Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Don't want dd to do btec

44 replies

toast55 · 15/02/2010 07:20

DD year9 was given her gcse choices and has been told she has to do a Btec and 5 core gcse.I intend to challenge this as the decision was made on her KS2 sats results and she has improved massively since then. Her report predicted B or C in all her subjects. It doesn't make sense to me. Has anyone any experience of this.

OP posts:

TheFallenMadonna · 15/02/2010 17:05

vacational -

Would that be Leisure and Tourism?

Vocational.

Lilymaid · 15/02/2010 17:07

DS2 was predicted and got Bs and Cs for GCSE and has gone on to A Levels in "proper" subjects and five university offers (from well established universities). He would have felt insulted if he had been told to take BTec instead of 5 GCSEs and judging by the experiences of some of his friends, he might have found it intellectually unfulfilling as well.
Stick to your guns!

usualsuspect · 15/02/2010 17:13

I will tell my ds hes a thick kid shall I? I hate this site sometimes

southeastastra · 15/02/2010 17:16

it's snobtastic

Original poster

toast55 · 16/02/2010 06:07

I dont think kids doing a btec are thick but the kids themselves do.
The schools should address this problem no one should feel they are thick at 14.

OP posts:

usualsuspect · 16/02/2010 13:01

My ds never thought he was thick in fact he was accepted into 6th form with his distinction in music .. he choose to further his music career by going to college instead and I'm very proud of him ..and just for the record none of the other kids thought he was thick either

Remotew · 16/02/2010 13:36

DD opted to do a BTEC in Business Studies too. She is in top sets for everything but wanted to find out how businesses operate hence doing this. If she get a good grade this will equate to 2 A*'s just on course work.

I don't think this is a write off. She is also doing more traditional academic GCSE's.

magentadreamer · 16/02/2010 13:50

I think the OP's situation is slghtly different in the fact her Dd hasn't got a choice in the matter and it would appear to be the only optional subject her Dd will be able to do. At my Dd's school they do an option subject a year over the 3 year KS4. Dd had the choice of a wide range of subjects from Btec Performing Arts to a GCSE in Astronomy. All option subjects were offered to all pupils which ever band(pathway) they are on for their core subjects. If I was the OP I would be alarmed especially given the choice of Btec to do, my Dd would be hard pressed to chose one then apply herself properly to it.

foxytocin · 16/02/2010 13:53

what is the BTEC supposed to be in? what is your problem with a btec?

BicycleBelle · 17/02/2010 19:55

The issue here seems to be the lack of choice and consultation, not GCSEs versus BTec. I think it is outrageous that you and your DD are being told what she is to do. At my DDs school (which is not an exceptional one) we have just had a meeting where all the options were explained to kids and parents, and we have to return a form after half term listing the kids preferences, which includes BTecs and GCSEs. So far as I know, no one is being told that they can't do one subject or another, although I guess there must be some restrictions in there somewhere.

ageing5yearseachyear · 20/02/2010 09:48

toast- just a word of warning- as a mother of teenage daughters - is it possible that the school have suggested this as a potential pathway-rather than telling her she has to do it?

she may have spent all day at school discussing this to death and by the time she comes home it is drama all round?

you might find when you speak to the school that a bit of spin has been put on it.

I think that i would simply write down what she wants to do and send in a letter along the lines of ' i think dd may have misunderstood. Following the meeting about BTEC she now thinks that she is unable to do the following course which is what she wants. please can you reassure me that this is still a possibilty bearing in mind her recent results etc.

I hope that i am right!!!!!

KateF · 20/02/2010 10:12

Southeastastra-sorry you have been upset. For what its worth, my brother did Business Studies BTEC, went on to a respectable university to do a degree in business and finance and is now a fully qualified accountant with BP. I am sure your ds is extremely capable and has chosen the course that is right for him.

Original poster

toast55 · 21/02/2010 07:43

She was given a letter confirming what she has said.
There is also a form to fill in that indictes the options which are 4 compulsary gcses btec and one other choice.
If business studies was one of the options I might be happier.

OP posts:

Splishysploshy · 21/02/2010 08:24

My DS is doing a Btec in Performing Arts, he did have the choice of other subjects including GCSE's but he has done the course he has set his heart on and is happy.

I am sorry that your DD is being forced into something that she is not happy to do. My DS has been in a similar situation when 2 o the GCSE's he wanted to do were in the same option block and we wondered which way to go for many weeks.

I personally feel that if children are happy they will learn. My DS has grown so much in confidence since being a secondary school and being able to be noted for his talent in PA, this has had a positive effect on his academic subjects.

It is a difficult one but I definitely do not see that doing a Btec instead of a GCSE pigeon holes you into being less academic that those who chose the other route. We are all different and learn in different ways. x

Original poster

toast55 · 22/02/2010 14:40

Just to update phoned her head of house to day.
He said it was not a problem to switch but he had fealt less exam work would be easier for dd as she struggles a bit with exams but agrees she is a borderline case.
As she is not very enthusiastic about the 3 choices of btec we are going the standard gcse route.We could have fealt differently if business studies was available.

OP posts:

BicycleBelle · 22/02/2010 20:21

Well done you for getting it sorted, very glad for you and your DD. Most people find exams intimidating, so if that is the only issue then I am sure there is a way to boost her confidence regarding exams, a bit of coaching on exam technique for instance.

Marney · 28/02/2010 19:58

I have a child who did really badly at primary school due to lack of help for dislexia and being put on the bottom table and the effect that has on self esteem!!!!
We were told to accept it was lack of inteligence and gcses would not be possible.The first sats were not reached one result working towards and another not being required to take not being considered able to .This same child did not want to take b techs and after changing schools didnt The gcses were passed at good grades and the same pupil is sucessfully taking science a levels Do all you can to support your child and their choices the schools seem to want more children on b techs because they are allowed strangely to claim a btech is the same as 3 or is it 4 gcse exams even though its not a gcse atall!!! My child did start a b tech course and hated all the course work and copying out of books or of the intrnet they seemed to involve

Kez100 · 04/03/2010 12:21

I did BTEC at 16 in Business (some 20 + years ago) and then went on to study with the ICAEW and qualified as a Chartered Accountant on first attempt. My three best friends who went into sixth form picked up a handful of A levels and then did nothing with them. Not saying a child should be made to do something, it is their options, but please do not undermine BTEC.

maddy68 · 04/03/2010 19:27

I am a teacher, I would doubt VERY much if she was being told to take Btec based on her KS2 results, it will be on continual assessment throughout school.

Btecs are OK - they are not worse than GCSE's they are different but equivalent, so perhaps if DD is better at coursework rather than exams then this would be a good choice for her.
In my school we have dropped many GCSE's for Btecs as they suit the majority of our learners in the vocational subjects (PE. ICT etc)
so perhaps as in my school there is no GCSE in that subject?

Flip

1 2