Dropping a GCSE, non core subject?

[Goldenbear]

As thread title states, my DS is really struggling to produce the work needed for music GCSE. He has a medieval composition to complete for coursework which is proving problematic as we don't own the £2000 software and he's only a couple of hours a week after school to use it to finish the piece. He feels that the work involved is 3 x that of other subjects and it is taking away from his efforts and revision for other subjects. For example, he is in top group for all core subjects and has been put in for the triple science GCSE but after a couple of mocks before Christmas (more to come after half term) he dropped to a 4 for Chemistry and the teacher has said it isn't good enough and unless he improves this 4 in February mocks he will be moved down and won't be able to sit the triple science. He feels that music and his lack of progress with the subject is demanding a disproportionate amount of his time and he can't afford to devote half term to the composition (music teacher suggested we download the free trial of software but we only have chrome books, could probably by a laptop but it seems excessive considering). He wants to quit it as that would still leave him with 9 GCSES, does anyone know if this is possible at this stage? After the science teacher's dressing down, he was actually called out of the classroom to be told off about that and she said he wasn't working hard enough, he is getting visibly stressed. He never ever gets this upset and is very laid back but I am worried about him. He really dislikes school at the moment and he used to like going, he can't wait for 6th form college.

I would imagine the school will say no but has anyone successfully done this, any advice would be much welcome.

@Bambala maybe some universities want 8 or 10 gcses rather than 7 but I honestly think ds will have a better chance with 7 good gcse grades than with 8 medicare ones (or with a fail).

F'ing spellchecker mediocre

It depends what course is applied for at university, what the end game is with the amount of GCSEs and the grades.

Someone I know got 5 GCSEs.
Two x 4, 3 x 8.
A very bright person with mental health problems and that was a long struggle.
Got 3 a levels. AAC.
Now finishing a humanities degree.

The secondary school mindset is very pressured.
The end game isn't the same for everyone so even getting a lower mark in music and a better one in chemistry really won't matter.
Not for the anxiety it's causing.

Exactly what I was coming on to say!
Spend the time on the other subjects.
Our school only do 8 GCSEs as standard so your DC is not ruining their future by taking this approach.

Yes, he really really does. If a uni finds you have not been honest on UCAS (and they will receive/check his GCSE grades) they can withdraw their offer, even at the point of enrollment. It may be unlikely to happen but it is a risk.

It's also likely a sixth form college will not allow a student to make a false application under their name.

But fortunately most unis will not be bothered about a single low grade among lots of higher ones.

Anyway OP do speak to the school about his options. It's unlikely in most state schools he would be allowed to drop a subject, as then he wouldn't have anyone to supervise him during that time, which becomes an issue.

But hopefully the school can come up with an option to get him through the coursework with minimal stress and ask his other teachers to back off for a bit?

Fifthtimelucky, thank you for your tips, I passed them on to DS and it is very helpful.

Many thanks for all your advice, it has been advised that he would have to put it on the UCAS form bit actually he has really worked hard on it this week, he has been allowed to use the room and software on more occasions and the music teacher has praised his work so far. He seems to think it is no longer insurmountable and I spoke to the science teacher yesterday as didn't manage to get a slot at Parents' evening, I think some of her approach may have been to put the wind in his sails as she said he is more than capable but was chatting too much when they should be practicing questions. She said she has mixed up the top two classes now as some are poorer on content and some are poorer on exam technique so as my DS falls in to the latter he is in a different group and sitting next to different people. He told me last night that he said that he was getting frustrated and finds school boring now as it is all about past papers and no fun but he wants to so well. I know there is also some kind of friendship issue, big group of friends has split up a bit which is also resulting in less fun. DS is a sociable boy so these things alter his outlook on his whole life, hence I think the stress over these subjects. Thanks again for advice.