GCSE art not running

[Kleo100]

My daughter has just been given her GCSE options. Its a last minute shock to find out that the school has decided not to run art. This was her first choice option and she wants to do A level art and a design subject at uni so it's a big blow.

Has anyone got experience of doing art GCSE as an online course? That may be one option. Or has anyone got onto an art A level course without GCSE art, just a portfolio. Any advice on independent study / alternative gateways welcome!

The lack of consultation has been shocking and the options reveal right at the end of term feels deeply cynical and cowardly. We could look at other schools but term is finishing so it's late in the day, and I would prefer not to move my daughter for various reasons.

That’s dreadful, I wouldn’t have gone to school if I couldn’t do art. I have no experience of online but would very much encourage her to do it if she wants to go on to study art at 6th form. What are they thinking?

They’ve either not got enough to warrant a class or not got a teacher

It will be either lack of teachers (national recruitment and retention crisis) or not sufficient numbers wanting to do it

Sadly, all subjects are struggling to recruit and the decision would have been made with a heavy heart.

How shit to announce it at the end of term. Are there any night class options locally?

That there isn't enough money to run GCSE Art. Lots of redundancies happening in schools right now.

Yes I am sure the school has had to make some tough choices. We like the school, hence wanting to come up with a solution that doesn't involve moving schools.

Agree that it's very poor to release options allocated on the last day of term without any explanation of why Art isn't running. It's one of the more popular non Ebac subjects. Is the teacher leaving? Try emailing the school as the senior teachers may still answer emails for a few days.

Check your local 6th forms to see the entrance requirements for Art A level and equivalent. One of our local 6th form colleges offers an alternative entry pathway for those without Art GCSE. Hopefully there will be a way forward for your DD especially as her school hasn't given her the chance to take the GCSE.

Is she planning on staying at the same school for a levels or moving to college? Because it’s unlikely they would offer a level in 2 years time. 🤷‍♀️

I would have thought that it would be a hard gcse to do online, there is an awful lot of work which needs doing. How would she manage time wise. Would school be open to her doing one less gcse with them and having an afternoon off a week to come home and do art? If not her workload is going to be crazy.

I bet someone’s waited until the last minute to hand their notice in and the school knows they’ll struggle to recruit in the autumn. We’ve advertised twice for a DT teacher and not had a single applicant

Agree.
I'd try to contact relevant 6th forms now to ask about implications for Art A level.

I should imagine they’ve tried to make it work, but have now realised, late in the term as it is, that they can’t.

I’ve read on here, on several occasions, that Art is a very time consuming subject and I think much will depend on her other options.

I’m assuming her school doesn’t do a level then?

Either a MOOC or extracurricular class, or could she perhaps simply do art and create a portfolio that way?

I'm sorry for your daughter as my son is in the same boat. Allowed him to choose computer science and then find out a few days ago they are running something different. No tech courses at all. No teachers.

We were warned that art is very intense and takes up some lunch breaks and after school times in GCSE so i do think that could be a bit heavy on top of the other subjects. Are there any local art clubs/classes that you could enquire with in case they run gcse art on a Saturday? I know some places run dance and drama gcse privately.

My daughter did GCSE art. She was really good at it and came out with a 9 but the hours she had to put in were immense. Despite being good at it, she was put off doing A-level art because of how much time she'd had to devote to it. So I imagine it would be very difficult to do online or on top of other GCSEs.

It's shit because it's hard to do as a private candidate too.

I wonder if there is a private class/evening class/tuition option. Or change schools to one that is running art GCSE.

If she does it privately she could ask the school to let her drop one of her other GCSEs so that she has more time.

Have a look at the British Council Arts Awards. Depending on your location and whether anyone locally offers them or can be a mentor, these might be great

This may be helpful.

https://artcoursework.com/course/igcse-art/

That won’t happen as she would need to be supervised.

DD2 was allowed to and to go to the library or garden room for free periods. There were a few other kids doing this for various reasons and they were supervised.

What an absolute shame and terrible state we are in. Not enough teachers and GCSEs so demanding students are struggling and put off.

I teach in higher education arts. I have taken students without Level 3 art qualifications when they have perhaps done GCSE and occasionally when they have done it as a hobby and got a good portfolio.

I think speaking to sixth forms would be a good idea.

If she might be able to do A level without the GCSE, I'd encourage some hobby classes and just let her enjoy art in her own time with lots of encouragement.

Get her an iPad and procreate perhaps and see if she can enjoy some online courses for fun?

Where abouts are you based in the country? Might be that others can give suggestions of courses near them that could possibly help
Have a conversation with the school about wanting to persue art GCSE out of school, so would like to use time in school to work on her art. See which exam board you could do an exam with, so you can follow their requirements.
I did GCSE and A-level art and whilst tough at times, I did really enjoy them. It is worth fighting for...
Could be worth tapping into the homeschooling network for advice/support but also just spotted
International GCSE Art and Design Online Course | Wolsey Hall Oxford https://share.google/gAK4C4btSGEEZAKRr

Art is one GCSE which is very tricky to do if home educated, very few places in England run it, and you can't do it solely online as you have to find a provider who will run the classes and an exam centre who can facilitate the practical exam. A lot of home ed kids do the Trinity College Arts Awards instead, the Gold Award might be something she would love - a good option for anyone wanting to study art outside school.