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

I did double science as well! Shows how much I invested in sci...

"But if your "top 8" includes for eg: RE, PE and / or drama, then you will be at a disadvantage to those who have 8 solid academic subjects (that is only 3X science, 2X English, maths, a mfl and a humanity, never mind a second language or humanity)"

Oh fgs

Where do people get this rubbish from.

I think so much has changed in GCSE's for this year - the school is saying that 8 good results are better than 10/11/12 mediocre ones. That they should focus on what they like and their strengths.

They have readjusted the amount of time required for each subject to actually learn the syllabus and I agree completely.

The school have recommended that children don't do all academic subjects as course work has been abandoned for most and the emphasis is very much on exams which is incredibly stressful.

My daughter's (independent) school allows 10 as standard (including one MFL); some will only do 9. She's academic and concluded that she should stick with triple science (then had a wobble and nearly swapped biology for art but the blocks were set and she couldn't). I've been pleased though that she's been encouraged to do a Latin course in addition - grammar based with no set texts, so it will consolidate what she has already done without needing that much extra work. There were probably at least 2 other subjects she would have done ahead of Latin given the opportunity though.

As she's doing music, dodging the workload of art may be just as well!

Scabb I thought what they said made sense if the Top 8 is true? Care to explain?

Should say that DS has to do PE Core & PHSE too!

Sorry - pressed to soon. The PE Core and PHSE are not GCSE's.

Not sure if it makes a difference ....DS at state High School.

k2p to my shame, I did worse in arithmetic than maths!!

How is that even possible??

My niece’s school did 13 as a minimum a few years ago. She ended up doing 15 I think! That was a super selective grammar though, and they took about 5 in year 9/10 so only actually did 9/10 in year 11.

My DDs options for next year are:
Double/triple science
English x2
Maths
And then three or four option blocks. She’s chosing triple science and four so will do 9, but the variety is essentially 8-10, which I think is the standard. Any more isn’t particularly necessary, especially with the harder GCSEs. DD’s school has advised many to only do triple science if they really excel at and enjoy it, and are insistent on certain test scores to do so.

Also no requirement for a mfl/humanity etc here. DD plans on doing 2 languages, art, and PE. My DD in year 8 is talking about doing French, Latin, dance, and art! Neither are interested in the humanities and excel in other areas.

I would expect that at the top end of universities such as Oxbridge, would prefer a top 8 of academic subjects. They will only interview a selection of applicants and I cannot imagine for Law or PPE that 8 subjects including Business Studies, PE and Media you would be first out of the hat for interview. It’s all about having realistic aspiration and if you are aiming for the top, making sure there are no obvious grounds for not offering an interview would seem to be a sensible way to go.

Just to throw into the mix, at DSs school they have also said that the very top grades are likely to be easier to achieve going forwards in right or wrong subjects like maths and sciences rather than opinion based/subjective element subjects like english lit, history and drama.

Seemed to make sense.

That rather depends on whether you are better at one skill or the other bubbles. many , many students struggle to get the very to[p grades in maths who thrive in essay based subjects. And vice versa. Such is human nature.

There are, of course, some who are brilliant at everything : but hey still may have had to work harder at some things than others.

Unless, of course, thee school is just talking statistical likelihood.

Notwithstanding, I 'd like to know their evidence base!

Sorry, not bubbles ! But user !

The private school Ds used to go to, the one he goes to now & the school Dd goes to take 9 as standard (10 if you add an extra curricular option)

More than 10 is madness.

They always were. Top grades are more often achieved in Maths than in many other subjective subjects.

But anyway , as I think I said on this thread, admissions tutors at Cambridge have repeatedly told our students that they DO NOT care what GCSE subjects students have.

Always were is not going forward. And it is misleading to suggest that is because it is easier : but it wasn't you who posted it anyway!

It really isn't unis who are holding on the intellectual snobbery and value attached to some subjects over others.

I did (five years ago):
English lit
English language
Re
Maths
Double science (that's two)
ICT
Media
History
French
Home ec
Philosophy

That's 12 and was far too much, resulting in below average grades

We had to do that much as well

And in fact if you look at a subject like drama there is a very high acceptance rate at RG universities of students with drama gcse/A Level.

I agree with piggy. As long as a student has maths, English, science x 2 & a language or humanity the other subjects don't really matter as long as the grades are high.

"I agree with piggy. As long as a student has maths, English, science x 2 & a language or humanity the other subjects don't really matter as long as the grades are high"

Yes. This. Honestly all this obsession with good and bad subjects at gcse. Drama, PE are perfectly respectable gcses.

Thanks EvilTwins.

I actually decided to look at University websites over the weekend as most of them list entry requirements, puts your mind at rest a little bit and I'm now happy with 8 GCSE's after a mild panic haha.

We are waiting for the finale optiin blocks to come out (Ds has filled in provisional choices) but it looks like he will do

Maths
English Lang
English Lit
Chemistry
Physics
Computer Science (history, geography & German are also in this column
Then 3 free choice
Music
Food & Nutrition
Business Studies or Design Tech

Mine will do 7/8 she's not sure yet.
Most are compulsory though so she doesn't have many options.

compulsory: Music, Maths, Eng x2, single Science, German,

Then a choice of Geography or History
Or One of the following
Art, Drama, Citizenship

Optional additional choice

Additional Science, or French.

Top grades are more often achieved in Maths than in many other subjective subjects.

Is that because it’s not subjective or is it because boys do well in it, and don’t in subjects which involve literacy skills (which are also more subjective)?