GCSE courses starting in Yr9

[magentadreamer]

I've just found the option booklet on DD's school website. Apparently they are now starting GSCE courses in Yr9 and some non core subjects eg Languages, Humanties, Art and DT will only be a year, they get to pick 3 options from non core subjects and take one a year. From what I can gather DD in year 9 could take Statistics - studied in Maths,Media or Film studies studied in English plus one of her non core subject options.The core subjects are studied over the 3 years. Are anyone elses DC's school going down this route?

Most schools start the core subjects in Yr 9, especially as some coursework is done right at the start of Yr 10.

DS's Maths teacher thinks they should all be able to get a good GCSE pass now, but they won't take it early, just go for the A* in Yr11 and start on A level syllabus in Yr10!!

How are they expected to do a language GCSE in a year though??

It is becoming increasingly common in the schools I have taught in. Some subjects even complete the GCSE by year 10, so that they can start the AS course in year 11 (not for all subjects - just one or two). Other students do it to give them three years to take the GCSE if they need the extra support. It also helps some schools to get more GCSEs out of their students, and so places them higher up the league tables.

Dd's school used to commence GCSE after SATS in Yr9 were done. What bothers me is the fact that she could end up taking and completeing 3 GSCE's in yr9 and the fact the 3 optional GSCEs are only a year long - taking one every year in Yr9-11. The school is not a selective school, far from it. I'd be happy if say they were taking all the courses over a 3 year period. I might be being precious but DD is a summer baby and I think coping with taking 3 GSCE's when your 13 is a bit much. Also I feel that the optional course are being dumbed down if they're being squashed into a year.

I thought under the Mational Curriculum they weren't allowed to drop subjects til KS4

I think it tells you a bit about the value of some of these subjects if they can be taken in a year. I would be checking whether they are doing just foundation papers in some subjects. MFL is not difficult at foundation level, but to get a good grade at the Higher paper would be quite a challenge in just a year I think.

I'm not sure I'm a fan of this sort of accelleration tbh, though I suspect my son's school may engage in such things too
I think you "prove" a lot more by doing a good handful (say 10) subjects in one go and getting good grades.

I did wonder that Roisin but the options brouchure states that both levels will be offered for the one year courses. The core subjects studied over the 3 years add up to 8 GSCES plus the yearly option. Additional subjects are offered in English in Yr9. I just find it all a bit

they can do languages in a year milliways

Ds school have a fast track in french this year, german last year and they take their GCSE in yr 9 (start yr8). Most of those who took their german gsce in yr 9 got an A

ds did french in an after school club - 1 hour a week 1 year i think they all ( there were only 15 of them) got A/A*

Got told at parents evening last night that DS will be starting his science gcse's in Yr9