Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Changing a GCSE after a year…any experience?

29 replies

Hyvsvaar · 15/07/2022 12:06

Hi have had end of year report for ds in yr10 and he’s doing pretty well from his end of year exams 7/8s however his art has come back as a 3 😳. I was surprised when he picked this as he is doing triple science and will be going down that route.

he is consistently getting low marks in this subject

the art work is pretty time consuming and he seems to enjoy it but does not have the flair expected and I think he will really struggle next year when prepping for his exams..
I have contacted the school to ask but don’t expect to hear back before end of term
pic is to show his style
does it matter what I think? It would be a shame if he got a 3 though for his GCSES
thanks

Changing a GCSE after a year…any experience?
OP posts:
TeenDivided · 15/07/2022 12:20

Is it the art work, or the pulling together the narrative on how he got there? He needs to clarify the issue.
I would think it highly unlikely he could swap to a new subject as there would be far too much to catch up on.
So his options may be to drop or improve (or accept low grade). Also I suspect unlikely to let him drop so early without effort being put in to pull the grade up. Schools don't like gaps in timetables unless sen is coming into play.

TheWayoftheLeaf · 15/07/2022 12:27

I doubt it will matter if he gets one 3 in Art and lots of 7/8 in the core subjects and those he wants to take further...

It won't stop him getting into A levels or a degree not relevant to Art.

Original poster
Hyvsvaar · 15/07/2022 12:27

Thanks for your reply, I’ve no idea, he doesn’t seem clear what is the issue and from the very short online parents evenings we haven’t gleaned any more information
I was hoping that he would be able to pick up history as the alternative subject even though it’s huge he is able to absorb and retain a lot of information
i haven’t spoken to him about what he thinks yet

OP posts:
SkiingIsHeaven · 15/07/2022 12:40

My DS wanted to drop a subject and take music after a year. The school said that he had to teach himself the first year over the summer holidays and that they would give him an exam before he came back in September. If he passed he could take it.

The idea was that if he really wanted to do it he would sacrifice his summer holiday to learn what he needed to.

He passed and got an 8 in his GCSE. He is now doing it at A Level.

It is possible to change in theory but it will depend on the school.

We were lucky in that the school videotaped all lessons the year that he missed due to covid. The idea was that anyone off sick wouldn't miss any lessons.

To be fair, they still do this in case any kids get covid.

I suppose it would depend on what subject he wanted to take. I can't imagine teaching myself chemistry as a 15 year old.

Good luck.

SpaceJamtart · 15/07/2022 12:41

The painting looks like it a 3, as hes not planning to continue art I wouldn't worry about it much.
He could improve to a passing grade by next year but his art grade won't matter to a college where he is trying to study science. And nobody will care about a gcse, especially a non core one, after after A levels.

erinaceus · 15/07/2022 12:44

If he is enjoying it, I would let him crack on. Perhaps try to set up a meeting between his teacher, you and him to discuss why his Art grade is so out of step with his other grades and what he would need to do in order to improve it, and what sort of improvement you can realistically expect to see.

The logistics around changing GCSE, if that’s what he wants to do, might be trickier. Something like @SkiingIsHeaven ’s DS’s school’s approach might be necessary, a motivated student could probably pull it off perhaps with the aid of a tutor over the summer.

TeenDivided · 15/07/2022 12:56

If he switched it would have to be to a subject in the same timetable block, which may or may not include history (unless this been checked already)

clary · 15/07/2022 14:34

Thing is OP, year 11 is really only two terms of new learning (at most) as post Easter it is all about revision. To cover the five terms of history syllabus in two terms is a big ask. I would suggest if he enjoys art he either:

  1. Makes massive effort with it over the summer, after first asking his teacher what he needs to improve on (not my subject so I cannot advise, but if it were my subject I would be able to IYSWIM) Or
  2. Pretty much gives up on the idea of a decent grade, does it to an enjoyable degree but doesn’t waste a lot of time on it (art is a big thief of time) and concentrates on his other subjects, the ones he may take to A level and beyond.

I would be inclined to do 2) myself. A 3 among his 7s and 8s won’t make any difference.

Original poster
Hyvsvaar · 15/07/2022 19:20

Thanks again everyone for taking the time to reply a lot to chew over

OP posts:
Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 15/07/2022 19:24

How many GCSEs is he taking? Universities only look at the top 8 usually so I would suggest that he just sees if he can drop it (if he wants to) and concentrate on the ones he has left. History is heavy to pick up at this stage.

Applesarenice · 15/07/2022 19:26

I doubt the school will let him pick up a new subject now. It would be such a huge task to cover the past work (which he’d have to do in his own time) and that takes his time away from other subjects. Also, you say he’s at a 3 but really it depends where - if he’s close to a 4 that’s a lot easier to right than a low 3. I’d be asking the art teacher for advice on what he can do to improve over the summer if it were me and whether he is capable of achieving a 4

SkiingIsHeaven · 15/07/2022 19:43

I have to say; I love the painting. I would not know what mark it would gain at GCSE but I would probably buy it if I saw it out and about.

