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Secondary education

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Original poster

Another GCSE options thread

20 replies

courderoy · 16/02/2020 23:18

Just sense checking really

DS is choosing GCSE options, his school do a 3 year KS4 so he is currently year 8.

Most kids in the school sit 10 GCSEs at the end of year 11. He has the option of taking statistics which he would sit at the end of year 10. He would then be timetabled to have supervised free periods in year 11 and sit 9 GCSEs at the end of that year.

If he didn’t do statistics he would probably do music - so a big lump of course work and another set of exams in year 11.

He is able, motivated and hardworking (well at the moment)

A subject less in year 11 seems a good idea to me - but am I missing something?

OP posts:
Original poster
courderoy · 16/02/2020 23:24

Oh and I realise that a GCSE taken early won’t ‘count’, so the question is really whether there could be a disadvantage in sitting 9 GCSEs when his cohort sit 10....

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Fifthtimelucky · 16/02/2020 23:33

For me the decision would be more about whether he'd rather do statistics or music.

Music has only one exam, not 'a whole set' of them. Obviously there is coursework too, but I wouldn't call it 'a whole lump'. If he enjoys music, he'll enjoy the coursework. If he doesn't, then there's not much point in doing it!

Original poster
courderoy · 16/02/2020 23:45

Thanks Fifth, and yes sorry just one exam for music. He would enjoy both, but he would probably find statistics very easy and music significantly more of a challenge.

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Giroscoper · 17/02/2020 12:05

Why won't it count? For the school or him? For him it does.

My son is year 9 and they will take their statistics exam in year 10 and then do Further Maths GCSE in year 11. They are a very high achieving cohort for maths.

Surely this is all about what he wants to do post GCSE. If he needs music for something then he needs to choose music. If this is about getting the highest grades then statistics. But you have to really love maths.

halcyondays · 17/02/2020 12:11

Which does he think he’d rather do? Has he any ideas about fire careers? Why would music be more of a challenge?

halcyondays · 17/02/2020 12:12

Future careers, not fire careers.

RedskyAtnight · 17/02/2020 12:19

Agree I think it comes down to which he'd prefer to study. If he's not interested in a future direction that includes music, then neither will really rule anything out or in.

I have a niggling feeling that some universities only look at GCSEs taken at a single time (so would ignore an early GCSE) - hopefully someone else can confirm or deny this.

if he gets organised most of the music coursework can be done in Year 10/early Year 11 and then the exam is only 40% (this is AQA, other boards may differ). I would advise against music unless he has a genuine interest though - DS is really struggling with the composing element in particular.

KittyMcKitty · 17/02/2020 12:30

Music is not an easy option although a very worthwhile subject.

My dd is taking gcse music and very much enjoys it however she finds it a rigorous subject (for context she has Grade 5 theory and is Grade 5 / 6 in an orchestral instrument).

What instrument does your dc play? They can get full marks with a perfectly played Grade 4 piece. Does he have grade 5 theory - dd feels those who don’t have it are at a disadvantage.

Basically there was s the written exam )which includes listening) on the set pieces (essentially from classical to the Beatles).

Two performances- 1 individual and 1 group - that have to total a minimum length.

Two compositions - 1 free, 1 from a brief

There is a large classical component to the course - not only listening to requiems etc but also understanding the technicality of these pieces.

IceCreamFace · 17/02/2020 13:02

Even for oxbridge 9 gcse's are absolutely fine so that wouldn't be a concern at all. Does he want to take music, it's not my subject but from other students I teach it sounds fairly work heavy but enjoyable for musical kids.

Even if he decides to pursue maths for a level I don't think a gcse in statistics is especially useful subject but is fairly easy for a numerate student so the main advantage would be freeing up time nearer his gcse's. Whether this is necessary really depends on DS.

Original poster
courderoy · 17/02/2020 19:38

Thanks all - really useful as always!

He doesn’t need either of them, he thinks he would enjoy them both. I worry about music as he is only just taking grade 1 saxophone - while that’s fine and some of his peers will be similar I think it might end up that he finds it very stressful.

As Icecreamface says there isn’t really any point in taking statistics other than to get breathing space in year 11. He is very able in maths and will likely take A level anyway.

