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.

Universities care about GCSE's less than most people realise. You have to tick the box of English language, maths and preferably a science. No need for a foreign language. Some public sector jobs also have a tick-box for 5 GCSEs.
A handful of the more demanding universities/courses (eg. medicine) expect to see 7/8+ GCSEs but mostly universities are flexible about GCSEs particularly if there are mitigating circumstances and/or a home-ed background.
They are far more interested in A-levels and want to see the right subjects and (predicted) grades with 3+ subjects taken over 2 years to demonstrate capacity to handle a full-time degree course. beyond fudging maybe one grade for contextual offers according to specific criteria, they're much less flexible on the A level requirements.
6 GCSEs is therefore not a problem for most degree courses providing they include English language and maths and allow the student to access the A levels (or equivalent) that are prerequisites for the degree course.

@newmum1976 @SnowyIcySnow a Duke of Edinburgh expedition doesn't have to be all tent-camping and cooking rehydrated weird food on a trangia. That"s just the cheapest way for neurotypical children to pass the requirements in large volumes. The expedition requirements can be achieved with a pony trek expedition and sleeping at a basic bunkhouse rather than in a tent, and enough access to basic cooking facilities that someone with a restricted food intake can have something appropriate.

I wouldn't give GCSEs a moments thought then.
When the time comes, 6 GCSEs including maths, English language and science will be more than enough.

You are quite right that your DC's mental health must be your top priority right now. If they can get 6 decent GCSEs in their current situation that would be brilliant, but if not, it isn't the end of the world. Exams can be taken later. There are alternative routes into higher education. The most important thing is that they are well.
Don't feel any pressure to get them into doing alot of extracurriculars. If there are outside activities which they enjoy and which help their mental health then great, but don't feel they need to be doing stuff to enhance university applications because most institutions really don't care about that kind of thing.
Obviously in some ways it is easier to take the conventional route and do the usual number of exams at the usual time, but many people don't and still go on to be happy and successful. I think you are 100% correct to be focused on your DC's well being. Sometimes you get a bit of skewed perspective on here and it feels like everyone's DCs get amazing exam results whilst doing dozens of extracurriculars and are all destined for the very best Universities and lucrative careers in the City afterwards. But reality isn't like that and there are many different ways to happiness and success. Life is not set in stone by 16. You sound like a loving, supportive parent, and that is incredibly valuable to your DC.

Great post from @MrsAvocet as usual.

Priority is absolutely that your dd is well op. Agree MN does sometimes feel like a place where every child gets all 8/9 at GCSE but it's also really helpful and supportive.

Really you need to be studying 8 to keep all options open. I had exactly this issue, the more suitable settings for sen just didn't offer much academically so I refused and negotiated a bespoke package at mainstream school with a private teaching space where she could be when being in the main classroom was overwhelming (most of the time) but being bright she essentially was able to homeschool herself from text books.

Really you need to be studying 8 to keep all options open.

DC really don’t. Brilliant if that’s what your DD managed. Not all can and not sitting 8 (or not sitting 8 all in one go because OP’s DC could always sit more at a later date) doesn’t need to close doors.

Best to check your local sixth forms as they vary wildly in entrance requirements. If you're not from the UK and speak another language at home your DC may be able to sit a GCSE in that language.

You’ve had some good advice.

Double Science is fine for A-level sciences.
It’s good that the other subjects include maths and Englishes as they keep options the most open.

My child went to a comp and they were fine with him dropping MFL. He’s dyslexic and finds English tough enough. MFL is important if you might do languages later or want to live overseas but when you live in the UK, you can get away with no MFL qualifications without limiting yourself really.

My son was very ill in sixth form and has had to do his education in a different order to his peers but I wanted to reassure you that you’re doing the right thing going at your child’s pace. I’m glad that there’s flexibility and different routes to achieving academic goals these days for kids like ours.

💐

Yeh I agree, you really don;t need to take eight GCSEs and in the situation the OP is dealing with, for sure six is plenty.

Make sure you focus on a GCSE in any possible A level choice is all I would add - history A level is possible without the GCSE but much easier with.

But six - no issue: maths, English lang, 2 x science, two others that are of interest; leaves open plenty of options at A level.

Edit: sorry I see you have stated possible subjetcs and A level choices - that's all good then. Sciences plus maths? or something like psychology/sociology? All good.

Fair enough. Given the situation, DoE would be the last thing I’d want my DD doing, but each to their own.

I'm so sorry your DC is in such an awful place right nowOf course the most important thing is keeping your DC alive and getting some sort of stability with the mental health issues, and from a school perspective I wouldn't worry about much beyond finding a school they might be willing to give a go at and choosing a subject load that will be as manageable as possible. Six GCSEs is absolutely fine as long as math and eng lang are in there, and don't worry at all about MLF unless that's something your DC is desperate to study [I say all this as an America-UK transplant who is generally vaguely disturbed by how narrow studies often get in seconday school here]. Yes, A level sciences are easier with triple science but that's a small gap that can be bridged later and there's absolutely zero point worrying about it when just getting to school and studying is still a struggle. And (fingers crossed/god willing) if the end of GCSEs comes around and things have improved so much that not having a certain GCSE or the grades for a specific program has become the biggest issue then there are paths to sit additional GCSEs before starting A levels that could be explored. Same for some science tutoring in the summer between Y11 and A levels if that makes sense then.

Right now it's one foot in front of the other with a focus on doable not optimal. Hang in there💐

Oh. I do think another PP had a good point about PE. I'd either make sure that there are sport options (including one that will count as a team sport) that are at least in the realm of possibility or be ready for that to be a throwaway option. The latter is of course completely fine as long as it's not going to be massively discouraging to your DC.

Lots of SS work towards DofE. It is done in a slower, more supportive way compared to how mainstream schools and other mainstream groups undertake it. It also doesn’t mean OP’s DC is going to jump right in with DofE straight away.