Why do the amount of GCSE schools allow differ from so widely

[Grrrrrsnarl]

My ds has just chosen his options
The school is above average but on reading other posts on here they are not being offered the same amount of GCSE exams as others.

They take
english literature, language, maths, double science. Which are 5 GCSE (compulsory)

Then 1 gcse in humanities (out of mfl, history or geography) ,. 1 sport (either core pe, sport ocr. Or drama btec)

The 3 options which are a mixture of GCSE or btec courses

So a maximum of 9 GCSE are on offer + a btec drama / sport option

My son who is on course to achieve B grades is doing 8 GCSE and 1 btec and 1 core pe

Is this normal, posts on here are saying 11 GCSE ( my friends dd is doing 11)

Is the school going for quality over quantity? Can't work out why they are so different

Oh my god !!

Nine!!!

I knew there was something wrong there

5 or 6 compulsory and 4 optional!!!

So triple science would have the option of 11 qualifications

What is wrong with me today

It is also to do with educational cuts. Our school trimmed an option subject so that leaving staff didn't need to be replaced. So we went form 5 options to 4, which is in line with all other local state schools.

Our school (high achieving, outstanding until new Ofsted regime) does not force EBacc in any way at all. I think they all do Double Science now. No forcing of any options at all. It's nice.

DS1 could follow a 'purple' or 'green' pathway at his school. He did purple so 4 option subjects plus having to do GCSE RS and some IT thing in year 10. there really is no need and I felt overwhelmed by how much he had to revise at points. DS2 is in year 9 so I will find out soon what has changed but he talks as if he chooses 4 subjects. Again, no obligation to do any combination other than the double science stipulation (I think)

I would much rather my DS took 8 GCSEs and had time for sport/ music/ downtime.

DH only has 8 and he went to an ultra selective school 20 years ago, so it's not a new thing to do fewer. I think there was a phase of kids doing 12 or 13 GCSEs when the grade inflation had got silly so everyone was getting A*/As and the only way to stand out was to do loads.

Yeah i agree low

Both dh (private school) and i (comprehensive) took 8 o levels

The 12 to 13 GCSEs wasn't to do with grade inflation ( a very MN perspective!!) it was more to do with maximising the potential to get 5 A* - C at GCSE with the old league table measures. Now we have a different system that particular pressure has gone. The system was gamed by some schools with lots of GCSE equivalents. It was never fair on the kids nor what they wanted.

But because coursework has largely gone or dwindles and English Lit, to name but one, has such huge additions to content, it doesn't feel like students are doing less. They are more pressured than ever, to be frank. So, I think 4 options is for the best.

piggy

So do you mean that a child would have a better chance of 5 A to C with 12 exams rather than 8?

Im not married to the idea of grade inflation...it was just the only thing i could think of

Yes, because some of the qualifications were , for want of a better word, a bit tin pot. There was also more coursework which did help students to spread and mange workload and to excel with more time, feedback and opportunities to refine and redraft. This also obviously meant there were fewer long exams. And some subjects had practical and/or a modular approach to exams. Now, they are all at the end. Triple science in particular is crazy, I gather!

It's not 12 or 8 exams, remember. they most likely have MORE exams now!

Sorry i was typing qualifications earlier but its such a long word

I'm not sure if some of the variety in number is about the students individually rather than the schools.

At DD's school some are doing 11 GCSEs plus AS Maths but others will be doing fewer with some doing only 3-5 GCSEs because of medical or educational needs.

My DS's school (selective independent) only allows 9 GCSE's + Higher Project Qualification. I'm not happy about it, too many doors will be closed too soon!

Ds is taking

English lit
English Lang
Maths
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Computer science
Media studies
History

The school did use to have RE as compulsory but have dropped it since the change in grading.

They have 9 lessons in the science's if they take triple science, so more than if they did double science.

They have more Maths lessons now they have drop the RE GCSE.

He did look at doing a french GCSE, as an extra(Not in school) but decided he's got enough on his plate.

DC's school, for many years, has offered 10 - 5 core, 5 options.

2 option blocks have study skills / life skills in for SEN students, and there are also options for BTECs and practical IT qualifications.

One block is mainly languages, but almost all subjects are offered in more than 1 block, which gives a huge amount of flexibility.

My DD is doing:

Triple science
English (2)
Maths and further maths
4 options
RE - compulsory

So 12 in total + media studies in year 10 (compulsory for top set)

Too many really.

Am trying to persuade her to focus her revision on the core Ines she needs for her chosen A level subjects....

DD1 did 12 in all, but 9 is the norm - she's very bright and a grafter. DD2 is doing the same though a slightly different selection. In their school it varies depending on what they can do academically and also what their interests are.

Only 8 GCSEs here with the option to drop a few GCSEs for BTECs instead.

English Language
English Literature
Maths
Science double or triple if top set
MFL
Humanity subject

If you take double science you can then choose 2 options in either GCSE level or vocational BTEC subject instead of MFL or a humanity.

If you take triple science you only choose 1 option between your humanity subjects and no other options.

No student will take more than 8 subjects no matter how bright. This is entirely due to the progress/attainment 8. Previously students took 10 GCSEs as standard and brighter students took up to 12.

My DD is just picking hers, independent girls school. They do 9 or 10, depending on double and triple science.

She's doing
English
English lit
Maths
Triple science
History (must have one humanity)
Spanish (must have one MFL)
Computer science
Classics

I think she is doing a further maths exam as well but it's all taught within the maths lesson, plus not sure if it is an extra gcse or a certificate.

Wow reinette that is so restrictive! NO DT? No arts? What about artistic or musical students or those who enjoy technology?

Piggywaspushed the last two will be free choices, so girls who enjoy DT, Art or Music can choose those instead of Classics or Computer Science. It's not restrictive at all, the school is just making sure that the girls study the core subjects plus humanity & MFL, which will benefit the girls when they are applying for university courses.

My children's (state) schools have the same options as reinette.
For the last two subjects, pupils can choose whichever subjects they want from the list of those on offer.

There are no option blocks; the school looks at what subjects the pupils have chosen and then designs the timetable to accommodate as many pupils as possible. In DS1's year, DS2's year and DS3's year, every pupil was able to study their first choice of subjects.

Interesting.
Ds1 has to hand his option choices form in, in 2 weeks.

I too am shocked at how different it is. At other schools. I had no idea of the diversity.

Compulsory:
Maths
English
Science
PE
RE

1)my friend couldn't believe they were forced to do RE. And PE.

2)They don't encourage Geography and History because they think the 2 humanities together are too hard (odd because I did both)

3. You don't have to do a language. Ds1 hates French and isn't good at it. I am worried about this and how top universities will view this (if he decides to go to uni to do ..... genetic engineering/stem cell investigations .... seems to be his current interest....)with no language.

I am worried. Am I supposed to be helping him/guiding him more?

Language being non compulsory, ie that you are allowed to drop it and now, for the first time, NOT do a language, is new, at our school. This year.

Is it at others?

I just don't know what to advise Ds1.

Language is recommended at DS school but not compulsory.

At the school they have levels of choice. Depending on whether the child is academic or more creative, practical, sporty.

So 3 levels, each child is recommended a level.

So a top set child for maths and science would be offered a level that makes triple science and humanity/MFL compulsory leaving them 2 options of there choice.(with the hope the child chooses a MFL/Humanity as an option)

The next level gives 3 options and the last level gives 4 options.

There are lots of different GCSEs and vocational qualifications to choose from.

Engineering is offered to some but takes up 2 options.