Am I right to be angry ??

[Sometimesoon]

My 14 year old chose his GCSE options earlier in the year , because he is in the higher pathway he has to follow the Ebac system , so he gets to choose 2 subject of his choice ( he chose Music and Graphics) . We heard last week he didn’t get Graphics . This is a child who predicted to get 7/8 , has shown consistently good marks in the subject , has a genuine interest in design , has done his work shadowing in the design sector and achieved a good attitude to learning grade from his teachers . This counts for NOTHING . He had been given art instead and we have been told basically, suck it up . His friends who are predicted a 4/5 have got Graphics ( but in a lower pathway ) we have been told everyone's choice goes in the computer and 95% of the pupils will get all their choices. This seems so bloody unfair . He works hard ,achieves good results and now had his career path screwed. Meeting the deputy head ( after chasing for a week) on Monday. Anyone else had this ? Anyone know what the legal requirements are as far as the school is concerned , Class numbers etc ? . Just want to get my ducks lined up before the meeting . Thank you .

Is the deputy head in charge of sixth form entry? You really need to query this.

So a child that has shown determination, ability and a genuine interest in a subject shouldn’t be acknowledged in any way ? Sure about the fact that he can’t do A level Graphics , straight from the deputy heads mouth .

One of my friends dc wanted to do GCSE textiles as she wants to be a fashion designer. At the last moment the school said she couldn't as there wasn't enough dc who wanted to do textiles. After weighing up the options, my friend and her dd decided that the dd would go to a different school where she could do it.

Schools can't make their timetables work so that every child can do every subject they want to do. Ask for a meeting and see if anything can be done. If it can't, you have to accept he can only do art or move schools.

But is the DH in charge of sixth form admission and does he actually know everything about graphics? If your school is one that has a sixth form attached and accepts external students this would be an incredibly harsh entry requirement. Google the school and there should be the relevant information on their website.

My husband has a degree in product design that he did at central St Martins . Physics or maths aren’t needed , in fact , he’s crap at maths .

Showing determination and interest is irrelevant if the subject can't be timetabled. Before you see the Deputy head, decide if you are willing to compromise on another, less important, subject. If graphic design is so important you may need to lower expectations, possibly no longer following the EBac pathway, would you be prepared to do that if it was an option?
If GD is timetabled 3 times a week and it clashes with MFL then removing/changing that subject would be your only option.

Our deputy head is the one who determines GCSE and A level places .

Out of interest when you say design or even product design what is being designed? As I’ve said about my DH works extensively in one design sector no one will have graphic design as a qualification and this DS’s friend is studying product design at university in a totally different sector again no require to for graphic design. The ability to use CAD is very important and makes you very employable and able to command a good salary £40-50 per hour being the norm. So I would have thought some sort of computing GCSE (which I k is nothing about) would be more useful.

You need to approach this calmly.

Talking about other kids will not help you. Please don't do that.

Explain DS really wants to do graphics, is there any way they can squeeze an extra one in, pretty please?

Enquire again about A level. Ask for it in writing re Art GCSE and progression to Graphics A level.

Think about your plan B. Would you move schools over this?

I'm not convinced talking about work shadowing will help either, unless your DS organised this himself completely independent of any connections your DH has.

Have a look at other options for post 16. Are there colleges near you that offer the A level? Look at their entry requirements, they may well take him with Art.

Have you spoken to the nearest large sixth form college that offers Graphics related A Levels and confirmed what their current course entry requirements are? (its probably on their website) then at least you will have facts when you go to your meeting. They may also have some advice for your son.

I do understand that you are hacked off about this, not least because it is a subject that he enjoys - I would indeed talk to the school and try and press for this. It is unlikely to be related to class size I feel. He has to feel incentivised to go into school and work hard, and this will be helped by him doing subjects that he enjoys. As a last resort you can contact the governors.

Sometimes local colleges can help out in this situation.

A friend of mine's daughter did GCSE German and wanted to do it at A-level, but the school had stopped offering it - it was a designated modern languages academy - what a farce these labels really are! Eventually she was able to do it in collaboration with the 6th |Form College. Worth a try.

