Y9 options. How many GCSE's will your child end up with?

[AwkwardAnnie]

That's it basically... How many GCSE's will your child end up with if they're choosing their options now?

Long version:
We've just received the option booklet for GCSE's
DD has core subjects of Maths, English (2 GCSE's) Science (2 GCSE's), a language.
For her options she has to choose either History or Geography, then one other subject.
So she'll end up with 8 GCSE's.

Previous years students have done around 11.

On one hand I think it makes sense to slim down the curriculum after the past year. But looking to the future I'm concerned that she'll be on the back foot when up against other people who have more GCSE's. Putting down 8 on a CV almost makes it look like she's failed some. Even I've got 9 GCSE's and it's 30 years since I was choosing my options.

To confuse matters more DD says some students will be doing 11... But I need to check that with school.

My DS is choosing options now at the end of yr 8. He is doing compulsory maths, English x 2, RS (faith school so RS is a core subject), geography (has to choose geography or history, can’t do both) science x2 (currently only set 1 can do triple science, he’s in set 2 but trying to work his way up to set 1). Non compulsory he’s chosen PE and German. So he’ll end up with 9 or 10 depending on what happens with science.

I think 8 is fine though, I only have 8 GCSEs and I went to a Russell Group uni, have had a good career etc. I think quality is more important than quantity

Mine get 10.5 (the 0.5 is short-course RE which they sit in year 10). That includes triple science, though lower sets just do the combined science for 2 GCSEs. Top set maths can optionally do some after-school classes towards a level 3 diploma in Algebra which is worth a few UCAS points.

9 is standard at my dc's high school. Ds missed a lot of Y11 so dropped to double science at the last minute which means he got 8 but he got 2 good science grades rather than 3 less good.
Dd is doing triple but would have been better doing double I'm sure. Your Dd sounds like mine & if she gets selected for triple, I would push for double. Triple for Dd has impacted on her other subjects and has been a real long slog

My DD2 is currently y11. The 'standard' for her year was 9.5, with those doing triple science doing 10.5. (DD started at 9, dropped to 8, then 4, ...)

I am wondering whether this year some schools will be choosing to offer 1 fewer than usual because of the Covid disruption?

Our school starts Science syllabus in y9, and of course maths & English really start in y7 (if not yR). If they feel that the y9 cohort are less well prepped for core subjects, they might have decided to reduce the number of GCSEs in order to spend more time effectively 'catching up'.

My dds are doing 9
Maths
English (2)
Science (2)
History
Art
P&R/Geography
German/Latin

10. Pretty much everyone at DD's selective school does 10, or 11 if they do Further/Additional Maths (not sure exactly what it's called)

At DD's school, a very large comprehensive, there are six sets so the number of GCSEs varies according to the set the pupil is in. Sets 1 and 2 do eleven subjects and this includes the three sciences, English language and English literature, maths, a modern foreign language and RE. So she didn't actually have much space for choice of other subjects. Sets 3 and 4 do eight GCSEs and sets 5 and 6 do six GCSEs and have extra teaching time on English and maths.

Are there no creative subjects, OP? Drama, Art, Music, Product Design?

My DD will have 11, one done this year, the rest next year. Two of hers are creatives tho, then one language, one humanity and the rest the same as you, but two Maths.

12 that include triple science award, further maths and a GCSE in MFL as raised bilingual. So in our school the range is 9 to 12 GCSEs, but probably most do 10, then 11, then 9 then a handful do 12.

DS will get 10

Maths
Eng Lang
Eng lit
Science x3
History
German
RE
Comp Sci

Bog standard comp

@Crocidura

Agree with PP, not having music GCSE shouldn't close any doors - I did A level music and then a degree without doing the GCSE.

Check with your college/sixth form, some do require a music GCSE.

As an adult with 8 (by today's standards not great GCSEs) once I had A-levels no one cared. I became a vet taking a year out between my 2 and 3rd year to get a 2:1 combined honours degree. Then later gained a distinction in my post grad certificate.
My DD only took 8, the school wanted her to take 10, but I fought them on it and she proved me right 8 excellent grades. She would have not done so well if she had done 10.

@notnowbernadette

I have 8 GCSEs and I've never been asked why I didn't take more. I am educated to masters level and can shore you it's not an issue.

Oh the irony.

It would not be the number of GCSEs I would be worried about for her - it would be her restrictive choice options. I am hoping my children will be allowed to do combined science (they both passed their 11 plus but are not keen on science so I don't see the point of doing triple as they will not need it for A level). If they are allowed to do combined science they will end up with 9. My daughter might drop her language before the exams in which case she will end up with 8. BUT they are allowed more GCSE options than your daughter and its these options which they enjoy most at school so I am very sorry your daughter's school is being so strict with her.

My DS has just made his choices for yr 10 and I have had to write them out to work out how many!

English Lit
English Lan
Maths
Triple Science (3 GCSE)
Mandarin Chinese
Spanish
Geography
History

So that will be 10!

8.5 plus a BTEC if my Y9 DD gets her top or 3rd pick, 9.5 if she gets her 2nd, 4th, or 5th pick (due to the 'pathway' she's been put on, she only has one real pick plus the Humanities choice).

I don't have much of an issue with it, that's already a lot of subjects to do at once to me (but I wasn't raised in any of the British school systems), though I hope they'll be able to run extracurriculars so she can do more things related to subjects she won't be able to do.

Both my y9 and y10 will take 10 plus level 3 additional maths, goes by ability here - middle / lower set take 9, top set science take 10, and if top of top set maths as well as science get 11. I think its too many personally though find 8 too low.

I don't think 8 will stop you doing anything (unless it stops you choosing subjects which require the GCSE at A level) - had friends at Oxford with 8. 8 increases your chances of better grades and more free time. I think a lot of schools reduced a few years ago when the GCSEs got harder but ours didn't.

@SpanishFancy

10, or technically 9.5 as RS is a half-course. They get 4 totally free options choices which seems as rare as hens teeth.

Same. My DS is in year 10. They have to do English (2), maths, at least combined science (2), and half RE.

DC1 in Y11 will have eleven in total. Attends a local comprehensive.

English x2
Maths
Triple science
RS
History/geography
Language
Creative subject
Free choice

Could you talk to someone who knows about university applications, either from school if she is staying there for A levels or college? No amount of "I did 8 and I'm fine" or "my child is doing 8" is going to reassure you if your actual question is "will this harm her chances of Oxbridge". I find it difficult to imagine it would ruin her chances of getting into a decent university.

If questioned, the simple reply that school only allowed 8 for everyone in the year after covid should be enough. It's going to be hard for this year group having had so much disruption in KS3 - maybe your school is just being a bit braver & more decisive than others in pursuing quality over quantity. But, I have to say I'm pleased my DD still gets to do 2 humanities, and it would be really hard for her to choose just 1.