, Food Technology, and Drama. The fourth is as previously stated! The problem is, he struggles with art and tech subjects, he finds the practical subjects a real problem. I know in maintained schools they have to offer a MFL, but not sure if the same applies to Academies. Feel a bit inadequate, I spoke to the School on Friday, and they've said it's tough, and whatever subjects he has to take, as long as he 'applies himself' and is 'dedicated to learning' he will do well. Moving school isn't an option as the nearest school to us is a Grammar School and the next nearest is a long way, although we may have to consider that. It would be a shame though, as for the first time he has a good group of friends.

OP posts:
Original poster
angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 15:24

They have said they've put the arty/tech subjects in one column to force them to take an art/tech subject so they have a range of subjects!

OP posts:
eatyourveg · 25/01/2015 15:24

Another vote for kicking up a fuss if there was no option for MFL

lljkk · 25/01/2015 15:45

If he's good at computing he should make a decent job of Media or Graphics. I don't see how you can force a MFL.

Original poster
angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 15:50

He struggles with computing, in an ideal world he would do RE, PE, Geography, Spanish, as well as English Language, English Lit, Maths and Science. And I genuinely understand that it is impossible to accommodate every child, it just is frustrating that out of the subjects he is good at he can only take two, he is missing out on a language and is being forced to take a Tech subject that he will struggle with.

OP posts:
LIZS · 25/01/2015 15:54

Are you sure that he couldn't do it even if he put Spanish in the first box. Seems odd to take that option away from a significant number of potential students.

cece · 25/01/2015 15:58

How do they know there is not enough uptake for Spanish GCSE if the forms haven't been handed in yet?

Original poster
angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 16:15

Only two sets totalling twenty-ish children are doing Spanish, the remaining six sets, totalling sixty-ish are doing French. At the Options Evening last Thursday we had to see all subject teachers. The Spanish teacher informed us that out of the twenty-ish doing Spanish, only three, including my son want to take it as an option so unless they get a minimum of ten it isn't viable. Most of the children handed their forms in on the Friday and only three from my son's Spanish class hadn't returned their forms and and only two wanted Spanish!

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Original poster
angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 16:19

I could real poo y use some advice on how best to help my son decide which is the best way to go, and to see if people think it's a good idea to contact the school record the MFL and what arguments I could put forward for them to help with the MFL.

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Original poster
angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 16:20

Apologies for the 'poo y' predictive text gone mad!

OP posts:
clary · 25/01/2015 16:34

Yes I agree, that's a very limited choice.

My DD has to choose one from the Progress 8 list (so history, geography, computing or an MFl - 3 choices) then any other 3 from the list. At the school I work it is roughly similar.

How crap frankly that they are making him take a creative when he is not good at it. I would have hated that too. Does he not even enjoy food tech?

What does he want to teach at secondary? You could pick up RE later maybe.

I would ask the school if there is any wriggle room - he is clearly able and I am sure they would try to help him as a good grade will help their figures! Especially if it is in an MFL. For example, GCSE MFL ab initio is not unusual - if he is good at Spanish I am sure he would pick up French quickly.

80 children in a year is a tiny school so that may explain some of this!

clary · 25/01/2015 16:35

So, in essence, ask the school if he can pick up French from scratch. He may even be able to join French classes/get booster sessions in the remainder of yr 9.

Olivo · 25/01/2015 16:44

Keep pressing. We say groups of under ten not viable but we have in huge past had groups mallee then this due to requests. T be fair, they have offered Spanish in two different blocks, in ours it is just one.

Tanaqui · 25/01/2015 16:45

An mfl is needed for the ebacc so I would have thought the school would be keen. "Forcing" a tech/ creative aubject is v common so can't see you would get far with that, but they shouldn't have let him drop french if Spanish wasn't an option for gcse- unless that was explained then?

Original poster
angelcake03 · 25/01/2015 16:47

Thanks, have asked the school about doing French and they have said no because he hasn't studied it previously, very frustrating! Think I will speak to them again tomorrow, but all forms have to be in on Tuesday! Not a lot of time!

OP posts:
Eastpoint · 25/01/2015 16:53

The choices he would like to make are those which give him the most options going forward. What is the schools justification for teaching a language for 3 years and then not being able to continue with it for GCSE? Does the school offer Spanish A Level? Do you think they could be trying to stop teaching Spanish?

clary · 25/01/2015 16:56

Maybe if you could show he was really keen and had done some French (or would do some) they might change their mind. At DD's school you can pick up a second language at GCSE if you are good at your first one (so DD does French and could pick up German from scratch) - teacher told me last week that after a few months you can't tell! Obv this will only work if student is a) able b) committed but it sounds like yr son is both. :)

senua · 25/01/2015 16:57

I would create more of a stink about the Spanish. If the following years get to hear of this then no one will ever opt to do Spanish again.
It must be in the Spanish teacher's interest to drum up support, too - otherwise she will soon be out of a job!

BoneyBackJefferson · 25/01/2015 16:58

under the new government rules of eight subjects taken from specific areas its only going to get worse.

SomewhereIBelong · 25/01/2015 17:01

We are very lucky by the look of it, all our options are in one block, kids can choose any 4 in order of preference, with a fifth as reserve in case a clash occurs. They have a computer program that sorts out the time tabling, viable numbers etc 90 percent plus of 220 get all 4 of their choices. Most of those that don't have chosen too many craft/ arts together