What are the implications of only doing 6GCSEs

[hopelessholly1]

did not grow up in the UK... hence the question.

DC has SN. Insanely bright but currently out of school. ASD, depression, anxiety...

we are waiting for the EHCP to come through and a few local specialist settings for academically able DC have been suggested but DC can do max 6 GCSEs there. they want to do a-levels and then go to uni (study science or maths). Are there any downsides to not having 8 or 9 a levels? I genuinely have no clue.

I think given your update, your DC needs to do what they can cope with and no more. Help them survive and thrive emotionally, and to not put undue pressure on themselves.
It's not like it used to be. There are many paths to a good education and it doesn't all have to be on the traditional time scale.

My child did six for very similar reasons and is now applying to good universities for a stem subject . It won't make any difference, better 6 good grades than 9 not good.

It is very very tough I know.

Maths, English and at least double science. It's essential you get them back into school as soon as possible.

I’m really sorry to hear your child is in such a difficult place. I hope things improve soon.

I do have a question about the choices they’ve made as certainly on the curriculum our school follows there is a lot of extra curricular PE needed as part of fulfilling the passing requirements - I think it’s either participating in two or three sports regularly. Will they be able to complete this? Would another subject be a better option if they’re struggling with the extra curricular part?

Extracurricular doesn't matter a jot for entrance to universities apart from a few subjects like medicine where they need work experience or similar - it's subject interest they care about. So reading some books about physics or whatever degree they end up applying for and making some reference to a particular section of the book that interested them would be just fine for their personal statement.

Double science is also fine - some mainstream schools don't bother offering the triple.

But it's also fine if what your DC needs now is a bit of time out and restart thinking about qualifications when they're well. Just saying that because I wish someone had told 16yo autistic me that. Sorry for the situation you're in OP

It's absolutely not essential if it's not the right thing for their health.

Absolutely fine. No foreign language needed. Heads-up though, physics a level will need at least a 7 in both maths and sciences and is almost exclusively studied alongside a level maths. Not taught a student yet who thrived at physics a level unless they did a level maths too. Sounds like they will be totally fine. Lots of home educated students accepted into schools for 6th form too now. No longer unusual.

Health first. Education can come later.

Getting into a school where he is happy (ish) and coping is much better than worrying about the number of subjects. And if he isn’t coping then health always comes first. If he has the interest then online school might be an option.

(My teen daughter was suicidal aged 15 and had to pull out of school to be closely watched - she is now 23 and thriving and doing her PhD.)

Look after yourself as well.

No bad implications, they can still successfully go onto a levels, and university, if that what they want to do. As long as they have English and maths, and science in your son’s case, the rest doesn’t really matter. Having 10-12 GCSEs is lovely, but it’s absolutely no guarantee of success in life, later on.

Indeed - I did two "extra" GCSEs than most of my peers (11 rather than 9, 9 was standard in my school) and looking back I think...wtf was the point?! No-one's ever cared about my extra GCSE is Spanish...

Gosh, I'm so sorry to hear that. No, definitely don't worry about that at all, was just a suggestion in case they were already doing things they could include. Good luck, we will all be here thinking of you. Any qualifications they manage to get at such a difficult time is amazing, and a testament to their resilience. I've always reassured students in the past (when they have been struggling) is to give the exams their best effort but don't see it as a final line as they can retake.

That's fine. The basic minimum for most next-step options is to have 5 GCSEs at grade 5 or better (some options are OK with grade 4 or better) which must include English&Marhs so doing 6 is perfectly ok.

If doing A-Levels he should have at least grade 6 but ideally grade 7 or more in the related GCSE (if getting grade 6 was the best they could do at GCSE with a lot of hard work then they will be likely to get around grade C at A-level - respectable enough but will be aiming for lower-tier universities). Grade 8 or 9 at GCSE will mean a reasonable chance at top A-Level grades. Grade 5 or lower will mean they are unlikely to cope with the A-Level course at all.

