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Secondary education

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Original poster

Ebacc??

26 replies

itfcbabe · 08/02/2015 16:41

I have 6 children and number 4 is choosing her GCSE's has to be in by next Friday.
She has her heart set on doing Art,Media and Health and Social care as these will help her with her future career.

But as she is doing double science and not triple she has to do one of the following
History
Geography
French
German
Computing

I am rather annoyed with this,I never had this with my older 3 they could choose what ever they wanted.

She has problems with spelling(dyslexic only with her spelling) and gets upset and feels dumb when she gets spelling wrong, this is why I feel more creative GCSE's than Essay writing based ones will be better for her.

Is there anyway of her not having to do this waste of time EBACC?

My oldest didn't do it and got excellent GCSE's and A-Levels,my 2nd didn't do it and is now doing well in his AS-Levels and my 3rd is now doing her GCSE's.she ended up dropping History due to the amount of essay writing she could't cope.

Any advice would be great,thanks.xx

OP posts:
noblegiraffe · 08/02/2015 16:48

If she's only doing one of the following off that list then she won't be getting the Ebacc anyway.

noblegiraffe · 08/02/2015 16:49

Oh, and kids can't choose whatever they want at GCSE, there will be restrictions due to timetabling.

meditrina · 08/02/2015 16:51

Those aren't all EBACC subjects, and so if sounds more like a school-specific timetabling issue rather than anything else.

LIZS · 08/02/2015 16:54

What is her career aim if she wants to do art, media plus health and social care?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 08/02/2015 16:59

I think the school are talking about the 3rd Ebacc progress 8 spot, rather than the EBACC itself aren't they. If she was doing triple science, they would all be full but because it's double there's still one space. She still isn't going to get the Ebacc though but that isn't an issue. I don't think you'll get far arguing the toss with the school.

Which of those is she strongest in? Which does she enjoy most?

catslife · 08/02/2015 17:05

You wouldn't think so from reading MN, but actually there is quite a lot of writing in Media Studies OP and fairly long written exams.
At dds school you wouldn't be able to take all 3 of these subjects either as they are all in the same block.
The only non essay subject in this list is Computing.
I did some research last year and for media careers they prefer Art and computing/IT to Media studies.

Killasandra · 08/02/2015 17:06

Computing doesn't require spelling.

Original poster
itfcbabe · 08/02/2015 17:11

They said the compulsory ones are

English Lit.
English Lang.
Maths
RE
then as she is doing double science not triple she has to do either

History
Geography
French
German
or
Computing

As that is what the government say for is needed for the EBAC

Then only 2 more subjects her choice.

My older ones had a free run of choices after the compulsory ones apart from my oldest who had to do a Tech as then it was a Tech school.

They said no restrictions due to time tables.

She either wants to get into Film which is why Media would be good or Art Therapy so Health and Social care with Art would be a good choice.

She shouldn't have to make that choice at 14 years old,both options should be open until A-levels.

They kept on about it being HER choice HER future so pick what SHE wants to help it happen and then they say she has to do something SHE doesn't want or need to do and knows she won't get above a C in as she won't be bothered to work hard.

I know if she did the subjects she wanted to she would push herself as she wants to learn it.

I don't understand why the government wants everyone to do the academic subjects as not every child likes or wants to do this way of study some want to be creative some want to be practical.

OP posts:
Original poster
itfcbabe · 08/02/2015 17:13

The computing they mean is the internal workings of a computer not ICT which I think would be ok but they won't let that be one of the 5 for the EBAC

OP posts:
Babelange · 08/02/2015 17:26

Looks like the school are counting RE as a humanity so your DC would need a language to get the EBACC - science, maths, English, a humanity and a language.

My DS is in Y9 and about to make his choices for GCSE. His school are moving away from the rigid EBACC framework and giving them more choices (which I am not sure I am happy about). They have just carried out an exercise asking them what they would like to do before the formal choices are submitted to minimise disappointment.

