How to know when to drop GCSE?

[Glitching]

So GCSE mock results are back and DS got a 4 in one of his optional subjects. He now says he is not enjoying the subject at all and wants to drop it. Is it better to drop a subject and get fewer GCSEs but with better grades, or does one lower grade matter if all others are good? Thinking uni applications mostly here as his grades should be good enough for sixth form.

Most schools do not allow the dropping of GCSEs unless there’s other mitigation eg additional needs with funded support hours

What year is he in?

School will probably not agree because there isn’t anyone to supervise him if he doesn’t do the class.

I'd say definitely better to have fewer with better grades (as a teacher and educational consultant but also from personal experience - I only have 7 GCSEs but got good grades and was able to go to a top uni).

It’s better to have fewer and more time to do well in those if that’s an option at your school.
It’s good to have an all round education but for FE and jobs it’s better to have a handful of good ones

He's year 11 so sitting this year. Other people in his year have been allowed to drop subjects. His other mock grades were very good, just this subject.

A 4 is still a pass and there is still time for him to revise and improve his grade. Its not usual for students to drop a subject - what would he do in those spare hours? I've only experienced students dropping a subject where they are low across the board and by dropping say French they can focus on getting English and maths at least. Dropping because they don't enjoy it isn't a good enough reason. Instead he should be focussing more on revising that subject to bring up the grade.

How many is he doing? Dropping for example 11 to 10 is different from 8 to 7.

I think the majority sit 9 GCSE so 4 option subjects,
English Language,
English Literature,
Maths and
Combined Science which is the 3 science subjects but you get 2 grades either the same ie 7,7 or one lower ie 6,5.

Triple science which gives individual grades for GCSE is usually taken as an option to allow time to cover the content.

I would be surprised if he were able to simply drop the subject. I am sure the school would come under some scrutiny if it allowed children to drop subjects they were getting a low grade in. Also why would you support him dropping it rather than working at it? If he is getting higher grades for his other subjects this isn't about ability. He will be told specifically where he went wrong on his paper so work from that. Resilience and all that. To me it doesn't matter whether he is enjoying it or not, he has to do the work. I have a child who hated a subject, still aced it in his GCSEs because he has a great work ethic.

He's currently doing 11, so would do 10 without this subject. There are other challenges at play too (ND, mental health), he's generally a good student and works hard, just made the wrong choice with this subject as it does not suit him at all as it is more skills based than something you can fix with more work.

Sorry, 10 so would be 9.

I'd talk to the school.
Dropping from 10 to 9 will remove revision effort and exam load.

Remember that a 4 is a pass, it’s an old grade C. Would we have expected kids to drop subjects that they got a C in, before the grades changed to numbers?
Universities will not care about a grade 4.
That said, 9 GCSEs is plenty.

Universities will not care.

They care about a levels/btecs that get you in.

they care about passing English and maths. Beyond that they understand that due to options choices students do wind up doing GCSEs they do not have a particular aptitude for.

If there is a precedent (others dropping subjects) then maybe it is a good idea. Ten GCSEs is more than a lot of 16yos take (IIRC 9 and 8 are the commonest numbers) tho not an unusual number. My (academic) DD and DS2 both took 10. Can you share what the subject is @Glitching? I assume not a core subject in any way or obvs one he wants to continue?

All that said, a 4 is a pass and a good enough grade; even if he is a higher achiever overall, a 4 in DT or French will not cause him an issue in the future. But if it is causing him worry and may impact his other subjects then yes, talk to the school. What would he do and where would he go in the freed-up lessons?

Edited as didn't see post re 10 to 9, not 11 to 10

In reality, it wont make any difference to his prospects either way. The school probably wont let him drop it though unless he's on course to fail it.

You really need to have a conversation with school to see if they will allow it. As previous posters have said many won't.

My son wasn't allowed to do this in year 11 despite the school allowing other kids to do it. Their reasoning was that the only alternative to the actual lesson was extra support with Maths. Science, English & as he was achieving well in those subjects already, he would be a distraction to the kids needing the extra help.

My DD1 was allowed to drop History after a disasterous mock result in both that and English Language. She went to the 'inclusion unit' for self study during the lesson time.

You could just give up on the subject. Turn up for the exam etc if school won’t let you drop it.
But a 4 is still a pass. Is he worried it’s going to ‘ruin’ the other grades.
My DS should have dropped French to foundation. He didn’t. He gave up on the subject and still got a 4 by 1 mark
Still went on to get A*/A at Alevel and at a good uni (top 10 according to all the tables).