Double Science is fine for progressing to A-Level. The difference between double and triple science at GCSE is that they cover the topics to the same depth but with narrower breadth (ie fewer specific topics within each science). It won't matter at A-Level because the teaching will start from scratch on each topic (although at a fast pace) because each exam boad will have done different topics at GCSE so the A-Level teacher won't assume significant prior knowledge but will assume enough familiarity with the subject in general that any student who didn't cover the topic at GCSE level can catch up quickly.

I don't think so as long as they get maths and English and good enough grades in the subjects they want to do for A level.
University won't care about GCSEs once they have A levels

Not at all
My DD isn't going to pick a language gcse, it doesn't interest her

My niece went to a school that only did double science and she felt distinctly disadvantaged in her chemistry and biology A'levels because she had not had the greater depth study of the triple.

Not really. The language element is pushed by almost all mainstream schools because some systems of school ranking count what proportion of kids leave with decent gcse passes that include a modern language and a humanities subject as well as the basics of english/maths/science. Specialist schools that are supporting children with additional needs do not have to dance to that tune.

If a child is capable of studying a language then it can be beneficial to them personally because the growing adolescent brain develops useful skills from the practice of learning a new vocabulary - it's like press-ups for the brain's muscles, metaphorically speaking. But if it would be a struggle it's not necessary. I have a DC who was really struggling with the full GCSE syllabus in a language in y10 but has dropped to a "short course" version which is officially worth half a GCSE and is a more realistic endeavour, and we are encouraging this because it's beneficial to have some experience of a language, but it's not at all necessary. If a child is struggling to be at school at all it would be foolish to throw an extra stretch-challenge like that at them. They could get a similar "brain-pressups" benefit from playing duolingo if they wanted to, although that doesn't lead to a qualification that can go on a CV.

No it isn't. It's essential that the child is given space and time to recover.

My son did his GCSEs at home.

The severe eating issues, combined with Duke of edinburgh, makes me concerned. DoE expeditions aren't good on limited food intake.
The rest looks fine. Languages are not an issue (English language is different - that is needed, but a lack of French /Spanish etc won't be an issue at all).

Will PE and RE be sat as GCSE's? I get anywhere between 4 and 7 GCSE's in your list (maths, English language, English lit, science, science, pe and re).

Is GCSE PE realistic with an eating disorder? My DD had to do 3 sports to quite a good level. Ditto DoE, will they cope with an overnight camp? And all the volunteering?

5 GCSEs including English and Maths is all you need to progress.

Obviously what you want to do next may be determined by what subjects you have studied.

DD - very bright but very SEN - is doing a reduced timetable and likely to end up with 6 GCSEs plus a BTEC. Is not a problem for any of the things she wants to do in the future.

Thanks everyone. that's really reassuring to know!

How will your DC complete the practical element of science?

Six GCSEs doesn’t have to prevent DC going on to A levels. Neither does double science prevent going on to study science A levels.

Mental health has to be the priority. Academics can always come later, especially with an EHCP. An EHCP can last until 25, or 26 in some cases.

If appropriate/wanted, more GCSEs can be taken otherwise than at school or after the initial 6.

Where are you in the EHCP process? Is the LA sticking to the timescales?

@RampantIvy special schools can undertake the practical element of science GCSEs. Even EHE students can now cover the practical GCSE science element via certain exam centres/providers. Although some SS and some with EOTAS/EOTIS sit iGCSEs, which don’t have the in person practical element sign off in the same way as GCSEs.

Completely agree @lifeturnsonadime. Mental health is the priority, and for some school isn’t appropriate. I have 2 DC with EOTAS who are doing GCSEs at home.

My DD16 is similar to your child with 5 GCSE's being completed next year. She's just had a conditional offer to do a BTEC level 3 (A level equivalent) that she gets 5 GCSE's grades 4-9 - if you speak to the colleges your child wants to go to they'll let you know if they can offer spaces. FWIW my DD is foi g a course that's very specialist and not a common course so perhaps check and see what is out there for your SEN child as mine would unlikely be able to cope with a 'normal
' job as she
Needs a lot of downtime and is more
Likely to thrive in a role where she can do flex or self employed freelance type work