Who's year 9 child is starting to look at options?

[Incyra]

Can't belive we are at this stage already, especially as ds has missed half of year 8 and looking like it will be the same this year too. Anyway, its quite an exciting time for them. The teachers have all done a little presentation about their subjects.

Do your dc know what they will pick? Or are they still deciding? Also, I'd be interested from anyone who's child has done music as a GCSE. My ds doesn't have music lessons and they say they don't have to to do Music, but not sure if it will put him at a disadvantage. TIA

At DS's school they chose in Y8. It's supposed to be end Feb. he's hardly bloody been there 😞

Yes ours choose in Yr8 here.
Not heard anything yet but they are talking careers etc in PSE. I am sure my current yr9 had more info by now. Will be interesting to see how it pans out. In answer to your music question I believe in our school you have to play an instrument to do GCSE music but that instrument could be your voice but none of mine did it.

Oh wow. Year 8? I didn't realise some children picked in then.

Just looked at the music and its actually called Music Rock School or something like that which is probably why they say they don't need to play an instrument, not sure if its equivalent to a proper GCSE.

You may get more replies posting this in ‘secondary education’ there’s lots of talk of choosing options there. Have a read if some of the threads. My DC all chose in Yr9 as they do the GCSEs over 2 years rather than 3, which gives them an extra year to find their feet. Music is only usually taken by those who are talented in the area, it’s never compulsory and won’t disadvantage him.
Some schools will give you options in blocks - so choose 1 or 2 from each ‘block’. All schools insist on maths, eng Lang, eng lit, either 3 seoerate sciences or the double award where you study all 3 but to 2/3rds of the syllabus and achieve 2 GCSEs, Some, but not all schools. insist on a modern foreign language & at least one humanity- but not all do. So, you could have a child with 8 GCSEs pretty much predetermined and not too much choice really.

@GreenPlum

At DS's school they chose in Y8. It's supposed to be end Feb. he's hardly bloody been there 😞

:-( did you feel that Yr8 was too early to pick options?

My y9 Dd has to choose by end of Feb. We've had an on line options discussion. She is fairly sure what she wants to do I think.

Ah! I misread your question re music. Your child doesn’t play an instrument but wants to do music GCSE? School have said this is fine. Mine have never taken music, but those that do usually play an instrument, but probably because that’s what they’re passionate about in general. Does yours sing? I think a lot of the music Gcse is composing and looking at other composers - but I’d ask this in ‘secondary education’ - lots will know.

dc chose last year, but as ib school the only options were which kind of maths stream, additional mfl, mastercourse arts or music...

@NotDonna

You may get more replies posting this in ‘secondary education’ there’s lots of talk of choosing options there. Have a read if some of the threads. My DC all chose in Yr9 as they do the GCSEs over 2 years rather than 3, which gives them an extra year to find their feet. Music is only usually taken by those who are talented in the area, it’s never compulsory and won’t disadvantage him. Some schools will give you options in blocks - so choose 1 or 2 from each ‘block’. All schools insist on maths, eng Lang, eng lit, either 3 seoerate sciences or the double award where you study all 3 but to 2/3rds of the syllabus and achieve 2 GCSEs, Some, but not all schools. insist on a modern foreign language & at least one humanity- but not all do. So, you could have a child with 8 GCSEs pretty much predetermined and not too much choice really.

Thank you. I'll heard over to that board! My ds doesn't have to take a language. I re read the music and I don't think its a full GCSE, its got Rock School in the name.

@NotDonna

Ah! I misread your question re music. Your child doesn’t play an instrument but wants to do music GCSE? School have said this is fine. Mine have never taken music, but those that do usually play an instrument, but probably because that’s what they’re passionate about in general. Does yours sing? I think a lot of the music Gcse is composing and looking at other composers - but I’d ask this in ‘secondary education’ - lots will know.

I looked again and its not a GCSE.

Incyra GreenPlum
At DS's school they chose in Y8. It's supposed to be end Feb. he's hardly bloody been there 😞
:-( did you feel that Yr8 was too early to pick options?

We've not been given any info yet, just the date for the info evening - which presumably will have to take a different format to the parents of 240 kids in the hall!

I've got the options blocks from a mum with a child in the year above. She said they don't change.

On the face of it, DS found it quite easy to pick which subjects he wants to continue with and which he wants to drop. My only concern is that he's making that decision after missing half of Y7 and was isolating for six weeks of the Y8 autumn term. So it could well have been a completely different picture if it wasn't for covid and the school is geared up to do it this way. There's no suggestion they delay it for a year.

Maybe the sooner they drop their least favourite subjects, the better, under the circumstances. It will give them a better chance in the exam subjects. There will just be a big whole in their general knowledge.

I have year 9 twins. Have not heard anything about them taking options yet!

I'm sure when my older one was in this year at the school we had already had loads of information about it.
There was also an open evening where we got to speak to teachers about courses and exams. Obviously I know this won't happen this year but was considering emailing the school to find out what the plans were for taking options.

Dd is yr 9 and was supposed to pick options last June. Obviously it didnt happen.
We were told she would then choose this jan but still no word.
Dd is definitely choosing gcse music. She does play instruments but has no grades in them, but sings and has been graded for singing for musical theatre.
We have a list of options and shes chosen a few but it now depends on any clashes.
She will have to do maths and english and is doing triple science as she cant choose between zookeeper or mechanic as a career but after that I've told her to choose things shell enjoy doing as I feel she'll put more effort in. Shes looking at performing arts, photography and history or geography.
Shes a bright kid, in the top sets but not academic more hands on.
I agree, I think the yr 9s are going to struggle a bit with options with missing most of yr8.

Our son started GCSE courses in Year 9.
They had a range of subjects to choose from including food tech/photography/history/geography/ PE

Id encourage either triple science or computer science history or geography and a fun subject

DS y9 had his options meeting today. They've changed significantly since DD agreed 18 was there - very much geared to the future. I didn't even know engineering was possible as a gcse!