How many GCSEs do kids take these days?

[backinthebox]

DS will choose his options next week, and we have only just been sent information home on this. DD chose her’s 4 years ago (same school) and did 11 GCSEs, but DS has been told pupils only do 8 now. This is obviously fewer than he was expecting to be able to choose, and he is worried about how this will affect his future prospects. Am I right in thinking that 8 GCSEs for a top set pupil is a rather low number?

They only need 8 but most schools round here are set up for the children to take 9 or 10 depending on what science format they do.

My children both only needed to put in the top 8 GCSE grades when applying for 6th form so the other two just fell off the bottom of the list.

Mine are at state school and are split depending on ability so either 8 or 9 (if they do 9 it has to include a language). If they do 8 they have extra maths and English lessons. I have/had dc in both scenarios and it's worked fine for them. I'd be happy them doing 8 if it means they can put more time /effort in to those fewer subjects. Currently applying for 6th form and both have said they'll take the 8 best grades and will discount the rest.

9 is standard at DDs school... but the list includes several BTEC subjects. (DD will likely do 8 GCSEs and 1 BTEC)

ETA... I don't know how they could timetable anymore subjects in! Its 4hrs English, 4hrs Maths, 6hrs Science, 3x3hrs options, 1hr PE and 1hr "Culture" (all the PSHE, Rs, values, study skills etc they need to cover).

mine did 10 at a strong private school and some kids did 11 at the same school. 8 does not sound like many for a pupil who can manage more, especially if there are separate sciences.

3 science + maths + 2 english + language = 7 so then only 1 subject where the child has a free choice which is pretty limiting.

10 is standard at DD’s school (a competitive grammar). If they’re really struggling with a non-essential subject then they can drop it and take 9, however this is very rare and only in exceptional circumstances

More schools are moving towards fewer GCSEs as you can see @backinthebox

My younger two both took 10 as triple science was covered in the same time as double for those selected; students doing double did 9 GCSEs. Edited to add: this was in 2017 and 2019 so a few years ago.

The school I worked at latterly (in 2020 IIRC) moved to offer 8 to most students; and the same is true for some other schools in our area.

Eight is fine but can your DS take all the subjects he wants to? This is the possible issue for me. If a students best subjects are sciences, maths, English, history then that's one thing; but if they would like to study music, drama and MFL at A level they may find their GCSE options are not sufficient, with the compulsories.

What does he want to take?

My children were in Welsh medium school did 15 as they also had to do Welsh Language and Welsh Literature

Some data here which you may find helpful.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographic-gcse-results-2024/infographics-for-gcse-results-2024-accessible

@MrsAvocet thank you, very helpful.

Bear in mind that universities generally only require 5, always including maths and english. we went through clearing this summer for uni, and even unis like newcastle/bristol/nottingham/oxford brookes were only asking for 5…..

private schools are moving away from GCSE’s totally, only offering 2 in maths and english
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/education/gcses-private-schools-london-qualification-latymer-school-b1106686.html

I work in uni admissions and was going to say exactly this. I work in a science dept for an RG uni.

This is irrelevant really because private schools can do what they want and have their own resources for preparing pupils for uni, they are teaching them ‘something else,’ not doing away with other subjects altogether.

The standard at my DCs school is 9 with the option to do an extra 2 of triple science rather than double and further maths.

DS1 did 11 last year - it’s a lot to be honest! The extra science and maths had to be taught either at lunch or after school so wasn’t ideal.

To answer @clary, he wants to study engineering at uni in the future, and the 8 GCSEs do not allow him to study triple science AND a humanity. I cannot see how this is to the long term advantage of a child aged - make a decision at 13-14 that will exclude them from a particular avenue before they have even begun. DD was offered 2 x Eng, maths and further maths, triple science (3 GCSEs) and RS, and still had 3 options slots for a language, a humanity and a creative subject. DS is offered 2 x Eng, maths and combined science (2 GCSEs) plus 3 options slots for a language, more science or a humanity, and a ‘catch all’ slot for all creative, RS, a second language or a vocational subject such as food prep or child care.

