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

GCSE "compulsory" subject. DS doesn't want to do it.

213 replies

sugarhopper · 04/10/2023 20:57

DS is in top set for French at school. School says that if you are in the top set in year 9 then you HAVE to take French as one of your GCSE choices.

Now, while DS is good at it, he doesn't like or enjoy it. Top set of any other subject aren't forced into a GCSE, only the MFL classes.
Also doing French will mean he will have to drop one of his other options (probably Design & Tech or Computing) which he really wants to do. (Also, top set for these subjects)
I know we're going to have a fight on our hands over this, but any advice will be welcome.

OP posts:
PercytheParkKeepershedgehog · 04/10/2023 21:45

Learning a language is good for computer scientists who have to learn to code.

WrongSwanson · 04/10/2023 21:46

Iloveanicegarden · 04/10/2023 21:42

What do people think D/T is? Taught properly it develops all kind of skills that are in short supply. It is not solely about cutting up wood/metal/plastics to make second rate artefacts.

Agreed. And i say that as the person who refused to study it (I was terrible at it, brilliant at everything else)

Iizzyb · 04/10/2023 21:48

I studied French as part of my degree. Don't think I've used it since 1998. Only took it because it was easy & the other subject on my degree was harder....

I'd happily go stamp my feet on his behalf if I was you op x

Somanycats · 04/10/2023 21:50

How determined is he to get what he wants? If he is happy to follow through you and he tell the school he will be dropping French and taking computing. When they say he can't tell them either he will be leaving on the such a date to start at more accommodating school - my boy would definitely have done this, but yours may not be so bloody minded. Or that he needs to be entered into the computing exam at current school as well and they can support him to do the project work but he'll home study the rest. A bright and determined kid can very easily get themselves to GCSE level.

Hellocatshome · 04/10/2023 21:53

My DS had this with Spanish the school wouldn't budge he was forced to do it. Its all about the Ebacc even though they will never admit it. DS went to lessons but didn't complete any homework and didn't revise for the exams as he needed to put all his efforts into passing the subjects he actually needed. Got a 2 inSpanish but got what he needed in the other subjects and secured his dream apprenticeship.

StressedMumOf2Girls · 04/10/2023 21:57

If he really doesn't want to do it then talk to the school. Yes it's good to do an MFL but forcing a student to do the subject or any subject really is going to end badly for everyone involved.

And not doing an MFL GCSE will not close any doors. Again, yes it's good to do an MFL GCSE but it's not the end of the world at all if he doesn't. It's not going to hinder his prospects at all in Engineering/Computing.

FallingAutumnLeaf · 04/10/2023 21:58

Have you got an options block yet? What is blocked against french? It might not be able to put it on the timetable, depending on the rest of his choices.

People are talking about moving schools - but what do other schools do? DS's school get probably 2/3 of the kids to do a MFL and a humanity. It might not be as simple as moving to remove the compulsory French.

legominfig · 04/10/2023 22:01

Same situation but for my O levels in 1974. I really didn’t want to do a second MFL (German) I was good at sciences, maths etc but not MFLs at all.

I negotiated a place in a bottom Biology set (for those not doing German) it allowed me to do physics, chemistry additional maths and woodwork - which was my real aim.

Fortunately they saw my reasoning (and how crap/potentially disruptive I was at MFL) and let me do this.
Gave me a career - so thanks are due to them.

So look through the whole options list, see who’s teaching what, get some support from individuals and present your case. Its probably doable.

all the best

MidnightOnceMore · 04/10/2023 22:02

Have you actually discussed this with someone in a relevant leadership position?

Don't get wound up until you have had a proper conversation with someone senior about it. Don't waste time with form tutors etc - just email and ask for a phone call with the relevant senior person. Explain why it is really important that your child is able to do x subject.

One good thing to get into the conversation is that you understand that it is important your DS doesn't make a thing of this and will keep it low key so as not to undermine the general rule.

If they won't allow it, you can complain.

TrailingLoellia · 04/10/2023 22:03

PercytheParkKeepershedgehog · 04/10/2023 21:45

Learning a language is good for computer scientists who have to learn to code.

No it’s really not. Human languages are very different from computer languages. There isn’t any overlap in aptitude or skills.

TrailingLoellia · 04/10/2023 22:04

I’d just go to head of year and tell them your DS isn’t going to do a language.

clary · 04/10/2023 22:05

good advice from @MidnightOnceMore esp re keeping it low key.

Friend of mine's ds (in my DS's year) didn't take German; she told school he wouldn't do well and wanted to do business instead, which he did; I had no idea till afterwards, as I imagine they were asked not to shout about it.

JustWhatWeDontNeed · 04/10/2023 22:05

Quelle est le date de ton anniversaire.

Pamplemousse.

That's about the extent of my GCSE French in later life - and I'm quite sure I learned pamplemousse off the back of a Lancome juicy tubes lip gloss.

