Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Yr9 Unhappy with options.

36 replies

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 14:48

My daughter is in a grammar school where they do a 3 Yr GCSE.

She had to choose her options in yr 8 and them started them in yr9. She really hates one of her subjects. She is autistic and very "black and white" about things. I encouraged her to give it longer to settle in and ita not got any better.

She wanted to change to another subject.
She checked with the teacher, with people doing the course etc and the subject is a direct swap. The class She wants to move to is smaller.

She is a diligent student and I've said as a teacher myself I will catch her up.

School is refusing. Is there anything I can do about this at all?!

I hate that they had to choose so early and initially thought subject B was a better choice but didn't want to interfere.

I have no idea how I will get her thru 2.5 years of this. She is so cross as she can't see why. (I think its a blanket "if I let you we have to let others/too late)

OP posts:

MetaDaughter · 03/03/2023 14:57

When you say ‘School is refusing.’ what level of leadership has the refusal come from?

If there’s no difficult timetabling problem, I would be inclined to push back at the next level, stating your reasons and asking for theirs.

I know yr 8 option choosing is common, but there really ought to be an opportunity to reassess where this is possible.

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 15:04

Deputy head in charge of timetabling/options.

I've pushed back already with what I thought was a good email with the detail from my OP and a bit more detail for the points.

She's quite clearly refusing. I said that covid had affected their yr7/8 experience too so it wasn't a fully informed choice - she's said that's why the deadline was extended to October.

This just seems SO unfair and I'm really upset on my daughter's behalf. She'd love the other option, has a personal interest and so keen to make up the work and had already started looking at websites and asking for resources.

I dont know what else I can do.

OP posts:

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 15:06

He reaoson is being fair to other students who have been told it is already too late.

And also that it puts pressure on staffing/groups. But I've said I'll catch her up and the new teacher had already said it would be fine...

It just seems they have a blanket policy. I know my daughter isn't the only one wanting to change. But I still want her not stuck doing RE for another 2 years 😔.

(I'm clearly identifiable hence the name change!)

OP posts:

Didicat · 03/03/2023 15:08

Start being that mother, and use her diagnosis, there may be other reasons such as sharing a TA with another child. It’s those that cause a fuss that get their options/ tutor/ sets changed claiming mental health needs.. that get switched where I work.

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 15:33

She doesn't have a TA (grammar school and she manages mostly)

I'd love mumsnet help with another letter.

I'm more than happy to "use" her autism though as it might be a "special circumstance" bit not quite sure how I make that relevant.

OP posts:

SkiingIsHeaven · 03/03/2023 15:42

My DS changed half way through the year. He had to teach himself the first year of the syllabus over the summer holidays. The school gave him an exam just before the return to school in September. They said that if he was keen, then he would put in the effort and only if he proved he was good enough by passing the exam, then he could switch subjects.

Luckily he passed and now is doing it for one of his A'Levels.

Maybe offer that as a test or compromise.

Good luck.

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 16:11

It's halfway through the year amd I'd really like her not to lose another half a year waiting.

We'd so take responsibility for catching up.

I dont really know how to word it but I'm so frustrated.

OP posts:

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 18:29

Bumping for the evening crowd 😊

OP posts:

handmademitlove · 03/03/2023 18:40

It is always worth pointing out that the nation curriculum is designed to have a 3yr KS3 and a 2yr KS4. By making them choose early, it can lead to issues like this - particularly given that autistic students can be socially immature compared to nt students. It also leads to a narrowing of the curriculum a year earlier than intended. There are obviously also upsides which is why schools do it. How much discussion was had during the selection process - did they do anything additional to ensure it was the right choice given her Sen? Any school who uses the excuse of 'we can't set a precedent ' does not understand their public sector duty to make reasonable adjustments for disability.
You say that she manages without much support - is it the case that the only way she can continue with this subject is with additional support in place?

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 03/03/2023 18:48

I don't know how I'd phrase a letter, but I'd perhaps point out that her autism means she is struggling more than another student would in the same situation, and changing classes when it's an easy timetable swap could be considered a reasonable adjustment for her.

I would also ask the class teacher of the new class if they are willing to write a supporting statement, allowing your daughter to do the swap?

What's your relationship with the SENCo like? Would they be supportive of this?

Farcry66 · 03/03/2023 18:50

What subject does she want to swap into?

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 19:23

Oooh reasonable adjustment. I need to work out why I'm asking for it in relation to autism. Longer to make a decision/realise her interests?