My DD did Eng X2, Sci X3, Maths, a humanity, a language and 2 free choices. I'm glad they had the range of 10 so they could keep their options open but they definitely only needed 8 for 6th form. Actually both of them would have happily dropped their least favourite and only took it because they needed something in the last slot so maybe 9 would have been better.

I'm surprised at the pp who said their child is doing 15 - how does the school fit all that in the timetable?

Maybe schools are realising that 8/9 gcses at 7-9 is better than 10/11 GCSEs at 5-7.

While there are some capable of getting 10 grade 8s, most do need some time.

(And oronic that most of the time people are complaining that their kids get too much work!)

Maybe Further Naths will be offered after school OP?

My DS is Y11 now and is taking 12. He's at a comprehensive school.

3 x Science, 2 x English, Maths, Further Maths, RE (compulsory at his school), Music, History, German and Latin.

He's hoping to go on to Engineering and plans to take Maths, Further Maths, Physics and German at A Level.

He's not enjoying the English or the RE but loves the maths side of things so really wanted to take Further Maths in addition to regular maths. His school requires 10 as a minimum, but he's added in the further maths and is also taking music off timetable (before school twice a week).

It's a lot, but he's organised and is doing well. Also doing plenty of hobbies alongside for balance (mostly music, some sport).

The maximum everyone should have access to would be:

2 x English
Maths and Further maths
3 x Science
Humanity
Latin and one MFL
Music, Art or other option depending on individual talents

Reducing the options to 8 is very limiting, but I would anticipate that only the most academic would need all 11.

In my view GCSEs in RE are pointless and it should not be compulsory beyond age 14.

GCSEs in Sport, Drama, Food Tech, etc are unnecessary for any career/A-Levels/Degree. If children want to do these subjects then they should be able to do them as enjoyable practical options without the need for exams (maybe just a school level certificate to show that they have attended).

We need the most able to maximise their options at A Level and beyond, and the less academic to enjoy their time at school and explore subjects that interest them without the pressure of exams.

DD1 did 11 at a comp two years ago - she did get all 7-9s but would have done better with fewer - triple science was done in the same time as everyone else did double which sucked time from everything else. Covid meant there were a lot of gaps to fill too - meant her usually strongest subjects came out weaker as she spent so much time on the triple science and compulsory RE.

In the same school, DD2 would have had to do more as she would have been timetabled for further maths,triple science and music (her most important subject) was an after school club with an extra. I think it would have been very tough.

She's moved to music school where she will do a grand total of 8 and finds this more manageable and I don't think there's a reason this will count against her in future as others have said. There are ways to keep your options and interests open without studying them as a GCSE subject.

Very few, comparatively speaking. But it allows applicants that have come through non-standard routes to HE to have a chance of studying at UG level. For example, I have seen 5 or 6 GCSEs in those who are homeschooled, applicants who left with few quals but have done access courses later in life, and applicants with 'contextual' backgrounds.

In all these cases, the applicants would still have to have the necessary A levels (or equivalent) with essential subjects as appropriate. Although of course grades would be lowered slightly for contextual applications.

ETA: this is in reply to @manilovecoffee . I quoted the wrong post.

Ds1 did 9 and ds2 did 10. Most children do 8. They are at a comprehensive school.

At my secondary modern school the top 2 English sets did language and literature and the bottom 3 sets just did language. I don't know if that's the case at my dc school.

I agree with your maximum list although I'd ditch Latin. I say that as a linguist who has Latin O level. It's really not very useful these days.

I also think not including the subjects you listed as exam subjects is limiting. Not everyone is going on to do A levels and we need some students to go down the routes of the subjects you listed.

I would also say RE is more use than Latin - one of mine did it and it was very useful for a couple of his A levels plus they learnt a lot about ethics and debate.