How many subjects in Y12? (AS changes)

[slicedfinger]

I realise I should have spotted this by now, but it wasn't till a meeting at school last night that we were told there is a strong possibility that the present Y10 will only be able to chose 3 subjects for Y12, and not the current 4, as a result of the forthcoming curriculum changes. The school have not decided yet apparently .

For a bit of context, though I'm not sure how relevant it is, it is a very, very high achieving school at GCSE, but with a new sixth form, currently with the first year in Y12.

Are other schools going down to 3, or are they sticking with 4?

The 2 6th form colleges my DD has applied to for A levels (she's in y11) have done this for courses starting 2015.

1. Everyone does AS in all their courses and y12 regardless of whether this is now supposedly an all through course or not.
2. higher ability As and Bs students recommended to start with 4 and drop to 3 after y12.
3. lower ability mix Bs and Cs only start with 3.

I'm not surprised they haven't decided yet regarding 2016 courses, especially with an election next month which could reverse the A2/AS changes.

Thanks Teen. That makes perfect sense, and I hope that's the route they decide to take, if they have to. It did occur that they may be hedging their bets till after the election.

I believe there have also been (not very well publicised) funding cuts for post 16 education which effectively mean that sixth forms will only be funded for 3 subjects per pupil. Some are still letting students take 4 subjects to make class sizes more viable / cater for high ability students.
Have a look in the manifestos - there's loads of information from political parties about education from 4 to 16 and early years- but very little about post-16.

I need to start joining the dots better. I knew about the funding cuts (very detailed info from school) and they explained reductions in staff. I boxed off part of that thinking they might be looking at trimming some more niche subjects. Stupidly didn't realise it may have a more basic impact. What a dreadful situation.

I have a child in Y10 - agree that having this uncertainty isn't satisfactory.
What I'm concerned about is that it isn't necessarily the "niche" subjects that will suffer but more mainstream ones that are interdisciplinary e.g. Maths (and further Maths) and MFL which under the 4 subject combination are often taken by pupils with a wide spread of other subjects.
Really hope something will be sorted out before the Autumn term when we need to apply for sixth forms.

I have DC currently in Y12 and Y10. I undertstand my school haven't changed the system for next year's Y12, but are waiting to see for Sept 2016. So far they seem keen to keep 4 as the status quo.

Whatever schools and colleges are saying, even for this coming September, is subject to the election results. At the moment A Levels will change significantly in 2015 for subjects including English and Physics and in 2016 for the rest which include Maths BUT a change in government will potentially abandon all of the planned developments and even bring in something else.

Schools and colleges and examination boards won't be certain until the election winner confirms.