She wants to swap from RE to Astronomy. She should have taken it originally. It's been one of her "special interests" and we've been to stargazing events with her, planetarium etc. I am guessing she was nervous to jump into the unknown.

RE in yr 7/8 (what she did of it -covid) was the ethics/Buddhism stuff which she enjoyed. She would like philosophy. We told her she wouldn't like the gcse/it's emphasis in Christianity... and that's exactly what's happened.

Its just taken her a while.

The new subject teacher seems keen (teachers her physics) but says it's upto the SLT....

I dont speak to the SENCo but her Sen pastoral worker completely agreed with me - but can't advocate on her behalf. She's agreed that being autistic she sees things in black and white and unfortunately has now shut down from RE completely (because she thought she could move.)

I stupidly didn't realise they had to change so early. I guess in my head they still had 2.more years like a normal GCSE so didn't think it would be a problem

She's now asked if she can just drop a gcse then and do 9..m

OP posts:

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 19:24

She won't need support in lessons either way (she has the sen pastoral person she sees half termly and if there's issues.)

However I think she's completely disengaged...

OP posts:

lanthanum · 03/03/2023 19:27

Do other kids know about her autism? I'm just wondering about:
"Why was she allowed to swap when I wasn't?"
"There's a reason but we can't tell you what it is."
So the autism might not solve the perceived unfairness problem.

Self-studying the first two terms of work and taking the next test/exam in that subject might be easier for them to use as a reason why she can swap and someone else can't.

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 19:39

They're all fairly bright and motivated so could study for a test. So achievement/ability doesn't seem to be their reasoning.

I think I'd quote like to go down reasonable adjusment route.

But need to be clear why its a reasonable adjustment for her. Its not like extra time or leaving a lesson early is it? She now passionately hates the subject. Grrr.

OP posts:

handmademitlove · 03/03/2023 20:38

Often students with autism struggle with subjects such as RE as there is a need to explain different points of view. Questions such as 'why would someone think x' can be difficult for autistic students, due to an inability to see things from someone else's viewpoint. This may not be the case for your DD - but it is worth considering if this could be a factor in her not enjoying it. The GCSE content has far more opinion than KS3, which can be quite fact based. If the other subject is more science based, it may be that it will be more straightforward for her.

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 20:42

She was interested in the differing perspectives but she has said its "so vague " so you could be onto something.

I don't really want to argue that autistic students can't do other people's viewpoints (and my daughter is high on the empathy score thing) but she does like fact based stuff...

OP posts:

handmademitlove · 03/03/2023 20:49

I don't think it is that they can't, but that it takes much more work in some cases than for other students. My DD only gets through subjects such as RE by listening to other students opinions and using them on her arguments. She struggles to understand other people's points of view - she knows they have different opinions to her, but struggles to understand why others come to different conclusions given the same set of facts around a subject. But she can take those opinions and share with 'some people think ..' But it does take much more effort than say science or computing.

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 20:58

Ah yes that makes so much sense. And explains it completely. At this rate my email is going to be an essay 😁.

Thankyou.

I hadn't thought if it before but if for some reason they do continue to say no I may look into withdrawing her from RE which is still a thing.

I can completely see the benefits of a 3 yr gcse but having them set in stone at this stage of yr 9 is nuts.

OP posts:

handmademitlove · 03/03/2023 21:02

Another option is to point out to the school that she will need ongoing support in order to teach her potential in RE due to SEN - the difficulties were not obvious at a lower level but as the subject gets more complex it will be an increasing challenge. If they wish her to continue they will need to put significant intervention in place, which may be a challenge for them depending on resources. Or they could just agree to change and will avoid the need to provide so much additional support!

maddy68 · 03/03/2023 21:04

It's nitbakwaysbwast ti switch options. They are done in blocks. I'd she has chosen X y z they may not be in the appropriate block in which to change. Meaning the lessons are on at the same time as her other lessons. Also she has now done a significant part of the GCSE she chose and has missed that amount of the other one.

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 21:07

It is absolutely a straight switch. Same time exactly. Same block.

It doesn't appear that the content missed is the issue (I'd explained they can catch up etc). The letter I had said they knew she was a diligent student etc...

As for significant amount. Its a 1/6th and could be caught up without too much hassle.

OP posts:

Original poster

Optionschange · 03/03/2023 21:08

We can catch up over Easter.

OP posts:

SheilaFentiman · 04/03/2023 08:14

If you withdraw her from RE, she will probably still have to go to the lessons even if she doesn’t do the exam

SheilaFentiman · 04/03/2023 08:14

I hope she can switch!

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread