How many GCSEs and A levels do your dcs have to do in their secondary schools?

[comfortseeker]

Just that.

8 GCSE"s 3/4 AS and no more than 2 A levels allowed.

Music is compulsory at all levels as core subject with Maths, English, one science

Then choice of Humanity, Art/ Drama, language, and either another language or another science.

Dd started doing 9.5. She is now doing 8 because she dropped French and did short course RE in Y10.

DS2 doing 11 GCSE, currently in Y11. Same as DS1 did. Although ranked in the top 100 nationally for A level results now restricts to 3 A levels as standard, the main exception for a fourth being FM. The "3" restriction includes those subjects that will not have gone linear at A level yet - so still AS in Y12 and A2 in yr 13. If the subject has already gone linear the AS is not available. Heavily push the EPQ option

NewLife - 2 A levels is not enough for university. Surely you mean 3?

Normally 10 GCSES with some adding add maths. Pupils admitted to 6th form will normally start 4 (5 if further maths picked) and with the expectation of taking them all the way through. Some optimisation might follow later though in the light of offers. I fully support their policy.

New life's dds school will be preparing them for entry to conservatoire degree courses.

My dds school too obit offer two A levels but the diploma they do alongside can be topped up to a degree by a further year distance learning.

But looking at the website for the school her dd goes to it says they do Music A level plus one or two other subjects (most do 3)

bojorojo

Yes, sorry dd school's music specialist, tbh whatever your academic background as long as you have music as your main subjects you will be pretty much ok.
Music is a compulsory GCSE and A level, and some do A level Music Technology as the second one.
Some squeeze an extra one but they are really clever because there isn't really the time.

DS is doing 12 GSCE's at his comp but is an outlier the standard is 10 or 8 + 2 Btec's (which my dd is doing) - standard local comp.

DS's 6th form choice is 3 pathways either 4 alevels, Btec diploma + 2 alevels or extended Btec diploma + 1 alevel, all with epq in addition - new UTC.
If he stays at his current school for 6th form 4 alevels.

Balletgirl

I read the Ofsted report and it is so brilliantly correct.
I know she's at the right place. Doesn't make it any easier though, for those who are so anti boarding, it could be them one day.

I really can't see the point in doing 12 or even 14 GCSE's.

Current year 10 are doing 10 GCSE but this will drop to 9 for the current year 9s. This is to allow sufficient teaching time for the new exam format. They are expected to do EBacc, which restricts options to a humanity, a MFL and a free choice or triple science.

You asked how you know or how your DC know what to pick.

DD's school laid on an open evening for all subjects, online video presentations, a separate teacher consultation evening, loads of links and advice about career choices (although not so much about planning for university entrance), plus a personal interview for every student. The kids have to fill out a form explaining their ambitions and their strengths and weaknesses, and justifying their choices.

Then DD made her choice based largely on which teachers she likes and what her friends are doing, just like teenagers have done for decades.

(plus I got some good advice on MN and steered DD a bit with the benefit of that).

I think her strengths and interests are in science subjects and food tech. I can see these subjects will give / keep a lot of options open for future ether she choose to go to uni or fe. Does food tech involve a lot of course work?

I agree with pp - let it rest until year 9 comes round, you really don't have to start preparing now. She will know herself better by then anyway.

My dd said they will choose their options this October so not long.

Comp - 11 GCSEs (for those doing triple science), then three A levels and one subject as an AS. From September, it'll be 10 GCSEs which is a shame for those who are capable.

Why is that a shame , my ds school makes the good point that there are so many worthwhile activities in school and outside that do not include exams. Why do an extra subject as a GCSE when you could expand your mind and experience laterally by doing things which are not as narrow, and develop you as a whole person and not just a set of exam results

Music activities , learning a conversational language , doing more sport, volonteering , leadership activities,music , orchestra ,drama etc etc .I don't think any future career or degree will need more than 10 good GCSEs in a spread of subjects , the eleventh is just a waste of time .

It their A level booklet they actually say this explicitly , that when considering whether to do a fourth you should take into account the impact this would have on your extra curricular life and whether it is worth it .

As an aside I was listening to a lecture recently by the head of admissions at UCL law dept and she said that they absolutely value those with a broad range of extra curricular activities because they want people who really participate in the life of the dept both academically and socially .I was quite surprised at how emphatic she was .

My ds is doing 13 GCSE's in total but that's because he's in mostly too sets so is doing four options instead of two and he's also found triple science instead of double. I think when I was a at school we did 8 or 9 so it's a lot now a days.

2 in year 9, 2 in year 10, 9/10/11 in year 11. Ridiculous numbers.

I also have a DS in Y8, in the same school as his siblings. It was different for both if them, so not thinking about it until I know what school are doing.

For the record though. DS1 did 12.5 GCSEs and DD is doing 11.

DS1 is doing 4 a levels Inc FM. He did 5 AS and refused to do General Studies as well.

DD has just chosen 4 A levels, and has the option to add FM.

School adds in General Studies later on. Assuming it will still exist.

DD did 13 GCSE

DS doing 11
DD did 5 AS and is doing 3 A2 plus EPQ
DS will do 4 AS and 3 A2

remember that in Private schools they can afford to do non examined subject slots.
State schools do not have the reources for such

Too many!

MFL in Y9
Statistics and RE Y10
11 GCSEs on Y11 plus some do FM and an AS MFL

Selective Grammar. Half the cohort get 15 GCSEs. My DS would be much better off focusing on 10.

my kids are at a comp
no early entry
DD took the whole 13 in one linear session
DS will do the same with his 11

early entry does not benefit kids

10 or 11: maths,2 English , 2or 3 science, RE, 1 MFL, 3 other options. DS wants to do history, geography and PE

Probably 3 a levels but not researched this thoroughly yet.