Choosing GCSE subjects

[Veuvestar]

Ds is in year 8, but having lots of problems with the school, the teachers. Diagnosed mild dyslexia, awaiting ADHD diagnosis.
Right now, I am rethinking his entire academic path.
Just had his school report, good and bad.
He absolutely hates school,
English, maths and science he can do well.
Art, he loves and is quite talented.
Music, he’s obviously talented, taught himself piano and I think might have perfect pitch, but hates the music they learn in school.
What the hell subjects is he going to do?
Do they have to do RE? He doesn’t believe in God! Every lesson he shouts that he doesn’t exist!

Compulsory - maths, English (Literature and Language), Science (triple/double and maybe single depending on school).

Optional (depends on school but in general):

Foreign language (usually Spanish/French/German)
History
Geography
RS
Drama/textiles/food tech (depends on school).

My dd (Yr 9) has literally today confirmed her GCSE choices. It also depends on how many he wants to do.

Oh, I forgot Politics and Business studies in the optional ones too!

Unless it is a faith school, RE considers a range of religions and brings in elements of philosophy. His belief or not in god won’t come into it.

When does he need to choose his options? Different schools organise it differently. You might be able to find previous years information on the school’s website.

Very much depends on the school. Our DC go to the same school. DS had to take RE and DD now has to take RE and a language leaving the amount of subjects to choose to just two.

I just let her choose what she fancied for those two.

"Do they have to do RE? He doesn’t believe in God! Every lesson he shouts that he doesn’t exist!"

By law, all schools have to teach RE in some form. It was enshrined in both the 1944 and 1988 Education Acts. It doesn't have to be a GCSE though and how the school chooses to deliver it varies.

As for believing in God or not, that's irrelevant. I'm a RE teacher and an atheist. Unless you're at a faith school, RE is non confessional. I teach RE because I'm interested in other people - what makes them tick, what they believe, and about thinking about the big questions that no one knows the answers to (but how we try to anyway!)

Oh, I’ve tried explaining all that about RE, he’s not listening.
He’s got another year to choose, but I’m trying to work out if a different school would be better suited to him and what options they have.
He’s just not interested in anything.

It’s not that surprising he is bewildered by it given he’s only had one proper term of ‘normal’ subject teaching.

I guess for now the things is to find out what options look like at his school, and how different or not any alternatives would be.

By law, all schools have to teach RE in some form

BUT you do have the right to withdraw him from RE lessons.

Op different schools will not have very different choices tbh.

It is worth asking tho if his school insists on MFL and history or geography (many do) as this may or may not suit him. If they do, that usually leaves only two options, sometimes even only one (if school just does 8/9 GCSEs (variation due to double or triple science).

If not, then he will have more choice, but the subjects offered don't vary that much IME.

Some schools make everyone take RE as they have to "study" it - but at my DCs' school the mandatory RE lesson was assembly once a week. Lots of kids enjoy RE GCSE tho - it's not necessary to believe in God.

Sounds similar to my daughter. The number of subjects was a struggle. She did better at A levels when she could focus on fewer subjects. She did 10 subjects for 9 GCSEs (trilogy science is 3 subjects for only 2 qualifications). Can he drop to 8?

What about drama? Or PE?

Teachers have a big impact too. My daughter loved History as the teaching was brilliant and really engaging.

Most schools in reality there isn't that much choice once you've got Eng / Eng / Maths / Double or Triple Science

its normally something like History or Geography
A modern foreign language
A practical subject not essential but encouraged which in his case sounds like art

So with triple science you are up to 9 which is what a lot of schools offer. Ours does 10 or 11 but includes all of above plus 1 more option and if that stats you can add FSMQ Level 3 in maths to make 11.

I think a good guide is to do what you like and do what you're good at. They core compulsory subjects he is good at so that's really all that matters. If he hates everything, choose the least worst I guess. Do they offer subjects like DT, IT, Food Tech, Drama? It depends on what the school offer as some are quite restricted and others are more broad.

It's not common but you can go to an FE college at 14.

Maybe an art course at college with fewer GCSEs alongside would be an option.

www.gov.uk/guidance/full-time-enrolment-of-14-to-16-year-olds-in-further-education-and-sixth-form-colleges

He’s got another year to choose, but I’m trying to work out if a different school would be better suited to him and what options they have.
He’s just not interested in anything.

Other schools will not vary wildly in what they offer.
Any school will insist on Maths, English Lang, English Lit and combined/triple science
Most schools will insist on at least one of History or Geography
Quite a lot of schools will insist on a MFL
And most schools will offer 9 or 10 GCSEs. Which doesn't leave a huge amount of free choice.

If your son is musical I suspect he will like Music GCSE better - if nothing else the class will be full of the genuinely keen musicians.

It sounds like a good choice for him would be Maths, Englishx2, Sciencex3, Art, Music and whichever he dislikes least of History and Geography.

Maths and English are the important ones so if he can pass those he'll be fine

The other school that’s a possibility is a bit more special needs friendly I think.
His school doesn’t seem to be dealing with him very well, he doesn’t fit into their mould.
Private school.
The other school has drama which I think might be a game changer

Seems like the school not the subjects is the issue. The offering may not be that different but if another school would better suit your sons needs then investigate.
My son did very badly on his gcses. He went to college and is a qualified fitness trainer and is now going for personal trainer (well, it is not helping that gyms are closed as he's not getting work experience). What I mean is your son really just needs five gcses. Then he can consider other options if more schooling isn't right for him. But he will need those GCSEs to progress to the next level (and he absolutely must have math and English language at the bare minimum, a science and two more and he can do lots of things).
RE in our school was just one option amongst many.

My DD did RE or "Philosophy & Ethics". She is not religious and the school is non denominational. It helped get her into the catholic 6th form where they had a strong art department & she was able to do 3 x Art A levels. She is now at Oxford doing a BFA. Sometimes you have to do things just because they get you to the thing you love.

If he is not sure what he wants to do let him choose - there are enough career paths to do the things he is interested in and therefore do better in to just go with the flow at GCSE.

Perfect pitch is strongly associated with autism, just as a fyi, as is shouting that God doesn't exist in RE lessons - has this been considered instead of ADHD?

It’s been considered by me!
We’re only really at the early stages of diagnosis.
I’ve always thought adhd as have his teachers, but he’s always done really well. The move to senior school proved v problematic and we now need a firm diagnosis.
Personally I think he’s on the spectrum somewhere, I also think PDA. I’m on my last nerve tbh.

Just got in the car to go to McDonalds and it wouldn’t start. Flat battery
It took half an hour for him to accept that we couldn’t go.
That’s not NT surely?

No; sounds like autism again. Difficulties with flexible thinking.

I have to prepare him for everything, explaining over and over how things are gonna happen. He still doesn’t get it.

On the other hand, he’s just taught himself a song on the piano in 5 minutes!