Is this the only sixth form in your area? If not, he has the option of going elsewhere. Check that out, so that you are well informed when you talk to the DH. If he's an able student they may be keen to keep him and therefore accept him on the A level course with the Art GCSE.

He can’t do A level GD without gcse graphic design

That is simply not true. DD is doing Graphics A level without having taken GCSE graphics. It has not held her back in any way.

Further the entry requirements for St Martins Product design course at A level - "preferred subjects include Art, Art and Design, or Design and Technology"

For GCSE - "And five GCSE passes at grade 4 or above (grade A*-C) including English Language, Mathematics and a double award at science, or two separate sciences such as Physics or Chemistry, and one other subject (Art & Design or Design Technology are recommended)."

Looks like the school are doing him a favour. Graphics doesn't even get a look in on either list.

Product design is the design of physical products . DH has worked everything from knives and forks to the entire interior for Airbus . DH is an design consultant , he uses CAD / CREO daily , it’s something they study in a product design degree .

Just move for sixth form then. If your kid is so amazing the school will be disappointed to lose him

My information came from the deputy head .

OP you need to calm down.

Most schools don't offer graphic design GCSE. It'll have no impact at all on doing it at A level.

If it's doing A level at that particular school that needs GCSE (apparently) get them to sign that he will be ok doing a level without the GCSE. Problem solved.

Most designers I know did Art and one form or other of D&T at GCSE and then specialised at A level in the design side before Uni.

Go and express how much he wants to take the subject. Ask (nicely) if there's wiggle room. Accept you might not get what you want, BUT it's not the end of the world. His career is not ruined, you're being over dramatic.

Deep breath. Calm and rational. Otherwise you're just turning into that parent, which will probably get you nowhere.

Art and Graphics are at the same time on the timetable .

Surely the meeting goes as folliws:

Thank you so much for facilitating nearly all of ds's options. We really appreciate it. Can I just check something with you please. DS wants to do graphic design A'Level (and possibly a graphic design degree) so can you olease confirm that gcse Art and not graphic design will not prevent him from doing graphic design 'level in your 6th form.

FWIW OP dd wanted to do Drama. School didnt offwr it at gcse. She had no problem doing drama A'Level at a different 6th form as her school didn't offer drama even at 6th form. She was set at 15 on going down the RADA/Conservatoire route. She got an A* for her Drama A'Level . She changed her mibd and is reading a liberal arts degree at Oxbridge.

Please just bear in mind that they change hugely from 14 to 16, and again from 16 to 18 and then some more when they get their results and dd's didn't prevent her from doing what she set out to do, she jyst changed her mind.

You do know the EBacc is nothing but a performance indicator for the school. Your son gets "nothing" from it. He doesn't have to follow an EBacc pathway.....school want him to as it benefits them.

There is no kudos following the EBacc, it doesn't help Uni entry, there is no certificate. If you want your son to take certain courses, then speak to the school and change his options.

However .....who is more upset about this, you or him? You don't mention what he thinks or what he'd prefer. Before you do anything you need to take a step back and talk to your son, who may be, perfectly happy having had discussions at school already about his options.

There is literally nothing you can do about it today. Ring the school in the morning and double check re graphics A Level. If it's definitely school policy that students have to do Graphics gcse to move on to A Level, then you have 2 options.
A) Ask about ds being a special case who can do a level Graphics having done art gcse.
B) Move him for sixth form.

Do Art GCSE.
Move to Winchester.
Go to Peter Symonds college who let you Product Design / Graphics Communications without Graphics GCSE.
Sorted.

More realistic - do Art GCSE then move schools for A level if your school really won't allow him to do Graphics A level without the GCSE.

He’d gladly not do the Ebac in favour of doing a subject he loves and as a individual has a genuine interest in .

Ok, so if it's not a timetable clash, then the only question you need to ask is why your son is unable to do graphics but is able to do art at the same time on the timetable. Unless you've already asked that and been given a reason? Are both art & graphics only timetabled in one subject block?