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 .

The problem isn't the ebacc, it's the fact that 2 or 3 GCSE subjects get taken up in science. And a lot of timetabled lessons for Maths and English. Which leaves little time for options of any kind.

OP you need to say that your son really wants to do A level graphics so how can the school facilitate that and why are you being told GCSE is a pre-requisite when a lot of schools don't offer it. That is your starting point. Not that he is somehow more worthy than others.

@Sometimesoon
How did you get on today when talking to school?

Op – I realise that you had your meeting today (I have only read this thread tonight) but I would like to offer my ‘expertise’ on this (speaking as the person in charge of vocational qualifications in my school)
Graphics is no longer a GCSE qualification thanks to Gove and his cull but is offered as a vocational qualification (at the moment by just one board NCFE which is the VCERT Level 1/2 Tech in Graphics for this specific subject) – as such it is a very practical course that requires not only a subject specialist to deliver but also specialist equipment/software and as such there are few schools that can offer this therefore there is no set requirements for A Level/Uni for the Level 1/2 to have been studied.
As it is a practical qualification there will be a limit on numbers given there amount of equipment available for each class size and the availability of qualified staff – this will mean that could be in every school that offers this subject (and with other subjects) that there is a limit on numbers. The subject can’t run on every subject block given that there would be few staff who could deliver it and they can not be available in each option block due to other years needing their time.
All students have the right to choose the subjects that they want to study, however this leads to the situation that you are faced with – too many students select that the subject can accommodate i.e. if you think of catering, the rood tech room only has so many ovens/hobs/cooking spaces so can only have that number in any class therefore the only fair method is by random selection and not by ability/work ethic as this would mean that some students are just written off and I’m sure if your DS was a 4/5 student who may not be so hard working as another student you would also feel that the school are failing them if they said they couldn’t study a subject because a higher ability student wanted his place

If a GCSE option is oversubscribed, our school uses a ballot. Prior experience/talent obviously can't be prioritized at a state school! Part of the reason that he is talented may be the fact that he has a parent in the industry who has been teaching him stuff- you could argue that he is less worthy of a place because of this advantage that means he could start it at A-level or degree level (not my opinion but hopefully you see what I mean)

If I were you I'd ask to be placed on the waiting list for a GD place (hopefully there's a drop out) and research other schools for Sixth Form so that he can do GD for A-level.

I don't understand why you think it's a waste- he can continue to work on his portfolio at home or look into doing it as a private candidate.