I wanted to do English, French and Geography at A level but couldn't combine these three subjects, I dropped Geography in favour of Economics. I lived to tell the tale!

catslife · 08/02/2015 17:35

dds school have a similar system OP. The government decides which subjects count for EBacc and it is the ones listed above, the school has no say.
At dds school however there are some extra subjects added to the EBacc list aimed at students with additional needs (not Media but Photography or Food Tech). So not all schools take the hard line on this that your child's school is taking.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 08/02/2015 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 08/02/2015 17:40

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
itfcbabe · 08/02/2015 17:41

Thanks for everyone's comment,I have just emailed her science teacher asking if there was anyway she could do triple science,if she can then she can do what she wants to do.

I am not really happy her doing Media as I know kids who have done it and it's classed as a doss lesson as the teacher can't control his class!!

Got until Friday to get this sorted, if she does have to choose one from the list I want her to do French she says History so will see what happens.

xx

OP posts:
LIZS · 08/02/2015 17:41

I'd agree health and social care would be more widely recognised as an nvq level 3 with a practical element. This will be her last opportunity to do the likes of geography (which would have a social element).

prh47bridge · 08/02/2015 19:20

There seems to be some confusion about the EBacc on this thread. To clarify:

  • It is a performance measure, NOT a qualification
  • The government does NOT require all children to do the EBacc. Its purpose is to discourage schools from pushing children towards less challenging subjects in order to boost their league table position
  • It is made up of English, Maths, the sciences, a language and history or geography

RE is NOT an EBacc subject. So your daughter would need two subjects from your list to get the EBacc (history or geography plus one of the languages).

Either the school doesn't know what it is talking about or it is using the EBacc as a cover for other issues.

superram · 08/02/2015 19:28

Is health and social care a gcse? It is usually a btec and the less able are usually steered in that direction. Having taught it, it won't help art therapy which will have high grades attached for further study and Hsc doesn't offer that.

Original poster
itfcbabe · 08/02/2015 19:46

Yes Heath and Social Care is a GCSE it includes Early years as well.

I thought the same prh47,think the school are just using it as a cover

OP posts:
clary · 08/02/2015 19:50

She won't do the Ebacc (which I agree is nonsense as it is not a qualification, tho is sold as such by some schools) unless she does humanity and MFL.

School is insisting on one of those more rigourous academic subjects because they are the ones counted by the Govt in the new Progess 8. This is not unusual, tho this is the first year most schools are doing it. My DCs' school started it last year (DS1 who is in yr 11 could have done media, drama, art and textiles, for example, but DD in yr 9 must do one of those subjects) and the school I work in has launched it this year. I personally think it is a good idea tho I do hear your concerns.

How is she at language? There is not masses of writing in French and German is she has the ability to understand and learn 200 words in a foreign language. Or maybe the computing course (depending on the exam board) may be less essay based?

Agree with PR47, RE is not an Ebacc subject.

H and SC can be done as a GCSe but I agree, she may be better off doing art with her art therapy plan.

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 08/02/2015 21:49

To do art therapy she will need an art degree and relevant paid or voluntary work in certain sectors. The health and social care GCSE won't make any difference. In terms of getting into film that's probably more about getting your foot in the door and getting the right apprenticeship rather than the qualifications.

Did the school say she would get the Ebacc or did they say she needed to take an Ebacc subject. aFAIK 3 of the progress 8 slots can only be taken by science, history, geog, MFL or computing. I don't think they are covering, just making sure that she has 8 GCSEs that will count for them not 7.

catslife · 09/02/2015 09:10

Yes Health and Social Care is available as a vocational GCSE.
This arrangement of GCSEs is to fulfill the criteria for Performance 8 which is for the new League Tables.
So many schools are insisting that most pupils choose at least one option that is an EBacc subject as this is needed for the performance 8 league tables.
Some schools may have an alternative options for lower ability pupils or those with additional needs / SEN but they are not obliged to do so.

mummytime · 09/02/2015 10:35

If she does Georgraphy but only the Foundation paper, it isn't essay writing. My lazy (he was honestly) as well as dyslexic son managed to get his C.

Essexmum69 · 09/02/2015 13:59

Agreed this is the school complying with the governments latest league table measure Progress 8.
www.ncfe.org.uk/v-certs/progress-8-measure

mummytime · 09/02/2015 17:18

Oh DCs school should do better on that than ebacc! As everyone pretty much does double science, and a MFL (with NVQ for the low attainers).

Caronaim · 09/02/2015 22:42

Health and social care GCSE is a LOT of writing and of no value in her career interests.

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