I will talk to him more and see where we get to.

Thanks again

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Piggywaspushed · 18/02/2020 07:10

All of this rather proves to me that year 8 is too early to choose options ... I do dislike the three year GCSE (as do Ofsted these days) but, anyhoo, off topic! You can't choose that!

My DS does music and is not gifted. He is in year 11 now and working at about grade 5 on a euphonium. There was a he situation with his teacher which ahs impacted him a ,ot but they now have a good , proper teacher and things are going OK. It's a balance : it has periods of high stress with the performances and compositions but there are fewer exams than nearly every subject. The exams aren't particularly easy , mind. All in all, he wishes he had taken French instead but I do think doing a more arty GCSE has been good for him : it encourages collaboration, teaches very different skills, introduces them to music across time and cultures, so is one of the remaining mind broadening subjects, I'd say. It needs good, consistent and supportive teaching.

Your DS is year 8 and grade 1 : by year 11 , he should have reached the minimum level recommended which is about grade 4 : you might want to check with his instrumental teacher (mine stalled in progress on his brass instrument when he got a brace fitted!) as that would presume a grade or two a year . My DS swears it is easier for singers but I have no idea what he bases this on! He seems to have enjoyed the composition element and I am slightly in awe of the fact that he can now write music : I have no idea if it is any good!

Personally, I am not sure what extra stats offers to a child compared to music : given this is a school with three year GCSE , I assume they have their own reasons for early entry and offering stats. These are unlikely to be about offering a rich and fulfilling all round education...

But stats might be fun of course for some students!

ExpletiveDelighted · 18/02/2020 07:19

Mine is choosing options too (y9), she likes her music lessons but doesn't play an instrument (she does sing but is only grade 3). I'm not sure whether it's going to be too hard without much instrument experience?

Piggywaspushed · 18/02/2020 07:42

She should be fine with grade 3 singing in year 9. Lots of my DS's class don't play instruments. By year 11 she should be about grade 5 singing which is plenty.

ExpletiveDelighted · 18/02/2020 07:44

Thank you, we haven't had all the options info yet so no firm decisions but music is a definite contender.

Original poster
courderoy · 18/02/2020 13:08

Piggy - I actually appealed his secondary place partly on the basis that this school (his fourth choice) does a three year gcse (there were other better reasons too).

He would enjoy stats - he is a born statistician - but i have a niggle that he would be missing something

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Piggywaspushed · 18/02/2020 14:20

I feel like he would too but I don't know him of course and nor do I know much about GCSE statistics which seems to be a very small subject and I guess is often taught to nurture able mathematicians and/or for early entry.

I have just decided not to apply for a job at a school because of three year GCSE !

crazycrofter · 18/02/2020 14:35

@courderoy we're just picking options but ds is in year 9, which is much better I think. He's probably going to be doing grade 3 piano this summer, so not much further ahead than your ds really. He's not a gifted musician really, but he's capable enough.

I've supported him choosing music because 1. it adds variety, involves practical skills and one less exam than all the other subjects 2. he will be in a small group - usually fewer than 10 take music, so he'll have more 1 to 1 and less opportunity to get distracted and 3. it overlaps with his piano lessons so he can do piano practice and it will feel like he's killing two birds with one stone! The music teacher said his main homework would be piano practice, which is great for ds as he hates homework!

He also quite likes messing around on garageband so I think the composing bit might be reasonably enjoyable. I'm sure it will also be stressful around the due dates for submission, but at least by the time we get to exam season he'll have 60% of the work out the way.

Original poster
courderoy · 18/02/2020 21:27

Thanks Crazycrofter, they sound a bit similar. I think it would be easier next year - if only to see if he sticks with the saxophone and progresses! All your points about the pro’s of music are good ones, although I think the class size is generally bigger.

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Original poster
courderoy · 18/02/2020 21:40

Piggy - That’s really interesting that you didn’t take the job on that basis, It seems to lead to a quite haphazard KS3 in some subjects, and year 11 seems to involve a lot of recap.

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Piggywaspushed · 18/02/2020 21:48

Year 11 can be stultifying! I just don't really like the exam factory approach but I am sure it suits some subjects better than others. Maths will always tell you they do a 11 year GCSE!

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