What is more important?

Art is very subjective.

Thingsthatgo · 15/07/2022 20:27

If your DS continues with his Art, I would get hold of a copy of the syllabus and the marking scheme if you can. There are a number of ways in which someone with an academic mind can achieve a decent grade in art GCSE without 'artistic talent'.
Filling sketchbooks and journals with ideas and his thought processes, studying artists' techniques and showing how his ideas progress will help him get better marks.

PhotoDad · 15/07/2022 20:58

Thingsthatgo · 15/07/2022 20:27

If your DS continues with his Art, I would get hold of a copy of the syllabus and the marking scheme if you can. There are a number of ways in which someone with an academic mind can achieve a decent grade in art GCSE without 'artistic talent'.
Filling sketchbooks and journals with ideas and his thought processes, studying artists' techniques and showing how his ideas progress will help him get better marks.

Yes, precisely this! Very very few of the marks for Art at GCSE or indeed A-level are for the quality of the final piece. It's mostly based on how well the student has documented the thought processes and experiments to get there, including references to other artists. (A-level art involves writing a decent-length essay about this!)

Original poster
Hyvsvaar · 15/07/2022 21:28

The GAPP… grade at present point, which is what they predict if continued at same progress is a 4B

so he could pass but just 😳

OP posts:
Original poster
Hyvsvaar · 15/07/2022 21:31

SkiingIsHeaven · 15/07/2022 19:43

I have to say; I love the painting. I would not know what mark it would gain at GCSE but I would probably buy it if I saw it out and about.

What is more important?

Art is very subjective.

That’s what I thought too but there will be a marking gradient/scheme,

I don’t think it’s too bad for a young teen but art is subjective isn’t it…remember untidy bed? I don’t get that!

OP posts:
bbn81 · 15/07/2022 21:35

I speak as someone who had to choose an arts type subject 20+ years ago and got a D in Art GCSE but then took maths and science A levels and went onto a Maths degree. No one ever mentioned the Art GCSE and I no longer put it on my CV. Could he possibly continue in lessons but then not be entered. I would definitely talk to the school . But if he does continue inwouldnt worry too much.

Original poster
Hyvsvaar · 15/07/2022 21:35

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 15/07/2022 19:24

How many GCSEs is he taking? Universities only look at the top 8 usually so I would suggest that he just sees if he can drop it (if he wants to) and concentrate on the ones he has left. History is heavy to pick up at this stage.

English language+literature I guess that counts as a combined one?
maths, chemistry, physics, biology, computing science, geography, french and art..

maybe history is too hefty..philosophy?

OP posts:
rnsaslkih · 15/07/2022 21:38

Just drop art. Eng Lang and Eng lit give you 2 GCSEs. Don’t bother taking up something in place of the art.

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 15/07/2022 21:49

So he is doing ten GCSEs - lang and lit are separate. I would just drop art and concentrate on the rest or at least not worry too much about it. Once he moves on to A levels no one will care. Many unis barely even look at GCSEs even for top courses.

clary · 15/07/2022 23:34

Op he really cannot pick up GCSE philosophy and ethics with two terms to go.

Yy English lit and lang is two very separate GCSEs. Ask the school about it - if he is not going to do well they may agree not to enter him but tbh if he gets nine grades 7-8 and one 3-4 it's not the end of the world. Deffo not worth trying to pick up another subject at this stage.

clary · 15/07/2022 23:35

If he is not going to do well in art obvs, not Eng

Axahooxa · 15/07/2022 23:42

Find out what he needs to do to up his grade. Look online at bbc bitesize. Look at the art gcse specification.

could be he’s not doing evaluation or analysis well yet, for example

TheWayoftheLeaf · 16/07/2022 01:15

As someone who did history A level and philosophy as a minor don't force him to do philosophy. It's really hard and also bullshit.

Leave him alone. He has tonnes of great GCSEs once low grade in art will make 0 difference.

I say this as someone who got all A and A* at GCSE and A level... except chemistry A level which I got a U in.

Nobody has ever mentioned it. I got into a top 10 uni. I got a 1st and an MA.

BenchOfCompany · 16/07/2022 11:33

As a parent who has had 2 children go through GCSE including one this year don't even consider swapping out a GCSE at this stage. There is simply too much work for self guided learning and both my children are high grade achievers. Even with a revision guide for History they cover a lot more context in class and it is a heavy workload.

Why not contact his art teacher now before school closes for summer and find out how he can increase his art grade. If possible have a face to face meeting and maybe see other work done by other children. Get her to walk you and yoru son through it. One low pass grade does not ruin his GCSE profile. He chose art because he likes it so find out how to increase his grade. I am sure like other subjects there are many resources online to help from mark schemes, YouTube videos of people showcasing their work etc.