Help! My non arty dd has been given gcse art!

[Hairyfairy01]

So the last day of term and school have emailed to say my dd is doing art and design gcse. This was not one of her preferred options, even from that 'block'. She has never shown any interest in Art. School are ignoring my emails and calls. I did know this was a possibility a few weeks ago and made my views clear via email then and my dd was under the impression she would be doing food nutrition instead, which at a push is fine. She struggles at school academically and will find it hard to get 5 GCSEs as it is, this now seems like a wasted GCSE to me.

Am I right to be going a bit mad over this? Any advice in the best way to handle it? I do understand that not every child will get what they want and you can't please everyone. But this just seems like madness.

I am conflicted here. On the one hand I think it's unfair. On the other, I remember having to do maths, science and French and I hated those subjects and they really stressed me out.
I think perhaps it's different for GCSE than ALevel... Alevels should definitely be subjects the child enjoys.
That said, if there are places on other subjects, there's no harm in being asked to move.

Just an update for anyone who is interested. The day before school started I got an email saying my dd now had a space on the GCSE food nutrition course. I am very thankful to the school, I appreciate it can't be easy doing the timetables. I also feel this gives my dd the best chance of achieving 5 GCSEs at a grade good enough to allow her to follow a level 3 college course and she will be happier doing food tech (she loves cooking and as a swimmer is also interested in the nutrition side of it) compared to Art (which she continues to show no passion or skill for). Thanks for all the support and encouragement to fight back a bit on this one.

Thanks for the update and good luck to your DD.

Thanks for the update and good luck to your DD.

So glad the school saw sense eventually.

I am really pleased for your dd. She must be so happy

That's great news, Op.

that is good news @Hairyfairy01

Good news

Maybe offering a different view from others here.. I got given art and design when I was doing my GCSEs not out of choice, I’d not even considered it. I am now a graphic designer and photographer, it was the making of me and showed a talent I never realised I had as I’d not really explored it. I always had to try hard at school and whilst it was one of my best gcse grades it wasn’t an A or A* but after I realised I enjoyed it I went forward and did it as an a level, and then went on to get a 1st degree at university. I am not a natural artist, I can’t draw that well compared to people who just “have got the drawing knack”… but I am a good designer and I’ve made a good career out of it. You never know, something could click. Hope that helps offer another perspective, you know your daughter best and all the best in hoping you get what you both want with the school.

Sorry op, normally read the full thread, just have seen your update - tired this morning and skim read, good news she got what she wanted in the end!

If your daughter is struggling academically I would ask if she could drop that subject and use the spare time to study in the library

Glad she got a space and all has been resolved!

For those who are confused about how this sort of situation can happen, a lot is to do with the teacher shortage. If you can only recruit one DT teacher with a food specialism, that will really limit the classes you can put on (as an example). It's often hard to recruit teachers to just teach a few classes, and there's a lot less flex in school budgets than there was, as well.

Due to this, it's very common to timetable subjects in "blocks" and ask students to pick a choice per block (plus often a back up). Something popular where you have plenty of teachers can be in multiple blocks. Something you can only offer once is only in one block. It's not ideal, but not much about secondary schools is, at the moment. Sometimes, there's nothing a student really wants to do in a "block", but the student has to pick something.

Would only contend one item that you mentioned. Art can be very transformative for those with learning difficulties, it can help them access skills they didn't know they posessed and, via engagement of their spatial brain and colour work unlock lots of other abilities like concentration, literacy and anxiety reducing practices. In other words via the spatial brain they unlock senses that cause them to access succes and support for all learning. Same for the performing arts....have a massive think before give up the opportunity for her to build life enhancing skills that she'll access through art. Good luck with it.

I completely agree with everything you've said about art and its transformative powers - same with music - I feel quite passionately about all of that, especially as so much funding has been removed for creative subjects. The issue is just that GCSE - at least in our school - is ridiculously busy and high-pressure. They move so fast, it's extremely stressful. Miss one lesson and you're so far behind. It can take away from all of the positive aspects.
Each person would have to make their own decision, of course, but it is worth knowing that GCSE art is incredibly difficult and time-consuming. My daughter, who found it very stressful to get all the work done, is now at college doing only art and considering a career in art therapy, as she knows how beneficial it can be to people. Everything you said is completely right about art - beautiful to see people unlocking all sorts of things they never knew they had in them.