Are there any GCSEs with no exams?

[OrangeApples]

Similar to art?

DS is choosing GCSEs. He’s not the most academic and is considered a “low attainer” although I disagree and hate the term (I prefer to call him practically minded) most understand it’s meaning. He’s been given predicated grades, based on SATS, of 3s and 4s.

Obviously he will have to do English, maths and combined science. He gets a free choice of the option blocks (4 options) but only has to choose 3, he will do learning support sessions in the block he doesn’t choose a subject.

He wants to do art because it’s practical and has no exam. He doesn’t want to do anything else because they have exams and the BTECs have “too much writing coursework” apparently (his words). Although I have told him he might just have to pick something he will enjoy and wants to learn more about and forget about exams/what grade he gets and just learn because he wants to.

So what I’m really asking, are any of these choices similar to Art in terms of practical work/no or very little exam emphasis.

Block A
GCSE History
GCSE Geography

Block B
GCSE Food
GCSE Textiles
GCSE Business
GCSE PE
GCSE French
GCSE RE
BTEC Health and social care
BTEC Sport

Block C
GCSE Triple Science
GCSE PE
GCSE Music
GCSE French
GCSE Drama
GCSE Geography
NCFE Food and Cookery

Block D
GCSE Triple Science
GCSE Art
GCSE Citizenship
GCSE History
Level 2 Performing Arts
BTEC Music
OCR Nationals ICT

if you are not suited to this type of learning/assessment that you are just thrown in bin

Totally agree with you!

Schools push for maths and English - average 50% pass rate and then say 75% of jobs require those. Where’s the short fall going?

Please some dyslexic biases are saying they are scrapping the need for qualification altogether!!

Boss’s

UPDATE
Someone has asked how our situation turned out and how DS has coped with the subjects he chose so I thought, for others in the future, I’ll post an update.

DS ended up doing

GCSE maths, English (he has to do language and literature) and double science
He enjoyed the science practicals while they were in school, he’s not so keen now it’s all theory and online. He’s never been a fan of English and maths and they have turned out to be a real struggle. He’s in the “special class”, as he calls it, (it’s the learning support group) for maths and English but it’s a nice small group of only 10 of them and they get all the extra support they need (no surprises there though, we expected this)

BTEC Sport, he enjoys this. Not so much the theory and writing side but he tries with it.

NCFE food and cookery, again, enjoyed this when they were in school because it’s so practical, not so keen on any theory parts but we have been doing the cooking exercises at home and he’s really enjoying it and getting a lot out of it.

GCSE Art, by far his favourite subject. He loves doing the drawings and sketches and he’s even writing things down and trying to explain his thoughts on paper in his sketchbooks.

Plus learning support. This has been a lifeline being able to drop a subject and concentrate on what he needs. He’s come a long way and I was so glad I asked for it.

I think his option subjects, with them being mostly practical, and the extra support he gets, have kept him in school and motivated. I don’t think he would have been doing so well otherwise.

I have no clue about what grade outcomes we might be expecting but that doesn’t matter to me. He knows as long as he tries and he’s enjoying what he’s doing then he’s doing his best and I’m proud of him. Academia really isn’t for him and he’ll be looking to do some sort of apprenticeship or practical course at college in a couple of years.

@QueenofLouisiana

DS is doing a Cambridge National in iMedia (ICT). There are exams, but these can be retaken. There is a lot of coursework, but this is done over 2 years. He will take an exa in yr10 and another in yr11, but not at the same time as the GCSE exams. Effectively, he’ll have 1 less subject to sit an exam for in June 2021 as he’ll have finished it. Useful as history, PE, triple science and English are heavy on the writing front and he is dyslexic. I’d guess the OCR National would work in the same way?

OCR is the name of exam board that does Cambridge National qualification. They are the same thing.