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Secondary education

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

Original poster

How many GCSEs is too many?

106 replies

OnTh3Up · 04/02/2023 18:12

DC will be taking 13 GCSEs due to triple science and 2x extra maths.
The impact on their exam timetable has only just dawned on me (more exams on the same day, less days between exams).
Extra maths would usually be taken a year early but this didn't happen due to Covid.
School have said that dropping GCSEs isn't an option.
Grades would probably be:
9x 7ish
2x 4/5
2x 3
This isn't a moan or a humble brag. I'm genuinely looking for advice.

OP posts:
Original poster
OnTh3Up · 04/02/2023 19:27

Notellinganyone · 04/02/2023 19:25

School can’t actually force anyone to sit GCSEs. 13 is bonkers unless he’s a child genius. I teach at a very academic independent school and we’ve recently cut down on the number of GCSEs. There’s no advantage to doing masses - particularly if you’re not a straight 9 student.

On average, how many do your students take?

OP posts:
Hawkins002 · 04/02/2023 19:29

When society and companies need the best of the best then it's as many as you can do. To the best of your skills and knowledge

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 04/02/2023 19:29

Does he know what he wants to do and what he is aiming for after sixth form? Although some universities look at overall GCSE scores, many just look for getting over thresholds. Have a look at stated requirements for the sorts of unis/ courses he plans to do. I would work on English at the expense of RS and Geog. Hopefully the arts/vocational coursework will be completed soon and he can concentrate more on English.

CrescentMoons · 04/02/2023 19:29

PatriciaHolm · 04/02/2023 18:23

Is he predicted a 7 for maths? what about the other maths.

Hate to say it, but I'm not sure a 7 is really enough to be comfortable for A Level. It's a very hard A level.

Agreed.

Mine got a level 9 at aged 13, did another further maths gcse at 14 got an A (highest grade), has done As maths at 15 A and now sitting A level amongst other gcse - I don’t mean it as a brag but she found it tough tough tough has enjoyed it - but it is tough.

in answer to your questions drop the level 3 ones if and only if he will work on the others.

my already has 2 GCSEs and is doing 11 so 13 in total.

ErrolTheDragon · 04/02/2023 19:30

Hawkins002 · 04/02/2023 19:29

When society and companies need the best of the best then it's as many as you can do. To the best of your skills and knowledge

Not at the expense of grades it isn't.

thirdistheonewiththehairychest · 04/02/2023 19:30

My daughter goes to a very prestigious independent school and they only let pupils take 10 GCSEs in exceptional circumstances. They highly recommend only taking 9.

Original poster
OnTh3Up · 04/02/2023 19:33

arethereanyleftatall · 04/02/2023 19:26

My dc are at a grammar where 10 is the norm, but they wouldn't be put in for the extra maths unless they were a certain 9. I'm surprised they offer it at a 7/8 - pupils are surely spread too thin. Rather get a 9 just for one maths paper?

Well, the top 30 students out of 250 (based on an exam at the end of year 9) make up top set maths who all do the extra. DC is very comfortable in that set. I don't know. As I said, got an 8+ in Nov mock. I know 8+ isn't a thing.

OP posts:
Original poster
OnTh3Up · 04/02/2023 19:33

thirdistheonewiththehairychest · 04/02/2023 19:30

My daughter goes to a very prestigious independent school and they only let pupils take 10 GCSEs in exceptional circumstances. They highly recommend only taking 9.

This makes sense to me.

OP posts:
Augend23 · 04/02/2023 19:34

I did 12 GCSEs in one sitting, with a further maths qualification at the same time and maths GCSE the year before.

I did well (9x A*s and 4As and an A (max possible grade) in the additional maths).

BUT - I scraped my As in the various subjects I inevitably neglected, and I suspect if I had ditched e.g. RE and History I might have bumped my geography and English literature up a grade.

Given what I got, that wasn't really a problem, but that was luck not judgement and also would probably matter more at the 3/4/5 boundaries.

Original poster
OnTh3Up · 04/02/2023 19:36

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 04/02/2023 19:29

Does he know what he wants to do and what he is aiming for after sixth form? Although some universities look at overall GCSE scores, many just look for getting over thresholds. Have a look at stated requirements for the sorts of unis/ courses he plans to do. I would work on English at the expense of RS and Geog. Hopefully the arts/vocational coursework will be completed soon and he can concentrate more on English.

Thank you

OP posts:
cantba · 04/02/2023 19:38

Many selective indies are not taking as many anymore. 10 now being the norm at my childrens school, 11 for those doing further maths.

UniversalTruth · 04/02/2023 19:39

Genuine question: how is it that someone expected to get 7s across science, maths, statistics and English would get a 3 in geography? Surely it's a mix of those skills.

Agree that 13 GCSEs is a lot though, if they normally do maths the year before then how are they timetabling it all in anyway? They must be getting fewer maths/stats lessons overall.

Somanyquestionstoaskaboutthis · 04/02/2023 19:43

DD1 did 11 but the school has since dropped RS as a compulsory subject so now all do 10. DS is doing maths and further maths at A level but didn’t do further maths or statistics at GCSE. Statistics wasn’t an option and he chose not to do further maths at that level so he could concentrate on the subjects he found hard. It worked well for him. He got 9 in maths and says anyone getting lower have now dropped or want to drop the further maths A level as it was too hard.

