How many GCSEs does your child's school allow them to take?

[ArcherQueen]

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.

[Marmitelover55]

My year 10 DD is doing 10 at a comp. she is taking triple science so I think those doing double science will be taking 9.

[Ta1kinpeece]

nickname
easily.
triple science in two slots, double english in one slot, double maths in one slot, extra language one lunchtime a week

[NicknameUsed]

DD's school used up an extra option for triple science. More students than ever took triple science this year (about 90 students), and they did fantastically well. I doubt that the outcomes would have been so good if triple science had been squeezed into 2 slots.

English certainly would have suffered if squeezed into one slot. As it is, most students failed to achieve their predicted grades (Although I think the English department was pretty poor anyway)

[Hulababy]

As of this year - 9.
It is possible to do a 10th by doing an after school class each week - but only one subject available, or if you have an additional language that you speak (i.e. your first language isn't English) then you can also do that as a 10th if you wish.

Following the new GCSEs they have moved to this, In the past they had children finishing GCSEs with 11/12/13. Which always seemed a bit daft having that many anyway.

The new GCSEs are supposed to be much more challenging, with a lot more pressure all at one time at the end. And sixth forms and colleges will only be interested in the ones they sit at the one go, all together - not ones done a year or two early, etc.

[Hulababy]

Forgot to add - selective independent girls school - restricted to 9 on the whole.

[MsMermaid]

Dd just did 11. But most at her school did 9.5. The top sets did triple science, and top RE group did a full GCSE in RE, while most classes just did half a GCSE.

My school allows 9 or 10, depending on if you do double or triple science. We also have an option choice of extra maths and English rather than another subject. So some pupils who are C/D borderline in a lot of subjects can choose to only do 8 subjects and spend more time on the core subjects so they are less likely to have to resit them while at college.

[NicknameUsed]

What is the point of half a GCSE?

DD had to do Citizenship, which she didn't enjoy, but it was a full GCSE.

[ErrolTheDragon]

When people say things like, why take more than X, they don't need them for A-levels or uni, i wonder whether they've forgotten that the point of education actually isn't just to pass exams, its to learn a range of skills and acquire knowledge. If a child is able and not stressed by learning then why limit them?

[drummersmum]

Totally, Errol.

[Balletgirlmum]

My children's schools would argue that more than 9/10 would impact on a child's ability to spend time doing sport, playing an instrument or doing dance/drama b

[QueenofQuirkiness]

DD is doing ten. She goes to an independent school where most do 10, some do 9 with extra English/maths support and some do 11 if they sacrifice a study period and stay later one night

[ErrolTheDragon]

Ballet - thats fair enough to some extent if the school can provide those opportunities other than via gcses.

[surreygoldfish]

Highly selective independent all do 10, some do additional maths on top of that.

[JacquettaWoodville]

I did nine, when I were a lass.

G;ad that's the norm again!

[JacquettaWoodville]

".I feel the school may be doing this for their own convenience, i.e. timetabling"

Timetabling must be a nightmare to get right, and the bar must be 'works well for the majority of the students', surely?

[Ta1kinpeece]

nickname
both my kids are pretty academic so were in the top sets and got solid A/A* GCSEs
the school is a comp so different sets do different permutations
from 11 GCSE to 3 GCSE depending on what is right for them
as comps are the antithesis of "one size fits all"i

[Ta1kinpeece]

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

[goodbyestranger]

Why did he bother to apply? The lad sounds tedious. Same grades as one of mine but mine has the added merit of not being a jumped up time waster.

[Ta1kinpeece]

because he had to have two choices on his UCAS
Cambridge tells lots of people to take a hike after all
and he's really happy where he is

[NancyJoan]

9 is the norm.

[goodbyestranger]

Not sure what you mean about two choices. You can apply to one option only and you don't need an insurance. What a git.

[Ta1kinpeece]

goodbye
Not sure why you are so visceral about a lad choosing one uni over the other?
He got his predicted grades.
He was sitting on two stellar offers (as one does with UCAS - main and reserve)
One of the unis assumed he would pick them, he didn't.

[goodbyestranger]

Visceral is over the top Talkin since I've already used the word tedious, which is hardly extreme. The boy didn't need to choose an insurance, just to clarify. Some people only get one offer after all.

[ErrolTheDragon]

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.

[BailiskStare]

This is "old school" i.e. pre the new GCSEs , but then DS took iGCSEs. Took nine examined , 2 compulsory but not examined.

Others will have better information but certainly 2 years ago 9 examination results was enough for some very good universities.

One point I would make re it is to stretch their frankly astounding brains - this may be true in some cases. In DS's case he started 4 A levels (actually Pre U ) and dropped one which he was competent but not "all that" at, - the way his brain was stretched was by learning more deeply not more widely. If 6th form teachers tell me this is rubbish - I will believe that.

I suspect cambridge will live after the boy Talkin knows turned them down, equally I can imagine he is very very happy elsewhere.