Dig your heels in if you can. There's no point doing a language he isn't interested in, unless he wants to bag an easy pass for himself.

Qilin · 04/10/2023 22:07

Lamelie · 04/10/2023 21:01

What does he want to do?
GCSE French is more useful and better thought of than computing. Not doing computing won’t close any doors to him. Not doing GCSE French would.

I did French GCSE. I don't honk it's benefitted my career at all, and I'm now 50y, I can still describe myself and my town - though still based in 15y me. It's never been needed in my job though.

Dh is the same age and didn't study French behind year 9. He didn't do great, at all, in German GCSE. The lack of French hasn't prevented him from moving forward in his studies and career over the years either.

Dd is 21y and didn't do French GCSE. She did Spanish at GCSE and a level, never did French behind year 7. It hasn't prevented her from doing the courses she has wanted to do.

I did a level gcse and a level computing, as did dd. We have both used that in our choice of study and careers.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 04/10/2023 22:10

What does he want to do?
GCSE French is more useful and better thought of than computing. Not doing computing won’t close any doors to him. Not doing GCSE French would.

Sorry, but what?! I'm an MFL teacher and even I wouldn't say that. My Y11 ds wants to do maths, physics and computing at A Level. As it happens, he's doing Spanish, but if it had been a choice between Spanish and computing, I would absolutely have advised him to do computing!

Qilin · 04/10/2023 22:10

And you could learn those skills in an afternoon. We all use IT.
OP if he wants to work in computing he could still do A Level Computing. Although maths, sciences and humanities would be even better.

Do you know much about computing and it's related careers and courses later?

The fact that you're comparing IT skills with computing suggests not.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 04/10/2023 22:11

Quelle est le date de ton anniversaire.

Ahem. 'Quelle est la date de ton anniversare?' Where's my red pen...?

Lamelie · 04/10/2023 22:15

Qilin · 04/10/2023 22:10

And you could learn those skills in an afternoon. We all use IT.
OP if he wants to work in computing he could still do A Level Computing. Although maths, sciences and humanities would be even better.

Do you know much about computing and it's related careers and courses later?

The fact that you're comparing IT skills with computing suggests not.

I know that careers in computing coding etc. are little to do with what’s covered in GCSE computing. The young graduates I know in tech and coding on £50,000/ year (not mine, this isn’t a brag) did broad GCSEs including languages, then Maths/ economics degrees. You know those threads on private schooling and middle class soft skills? This thread encapsulates it.

TrailingLoellia · 04/10/2023 22:16

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 04/10/2023 22:11

Quelle est le date de ton anniversaire.

Ahem. 'Quelle est la date de ton anniversare?' Where's my red pen...?

Should be “votre” instead of “ton” if you’re being polite.

WrongSwanson · 04/10/2023 22:18

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 04/10/2023 22:11

Quelle est le date de ton anniversaire.

Ahem. 'Quelle est la date de ton anniversare?' Where's my red pen...?

Grin
GCSE "compulsory" subject. DS doesn't want to do it.
WrongSwanson · 04/10/2023 22:19

( I do realise it was a typo Grin)

peacock2 · 04/10/2023 22:20

shockeditellyou · 04/10/2023 21:22

I think this is because the school want to look good in the Ebacc results- pupils only hit the Ebacc target if they do a MFL.

like a PP said, time to fail a few exams.

This. Your son should not be forced to sacrifice academic interest for reasons of league tables.

WrongSwanson · 04/10/2023 22:21

Lamelie · 04/10/2023 22:15

I know that careers in computing coding etc. are little to do with what’s covered in GCSE computing. The young graduates I know in tech and coding on £50,000/ year (not mine, this isn’t a brag) did broad GCSEs including languages, then Maths/ economics degrees. You know those threads on private schooling and middle class soft skills? This thread encapsulates it.

Show quote history

Meh, I'm as middle class as they come. And work in a role that needs science, maths and linguistic skills. But I also know that someone who is completely switched off from a subject isn't going to do as well as they will in a subject they would really like to study.

LuluBlakey1 · 04/10/2023 22:21

Lamelie · 04/10/2023 21:01

What does he want to do?
GCSE French is more useful and better thought of than computing. Not doing computing won’t close any doors to him. Not doing GCSE French would.

What doors will close to him if he doesn't do GCSE French? None that I can think of except things to do with French.
If he wants to be a computer programmer, Computing would be far more useful as a start at GCSE.

TrailingLoellia · 04/10/2023 22:28

Lamelie · 04/10/2023 22:15

I know that careers in computing coding etc. are little to do with what’s covered in GCSE computing. The young graduates I know in tech and coding on £50,000/ year (not mine, this isn’t a brag) did broad GCSEs including languages, then Maths/ economics degrees. You know those threads on private schooling and middle class soft skills? This thread encapsulates it.

Show quote history

That is so odd because usually coders today have computer science degrees not economics or maths degrees. Some coders did have math degrees, but they are not young graduates anymore, they are in their late 30s/40s.