LIZS · 04/02/2023 19:45

Essay writing skills too @UniversalTruth . Although you might have thought above a 3 was possible even so. Op, how much effort has he put into English. Geography and RE? Most practical subjects also include essay papers too.

RampantIvy · 04/02/2023 19:46

This is bonkers. What were the school or you thinking? No university is interested in that many GCSE subjects. Even the most competitive universities and degree courses will be interested in ten at most.
DD took 10 GCSEs in 2016, and I believe the norm even now is 9 or 10. Three of those subjects have to go NOW.
Why is your DC taking two extra maths subjects? They need to drop geography, and RE if they are allowed to. And how on earth are the school managing to timetable 13 subjects? Clearly your DC isn’t getting enough lesson time to cover the syllabus. Is this a private school? They will be being taught fewer hours per subject than pupils at schools doing 9/10 GCSE subjects

But I'm scared the school will say drop the extra maths if I ask to drop something.

Is that such a bad thing if your DC is still only achieving 7s? To do well at A level maths you need an 8 or 9.
Given that the playing field is becoming more even when it comes to university applications universities are increasingly looking at GCSE grades. When the admissions tutor is faced with a prospective student with 7 x 9, 2 x 4/5 and 2 x 3 against students with 9 or 10 x 8/9 they will be selecting the student who doesn’t have any grades as low as your DC. Universities look for quality over quantity every time. The same goes for A levels. Far better to achieve AAA or higher at A level than AABB.

On average, how many do your students take?
Nine or ten

AnnieApple123 · 04/02/2023 19:48

Hellocatshome · 04/02/2023 18:21

The school may say he cant drop GCSEs but there is nothing stopping him either
A) not doing any revision for them, concentrating on his other subjects especially English, sitting the exams and seeing what he gets
B) not revising for then and not turning up for the exams, although you will have to pay the exam fee and I think it goes down as a U or whatever the equivalent is in the new system.

I definitely wouldn’t recommend not showing up to exams and getting a U or equivalent. Unless something has changed since I last checked, you are obliged to record all your exams and grades on a UCAS form. Universities are not going to be impressed by a U and may think it a true reflection of his effort and abilities.

Saltywalruss · 04/02/2023 19:50

Stickstickstickstickstick · 04/02/2023 18:28

GCSE entry date is 21st, but school might have already paid his entry fees. Sometimes they’ll let you withdraw if you’ll cover the entry fee because they won’t get it back.

They will get their money back if they withdraw before a certain date. Check with your examination board.

Hellocatshome · 04/02/2023 19:55

AnnieApple123 · 04/02/2023 19:48

I definitely wouldn’t recommend not showing up to exams and getting a U or equivalent. Unless something has changed since I last checked, you are obliged to record all your exams and grades on a UCAS form. Universities are not going to be impressed by a U and may think it a true reflection of his effort and abilities.

Show quote history

I suppose it depends if the child wants to go to university or not. There seems to be a default assumption that thats the route kids will take but it isn't always the case.

But yes I'm not recommending either option just pointing out that there are options other than a school sanctioned dropping of a GCSE which won't really happen at this stage of year 11.

AnnieApple123 · 04/02/2023 20:37

@Hellocatshome Indeed but surely you want to keep as many doors open as possible at this stage.

Original poster
OnTh3Up · 04/02/2023 22:09

Thank you to everyone for your advice. I really appreciate it and it has been helpful.

OP posts:
Hawkins002 · 04/02/2023 22:10

ErrolTheDragon · 04/02/2023 19:30

Not at the expense of grades it isn't.

Show quote history

Fair points

Slobbet · 04/02/2023 22:13

Poor child! Absolutely no point of 13 GCSEs. Better off doing 8 or 9 and having a balanced home-school life

WhatsitWiggle · 04/02/2023 22:23

13 is absolutely crazy, that's 4 more than the norm. I get the most able students taking triple science instead of combined, and further maths but that's 11, the school really shouldn't have pushed the extra when they decided not to enter for maths at the end of yr 10.

IMO, it's way too much pressure on the revision timetable and has already shown the impact in the mocks. Your child needs those English grades up, so speak to the school about what can be dropped - at least two, really. And even then, it's still going to be pressured.

Original poster
OnTh3Up · 04/02/2023 22:38

Slobbet · 04/02/2023 22:13

Poor child! Absolutely no point of 13 GCSEs. Better off doing 8 or 9 and having a balanced home-school life

Thank you, yes. They're a brilliant musician (play in a rock band), makes stuff, is funny, kind, tries their best at school, gets numbers, science and practical stuff- finds wordy stuff hard- probably dyslexic but not enough for school to ever care enough. Got a summer job after working somewhere for work experience. They are lovely. Does a moderate amount of revision- not in their personality to study for hours. Does every homework. Did all of lockdown work. Quite introverted but knows their own mind.
Goes to a normal comprehensive. We just went along with what was offered. Got the highest mark in the year in the end of year 9 maths exam- but I'm sure some pupils were at a disadvantage from lockdown.
Anyway- I think they're great and want to look after them! Smile
The advice from everyone who has posted here has been really helpful. Thank you.

OP posts:
WednesdaysPlaits · 04/02/2023 22:55

Drop the subjects where he’s getting 3s

Ds is doing eight. Most at his school do 8 or 9

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