What do you think of this GCSE offer?

[SoftIce]

This is not a personal thread - I just love looking at different curricula in general and just came across the following browsing. I thought it was a bit unusual but also nice in a way.

Core: English, Mathematics, Double Science, 1 MFL
Options:

• One of History, Economics or Citizenship (apparently taught combined in year 9 and then pupils choose one) or a second MFL
• Two of Music, Art, DT, Food or Latin
• GCSE PE or Core PE or BTEC Performing Arts

(I hope I got it right, can't find the page anymore!) So: No triple science, no geography and seems light on humanities. On the other hand, lots of scope for creative subjects and languages (!) within 9 or 10 GCSEs. In fact, it's impossible to avoid a language and a creative subject, which may not suit some pupils. Would you be happy with this choice?

My STEM biased son would have hated that choice. Is it a ‘creative arts’ pathway school? It’s a lot of coursework /arty subjects for pupils not inclined in that direction. I would not have sent my kids to a school that didn’t offer triple science but if there is a choice locally then I can see it would suit some students who are often restricted to one creative option.

Sounds great if you are a languages person - possible to do 3 languages.

Id have really struggled to pick subjects - don't facny anything in block 1 (no geography?) And only 1 out of block 2.

Infact, my kids haven't chosen a single one of the optional subjects you have listed - so id say its very narrow. Could well be great for done, but is going to be far to arts/languages based for technical people.

@Miloarmadillo2 I think it must be a "creative" kind of school! (Unfortunately I can't find the page anymore.) It does seem like it could only work if there is a choice locally of schools with more traditional options.

@IceIceSlippyIce : Yes, I think they should at least offer triple science in the second block!

My Humanities loving daughter would hate it. No option to take 2 humanities (no geography!). Plus that second block would be a nightmare. Music is practically impossible if you can't sing or play an instrument. She hasn't got the time (or ability!) for art so it would have to be food & Latin.

I wouldn't rush to send my child to a school with this set up

Actually, I think if they offered Geography in the second block it would be quite good: you could do two humanities, or two (or three!) languages, or two (or three!) creative subjects, in addition to two sciences.

I guess that still wouldn't appeal to a STEM person (though I suppose they could then choose Economics, Geography and DT) but it actually seems fair if you have to take two sciences that you should also be able to take two of a group you actually like.

But I agree the way the options are it seems very narrow. It did look quite unusual to me.

PS: Sorry for adding another post, I cannot figure out how to edit my posts.

that's awful, I'd have hated that at school! I did 2 separate sciences (but double combined would have been ok), 2 humanities, neither of which are on the list, could do music but wouldn't be interested or any good at the other options on that line and PE and performing arts can go to hell!! who doesn't even offer geography at GCSE??

I think its way too prescriptive, and awful not allowing triple science. And where is Geography?! Why BTEC Performing Arts and not GCSE Drama? How is Latin along the same lines as music and art?
It would not allow for either of my boys GCSE choices (which included triple science) , or in fact mine back in the day, even though I was very un-STEM and only took biology, and did in fact take Latin - since there is no Geography and no drama GCSE.

my niece would love this as she's obsessed with languages

It’s not a school I would have chosen (for myself or my children).

No triple science, no geography, no RE and worst of all having to do either PE or performing arts!

I think that's quite a narrow range of choices.
No Drama, RE, Geography or Business Studies, which I think are reasonably standard in a lots of schools.

While not so common, other options that I would expect decent size schools to offer at least some of:
Dance, Psychology, Textiles, Media or Film studies, Single Sciences, Photography, Computer Science and no more vocational course except performing arts.

Is it quite a small school or specialist creative school?

I would not like those choices.

It will suit some children but not others.

Most children don't know what they want to take at GCSE or beyond when picking a school.

I prefer flexibility and range.

DD's secondary had a good system:

Core x 5: English Lit, English Lang, Maths, Combined or Triple Science
Mandatory x 3:
RE & Citizenship in Y7-9 then pick one and sit GCSE in Y10
1 Language from German, Spanish, French and Latin (unless SEN)
Geography or History
1 performing or visual art from Music, Drama, Textiles, Fine Art, Graphics, Photography, DT or BTEC in Creative Media Production
Options: 1 additional option if not taking Triple Science from all the above plus a load of new options - CS, Classical Civ, Food Tech, Business, Psychology etc

Any child who wanted to take additional GCSE could arrange that as twilight classes - was normal to have a couple of kids taking 14 or 15 each year. Think the most was 18. And they facilitated a huge range of native language GCSEs.

Children with SEN could reduce number of subjects after discussion. Either take the class but not the exam, or reduce subjects overall.

Both my children would have changed schools. They took the standard English lit and lang, maths and combined science (all 3 subjects, 2 grades.)

Their option choices, statistics, computer science, MFL and history.

They were happy to drop music, art and drama. I should say that one of my children is self taught piano, guitar and drums but didn't want to do traditional teaching nor do grades.