My son's non-selective independent school is restricting all pupils to 9 GCSEs. My son is very bright and while I do not have an issue with the number, it does mean he has to give up French, which is is really good at and is likely to get a top grade in. I don't want to list all the subjects he wants to take but French will have to go as it is the only one he is definitely not going to take at A'level. He has a pretty good idea what he wants to do but wants to keep his options open in case he changes his plans.My son takes his options at the end of this academic year (9) and is gutted at the prospect of not studying French after that. I know the GCSEs are going to be more rigorous and "harder" than in recent years but I also know he is more than capable of this type of study. I certainly don't think adding an extra one is necessarily going to adversely affect his grades.Basically his only option would be to take it outside of school which quite frankly is not going to appeal to him and I don't blame him.
I don't really want a debate on whether 9 is enough, that may or may not be the case for a very bright child, but what I would like to know from other parents is: does your child's secondary school restrict the number of GCSEs in the same way? Our school insists that all schools do this but I cannot find any information on websites. I guess with the changes they are all still deciding what to do.I feel the school may be doing this for their own convenience, i.e. timetabling, as it meets the needs of the majority of their students, and there are not enough outliers to justify having to accomodate them. I would really like to know if other schools are doing the same.
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How many GCSEs does your child's school allow them to take?
ArcherQueen · 01/10/2016 22:13
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Agree Witchend Dd's comp seem to be sticking with the early entry and gazillions of GCSEs 
I'd rather she was doing less . Less stress and better results maybe? Also don't like that once they've done the GCSE, they drop the subject.
She's in year 9 and doing music GCSE exam this year but will do another 3 exams next year and then a further 9 in yr 11 (although I'm not 100% sure they still do R.E GCSE)
She is mature.. but she'd be even more mature in 3 years time wouldn't she!
I think at dd's school it's about time tabling and being able to offer subjects. It's a tiny comp and yrs9/10/11 GCSE groups are taught together .
I think 9/10 is plenty. Better to get 9 good grades than 12 less good ones.
Dd1's school is a bog standard comprehensive and she did 2 in year 9, 2 in year 10 and will do another 10 in year 11 
It's too much, and I don't think they're mature enough to cope with the stress in year 9-she wasn't although she's good at exams and generally considered to be extremely mature for her age.
It does mean that she's gone into year 11 with already 4 A/A* results, which is good, but it doesn't take the pressure off when you've still got 10 to do.
We seem to be straying OT but if you only put one choice on the UCAS form its only £12 not £24 apparently. Maybe if you're absolutely sure of nailing your favourite its not too clever to put more?
Back in the day my GS only allowed us to take 8 O levels and that was a ridiculously restrictive number.
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errol
If a child is able and not stressed by learning then why limit them?
Exactly, and the reason why some of the kids at the 6th form do 7 AS and 6 A2 - it is to stretch their frankly astounding brains
Cambridge must be gutted that the lad who got 6 x A* at A2 told them to take a hike 
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