GCSEs - is 8 enough?

[trsv]

My DD's state school is allowing only 8 GCSEs to be made in Year 9 (East Midlands if it matters).

Compulsory GCSEs are maths, English language, English literature, double or triple science - so this leaves my daughter with only 2 more GCSEs to choose from as she's taking triple science.

Since EBacc is recommended and it requires to have one humanities GCSE and one foreign language GCSE, this effectively means she has to choose French (the language she studies) and Geography or History.
She says she wants to do both humanities subjects and wanted to do BPE as well - but not enough GCSE slots for this.
We discussed she could do BPE in Year 10, but it cannot be done as the school only allows for 8 GCSEs to be chosen.

The school won't accept more GCSE applications unless under exceptional circumstances. I understand they're coming from offering good support for 8 GCSE subjects so students who are not excelling academically can also reach their potential, but this leaves brighter children disadvantaged - or am I being too much if a Tiger mum?

What are our options - a mix of GCSEs and iGCSEs? Do I have any case to try and persuade the school to offer additional GCSE just because my daughter wants to do it?

At the end of the day I guess eight is just about enough since universities are looking at the strongest 8 - but I'm just not happy with not being given a chance for those who feel they can do more to try and achieve it.

Any ideas or thoughts are appreciated.

this might sound a stupid question but when schools offer triple science is that an alternative to chemistry, biology and physics or is it the same thing. My sons school offer them as biology, chemistry and physics and so do the schools that his (non school) friends attend. If only double science is being studied does that mean that all 3 science subjects are still studied but to less depth?

I really need to clue up on these things seeing as I have a child in senior school

So, if child wants to go to uni. call uni admissions and find out: i THINK they take best 8 results. If "only" doing 8, you have no back up/wriggle room if they struggle in one subject.

re double v triple science: yes covered to slightly lower/less of a standard but, other things being equal it shouldn't preclude a student opting for an individual A level in physics/bio/chem.

No it shouldn't, but it requires more catching up. Triple science covers units 1, 2 and 3 of each subject. Double science covered units 1 and 2 only, so there will be a knowledge gap if you take A level. DD says it is obvious in her biology who took double science as she is struggling more than the others.

i THINK they take best 8 results. If "only" doing 8, you have no back up/wriggle room if they struggle in on

I expect the uni criteria may be adjusted as the new gcses come in - more kids will be being limited to fewer subjects, and the profile of grades will be different. I doubt they can work out the details until after the results appear.

TeenAndTween

LOL, yes but I bet he was in the local paper/TV. And was the onlky one at school who did.

8 is dire, but you can make the most of it by ignoring Ebacc nonsense. It's league table noise and can safely be ignored.

But I'd look at moving school if things are that constrained, if you can.

Up here in Scotland the schools have never offered as many subjects to children in 4th year (yr 11 equiv) and more recently have cut them down to 6-7 in most schools. My Dd left school last year after sitting 8 Nat 5s (GCSE), 5 Highers (AS) and 3 Advanced Highers (A levels). She had 4 unconditional Uni offers by the time she had her Higher results in. She took a gap year and again has an unconditional offer from Edinburgh. Taking 8 subjects certainly hasn't affected her prospects.

I doubt 8 is dire. A dc's happiness at school is more important than the opportunity to sit one more GCSE...moving them for that reason alone at a crucial time is madness!